Quantar general questions

[tweiss3]

The club I belong to is preparing to perform both long overdue maintenance as well as provide multiple upgrades to the site and system. We currently have VHF and UHF repeaters that are controlled by an external controller, however, they remain unlinked 99% of the time, and are only linked for events (weekly net, skywarn, etc.).

I proposed we add 902MHz to the stack, and it wasn't opposed. Not that this one would have to link into the others, but I think it would be nice. I've been reading up on the Quantar repeaters on repeaterbuilder, and I understand physically how to interface to the 50-pin wireline card, that part is simple. My questions are related to how it acts from the wireline card and potential linking. Would connecting to the wireline still allow for the repeater to run in dual Astro/analog mode? When receiving from the wireline card, does the repeater automatically revert to analog? What happens when the link is on, and one uses P25 to get into the repeater? Is the audio that is output from the repeater to the external controller converted from P25 to recognizable voice?

I'm sure I will have more questions as I go along, but these are the immediate questions that search did not turn up.

 

[MTS2000des]

The P25 audio and analog audio come from two different places. Getting this to work with the typical "hamster" controllers in mixed mode can make this challenging. What kind of controller(s) are you currently running?

 

[tweiss3]

Controller is already on the chopping block, needing additional ports for other improvements. We haven't dug into what to get as a replacement yet.

I take it the audio source difference is related to needing the Astro modem/V.24 daughter board and external DIU?

What if I am only concerned with analog when linking, and leave the dual mode to off-linked usage?

 

[prcguy]

In my opinion if you add a controller to a Quantar only use it for controlling and don't put it in the repeat audio path. You will never improve on the stock Quantar audio and squelch/PL action.

I've seen a wiring scheme using the 50pin connectors to link two Quantars in mixed mode and I believe you need to diddle the code plug to make it work.

 

[tweiss3]

In my opinion if you add a controller to a Quantar only use it for controlling and don't put it in the repeat audio path. You will never improve on the stock Quantar audio and squelch/PL action.

I've seen a wiring scheme using the 50pin connectors to link two Quantars in mixed mode and I believe you need to diddle the code plug to make it work.

This was my intent. For this application, the controller would be only for linking the repeaters based on DTMF/schedule for specific events, allowing it to operate standalone most of the time. The problem becomes the UHF/VHF counterparts are not Quantars, and do not do digital/P25.

Do you know where in the codeplug I would be looking at to get it to work? I do have WinRSS 14.13.00, but only have the training codeplugs that come with the software, so I haven't had a chance to play with it too much and become familiar.

 

[W9WSS]

If you are replacing your existing controller with an S-COM 7330, there is an excellent interface cable that is manufactured by Northcomm Technologies. Two clubs with repeaters I have associated with use this cable, and it's a minimum of setup. If you're going to put a different controller with your Quantar, then I don't know what cable you would use, or if NorthComm Technologies has cables for other controllers with Quantar repeaters.

https://northcommtechnologies.com/products/motorola-quantar-to-scom-7330-interface-cable

 

[kf8yk]

Would connecting to the wireline still allow for the repeater to run in dual Astro/analog mode?

Sure, I have one running dual mode with a S-Com 7330 now.

When receiving from the wireline card, does the repeater automatically revert to analog?

On a Quantar only analog operation is supported on the wireline.

What happens when the link is on, and one uses P25 to get into the repeater? Is the audio that is output from the repeater to the external controller converted from P25 to recognizable voice?

P25 will be repeated internally in the Quantar, nothing will be on the wireline output. Quantars lack vocoders so there's no way to encode/decode P25 to/from the wireline. A Digital Interface Unit (DIU) is necessary for P25 functionality from a wireline console or other analog source.

 

[tweiss3]

Sure, I have one running dual mode with a S-Com 7330 now.



On a Quantar only analog operation is supported on the wireline.



P25 will be repeated internally in the Quantar, nothing will be on the wireline output. Quantars lack vocoders so there's no way to encode/decode P25 to/from the wireline. A Digital Interface Unit (DIU) is necessary for P25 functionality from a wireline console or other analog source.

I think that clears it all up. Thanks!
I'm seeing the S-Com's are NLA.......

I've been on your P25 repeater, decent coverage on 271 with just an HT north of Mayfield Heights.