LDG RVS-8 User Manual

RVS-8 Eight Channel

Repeater Voting System

Manual Version 1.0

LDG Electronics

1445 Parran Road, PO Box 48

St. Leonard MD 20685-2903 USA

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]
www.ldgelectronics.com

Copyright © LDG Electronics 2006. All rights reserved.

RVS-8 Eight Channel

Repeater Voting System

Introduction 3
Specifications 3
Overview 4
Installation 6
Setup 7
Operation 9
Application Notes 11
Care and Maintenance 13
Technical Support 14
Warranty and Service 14
Firmware Upgrades 14
Feedback 14

2

Introduction

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Congratulations on selecting the RVS-8 voter. This system allows you to add up to eight satellite
receivers to your repeater system. It selects the one with the best signal-to-noise ratio and
channels the audio and Carrier Operated Relay (COR) output to your repeater input. A wide
variety of options is available via the front-panel controls and display. You can even "cascade"
up to eight of these units for a system of 64 satellite receivers.

LDG pioneered the automatic, wide-range switched-L tuner in 1995. From its laboratories near
the nation’s capitol, LDG continues to define the state of the art in this field with innovative
automatic tuners and related products for every amateur need.

Specifications

• 8 Channels (expandable)

• True Signal-to-Noise Voting

• Microprocessor Controlled

• Software Upgradable

• Menu Driven, 10 Menus

• Programmable COR and Disable Inputs

• Programmable Hysterisis

• Digital S/N Meter

• Frequency response 30 to 20,000 Hz

• Crosstalk > 60db

• Distortion < 1 db

• Power requirement: 12 Volts DC @ 500 ma

• Board Size: 6 x 9 inches

• Rack Size: 1 Rack unit, 7 inch depth

• Enclosure size: 19 x 7.0 x 1.25 (measured in inches)

Never install antennas or transmission lines over or near
power lines. You can be seriousl
of the antenna, support or transmission line touches a power
line. Alwa
the nearest power line should be at least twice the length o
the longest antenna, transmission line or support dimension.

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING

injured or killed if any part

s follow this antenna safety rule: the distance to

3

Overview

Your RVS-8 repeater system is a quality, precision instrument that will give you many years of
service; take a few minutes to get to know it.

Your RVS-8 is designed to be mounted in a standard 19" rack. The front panel is integrated with
the rack mount. Your RVS-8 comes fully assembled, tested and aligned, and is ready to install
and use.

Front panel controls include:

• Power On/Off

• Power indicator LED

• COR operation LED

• Menu button

• Parameter selection button

• Data input button

4

The LDC display shows current system status information, and menu options when selected.

On the rear panel are connections for audio and COR inputs from up to eight receivers, COR
switching output, voted audio output, and DC power input. Other useful outputs are also
provided; see Installation.

5

Installation

Your RVS-8 is intended for indoor use only; it is not water resistant. If you install it in a remote
location, you must insure that it is protected from moisture and temperature extremes.

1. Connect the audio output from each of your receivers to the screw connections on the header
labeled "Audio In J5". Each audio input is relative to the ground connection on that header.

2. Connect the corresponding COR output from each receiver to the respective screw
connections on the header labeled "COR In J4". Be sure to correctly match the COR inputs to
the audio inputs on J5; that is, COR 1 matches audio 1, etc.

3. If you wish, you can remotely disable receivers via the inputs on the header labeled "Disable
In J3". To remotely disable a receiver, set the corresponding contact on J3 to either a high or
low voltage state, depending on how you set up that channel in the menu; see Setup. You can
disable as many receivers in this manner as you wish.

4. The header labeled "Select Out" provides an output indicating which of the eight receivers is
voted. One of the eight pins on this header will be at +12vdc indicating the voted receiver.
The other pins will be at zero volts. +12vdc at 10ma is also provided on this header. All
voltages are relative to the ground connection on this header. You might use this output to
drive an array of LEDs so you could see which receiver is voted from a distance. Use of these
outputs is optional; you may simply leave them disconnected if you wish.

