[W2CRA] Yaesu DR1-X Status Update

William Powell whp at att.net
Sat Apr 16 20:50:41 EDT 2016


And, of course, I neglected to offer my thanks to my cohorts in this crime:
Bob - N2ZAV who is responsible for enticing me with the idea for this project and his support today, 
Tony - W2HWW for his close participation in this project, development of the time-out timer and support today,
Chris AA2MJ for his assistance with other trips to Kipp.  
Last, but certainly not least, to all of you who most generously financially participated in this effort and didn't make
a single squeak about the stupid amount of time it has taken.

73,
Bill - WB1GOT

Well folks . . .

It has taken almost a year but the Yaesu DR-1X repeater on 015 (Mt Kipp) is up and operating un dual (AMS) mode.

Power out of the amplifier into the duplexer is ~220W.  The receiver appears to be pretty darn sensitive.  I could
detect NO de sense; received well down to the noise level without the transmitter drowning out a weak signal.

Digital Operation: I can't comment much on Fusion (digital) mode but it was tested between Bob, N2ZAV and Kevin, KLW3P
(former CRA President) and appeared to work well so all you Fusion folks can have at it.

Analog operation:.
Operated well with VERY clean audio but a few operational issues were noted:
1.  You won't be able to "kerchunk" it - there is NO transmitter hang time.  Kerchunk all you like but YOU, not the ones
listening, won't hear a thing coming back.  Read on,,

2.  On first FM operation after an idle period you will need to wait ~2 seconds after pressing your transmit button
before saying anything.  Once it is up and running you still need to press the button, wait 1 second and then talk.
Otherwise you will loose your first word.  Key it, say Yep while still pressing the button and nothing will get through.
Read on,

3.  The repeater receiver squelch is VERY unforgiving of a signal dropping out in the middle of a conversation; it stops
repeating audio till the signal becomes strong again.  Likewise, if a weak signal becomes strong then weak again there
may be a loss of audio.

These issues MAY be corrected, all or in part with yet another firmware upgrade.
Unfortunately it is difficult and inconvenient to do a firmware flash in the field as it requires removal and
disassembly of the repeater to get at the "programming" switch.
So . . . I'll unpack the second DR-1X repeater (ultimately destined for UHF use), do all the setup and firmware upgrades
and, after it settles in, take it up to Kipp and swap it out with the DR-1X currently there.  I HOPE that fixes most if
not all the issues.
I'll:
 -  make the receiver squelch pervasive; make it hang in there when a signal drops out, 
 - extend the transmitter hang time to ~ 1 second (you shouldn't be kerchunking anyway - refer to Part 97 about IDing).
As for the slow uptake, I don't know since I haven't seen any complaints about that.  I'll have to do some digging and
probably wind up asking Yaesu tech support for help.

In the meantime - USE IT, USE IT, USE IT!

Also, you analog FM users might want to set up your receiver to use PL unless you enjoy hearing Digital "noise" when
Fusion users are on.

The Kipp 440 repeater will go up after I have settled most of the issues with 015.

Questions and comments are ALWAYS welcome,
Bill - WB1GOT


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