RAYNET Forum http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; RAYNET Forum : Last 10 Posts Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:32:24 +0000 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:34:53 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.67 30 www.raynet-uk.net/forum/RSS_topic_feed.asp RAYNET Forum http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_images/forumlogo.gif http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/ General technical discussions : portable emcomms http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1086&PID=4704#4704 Author: 2e0elw
Subject: portable emcomms
Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:34

Whilst I haven't yet put one together, I'm currently using 50 cal and 30 cal ammo boxes for carrying batteries. The 30 cal one goes behind the passenger seat in the Landrover Defender and there is a ciggy socket mounted in the top. The 50 cal tin doesn't have properly attached cables yet but will do and the radio is attached in the back of the Defender. I've got about 48h of operating time on those two batteries although I'll eventually have the 50 cal battery via a split charge system too.

You can get longer 50 can tins that are good for radios but the weight does soon mount up and sturdy plastic boxes are probably more practical and suitable. I've not yet had a situation though where I can't have the LR nearby ;) And likewise, just yet, I can only afford the one radio (FT8800) plus cheap handhelds.
]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:34:53 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1086&PID=4704#4704 General discussions : the much vaunted Internet http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1088&PID=4703#4703 Author: G6URM
Subject: the much vaunted Internet
Posted: 07 September 2010 at 08:47

well after having the system drop out again several times - i phones VM - usual young lady in Bombay with a very thick accent - decides oh you need an engineer

so he duly turns up this morning at 8 am ( very good ) and proceeds to treat me like an idiot by saying my f connectors ain't right ( been there for ages and work fine - waving an f elbow in front of my nose and saying at least twice " this is what we call an elbow " ( i know i put it there - and he slung it in his bag ) - and oh why have you got an attenuator in line ?? that's loosing you 6 db ( yea i have always wondered that too - been there from the original install 6 years ago

well having pronounced himself satisfied after checking the signal level ( which was well down to my mind even after he had insulted my intelligence ) off he went - "got 16 more calls to do today so got to get on "

what he obviously FAILED to notice was all the ham gear - test kit etc

oh well if this is the standard of tech - god help the net i say

if this cures the problem which was one of the modem dropping out - it did it once at 4.30 am ( awake owing to down poor and thunder ) and again at 6.30 am for 35 minutes - then i will be VERY surprised - as to me given the poor signal reading to start with it looks like more of a problem somewhere else on the system - than my "dodgy" connectors which have worked fine for years

but of course us customers are all just ignorant erks wot no nuffink about nuffink innit ??

]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:47:16 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1088&PID=4703#4703 General technical discussions : Audio Connection Standard http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4702#4702 Author: G1HUL
Subject: Audio Connection Standard
Posted: 06 September 2010 at 14:32

From a Group perspective, we have not continued with CAIRO.

Instead we are in the process of designing a multi-interface box for the Group radios which will take all types of microphone and headset so the operator uses their own
 - All variants of RJ45
 - All variants of circular 8-pin audio
 - Aircraft
 - PC (1 and 2 plug versions)

]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:32:00 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4702#4702 General technical discussions : Audio Connection Standard http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4701#4701 Author: G1HUL
Subject: Audio Connection Standard
Posted: 06 September 2010 at 14:05

Mini-DIN

Isn't the Mini-DIN designed for data, with fixed-level discriminator audio levels instead of pre/de-emphasised voice?
]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:05:01 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4701#4701 General technical discussions : Audio Connection Standard http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4700#4700 Author: G1HUL
Subject: Audio Connection Standard
Posted: 06 September 2010 at 14:01

The mechanical strength should be a major factor in our selection, as we are likely to "abuse" the connector more than most in the amateur community.

The mini-DIN range are not well suited for repeated connection/disconnection (significant wear in the plastic surround) and easily damaged due to the very small pin diameter.

In the late 1980's, Strathclyde Police used in-line 5-pin metal DIN connectors for their motorcyclist helmet systems. Proved to be a very reliable solution, despite the high level of reconnection involved.