5. The main voter outputs are on the header labeled "Output". Audio output and its dedicated
ground are the rightmost two connectors on this header. COR output is the leftmost three,
providing normally closed, normally open and common connections. The COR outputs are
"dry" contact closures; no voltages are output on these connectors.

6. DC power input is via the coaxial connector labeled "Power". Connect this to a source of 12
volts DC capable of providing at least 500 ma, using the provided 2.5 by 5.5 mm coaxial
plug. Best practice is a regulated DC power supply connected to the AC line through a high­quality surge protector.

6

Setup

Setup your RVS-8 via the front panel buttons and LDC display. Setup data is stored in non­volatile EEPROM, and remains intact when power is removed.

Hysteresis

The hysteresis level is the amount of signal-to-noise ratio improvement needed over the currently
voted site for a new site to be voted. Press the Menu button until the present hysteresis value is
displayed. Press the Data button to select the desired value. Available values are 0 - 8. You
should adjust this to a higher value if you experience excessive switching between receivers. A
higher value requires more improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio for switching to occur. The
normal value should be 3 or 4.

Disabled Channels

Press the Menu button until the presently disabled channels are displayed. To disable or enable a
channel, press the Selection button to scroll across to the desired channel. Press the Data button
to toggle between enabled and disabled. The channel is disabled when the channel number
appears in the Disabled Channels display.

This display also reflects channels disabled via hardware connected to J3. Channels disabled in
software via this menu cannot be enabled via hardware, and vice versa.

Be sure not to disable all channels. This would effectively turn off the repeater as no inputs would
be passed through.

7

Disable Active State

You can choose whether a receiver is disabled by means of a high or low voltage state input to J3.
This selection can be made for each channel; that is, you can set each channel to either high or
low separately. Press the Menu button until the "Dis Active State" menu is displayed. Press the
Selection button until the desired channel is displayed, then press the Data button to select high
(HI) or low (LO).

Active HI means your controller or other external device must produce a positive-going voltage
(6.5 to 20 volts) when the channel is to be disabled, and a low-going voltage (0.0 to 4.5 volts)
when the channel is to be enabled. Active LO means that your controller or other external device
must provide a low-going voltage (0.0 to 4.5 volts) when the channel is to be disabled, and a high
going voltage (6.5 to 20 volts) when the channel is to be enabled.

COR Active State

You can choose whether a high or low voltage state indicates an active COR input on J4. This
selection can be made for each channel; that is, you can set each to channel to either high or low
separately. Press the Menu button until the "COR Active State" menu is displayed. Press the
Selection button until the desired channel is displayed, then press the Data button to select high
(HI) or low (LO).

Active HI means that your receiver COR must produce a positive-going voltage (6.5 to 20 volts)
when the squelch is open (receiving a signal) and a low-going voltage (0.0 to 4.5 volts) when the
squelch is closed (no signal). Active LO means that your receiver COR must provide a low-going
voltage (0.0 to 4.5 volts) when the squelch is open and a high-going voltage (6.5 to 20 volts)
when the squelch is closed.

8

Operation

On power-up, the display shows a title screen and current firmware version for a few seconds,
then the default screen: "Current Voted". The currently voted receiver is displayed. As the
repeater operates, the red COR LED on the front panel will light when the repeater is activated.
The Current Voted display continuously updates as the system switches from receiver to
receiver.

Several other useful items of information are available on the LCD display. Press the Menu
button to display the following:

Current CORs

: displays the CORs that are presently active, showing a received signal on that

receiver.

Signal / Noise: displays the signal to noise ratio of each channel. Press the Selection button to
view this information for each channel (receiver). The value displayed is between 0 and 255, with
255 representing the highest ratio (also the best signal).

9

Most Voted: Displays the channel most often voted, out of the last 100 COR cycles. This count is
reset when DC power is cycled.

Least Voted

: Displays the channel least often voted, out of the last 100 COR cycles. This count is

reset when DC power is cycled.

