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MSF5000 external controller prob (ANOTHER ONE...)

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:52 am
by kk6rq
Hope one of you lot can figure out what I've missed. We have a 900 MHz (GFB) MSF5000 linked to 3 other bands via a
4 port Link Communications RLC-4 controller. I can't find the thread right now, but several others have gone through
the same issues as us- when you program the MSF as a Full Duplex Base Station, the receiver shuts off when PTT is
activated. Ultimately the solution was supposed to be a firmware upgrade; we did that; no effect, unless we forgot a
step or something.
I'm sometimes neglectful in explaining steps we've taken, but bear with me and of course ask questions!
We have the station temporarily set back to 'Repeater' with no repeater PTT qualifiers we can at least use
it standalone (w/ the RLC-4 doing the PTT and ID and so forth)

1st, Here's the hookup (followed by the codeplug settings):

J2 STATION CONNECTOR
-------------------------------------
1 GND
23 RDSTAT for PL detect
12 EXTERNAL PTT
6 LINE1+ TX AUDIO
7 LINE1- TX AUDIO
2 LINE2+ RX AUDIO
3 LINE2- RX AUDIO
9 SPARE OUTPUT (PROGRAMMED FOR MUXA2B0) COS
4 CABLE SHIELD
__________________________

CODEPLUG settings
--------------------------------
-Channel/Mode settings-

PTT Priority - WL
Receiver Control - C

-Advanced Info-
System Connector
External PTT- LINE
Spare Output-MUXA3B0
Spare Output Pin Active-LOW

-Station Model/Options-
Repeater Operation-DISABLED (temporarily ENABLED for now)
Duplex Operation-FULL

_________________________________________________________

Old Firmware was:
SSCB-5.43 now is 5.52
TTRC-5.29 now is 5.34

Notes/questions-
1) We never made a new codeplug from the CONV.DEF; it never asked for it. (would it have made a difference?)

2) I realize now we never actually set Repeater Activate and Repeater Holdin to "OFF", but we figured if REPEATER
was turned to BASE STATION it didn't apply anyway. Correct assumption?

3) Our MUXBUS setting was A2B0; I note another poster said to use A3B2. I don't have a manual here at
the moment to look it up; what effect would the other setting have?

Re: MSF5000 external controller prob (ANOTHER ONE...)

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:32 am
by kcbooboo
Sounds like the station is programmed for either trunking or SpectraTAC operation, and when in those modes, things don't work the way you expect them to.

I'd suggest you start cleanly with CONV.DEF or CONV_3.DEF and build up a conventional repeater code plug. Once you verify that's working properly, change it over to a base station.

Bob M.

Re: MSF5000 external controller prob (ANOTHER ONE...)

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:58 am
by kk6rq
Nope, SpectraTAC is disabled as are all trunking settings. Building a new CP will probably be the next thing
when we go up the hill.

Re: MSF5000 external controller prob (ANOTHER ONE...)

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:12 pm
by d119
kk6rq wrote:Nope, SpectraTAC is disabled as are all trunking settings. Building a new CP will probably be the next thing
when we go up the hill.

You ***HAVE*** to build a new codeplug. There's many variables and things that are set and when you take a trunking system out of service as the other gent said, you've got to reload the station as conventional or you'll be screwed.

What are you using for an HSO?

Re: MSF5000 external controller prob (ANOTHER ONE...)

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:36 pm
by kk6rq
Yes, I'll be doing just that and reporting back as soon as I do so; however I think there's been a misunderstanding
on trunking- this station never was trunked. It was in fact on a ham channel when we got it. Internal
repeat worked (and works) perfectly when we got it.

HSO is the stock Motorola unit.

Until then (several weeks, most likely) PLEASE everybody continue to make suggestions....