Topics

1

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / Failure to Boot using 12vdc Power - Possible Cause and Solution

« on: 2024-05-09, 22:10:00 »

Just wanted to share what I found during some troubleshooting today.   I have a Control RCC, s/n 13824, that experienced difficulties booting when power was supplied through the 12vdc coaxial plug.  Initially it was fine but on a subsequent power-ups it failed.   Symptoms included no Green power LED with a steady Red and Yellow LED (above Mic connector), plus no ability to link to the internal web server. 

I discovered that the 12v jack on the PWB was mounted slightly askew such that the outer ring (negative) of the 12V coaxial power plus could/would contact the side of the chassis hole when inserted into the jack.  Looking at the PWB traces, it appears that the 12v negative is not necessarily connected directly to chassis but, like the positive supply, runs through an inductor in what amounts to a pi EMI filter.  So my assumption is that direct contact from the 12v negative to the chassis is not intended and causes issues.

Rather than mess with the jack on the PWB, I used a tapered reamer to slightly enlarge the chassis hole.  That solved the problem.

When assembled, you should see the 12v coaxial jack's plastic continuously around the circumference of the chassis hole and well centered in the hole.  If it's not, chances are that the outer ring of the coaxial plug will be in contact with the chassis even though the plug "feels" fully inserted.

We have a number of RRC-1258 MKII's running in our RACES setup and they have been very reliable.  Not a single glitch since being powered up in the fall of 2021.  This one had not been powered up since it was purchased.

2

General discussion forum / Memory Programming with RemoteRig Separating Panel and Deck of TM-V71A

« on: 2023-04-03, 19:57:41 »

Looking for advice and experience with re-programming memory channels in a Kenwood  TM-V71A with the front panel, separated from the RF deck but connected via RemoteRig. 

For starters, I'm not sure if the channel memory (and other config memories) are stored in the front panel or the RF deck of the V71A.  When the front panel is directly connected to the RF deck (no RemoteRig) it's just a matter of connecting the PC to the connector on the back of the RF deck and using Kenwood's software, RT Systems or Chirp to update the memory.  Is the same true if the front panel is separated (and in a remote location) using RemoteRig?  I assume that as long as the radio is turned on via the front panel, I can go to the RF deck and proceed as if there was no RemoteRig connection.   In my situation it would be difficult to re-attach the front panel(s) ... multiple radios involved supporting our RACES setup at an EOC with the RF decks in a remote tower shelter.

tnx

N3AE

3

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / Control-RCC Audio Output with Dual RX Turned Off

« on: 2021-02-28, 22:32:37 »

If I have Dual RX set to off and plug a stereo headset into the Control-RRC, will I hear audio in just one ear or both ears?   

Stated another way, if the radio's mono speaker output is connected between the Radio-RCC tip and ground using a mono 3.5 mm cable, and with Dual RX off, will the Control-RRC output audio on BOTH the tip and ring?   

Not well explained in the manual as far as I can tell and the schematic on page 235 is a bit confusing regarding P5.  Couldn't find anything relating to my question in the forum posts.

A second question.... if a mono headphone or speaker is plugged into the Control-RRC SP jack, will that damage the Control-RRC since the mono 3.5 mm male plug essentially shorts ring to ground?   

A third question ... if the answer to my first question is no (Control-RRC outputs to only one ear of a stereo headset), can an adapter that shorts tip to ring be used or must tip and ring be combined through some resistors to protect the Control-RRC from damage?

tnx

N3AE

4

Configuration of Routers, Firewalls, etc / More than One RCC Set on Network

« on: 2021-01-15, 02:16:24 »

Hello RemoteRig Experts

I'm working with our county government to upgrade our RACES system.  We are going to use RemoteRig sets to connect two Kenwood TM-V71 front panels in our EOC to the two V71 RF decks in a tower shelter about 5 miles away.  One radio for voice, the other radio for packet/digital. The EOC is connected to the tower shelter using an isolated wide area network (no Internet connection).

We've asked for unique static IP's on the WAN for each of the two RCC sets.

My question ....

The RCC manual, page 62, states that "Under advanced settings it is possible to change the default port numbers used by the RRC. It can be necessary if there are more than one RRC on your LAN."

So would we need to use different port numbers with our two RCC sets on the same LAN, even if they have unique IP addresses? 

I'm not a network engineer and admit to a serious lack of knowledge in that area which I'd like to remedy if anyone can recommend a good book.


A secondary question....

We have a backup EOC in a different location also on the same isolated WAN.  The setup there will be identical to the primary EOC.  What's the best way to "switch" the radio RCC's from one EOC to the other remotely?   Managed switch? 

tnx

N3AE

5

Hardware, Cabling, Installations / Mystery Clips

« on: 2021-01-05, 22:28:35 »

Just got a set of RCC 1258's.  Included in the box are four black U-shaped spring steel clips and four (wood ?) screws, packaged in two small plastic bags.   I can't find any mention of these clips in the RCC manual.  My first guess is that they are for securing the RCC units to a shelf but don't see how they would accomplish this.  Anyone know what these clips are for?  What do folks use to secure the RCC units to a shelf or desktop?

6

General discussion forum / Using COM1 to Communicate with a TNC

« on: 2017-07-02, 19:22:02 »

Hello,

I'm trying to set up RemoteRig's COM1 port to communicate with a TNC located with the radio RF deck.  I've tried serial port modes 1 and 3 without success.  I'm not even sure if the RemoteRig COM1 connectors are DTE or DCE.  Null modem cable needed at one or both ends? 

Would appreciate help from anyone who has successfully used RemoteRig to communicate with a RS-232 TNC located at the radio RF deck side of the system.

The radio is  Kenwood TM-V71A and is working fine with RemoteRig.

Thanks
Shawn
N3AE

7

General discussion forum / RRC-1258MkIIs V7 with TM-V71A - Front panel will not turn on

« on: 2017-06-13, 00:04:22 »

Just got a 1258MkIIs to use with a TM-V71A.  Assembled cables per page 196 & 197 of the manual and triple checked before power up.  The V71A would not power up when the ON button is pressed.   Further troubleshoot showed no 9vdc from the RemoteRig control unit to the V71A panel (TTL pin 2).  Measured on PWB itself at TTL connector.  Position of JMP-2 (8vdc vs 9vdc to panel) makes no difference.

The RR control & radio unit were attached by a run of CAT5.   No internet involved.

Put the front panel back on the V71A body and the V71A itself is fine.

Thoughts?   Control unit DOA out of the box?  Some stupid mistake?

tnx

N3AE

8

General discussion forum / TM-V71A with RC-D710 Panel

« on: 2017-05-25, 01:56:55 »

Has anyone successfully used Remote Rig with a Kenwood TM-V71A radio body and a Kenwood RC-D710 front panel (instead of the stock panel that comes with the TM-V71A) ?  Prefer response from someone whi has actually done this rather than guesses.

I have an application where I need to communicate to the same TM-V71A RF deck remotely from either of two locations, but not at the same time.  The panel that came with the radio would be at one location and a RC-D710 front panel at the other location.  Don't think one can buy a separate TM-V71 panel, so that's why I'm looking at the RC-D710.    LAN to the RF deck side Remote Rig terminal gets switched between sites by other means.

tnx
Shawn
N3AE