Hits per Chan

: Displays the number of times each channel was activated out of the last 100 COR
cycles. The value will be between 0 and 100. This count is reset when DC power is cycled.
Press the Select button the view data for each channel.

10

Application Notes

The following diagram shows a basic setup with eight satellite receivers. Typically, one of the
receivers is the "main" receiver, co-located with the transmitter. The other receivers are usually
"link" receivers bringing audio from remote satellite receivers.

Receiver 1

Audio

COR

J5

Receiver 8

Audio

COR

Audio

COR

J4

RVS-8

Output

Repeater

Transmitter

11

Should the need arise, you can use up to 64 satellite receivers by "cascading" eight RVS-8 voters.
Each of the eight voters can input eight receivers, for a total of 64. The outputs of these eight
RVS-8 voters are then input to a ninth RVS-8 unit which provides final selection of audio and
COR outputs to the repeater transmitter. Frankly, if you're using 64 satellite receivers, you've got
our respect.

Receiver 1

Receiver 1

RVS-8

RVS-8

RVS-8

#1

#1

#1

Receiver 8

Receiver 8

Receiver 63

Receiver 63

Receiver 64

Receiver 64

RVS-8

RVS-8

RVS-8

#8

#8

#8

RVS-8RVS-8

Repeater

Transmitter

12

Alignment

The first step in alignment is to make sure that each channel is matched to the proper COR and
Disable Active State. Test each input to make sure that when the COR becomes active on your
receiver, the voter responds properly and shows that channel as having an active COR.

The calibration process is fairly simple. Start with the eight audio pots and eight noise pots
centered. Each channel will be calibrated in the same manner, so only the first channel will be
discussed and the user can then calibrate the other channels as needed.

An RF signal generator and oscilliscope will be useful in the alignment process, but you can be
creative with other test equipment and achieve proper calibration.

Start by transmitting an on-frequency signal of 1000 Hz at 3.0 KHz deviation to your first remote
receiver. Be sure that the signal is full quieting. Place the scope on test point AUD1 and adjust the
AUD1 pot for 1.0 volts peak to peak.

Remove the test signal and open the squelch of the first remote receiver. Place the scope on test
point Noise1 and adjust the Noise1 pot to read 3.5 volts.

Repeat for channels 2 through 8, or for the number of channels used.

The Audio Out pot is used to set the overall output level of the voter.

Tips

If you don’t have a signal generator, you can use a transceiver and press the touch tone pad to
generate a tone signal. This can be used to get the voter adjustments close.

If you have a difficult time getting the Noise adjustment down to 3.5, lower the AUD adjustment
to 0.5 volts peak to peak. If you do this, make sure that all receivers are set to 0.5 volts. As long
as all inputs are set to the same voltage level, you can lower the signal down to 0.2 volts peak to
peak if needed.

They type of audio used from the receivers can be just about any type as long as all of the
receivers use the same audio. Audio types that are acceptable are line level and speaker audio.
Also, it does not matter if the audio is de-emphasized or not as long as all of the receivers are the
same.

The biggest problem seen in getting the voter to work properly is a mis-match in the audio
characteristics between the receivers. Many times, doing a frequency sweep with expose
differences in the audio response. Since there are literally dozens of different receivers that you
could use, there could be dozens of different audio responses possible. Usually the best way to get
near identical audio responses is to use the same brand and model of the remote and link receiver.

Care and Maintenance

Your RVS-8 voter is maintenance-free. As with any modern electronic device, your RVS-8 can
be damaged by water, temperature extremes, impact or static discharge.

13

Technical Support

We are happy to help you with your RVS-8. Telephone technical support is available at 410-586­2177 weekdays from 9 am to 5pm Eastern Time. Inquiries by Fax at 410-586-8475 are welcome,
and prompt e-mail support is available at [e-mail].

