Larry W3PGL has done it
again!
While talking about
just how I would like to have a "Super Controller" for the 3
repeater system at my home, Larry was able to translate it in to the
many circuits needed to make it come to life.
What I wanted was
to seamlessly connect the repeaters together as well as a link radio
and 3 EchoLink nodes and the IRLP node using DTMF. Then I added that
I would like to bring an auto patch to any one of the 3 repeaters.
First Larry would
test his design on a smaller controller that would handle a single
repeater and a link radio with 1 EchoLink and 1 IRLP along with a
phone patch. This unit would run flawlessly for a several months
while he worked on the design and R&D for the 2k9.
He would test his
designs and then make all of the circuit boards in his "Laboratory".
He would test each section as he assembled it. Then in February 09
at Hamcation in Orlando he found the case. An old audio mixer with a
very nice VU meter in it. It would have a place in the front where
we could mount the modular IDer and PTT controllers for each
machine. He would then build an ID killer to mute the ID audio
coming back from the repeater that the RF link would be transmitting
to.
I am not sure if
there is a commercial controller that has the variables and or the
functionality that this one has. It has now been in service for
several months and has performed without fail. Other than operator
"Head Space" when choosing many of it's functions.
Thank You, Larry
for all of the hard work. This one is a winner! Over a year in the
building, a few burned fingers and the acid fumes.
The Audio Matrix
As you see there is a separate pot behind a pre-amp
for each of the audio paths
The Audio Output Board
The Input board is a duplicate of this one, even more
adjustments
The Switching Matrix
Each path has it's own isolated switching point
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