Maratrac Crossbanding: A clear but simple answer?

[fchrist16]

Ok, So I sent a PM to someone who seems to no longer be active on this board for some help. Now I need your guys help!

I have a good repeater setup currently, and would like to add my lowband Maratrac to it. The only problem is the cable creation. I have one of those bi-directional repeater controller cables from kurt@MRE on eBay and it works wonderfully. The only problem is it's made for 16 Pin MaxTrac's/GM300's/etc.

In a direct way of explaining, how would I easily interface this to the Maratrac? Looking at the two Maratrac pages on Repeater-Builder gives me some info but confuses me. On the main Maratrac page it talks about the programming jack having this setup:

MaxTrac Pin # MaraTrac
Spare 1 SW B+
Spare 2 Spare
Hook 3 Emergency
Ground 4 Ground
MIC Audio 5 MIC Audio
PTT 6 PTT
Programming 7 Programming
Headset Audio 8 Headset Audio

Couldn't I effectively wire Pin 4 to Pin 4, and take Pin 5 on the MaxTrac to Pin 6 on the Maratrac and vice versa? Or is there something more complicated than that. The Maratrac would be listening only and does have PL enabled, but I don't think that would be an issue.

Thoughts?

Regards,

-Frank C.

[JAYMZ]

Why not use the 16 pin connector that is right up near the programming connector inside the maratrac. IIRC the pins are set up the same as the default Maxtrac/Radius configuration.

[fchrist16]

IIRC, the Maratrac I have is 5 Pin.

Regards,

-Frank C.

[Jim202]

Ok, So I sent a PM to someone who seems to no longer be active on this board for some help. Now I need your guys help!

I have a good repeater setup currently, and would like to add my lowband Maratrac to it. The only problem is the cable creation. I have one of those bi-directional repeater controller cables from kurt@MRE on eBay and it works wonderfully. The only problem is it's made for 16 Pin MaxTrac's/GM300's/etc.

In a direct way of explaining, how would I easily interface this to the Maratrac? Looking at the two Maratrac pages on Repeater-Builder gives me some info but confuses me. On the main Maratrac page it talks about the programming jack having this setup:

MaxTrac Pin # MaraTrac
Spare 1 SW B+
Spare 2 Spare
Hook 3 Emergency
Ground 4 Ground
MIC Audio 5 MIC Audio
PTT 6 PTT
Programming 7 Programming
Headset Audio 8 Headset Audio

Couldn't I effectively wire Pin 4 to Pin 4, and take Pin 5 on the MaxTrac to Pin 6 on the Maratrac and vice versa? Or is there something more complicated than that. The Maratrac would be listening only and does have PL enabled, but I don't think that would be an issue.

Thoughts?

Regards,

-Frank C.

Based on what you have already said, I believe your best move at this point, is to find someone locally that will work with you on this. Don't just go blindly connecting pins of different radios together without knowing the results.

Jim

[fchrist16]

Thanks. I wanted to try and learn myself.

Regards,

-Frank C.

[kcbooboo]

Check out some of the articles in the MaxTrac section on Repeater-Builder, specifically interfacing. Almost everything you need can be obtained from the MIC/Programming jack except for a COR signal which you'll have to make somehow. Everything you need has been documented, but the various pieces are in multiple articles.

Bob M.

[fchrist16]

Bob,

I know all the info is there, just trying to piece it all together into something I understand is a different story...

Regards,

-Frank C.

[motorola_otaku]

..except for a COR signal which you'll have to make somehow.

Most of the Maratracs I've been in contained 5-pin Maxtrac logic boards.