XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

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XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

Cathy James

Folks,

    I am interested in building the XV144 transverter.  However, I do
not want to tie up the K2 as the IF.  Instead, I have a Uniden HR-2600
(unmodified) lying around that I'd like to use for the IF/tuner/etc.

    Has anyone out there used the 2600 or 2510 as the IF for the XV144?  
How difficult is it to do this?  Reading thru the XV144 manual with
regard to separate TX/RX cables, PTT cables to trigger the XV, blah
blah, makes me a bit nervous.  Am I going to have to modify the Uniden?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cathy

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RE: XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

johnny-52
Hi Cathy,

If you are only using XV144 for RX mode, you don't have to do any
modification.  Even you use XV144 for any non K2 transceiver, the
connection is also simple.  The XV144 operation manual listed out all the
connection possibilities.

My K2 does not have any of the KIO2 or K60XV, the connection is based on
the diagram related to non K2 transceiver.  The operation manual gives very
detail connection method.

I do not think any modification for your Uniden is required.

73

Johnny Siu VR2XMC


From: Cathy James <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:40:34 -0500


Folks,

    I am interested in building the XV144 transverter.  However, I do not
want to tie up the K2 as the IF.  Instead, I have a Uniden HR-2600
(unmodified) lying around that I'd like to use for the IF/tuner/etc.

    Has anyone out there used the 2600 or 2510 as the IF for the XV144?  
How difficult is it to do this?  Reading thru the XV144 manual with regard
to separate TX/RX cables, PTT cables to trigger the XV, blah blah, makes me
a bit nervous.  Am I going to have to modify the Uniden?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cathy

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RE: XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

johnny-52
In reply to this post by Cathy James
Hi Cathy,

Just to further supplement my previous email.  The overall performance in
144 Mhz will quite depend on the performance of your IF rig i.e. HR2600.

In other words, it is impractical to think that XV144 will give you
exceptional performance in 144 Mhx if your IF rig is not a good performer.

>From the price tag of XV144, you will note that XV144 is intended to be
used with high quality station rig for demanding weak signal operation in
heavy QRM conditions.

So, IMHO, think about your operation preference before go ahead for the
XV144.

73

Johnny Siu VR2XMC


From: Cathy James <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:40:34 -0500


Folks,

    I am interested in building the XV144 transverter.  However, I do not
want to tie up the K2 as the IF.  Instead, I have a Uniden HR-2600
(unmodified) lying around that I'd like to use for the IF/tuner/etc.

    Has anyone out there used the 2600 or 2510 as the IF for the XV144?  
How difficult is it to do this?  Reading thru the XV144 manual with regard
to separate TX/RX cables, PTT cables to trigger the XV, blah blah, makes me
a bit nervous.  Am I going to have to modify the Uniden?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cathy

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RE: XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

Don Wilhelm-3
In reply to this post by Cathy James
Kathy,

Yes, I have tried the Elecraft transverters with the Uniden 2600 - it has
been a while, in fact during the transverter Field Test.  I did not build
this for myself, but I was building it for a client.  A couple changes in
the transverter keying were made as a result of testing with the Uniden.

There are two major problems with the Uniden 2600.  First is the power
output level is in excess of the maximum drive that the transverter can
handle.  That problem was solved with a 10 dB attenuator that was switched
out of the circuit on receive (using a relay).

The second problem is that the Uniden 2600 has no output corresponding to a
keying circuit, so either the transverter must be activated at the same time
the Uniden 2600 is keyed (direct from the keyline) which can cause the
transverter to go quickly from transmit to receive and back again with the
keying (and also the relay associated with the attenuator will work
overtime).  This problem is not as severe on SSB, but is still a
consideration, and on SSB, the PTT must be paralled to activate the
transverter.

There is a solution to the second problem that does involve modifying the
Uniden - I forget exactly where it is, but there is an 'I am in transmit
state' type of signal inside the Uniden that could be brought out as a
'transceiver keying' output, but this signal is not available to the outside
of the stock 2600.

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----
>
> Folks,
>
>     I am interested in building the XV144 transverter.  However, I do
> not want to tie up the K2 as the IF.  Instead, I have a Uniden HR-2600
> (unmodified) lying around that I'd like to use for the IF/tuner/etc.
>
>     Has anyone out there used the 2600 or 2510 as the IF for the XV144?
> How difficult is it to do this?  Reading thru the XV144 manual with
> regard to separate TX/RX cables, PTT cables to trigger the XV, blah
> blah, makes me a bit nervous.  Am I going to have to modify the Uniden?
>
> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Cathy
>

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RE: XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

Ron D'Eau Claire-2
In reply to this post by Cathy James
I'm not sure what you mean by "tie up the K2 as the IF."  It only ties up
the K2 to the extent that you can't be operating on the HF bands at the same
moment. Using the K60XV interface, the transverters simply look like more
bands on the K2. You press the band switch to select the band you want. If
it's a VHF/UHF band, the transverter becomes active. Otherwise, it works
exactly like any HF band.

