Tapping an PRO-2052 for ACARS

[INDY72]

Does anyone have a picture, or diagram tutorial of how to tap the RS PRO-2052 discriminator for decoding ACARS, and rail info vias software and PC?

 

[ka3jjz]

For ACARS no tap is required, as the discriminator isn't involved (the detector stage is). This is a common misconception.

As for the tap position for the 2052, did you try mods.dk - or any of the other popular modifications sites?

[edit] or even our wiki...

Pro 2052 Tap - The RadioReference Wiki

73 Mike

[edit] Again from our 2052 wiki, the mods.dk listing...

http://www.mods.dk/index.php?ModelId=617&RadioRec=radio_shack

 

[INDY72]

OK,... how do you run a line from the detector stage??? I have a friend who is wanting to do the mod so that he can use it for ACARS and CTC decoding.

 

[ka3jjz]

Again, you don't. I'm not sure about CTC, but for ACARS, a nice clean patch from the speaker out will do the job. Just don't overdrive it. I haven't played with ACARS in ages, but I know the old version of ACARSD had something for this. That's all I did for my ancient PRO-2004 when I had one, and it worked like a champ

If your friend's soundcard on the PC is sensitive enough - not all of them are - the fixed level output at the record jack (if it has one - I'm not sure whether it does or not) would work. It will take a bit of experimenting to find out which works better. Often that's just an audio tap from just after the detector, but not always. It's worth trying.

73 Mike

 

[fmon]

I soldered to point 3 then drilled hole between power jack and 9 pin port for disc jack. Instead of cap I used a 1k 1/8 watt resistor at hook up to disc jack. Used a ground wire from jack to mount on 9 pin. Most discriminators have a cap.