IMHO the metal-shrouded DIN range is hard to beat for cost effectiveness. Hugely popular and available in all mounting forms.

Just remember with CAIRO - The socket is ALWAYS 7 pin (even if 6 and 7 aren't used), plugs can be 3, 5 or 7 depending on accessory.
]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:01:15 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4700#4700 General technical discussions : Audio Connection Standard http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4699#4699 Author: G0DUB
Subject: Audio Connection Standard
Posted: 06 September 2010 at 13:28

Cost and availability should play a part in choosing standards. I know that there are many sources of plugs and sockets but a quick lunchtime check on pricing at Maplin ( a level playing field between connectors ) had the following;

5 Pin DIN Plug - £1.99
5 pin XLR Plug - £3.59
6 pin mini-DIN - £1.49
.. and of course if needs outweighed the desire for quality the plastic DIN plugs are cheaper.
 
I had to look at Farnell to get XLR7 for the 'full' CAIRO comparison - VAT probably not included here;
7 pin XLR - £6.41
7 pin DIN - £1.95
 
As I recall Peter Best's lectures on CAIRO, availability and cost were motivators in connector selection if the standard was to be picked up widely.
 
]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:28:49 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4699#4699 General technical discussions : Audio Connection Standard http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4698#4698 Author: g6rib
Subject: Audio Connection Standard
Posted: 05 September 2010 at 18:43

The standard connector in the audio industry for both mic and line level signals is the XLR.  It's far more robust and reliable that DIN or jack plugs of any size.  Although the XLR has been arounf for many years,  I suspect that CAIRO didn't use them as XLRs with more than 3 pins are more recent and XLRs were very expensive.
 
 
 
]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:43:05 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4698#4698 General technical discussions : Audio Connection Standard http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4697#4697 Author: GW4KJW
Subject: Audio Connection Standard
Posted: 05 September 2010 at 18:07

Originally posted by G0DUB

Sadly it seems that as we progress, good standards become harder to find :-(
 
Hear! Hear!
To paraphrase what I believe was a Groucho Marx remark about principles.....
 
If you don't like these standards we have others.
 
 
(I still have some CAIRO stuff too.)
]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:07:47 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4697#4697 Requests for technical assistance : VX7 SOFTWARE AND WINDOWS VISTA http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=665&PID=4696#4696 Author: M0ZAV
Subject: VX7 SOFTWARE AND WINDOWS VISTA
Posted: 05 September 2010 at 17:42

If you do have vista then I'm sorry but its nt tha good as we know, but all is not lost just download Virtual PC 2007 and install win xp on the VM with any software that isnot compatable with vista.
 
easy
]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:42:43 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=665&PID=4696#4696 General technical discussions : Audio Connection Standard http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4695#4695 Author: G0DUB
Subject: Audio Connection Standard
Posted: 05 September 2010 at 12:14

I still have CAIRO but its use to remote operate a radio from within a building has tended to be replaced by Talkthrough or Clause 10 operation swapping radio for wires.
The standardisation has to consider audio levels as well as physical presentation of the signals. I am presuming that you think that the physical presentation should have moved on.
The mini-DIN connectors found on many VHF/UHF radios could be a candidate and have been used in Greater Manchester to link radios together for talkthrough use. Recently though I found that a mini-DIN plug which fitted my IC-2800 would not fit in the Kenwood TM-V7E because the body was too large to fit in the recessed socket. A solution is available in that I could take the cable strain relief off the plug and use heatshrink to keep the plug body together but this does compromise the cable strain relief and field repairable aspects of the connectors though.

The CAIRO system usually required you to make an adaptor for the radio ( I believe AKD did offer CAIRO conectors on their tranceivers once as an option ) , use of the mini-DIN may get around that but you do have to make sure that the radio microphone is removed to avoid pickup of background noise in the vehicle or be sure that the radio can be programmed to take audio from the data connector on the band of interest..

Sadly it seems that as we progress, good standards become harder to find :-(
]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:14:36 +0000 http://www.raynet-uk.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1090&PID=4695#4695