You can switch between any of the VHF/UHF bands and any of the MF bands as
quickly as you can switch between 20 and 40 meters, for example. No cable
changes. Just push the BAND button.  

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
Folks,

    I am interested in building the XV144 transverter.  However, I do
not want to tie up the K2 as the IF.  Instead, I have a Uniden HR-2600
(unmodified) lying around that I'd like to use for the IF/tuner/etc.

    Has anyone out there used the 2600 or 2510 as the IF for the XV144?  
How difficult is it to do this?  Reading thru the XV144 manual with
regard to separate TX/RX cables, PTT cables to trigger the XV, blah
blah, makes me a bit nervous.  Am I going to have to modify the Uniden?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cathy

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RE: XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

Wyn Hughes
In reply to this post by Cathy James
Hello All,

A slightly tangential question. My XV144 is currently on order. I am planning to use it once built with my Icom IC-781 as the 28 mhz IF.

The IC-781 requires a 'trigger' voltage of 2-13.8V dc into 10K ohm on one of the rear accessory sockets, in order to enable the low level transceive port on the rear of the radio. This is, I believe, a standard Icom setup, similar on the IC-7800 etc.

After some heavy pouring over of the downloaded copy of the XV144 literature, I am still not sure whether this voltage is supplied by the XV144. There are a number of obvious easy, if less than 'neat', workarounds if required, but does anyone know if the XV144 can supply a control voltage of that level, 'on' when the XV144 is switched on, and 'off' when it is switched off? Eg off the RS232 port?

73
Wyn, VR2AX

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RE: XV144 paired with ICOM

Don Wilhelm-3
Wyn,

I don't know what the ICOM requires, so you will have to verify their
requirements, but I can say that there is no signal of the type you describe
as an output from the XV144.

Internally, there are several places where you can pick up 12 volts whenever
the transverter is powered on - the cathode of D14 seems to me an easy place
to connect to.  You could connect that through a 10l resistor and bring it
out to whatever place is convenient for you.

Since you referred to the DE9 connector on the transverter as "RS232", I
must comment - IT IS NOT!!!
That connector is a 9 pin connector for connecting to the K2.  Accidently
connecting RS232 levels to this connector can damage the transverter
(particularly selected pins of the microprocessor on the front panel)

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----
>
> A slightly tangential question. My XV144 is currently on order. I
> am planning to use it once built with my Icom IC-781 as the 28 mhz IF.
>
> The IC-781 requires a 'trigger' voltage of 2-13.8V dc into 10K
> ohm on one of the rear accessory sockets, in order to enable the
> low level transceive port on the rear of the radio. This is, I
> believe, a standard Icom setup, similar on the IC-7800 etc.
>
> After some heavy pouring over of the downloaded copy of the XV144
> literature, I am still not sure whether this voltage is supplied
> by the XV144. There are a number of obvious easy, if less than
> 'neat', workarounds if required, but does anyone know if the
> XV144 can supply a control voltage of that level, 'on' when the
> XV144 is switched on, and 'off' when it is switched off? Eg off
> the RS232 port?
>
> 73
> Wyn, VR2AX
>
>

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RE: XV144 paired with ICOM

johnny-52

Hi Wyn,

Don is correct.  There should be some spare pins in the DE9 which are of no
use.  How about rooting a +ve voltage from the cathode of D14 to one of
these share pins? Then you prepare a specific cable solely for the
connection from XV144 to IC781.  Same set up can be used with my IC7800.

73

Johnny Siu VR2XMC

From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
Reply-To: [hidden email]
To: "Wyn Hughes" <[hidden email]>, <[hidden email]>
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] XV144 paired with ICOM
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:46:49 -0400

Wyn,

I don't know what the ICOM requires, so you will have to verify their
requirements, but I can say that there is no signal of the type you
describe
as an output from the XV144.

Internally, there are several places where you can pick up 12 volts
whenever
the transverter is powered on - the cathode of D14 seems to me an easy
place
to connect to.  You could connect that through a 10l resistor and bring it
out to whatever place is convenient for you.

Since you referred to the DE9 connector on the transverter as "RS232", I
must comment - IT IS NOT!!!
That connector is a 9 pin connector for connecting to the K2.  Accidently
connecting RS232 levels to this connector can damage the transverter
(particularly selected pins of the microprocessor on the front panel)

73,
Don W3FPR


 > -----Original Message-----
 >
 > A slightly tangential question. My XV144 is currently on order. I
 > am planning to use it once built with my Icom IC-781 as the 28 mhz IF.
 >
 > The IC-781 requires a 'trigger' voltage of 2-13.8V dc into 10K
 > ohm on one of the rear accessory sockets, in order to enable the
 > low level transceive port on the rear of the radio. This is, I
 > believe, a standard Icom setup, similar on the IC-7800 etc.
 >
 > After some heavy pouring over of the downloaded copy of the XV144
 > literature, I am still not sure whether this voltage is supplied
 > by the XV144. There are a number of obvious easy, if less than
 > 'neat', workarounds if required, but does anyone know if the
 > XV144 can supply a control voltage of that level, 'on' when the
 > XV144 is switched on, and 'off' when it is switched off? Eg off
 > the RS232 port?
 >
 > 73
 > Wyn, VR2AX
 >
 >

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Re: XV144 paired with ICOM

Wyn Hughes
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-3
Don,

Thanks, that's immensely helpful.