Warranty and Service

Your RVS-8 is warranted against defects in parts or workmanship for two years from purchase.
The warranty does not cover damage due to abuse or exceeding specifications. This warranty
applies to the original purchaser only; it is not transferable. A copy of the receipt showing the
purchaser’s name and the date of purchase must accompany units returned for warranty service.
All returns must be shipped to us pre-paid; we will not accept units with postage due. A return
form is provided on our web site for your convenience.

If you need to return your RVS-8 to us for service, package it carefully, keeping in mind that we
will re-use your packaging to return the unit to you. Download the return form from our web site
([e-mail]), fill it out and return it with your voter. A self-addressed return­shipping label, while not required, will help insure speedy and accurate delivery of your repaired
unit. Include a full description of the problem, along with your name, address and a phone
number or e-mail address where we can reach you with any questions. Repairs average about 3 to
6 weeks.

We will be glad to service your RVS-8 after the warranty period has ended. We will notify you of
repair charges by phone or e-mail, and bill you after repairs are completed.

Firmware Upgrades

From time to time LDG may release upgraded firmware for the RVS-8, refining operation and
adding features. Your RVS-8 is not field programmable; you will have to remove the present chip
and replace it with the upgrade chip. Upgrades are expected to cost about $10-$20, and will be
announced on our web site when available.

Feedback

If you have an idea to improve our software or hardware, please send us a description. If we
incorporate your idea in the RVS-8, we'll send you a free upgrade as a “thank you”.

We encourage everyone who uses the RVS-8 to contact us (card, letter or e-mail preferred) telling
us how well it works for you. We are also always looking for photographs of our products in use;
we frequently place such pictures on our web site (www.ldgelectronics.com).

14

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Title

Number RevisionSize

A3

Date: 17-Oct-2005 Sheet of
File: C:\Contracting\LDG\RVS-8\Voter.DDB Drawn By:

