Alinco DR-150T, DR-150TNC review

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PACKET USER'S

NOTEBOOK

CONNECTING YOU AND PACKET RADIO IN THE REAL WORLD

For

P acket

intotheera Because

digital communications, there are many amateurs entering the

using

redo

the

has propelled amateur radio

computers

this

git

rapid

That Quantum

move

modes

with

a quantum leap,

into

y lor the purpose

that

the

world of

use

new

the

Leap-The

Alinco

BUCK

ROGERS ,

DR-150T TNC

K4ABT

computer and ass

With the quantum leap comes the need for

taster

requiremen

switching (transmit push-to-talk to full

output) transceivers. As a result of these re-

quirements. transceivers ation

the dle

xist-inclu

e works, s

BBSes, conference cluster s

just mentioned the user can stations in other cities. usinga

need hundreds

Alinco

power

ta rates. This

t for br

many

that wilt

and

you are

local the

ppy balance in the Al With some of the packet applications I've

high-speed

looking

voice

large

witche

repealerand

variety

ding

rrecom-oower

for

super

of watts. The

DR-l50T

needed

iated software.

need

oad

keyb

-power allows the user to select the

to make the

receiver

packeteers are looking into

provide

packet

fora

nod

transceiver

packet

oard-to-keyboard netes, OX spotting nets,

inco

states,

transceiver. There is

transceivers that run

in turn dri ves the

IF and

power

both voice oper-

use.

access

one

-yo

power

connect

which

applicationsthat

ucan find that

DR-1S

connect

and

level

will

to distant

countries

contact

faster

han-

the

can clud

expect

the

from the Alinco D

specifica

tions in Table I.

Interfacing Your TNC To The

Twelve-hundred baud mic the Alinco DR- 1 (also see fig. 1).

Interfacingthe DR

somewhat differentfr connect fig. 2 I've Illustrated

Alinco

the DR

SOT

-1SOT

-1SOT the b

DR-150T

I/O are

to a 1

srown

toa

the

200baud

ackpa

The A/inco DR-ISOT TNC.

R-l50T,

connec

9600

wayin whiCh we

l of t

I've in-

tionsfor

in Table II

baud

TNC

TNC. In

DR-

150Tto Notice the limeter "stereo" jack, while the external speaker jack is a 3.5 millimeter mono Jack, The 3.5 mm

plug), The 3.5 mm plugs are easy to locate at any Radio Shack store. You may er the 2,5

rface

inte

the

to 2.5 mm to

the DR-15OT

provideade

9600

jack

TX/Ax

s are ofte n called a

rcumv

cable

ter is available f

"stereo" plug is a different story.

ent this

using a 3.5

connec

adapter

tailedlookat the twojacks.

tion. I

complete

9600

rom

jack

oblem I made

purchased

baud

Radio Shack as part

is a 2.5 mil-

inch" jack (or

soon

stereo

the

data

discov-

plug

a 3.5 mm

connection

jack. The

the

ranging fr

transceiver was

in mind.

50 watts output. This Alinco

des

igned with the packeteer

The Best Is Yet To Come

The DR-

mum

Spacetonesol12OOand In addition. to transmit

used

Although It is not a requirement.

desired featuresin a

the level at which the transmitter reaches full

a TXDeiay of 20 or less. A TXDeiay of

equ

second

watt. 9600 baud transceiver should have

ates

l50T

audio

and

WIth

tween when the TNC activates PIT and

wer, This is

enginee

characteristics for the Mark

theDR-150T has

receive9600baud. Thus, it

bOth 1200

red

2200Hz

and

ta radio isthe timeperi-

lled TXDelay.

been

9600

provide

(12OObaud).

engineered

baud

one

con-

and

can

TNCs.

eally,

the

200 milliseconds. or one fifth or a

trom the lime

the

Push-To-Talk (

PIT)

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ALiNCO DR-150T

GENERAL Freq

Antenna Power requirements Receive Transmit current Dimensions

Weight

TRANSMITTER Output Power

Emission M Modulation Type Maxi Spu

ncycov

Impedance

current

m Frequency Deviation

rious Emission

ode

era

= 144.

= 108.0Cl0-1 73.

Rx = SO

138

0.6 10

(not defi (not defined in US stan

High = 50, Medium = 25.

16F3

Reactan

%5 kHz

440.((X)-4

Ohms un

VOlts

ampere

Not more than

0c0-

balanced

{

apprcx.}

(

approx.)

ned

in US standard)

(true FM)

147,995 MHz

5 M

49995

-60

MHz

dard)

low

= 10

is activat full

the TXO stre

ceiver

As a matter of interest, I've fou

DR-1S0T performs as well in

et operat ion as it

giv

211 Luenburg Drive, EVl

until

watts of

setunq)

to the transmit FSK or AFSK line(trans-

ta Input),

e you a better un

the

output

does

transceiver reaches t

power_At full

the TNC applies the

with voice

ders

tanding of whatyou

/on, VA 24

9600

baud

app

output

data

that t

pack

licat ions.

550

(or

RECEIVER

ece

R Modulation Acceptance

Intermedia te Freque

Sensitivity (12

Sensitivity

Selectivity

Audio Fr

iver T

ype

(12dB

equency

Dual Conversion, Super Het.

