Desktrac w/Vega C-2000 Remote

pfdunit138 · Post by **pfdunit138** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:18 pm

Hello...

My fire department utilizes a Motorola Desktrac as its main radio, and a Telex Vega C-2000 is used as a tone remote for transmitting and receiving in the station. I am interested in utilizing the base radio for scanning, but I am unsure if that will cause an issue with the remote. In fooling around with it I found that if I press scan on the Desktrac, and there is activity on channel 3, for example, and I press the transmit key on the remote station, it transmits on channel 3, not channel 1 (the desired channel). I haven't checked the Desktrac's radio yet to see if talkback scan is enabled, but even if it isn't, is there anyway to accomplish scanning without losing all functionality on channel 1?

Batwings21 · Post by **Batwings21** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:33 pm

It does sound like talkback scan is enabled. There are some desktracs with Spectra's in them and some Maxtracs. I know the specta models normally would have priority scan, which is what you want. Not positive on the others, but pretty sure they will also do priority scan. Just make your channel 1 the priority and get rid of scan talkback.

pfdunit138 · Post by **pfdunit138** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 4:30 pm

ok I troubleshot that problem, but my new problem is with the Vega console itself. It was programmed to change the DeskTrac from channels 1 to 4, but I added 7 more channels to the MaxTrac. I was able to program the Vega remote to climb to channel 11, but it still only operates the DeskTrac between channels 1 and 4. I have the manual for the Vega, but I'm not finding much help in this regard. Any ideas?

k2hz · Post by **k2hz** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:09 pm

What Tone Remote adapter do you have on the Desktrac? Is it capable of more than 4 channels?

pfdunit138 · Post by **pfdunit138** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:42 pm

that I am not sure of...how would I go about finding that?

k2hz · Post by **k2hz** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:59 pm

Look at the Desktrac and see what Tone Remote adapter is used and then check the specs for that adapter.

If the Vega works on Ch 1-4 but not on the other channels there are 2 possibilities:

1. The Tone Remote adapter on the Desktrac is not capable of more than 4 channels or is programmed to only allow 4 channels.

2. The Tone Remote adapter is capable of more channels but the function tones required by the adapter do not match the function tones for channels 5 and up programmed in the Vega. In this case, it may be possible to reprogram the Vega function tones to match the adapter.

Post by **xmo** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:18 pm

While it is possible that this Desktrac is connected to an external tone remote adapter, it is more probable that it is configured with the factory optional integrated tone remote control - in which case the mapping of function tones to channels is programmed with the Desktrac RSS.

n9upc · Post by **n9upc** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:32 pm

The other option is if you are using the Telex Vega remote interface DSP-223.

Most C-2000 are used with this interface. It is nothing more then a programmable interface to convert tone functions into mechanical functions for changing channels and pulling ground to the PTT and routing audio.

I have interfaced a C2000 into a DSP223 then into a CDM1250. The issue we had was that you had to program all three units to interface with each other.

You had to activate the C2000 for the channels you need, then program the DSP223 (via software) to respond to each of the channels in the C2000, and then program the 16 pin (actually 20 pin) on the back of the CDM1250.

I was told that there are four logic pins on the 16 pin connector and each dictates which channel the remote steers it to.

So for argument sake if you apply ground to lets say pin A on the accy it will change it to channel one, then apply ground to pin B then in would go to channel 2, etc....

Now we have another possibility. Remember a tone remote operates on certain tones at certain levels at certain time intervals. Now the remote interface (if it is not the DSP223) may only beable to handle four channels due to tone issues. Ch 1 is 1950Hz, Ch 2 is 1850Hz, Ch 3 is 1750Hz, and Ch 4 is 1650Hz. Sometimes remote interfaces will not go lower then that due to numerious reasons.

I would suggest to do the following:
1.) Find out what type of tone remote interface is driving the radio.
2.) Find out if the tone remote interface is programmable or not.
3.) Make sure the programming in the C2000 is putting out the right tone or not. I have found that sometimes tones below 1650Hz in the C2000 need to be adj. for dev levels.

Please post and let us all know how this turns out.