C61
.01uf

+6+12+6

C60

0.1uf

C59

0.1uf

+12

K1

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

J4
COR

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

J3
DIS

X0

13

X1

14

X2

15

X3

12

X4

1

X5

5

X6

2

X7

4

INH

6

A

11

B

10

C

9

VEE

7

X

3

VSS8+12

16

U8
4051

X0

13

X1

14

X2

15

X3

12

X4

1

X5

5

X6

2

X7

4

INH

6

A

11

B

10

C

9

VEE

7

X

3

VSS

8

+12

16

U7
4051

10

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

J6

1

2

3

JPR1

+12

C54

0.1uf

C50

0.1uf

+5

Q13D1

2

Q25D2

4

Q37D3

6

Q49D4

10

Q511D5

12

Q613D6

14

DA

1

DB

15

+12

16

GND

8

U11

4503

Q13D1

2

Q25D2

4

Q37D3

6

Q49D4

10

Q511D5

12

Q613D6

14

DA

1

DB

15

+12

16

GND

8

U10

4503

Q13D1

2

Q25D2

4

Q37D3

6

Q49D4

10

Q511D5

12

Q613D6

14

DA

1

DB

15

+12

16

GND

8

U9

4503

5
6
9

11

4
7
8

10

2
1
14
13

+12

3

GND

12

U2

LM339

5
7
9

11

4
6
8

10

2
1
14
13

+12

3

GND

12

U6

LM339

SO

2

SI

5

SCK

6

CS

1

VCC

8

VSS

4

WP

3

HOLD

7

U3

X250XX

AS

4

R/W

6

E

5

B0

42

B1

41

B2

40

B3

39

B4

38

B5

37

B6

36

B7

35

C0

9

C1

10

C2

11

C3

12

C4

13

C5

14

C6

15

C7

16

A034A133A2

32

A3

31

A4

30

A5

29

A6

28

A7

27

D2

22

D3

23

D4

24

D5

25

E0

43

E1

45

E2

47

E3

49

E4

44

E5

46

E6

48

E7

50

VDD

26

VSS

1

EXTAL

8

XTAL

7

RESET

17

D1

21

D0

20

VRL

51

MODB

2

MODA

3

VRH

52

IRQ

19

XIRQ

18

U1

68HC11

D4

11

D5

12

D6

13

D7

14

ENAB

6

R/W

5

RS

4

+5

2

CONT

3

GND

1

J8

+5

+5

X1

8mhz

C51

10pf

+5

C53

0.1uf

+5

D1
1N4001

C57

0.1uf

C58

0.1uf

+12

+6

+5

+12

+12

+12

+5

1
2
3
4
5

J2

AUDIO/COR

+12

+12

+5

C49

1.0UF

C55
47uf

C56
47uf

OUTSELC

OUTSELB

OUTSELA

2

COMMON

N/O
N/C

COROUT

RAWCOR1
RAWCOR2
RAWCOR3
RAWCOR4
RAWCOR5
RAWCOR6
RAWCOR7
RAWCOR8

RAWDIS1
RAWDIS2
RAWDIS3
RAWDIS4
RAWDIS5
RAWDIS6
RAWDIS7
RAWDIS8

OUTAUD1
OUTAUD2
OUTAUD3
OUTAUD4
OUTAUD5
OUTAUD6
OUTAUD7
OUTAUD8

DATALCD

WR

ENABLE

D7

D6

D5

D4

RVS -8 Vot er

3.2

4
AA3AV

SELA
SELB
SELC

SO
SI
SCK
CS

CDS
COR

A/D0
A/D1
A/D2
A/D3
A/D4
A/D5
A/D6
A/D7

OUTSELA
OUTSELB
OUTSELC

CONTRAST

RAWCOR1
RAWCOR2
RAWCOR3
RAWCOR4
RAWCOR5
RAWCOR6

RAWCOR7
RAWCOR8

RAWDIS1
RAWDIS2
RAWDIS3
RAWDIS4

RAWDIS5
RAWDIS6

RAWDIS7

RAWDIS8

AUDOUT

COROUT

AUDOUT

MENU
DATA
SELECT

C52 10pf

IRQS

MODB

MODB

IRQS

SELECT

MENU

DATA

1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10

J7

Front Panel

POWERIN

PWR
GND 0

J1

POWEROUT

POWERIN POWEROUT

OnOffLEDMenu

Select

CORLED

Data

Return

Return

Select

Data

Menu

CORLED

OnOffLED

Vin

1

GND

2

Vout

3

PAD

0

U5
VoltReg

R1

470

R5
1M

R4
1K

R12
470

R6

10K

R7
1k

R9
10K

R8
10K

VR17
100K

VR18

100K

R41

10k

R42

10k

R43

10k

R44

10k

R45

10k

R46

10k

R47

10k

R48

10k

R56 100k

R55 100k

R54 100k

R53 100k

R52 100k

R51 100k

R50 100k

R49 100k

R76

10k

R77

10k

R78

10k

R79

10k

R80

10k

R81

10k

R82

10k

R83

10k

R105 100k

R104 100k

R103 100k

R102 100k

R101 100k

R100 100k

R99 100k

R98 100k

R33

15k

R34

15k

R35

15k

