[App_rpt-users] Connecting several sites together on a hub using link radios

[David McGough]

I agree that you *must* have a reliable way to control the hardware
remotely--internal watchdogs are helpful, but not foolproof; I'm speaking
from hard learned experience here with Ubiquiti radios, various SBC's and
even one occasionally cantankerous Kenwood repeater I manage. ...Of
course, this is an FCC requirement, too.

Otherwise, the RPi3 can make a nifty, inexpensive stand-alone controller.
If you're able to use duplex=3 mode, there is zero audio delay thru the
sound FOB/URI/RIM, etc.

On a final note for now, make sure the turn the TX power WAY down on those
DR-1X repeaters and keep them cool. I understand they are prone to heat
issues from ham conversations, which are almost always high-duty-cycle,
particularly in a full-time linked system.

73, David KB4FXC


On Fri, 26 Aug 2016, Stephen - K1LNX wrote:

> >
> > what you need to do is put the repeater in external mode (shorting a pin
> > to ground) and then use the flat audio in and out on the db-15 connector in
> > the back.
> >
> > there are pins for ptt and cos.
> >
> > A nice little RPI and a URI-X and you have yourself a first class
> > controler for that repeater
> 
> 
> I have considered this... but we have one site that has no internet access
> and a linking radio is the only option we have. I am also worried about
> potential lockups of the repeater as these will be running in AMS mode. I
> think this has gotten corrected in the recent firmware release, but we do
> have one that has an older release and didn't want to take a chance on
> that. I do agree though, this is the optimal way to go. The only caveat I
> see with that is the potential for the digital hash to be fed into the USB
> interface and propagated across the network when the repeater is in C4FM
> mode.
> 
> 73
> Stephen
> K1LNX
> 
> 
> On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 12:04 PM, Tom Hayward <tom at tomh.us> wrote:
> 
> > On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 5:18 AM, David McGough <kb4fxc at inttek.net> wrote:
> > > possibility would be to have a Repeater transmitted PL tone directly
> > > follow the Repeater COS....Then, the simplex link radios would look for
> > > that PL tone.  If the Repeater's RX COS isn't active, no PL tone
> > > transmitted, and no ping-pong.
> >
> > I picked this quote out because it's really the most important point
> > in this thread and was dismissed due to not having the right
> > controllers. This can be solved!
> >
> > As Pete said:
> > > what you need to do is put the repeater in external mode (shorting a pin
> > to ground) and then use the flat audio in and out on the db-15 connector in
> > the back.
> > > there are pins for ptt and cos.
> > > A nice little RPI and a URI-X and you have yourself a first class
> > controler for that repeater
> >
> > And my recommendation is to not only use this for the controller, but
> > to use it for the link. I've deployed a ton of 5 GHz wireless ethernet
> > links with Ubiquiti and Mikrotik equipment. It works great between
> > high repeater sites with line of sight between them. This is almost
> > always cheaper than link radio + isolator + filters + hardline +
> > antenna and will give you a full-duplex link with out-of-band control.
> >
> > Tom KD7LXL
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