Ramblings of yet another nerd…
OK, so I explained why I was doing this… let’s face it, the challenge is also interesting. I started by pulling the chassis out of the radio, and wiping off 50 or so years of dust and grime. I knew the cord would need to be replaced, since someone had cut off or pulled off …
Read More RCA 56×3 – First Steps… InspectionSo I’ve gone from high tech digital TDMA type stuff back to a wooden box with high voltages and glowing tubes. During a visit to my Mom’s cousin’s house, I noted a wood radio on a shelf – a very well kept example of a post-war radio, and one I had never seen (or noticed …
Read More RCA 56×3 – A Different Kind of Radio Projector “Stupid Excel Tricks”, Part 1 So, the CPS (programming software) for both the Anytone 878 and Connect Systems radios is atrocious… well.. in my opinion. I’m used to Astro and APX series software, which, at it’s core, is really a database. Everything is referenced and linked. In the Motorola (P25) world, a “mode” (usually …
Read More DMR Radio Programming ToolWill there be a part 2? we’ll see. At one time, I had several XTL-5000 radios in my truck – and accessories like VRS750s (vehicular repeater) and System 9000 PA (and siren, but i never programmed that part) are readily available… but there’s only ONE DB25 accessory port on an O5 XTL series radio. So… …
Read More Stupid Astro tricks, Part 1
So, I posted a while ago about my SDRTrunk setup using a USB hub and a couple RTL-SDR sticks. This setup worked, but I wanted it to be more capable, so I bought 4 new RTL-SDR sticks to set up something more permanent. Since I was planning ahead, I picked up four 8″ MCX to …
Read More Another SDRTrunk update
Another solution in search of problems, right? I work every day with spectrum analyzers and receivers – so it’s natural that they would have a place on my workbench. When aligning radios and checking performance, they are invaluable. One issue is that even older SAs hold some value, and, let’s face it… I’m cheap. A …
Read More Cable Modem Spectrum Analyzer
This is a short post… just something I didn’t want to lose, and can no longer find the original source for. The talk permit and post-call tones are, to say the least, obnoxious. I far prefer the tones used by my XTS series radio for P25, or even those used by the XPR radios for …
Read More Anytone 878 – Talk Permit Tones
I’ll start with the link: In the past, I’ve tried manually configuring networks, with no luck – but by copying the above networks (I disabled DMR+, just because I don’t have a need for it) and replacing the DMR ID, it just WORKS. (verified by making a call to 4009990… the parrot on TGIF). To …
Read More DMR – Multiple Networks on a single MMDVM
In this installation of my rambling… how did I physically install the radios. This one is not entirely groundbreaking. Both pros and well disciplined amateurs have been using modular or sacrificial board, plates, trays, etc., to install equipment and wiring. Such objects can then be moved between vehicles (like from a wrecked cruiser to a …
Read More Mobile Install 3.0… Equipment Installation
So…. this is as good a place as any to discuss this concept. In many professional applications, the power harness for the radio has a long positive lead that is intended to go to the battery from anywhere in the vehicle (radios are often installed in trunks, right?) and a shorter return lead with a …
Read More Mobile Install 3.0… Ground versus return…