N9JIG Shack Redux

[N9JIG]

Redid my shack again, reduced the wire clutter and straightened things out a bit.

Included are 3 BC780's, a BC796, a Pro2096, Pro2052, a UHF and VHF set of GM300's (For GMRS, ham and other channels) a IC-735 with MFJ auto-tuner and a Cimarron MDC Decoder.

On the first shelf are a few handhelds including a BC396, Pro96, R10, R2, THF6A, HT1000 and Alinco 2M HH.

On the upper shelf are several Plectron's set on a couple local fire channels and mutual aid channels, an OS456, Pro2006, a couple Minitors and a GM300 used as an alert receiver.

The computer on the far left is used for RSS and Trunker type applications. The center computer is used for Windows applications like Audition (to decipher fire tones etc.) while the Mac is used for everything else. (The Mac has dual monitors.)

 

[tonsoffun]

Hey Rich,

The shack is nice and clean, looks great and awesome job on the wires.
P.S You need one of my handheld scanner stands for those portables haha just kidding!.
Take care

 

[GilW]

Very nice and organied radio set up. great images too!

 

[cbscanman15]

great set-up rich really like it

 

[ofd8001]

Really nice set up. What are the gizmos on top of the 780s?

Thanks!

Your alter ego fire chief in KY.

 

[RESCUE4NFD]

N9jig Shack

Very,Very nice,clean,Good layout!! What is on top of the 780's?

 

[kma371]

Really nice set up. What are the gizmos on top of the 780s?

I'm pretty sure those are DCS/CTCSS decoders. Commerical grade.

 

[ofd8001]

The 780 does DCS/CTCSS. I'm sure there must be a reason for them, then, but I'm at a loss in figuring it out. I'm sure the N9JIG guru guy will let me know - he's pretty good about answering us less informed folks.

Thanks for the info.

 

[MacombMonitor]

Awesome setup, radios, and computers!

I think the mystery boxes are being used to decode DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency). If you hear someone dial a phone number over the radio (using a phone patch), it will read out the number they dialed.

 

[Thunderbolt]

Rich:

An outstanding, very clean and well organized set-up! This gives me an idea to add more shelves in my shack for more radios. I would give this a 9.5 out of 10! Actually some train photos on the walls would be a welcome addition to the shack. :wink:

73's

Ron

 

[MacombMonitor]

The mystery boxes on top of the BC780-XLT's:

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CD-2 Communication Decoder?[/font]​

http://www.connectsystems.com/public_html/products/cd2.htm

 

[N9JIG]

Really nice set up. What are the gizmos on top of the 780s?

Thanks!

Your alter ego fire chief in KY.

Those are CSI CD-1 PL/DPL/DTMF decoders. I also have one in the van.

I don't have pictures of the car yet (05 Oddysey) but it has a BC796 with a ScannerMaster remote head kit. The head is velcro'd to the top of the dashboard, the cable comes in thru the glove box and the radio itself is under the passenger seat. I also have a Kenwood TD-700 dual bander there as well.

The CD-1 in the van is set in the ashtray with the power and audio cables coming in from behind. Works great, especially since we don't smoke so don't need the ashtray!

 

[N9JIG]

The 780 does DCS/CTCSS. I'm sure there must be a reason for them, then, but I'm at a loss in figuring it out. I'm sure the N9JIG guru guy will let me know - he's pretty good about answering us less informed folks.

Thanks for the info.

The 780 and 796 do decode DPL and PL but they have to cycle thru sampling each PL then check for DPL, so often the message is over before the PL is decoded. The Pro2096 forces you to select PL or DPL, but then displays instantly. It is also hard to read the displayed PL or DPL without touching your nose to the radio. The CD-1 (and successor CD-2) have large bright display and decodes PL or DPL instantly.

On all of my scanners I have installed an RCA jack with the discriminator audio brought out thru a tantalum capacitor. I use this for PL decoding and Trunker.

The CD-1 has 4 screw terminals on the back, 1 for audio in, 1 for 12VDC and a ground for each of these. There are no other external connections or controls I think the CD-2 has an RS-232 output, but I don't have one of these. Inside there are a couple jumpers that control audio levels and DPL inversion.

One thing I have done on mine is to make a couple mods. First, I add a couple RCA jacks and an SPDT switch to allow me to switch between 2 different audio sources. Now that I have several decoders it isn't so much of an issue, but this allowed me to instantly connect to either of two radios.

I also added a coaxial power jack, of the same sort commonly used on scanners. With a power switch it allows me to turn the decoder on and off. I then connect a short coaxial power cable to the screw terminals on the back. This allows me to power the decoder with the scanner's power supply then the decoder to power the scanner, thus needing only 1 power cable.

The last thing I do is add a SPST switch to replace a jumper inside the decoder. This jumper inverts the DPL. For some reason the DPL decoded is sometimes inverted, thus the wrong code is displayed. Sometimes the displayed code is correct on VHF but inverted on UHF or vice versa. I tune a known DPL code on the band in question and set the switch so that the displayed DPL is correct.

 

[N9JIG]

Rich:

An outstanding, very clean and well organized set-up! This gives me an idea to add more shelves in my shack for more radios. I would give this a 9.5 out of 10! Actually some train photos on the walls would be a welcome addition to the shack. :wink:

73's

Ron

Well, most importantly, there is a picture of my wife there (That explains why she lets me buy all these radios...).

There are pictures of a CNW SD40-2 at twilight on the PC, CNW and CSX GE's in a small frame on the Plectron's, a model of a CNW GP-7 in HO above the Mac and an Amtrak train racing along at 79 MPH along US-66 on the right side Mac monitor. With the picture of the famous Odell Service Station also from US-66 on the left Mac monitor I thought YOU of all people would appreciate this. I am hurt and devastated that YOU didn't catch this!

 

[c0untyb0y]

Plectronerific! Nice setup Rich!

 

[radio10-8]

Can we see more pictures of the MAC! and less of the scanners.
( Now before everyone gets ready to make fun of me. There are many Macintosh users that use this site and WE all agree on the same thing. WE would love to see more Mac software for scanners. The only Windows machine I have is to run my scanner stuff.)

 

[FuelForFire]

Can we see more pictures of the MAC! and less of the scanners.
( Now before everyone gets ready to make fun of me. There are many Macintosh users that use this site and WE all agree on the same thing. WE would love to see more Mac software for scanners. The only Windows machine I have is to run my scanner stuff.)

Absolutely!

Pretty much the only reason I keep my PC around is to run radio/scanner software. I have definitely fell in love with my Mac.

Mike

 

[N9JIG]

I have been a Mac guy from day 1, I started with an old Mac 512 upgraded to a Plus with a new motherboard. I had to Exacto-Knife a hole on the back to allow for the then-new SCSI connector. I eventually upgraded to a PB120, P475, P630, P6220, P6400, a G3, a Dual G4 and my current G5 (Dual 2.7, 2.5 GB, etc..) as well as a PB17.

I keep the PC's around for programming, and running Trunker or other radio specific stuff. About the only PC stuff that I do by choice is use Audition to decode fire tones. I started using the 30 day trial version and liked it so I bought the full version when it expired.

 

[dentman69]

Nice clean set-up

 

[IW_RADIO]

You sure you have enough Scanners O.M.?? Just kidding... I'm jealous!! Looks SUPER !!