16F3, F2. F3

ncy SINAD) SINAD)

Outpu t

Table 1- Specifications

45 2 m

70 em

12 kHz

1.5 watts into 8

MHz and 455 kHz

better than 0.16 uV

band

=> @--6 dB; =<28 k

the

better than 0.10 uV

ohm

Ali

nco

DR- ISOTdafaradio.

Hz@--60dB

speaker

94 • CO •

July

1995

say

You

saw

3.5mm

plug -----

-r'

3.5

8."IlUBT

...

z.smm

Signal Ground I

9600 baud R

9600 baud

REO

eceiver

ansmit

plug I

-------

----------

• 8

o 0

XT.SP

ALIN

Fig. a

TNC-2.

Fig, Inpul/output

to extract receive audio for

number274-373. The descriptionontheRadio Shack blister adapts 3.5

Jac

ks.

Before beginning the interface

procedures wh portion of fhis monfh's column, I recommend

fhat you read page

at.

Reading the com plete manual wit!allow you

to familiarize yourself with the transceiver willprovide information

figu ration, The DR-150T manual is a virtual

storehouse

I-Interlacing

The

(see

ot information that applies to your

etso Table If.)

2.5

tor

96(X)

pack

(1~

h we will

-1

L...s

l EE" J

50T

the

AlincoDR-ISOT transceiverto

mm stereo

baud. Tne3.5 mm

is "Headphone

inch) to 2.5

discuss

63 of the DR-

lor

the 9600baud con-

plug

1200

TKC2

used

plug

baud

Adapter"-

(~inch)

and in the next

15OT

only.

setup

manu-

and

the

is used ANTE

PIN CONNECTIONS

nnector)

NNA

1200

BAUD

TNC FUNCTION AFSK Out

PTT Control RECEI Shield/Ground PIT

MIC

Audio

Ground

POWER

ftafl,e

Scan

on - - ALL

Jhark

ners

Radio

new DR you will discover hundreds of wonderful features that are pr processor

Transmitting

To operate a packet station you should have a current amateur radiolicense thatallows operating privileges within the spectrum your

It the interface

and connected, then you are ready to establish contact with another packet station. It is

-1

50T voiceand data ra

otthe DR-

DR-l50T

rammed into the micro-

15OT.

Packet

is tuned.

cables

dio

,Best of all,

are properly

which

wired

Table

Alinco oR-1S0T

1).

transmitted

shield conn

The

return for the P

the

200

kHz (SWing). Without exception, all TNCs have provisions within their usersto increaseor

11-

Note:

gray

best

9600

Microphonepin connections for the

I/O, 1200

Ifhumornois

pack

ect

wire at pin 8 will provide

ground

transmit audio level setting for either

baud

et signal, disconnect the

ionatthe TNC

line; therefore no addition-

wires are necessary.

is in the range of

decrease

baud

sexperienc

circuitry

(also see fig,

end

that

the level(s)

onth

ofthe cable.

ground

3,0

to 3.5

enable

when

NEW

2-Meter

Mobile

Transceiver

)35t(

isk-FREE

$289

TRIA

•

wise to solicit help of another person who is already operating in the ciallywhen operatingat you will have someone signal quencies that

1200

Although the DR-15OT is make use to

prevent over-rrooutatco (deviatiOn), there

are audio circuitry too hard. An indicatiOn that a

problem noticed when a packet

and

baud

some

direct

are

packet.

limiting circuits that are

TNes

SUCh

you to the

set aside for 9600 and/or

which

as this is present

ccooect

statenwith no results. Often too

packet

9600

who

may

is tried

modes, espe-

baud. Inthis

can

drive

listen for your

operating

engineered

designed

the transmit

would

a nearby

way

fre-

much

necessary. It is advisable to know which ponent inside TNCaudiooutput. II

an adjustment trohs}. Remember: This is the exception. the rule, with 1200 baud. However, the level setting giving. Until you baud, you

Once

9600 baud,

Formore informatiOn concerning the Alinco

DR-l50T

Amapola Ave., Unit 130,

(phone

fOf

9600

you haveachieved the

, contact Alinco Electronics irc.. 438

310-618-8616; FAX 310-618-8758).

don't

the

outside the TNC controls the

may

the

baud

experience

know what you ate missing

rest is

necessary10make

associated

transmitaudio is less for-

packet

proper

pure

pleasure.

Torrance

level

setting

com-

con-

nol

at 9600

tOf

90501

..,

..IO......

.....

t::;;:;:::.

CALL

FREE

&111100...

...

_SLlt_

' "

l115S,....

...

e-_"'a$_",

1-800-433·SAVE

s-o

JU.'li.

Do.-

_ _

c.::

_.-fri.

....

transmit deviation

can

cause the

same

orco-

lam as not enough transmit audio. I've found

Say Y

Saw

HappyPack

eting'

BucK4ABT@WA4RTS.vAUSA

USRad

P1ua.-

Granbouy, Tx. 76048

1995

• CO •

Alinco DR-150T, DR-150TNC review

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual