On 08/09/2013 12:24 PM, Bob - AF6D wrote:

 

I have finally secured all three locations for our repeaters and now it’s time to deploy Allstar. I want each repeater (MSF 5000) to first have an Arcom RC-210 to which the Allstar interface is applied to port 1 or even the auxiliary port. The RC-210 has many valuable features and is generally feature-rich. I am old that this cannot be done especially when simulcasting; could someone explain why not so that my mind will drop it? Thank you. We primarily want the RC-210 so that we may RF link each site. In the event of an earthquake down goes all links.

 

Otherwise, what is my shopping list?

 


Here's one way of looking at it...

If all sites are able to talk to each other, then I would suggest a link repeater.

Each repeater site has it's repeater and a link radio.
The link radios talk to -one- link repeater.  Meaning, someone keys up a repeater, the COS logic goes hi or lo (however configured) and key's the link radio, which transmits to the link repeater, which all link radios hear, and key their respective repeaters.

At the site where the link repeater is, connect an Allstar node.  The allstar connection hits the node, is shared by all repeaters on the link.

The link repeater has to have no tones, to make it quicker in response, and no tail, to keep the repeaters from "ping-pong"'ing for eternity...

What frequency should the link repeater be?  What band has got the least amount of usage, ergo, the least amount of possible intermod?

For example:
So, lets say your repeater and link repeater and allstar node are on top of Mt. Wilson in SoCal.  You want a shot to the northern valley area, out to Riverside/San Bernadino area, and down I-5 to somewhere between LA and San Diego.

That's 5 repeaters and 3 link radios.
The RC-210 has 3 inputs; 
   Repeater
   Link repeater
   Allstar URI (Audio in, audio out, COS, PTT & Ground)

North Repeater
Link radio
      |
      |
Repeater
Hub ---------------- East Repeater & link Radio
Link Repeater
      |
      |
South Repeater
Link Radio

It's up to you as to what frequencies you want to use.

You might check Radio Mobile Online (http://www.cplus.org/rmw/rmonline.html) and make sure you are meeting your RF signal path requirements.

That's one way...

Good luck.

-Geoff/W5OMR