[App_rpt-users] RPi w/DIAL Repeater Stuck In Transmit Mode

[Kevin Custer]

At several of our sites, which can be inaccessible at certain times of 
the year, we use a radio interface that will revert control operations 
to "internal controls" if something unexpected happens.  This is done by 
using a heartbeat monitoring circuit.  When the CM119A is happy, and 
Asterisk is running, you see the flashy - flashy of the Heartbeat status 
LED.  This happens on a URI, or any other radio adapter. However, only a 
few radio adapters have additional circuitry that monitors the Heartbeat 
of the CM119A, and in turn, that circuitry determines the overall health 
of the control system.  If everything is okay, (Heartbeat LED is 
flashing) an LED called "PC COMM's" illuminates.  If the flashing of the 
Heartbeat stops because the radio adapter or the computer has failed, or 
Asterisk has stopped or crashed, the PC COMM's LED goes out.  This 
health status can be used for two purposes:  First, the logic developed 
(user selectable, none, high or low) can enable a secondary control 
method.  Some repeaters only require one logic lead change to enable 
"internal controls".  Repeaters like the VERTEX 5000, 7000, and 9000, 
and many Tait and Motorola repeaters have such a control revert option.  
The heartbeat monitor equipped radio adapter can feed such a line 
directly - enabling internal controls if the Asterisk application, 
computer, or radio adapter should fail, keeping the repeater operational 
- locally.  Secondly, and possibly more importantly, the PTT line can be 
interrupted with this health status.  This function will kill the PTT 
line if the radio adapter, computer, or application has stopped.  No 
more emergent trips to the repeater site to kill a transmitter which has 
stuck on.  This circuitry has been designed to operate correctly no 
matter if the Heartbeat has stuck in the on or off state.

While this option doesn't keep unexpected things from happening, nor 
totally eliminates making a trip to the site, it has made things better.

Radio adapters with HB monitor:
RB USB RIM
RB RIM-Lite (all variants)
MC RA-35

Kevin W3KKC





On 3/8/2017 2:04 AM, Bob Pyke wrote:
> Our repeater hung up in transmit mode, and would not respond to radio DTMF commands to restart Asterisk or reboot. We had to manually reset the power. We don't understand why. If this should be a reoccurring issue, perhaps we need an external watchdog timer to reset power after x minutes of constant PTT activation.
>
> Looking for suggestions.
>
> We are planning to setup a remote (no internet) repeater that is not easily accessible, so want to make sure we have a solution.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob
> k6ecm