I will probably do a jury rig switch from my dc supply for the base tests
and then set up a pickup point when everything else is tested ok (in due
time).

Thanks for the heads up on the DE9. Appearances can sometimes be deceptive.

73
Wyn, VR2AX

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
To: "Wyn Hughes" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 9:46 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] XV144 paired with ICOM


> Wyn,
>
> I don't know what the ICOM requires, so you will have to verify their
> requirements, but I can say that there is no signal of the type you
> describe
> as an output from the XV144.
>
> Internally, there are several places where you can pick up 12 volts
> whenever
> the transverter is powered on - the cathode of D14 seems to me an easy
> place
> to connect to.  You could connect that through a 10l resistor and bring it
> out to whatever place is convenient for you.
>
> Since you referred to the DE9 connector on the transverter as "RS232", I
> must comment - IT IS NOT!!!
> That connector is a 9 pin connector for connecting to the K2.  Accidently
> connecting RS232 levels to this connector can damage the transverter
> (particularly selected pins of the microprocessor on the front panel)
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>> A slightly tangential question. My XV144 is currently on order. I
>> am planning to use it once built with my Icom IC-781 as the 28 mhz IF.
>>
>> The IC-781 requires a 'trigger' voltage of 2-13.8V dc into 10K
>> ohm on one of the rear accessory sockets, in order to enable the
>> low level transceive port on the rear of the radio. This is, I
>> believe, a standard Icom setup, similar on the IC-7800 etc.
>>
>> After some heavy pouring over of the downloaded copy of the XV144
>> literature, I am still not sure whether this voltage is supplied
>> by the XV144. There are a number of obvious easy, if less than
>> 'neat', workarounds if required, but does anyone know if the
>> XV144 can supply a control voltage of that level, 'on' when the
>> XV144 is switched on, and 'off' when it is switched off? Eg off
>> the RS232 port?
>>
>> 73
>> Wyn, VR2AX
>>
>>
>

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Re: XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

Cathy James
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-3
Don Wilhelm wrote:
> There are two major problems with the Uniden 2600.  First is the power
> output level is in excess of the maximum drive that the transverter can
> handle.  That problem was solved with a 10 dB attenuator that was switched
> out of the circuit on receive (using a relay).
>  
I had figured that I'd have to add some attenuator circuitry, but it
didn't occur tome that I'd have to add a relay to switch it out of the
way on receive.
> The second problem is that the Uniden 2600 has no output corresponding to a
> keying circuit, so either the transverter must be activated at the same time
> the Uniden 2600 is keyed (direct from the keyline) which can cause the
> transverter to go quickly from transmit to receive and back again with the
> keying (and also the relay associated with the attenuator will work
> overtime).  This problem is not as severe on SSB, but is still a
> consideration, and on SSB, the PTT must be paralled to activate the
> transverter.
>  
Yuck.  Very ugly indeed.

--Cathy

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Re: XV144 paired with Uniden HR-2600?

John Magliacane
In reply to this post by Cathy James
Hi Cathy.

I've used an HR-2600 with a Microwave Modules 2-meter transverter in the past
with very good results.  I'm sure it can be used with the Elecraft transverter
using an approach similar to the following:

Remove the top cover of the HR-2600.  Towards the rear of the unit you'll find
three prongs supporting a small double-sided PC board.  This board connects
+-Vcc to the transmitter's driver and final power amplifier transistors.

Pull the board out, and solder a jumper between the left-most and right-most
prongs down toward the base of each prong.  This will permanently connect +-Vcc
to the driver transistor with the board removed.

In this configuration, the driver transistor will receive operating power, but
the final amplifier will not.  The output of the transmitter will now be in the
tens of milliwatts region (a guess).

To bring the transmitter power back to 25-watts, simply re-insert the board
into the prongs.

Bob's your uncle.  :-)

Just be aware that in this configuration, the HR-2600 is operating without ALC,
so you may need to back off from the microphone a bit.  Gauge your speaking
volume by the action of the bar graphs on the front of the rig.  The AM mode
probably won't work (but who cares?).

I relied on my transverter's RF-actuated TX/RX switching, but it's probably
best to dig inside the HR-2600 and bring a "hard keyed" PTT line out to the
transverter.  Several SSB contacts I made commented that they thought I was
using VOX, when in reality, I wasn't.  Perhaps the TX/RX threshold in my
transverter was a bit high.

This approach to 2-meter SSB worked well for me.  I was even able to use the
HR-2600's scanning feature to listen for band openings and "CQs".  If the rig
had extended coverage to 30 MHz, I would have made more use of it in the
2-meter satellite sub-band.


73, de John, KD2BD


Visit John on the Web at:

        http://kd2bd.ham.org/
.
.
.
.

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