R36

15k

R37

15k

R38

15k

R39

15k

R40

15k

R58 10k

R59 10k

R61 10k

R63 10k

R65 10k

R67 10k

R69 10k

R71 10k

R73 10k

R62 10k

R64 10k

R66 10k

R68 10k

R70 10k

R72 10k

R74 10k

R75 10k

R84

10k

R85

10k

R86

10k

R87

10k

R88

10k

R89

10k

R115
10k

R116

10k

B

E

C

Q1

2N3904-SOT23

D2

DIODE_1N4148

C200
.01uf

+12 +5

GND+6

POWERIN

POWEROUT

RLY

TP19
COROUT

TP1
+12

TP2+6TP20

+5

+12

+6

+5

TP21

Audio Out

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9

10

8

U13C

TL084

2

3

1

411

U13A

TL084

9

10

8

U12C

TL084

2

3

1

411

U12A

TL084

12

13

14

U13D
TL084

+6+6

VR12
100K

VR4
100k

R21
10k

R2

1.0M

R28

4.7k

C36
.0047

C20
.0047

C28
.0047

C4

0.47uf

+12

C3

0.47uf

C27
.0047

C19
.0047

C35
.0047

R27

4.7k

R3

1.0M

R22
10k

VR3
100k

VR11
100K

+6 +6 +12

5

6

7

U12B
TL084

C1

0.47uf

C25
.0047

C17
.0047

C33
.0047

R25

4.7k

R11

1.0M

R24
10k

VR1
100k

VR9
100K

+6 +6 +12

+12

C2

0.47uf

C26
.0047

C18
.0047

C34
.0047

R26

4.7k

R10

1.0M

R23
10k

VR2
100k

VR10
100K

+6 +6

12

13

14

U12D
TL084

5

6

7

U13B

TL084

3

2

1

8 4

U16A

3240

6

5

7

U16B

3240

3

2

1

8 4

U17A

3240

6

5

7

U17B

3240

C9

1.0UF

C10

1.0UF

C11

1.0UF

C12

1.0UF

C41
10UF

C42
10UF

C43
10UF

C44
10UF

OUTAUD4

A/D3

AUDIN4

S/N Gate 4

AUDIN3

A/D2

OUTAUD3

S/N Gate 3

RVS-8 Voter

3.2

3 4

AA3AV

S/N Gate 1

AUDIN1

A/D0

OUTAUD1

S/N Gate 2

AUDIN2

A/D1

OUTAUD2

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

J5

Audio

AUDIN1
AUDIN2
AUDIN3
AUDIN4
AUDIN5
AUDIN6
AUDIN7
AUDIN8

AUDIN1

AUDIN2

AUDIN3

AUDIN4

R93

10k

R92

10k

R91

10k

R90

10k

R107

1k

R108

1k

R109

1k

R110

1k

R117

10k

R118

10k

R119

10k

R120

10k

R128
100k

R127
100k

R126
100k

R125
100k

1

MH1

CON1

1

MH2

CON1

1

MH3

CON1

1

MH4

CON1

1

MH5

CON1

1

MH6

CON1

TP3
Noise1

TP4
Noise2

TP5
Noise3

TP6
Noise4

TP11
AUD1

TP12
AUD2

TP13
AUD3

TP14
AUD4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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Title

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Date: 17-Oct-2005 Sheet of
File: C:\Contracting\LDG\RVS-8\Voter.DDB Drawn By:

5

6

7

U19B

3240

2

3

1

84

U19A

3240

5

6

7

U18B

3240

2

3

1

84

U18A

3240

9

10

8

U15C

TL084

2

3

1

411

U15A

TL084

9

10

8

U14C

TL084

2

3

1

411

U14A

TL084

C8

0.47uf

C32
.0047

C24
.0047

C40
.0047

R32

4.7k

R13

1.0M

R17
10k

VR8
100k

VR16
100K

+6 +6

12

13

14

U15D
TL084

+12

+6+6

VR13
100K

VR5
100k

R20
10k

R16

1.0M

R29

4.7k

C37
.0047

C21
.0047

C29
.0047

C5

0.47uf

+12

12

13

14

U14D
TL084

+6+6

VR14
100K

VR6
100k

R19
10k

R15

1.0M

R30

4.7k

C38
.0047

C22
.0047

C30
.0047

C6

0.47uf

+12

5

6

7

U15B
TL084

C7

0.47uf

C31
.0047

C23
.0047

C39
.0047

R31

4.7k

R14

1.0M

R18
10k

VR7
100k

VR15
100K

+6 +6

+12

5

6

7

U14B

TL084

C13

1.0UF

C14

1.0UF

C15

1.0UF

C16

1.0UF

C45
10UF

C46
10UF

C47
10UF

C48
10UF

S/N Gate 8

AUDIN8

A/D7

OUTAUD8

RVS-8 Voter

3.3

4 4

AA3AV

S/N Gate 5

OUTAUD5

A/D4

AUDIN5

S/N Gate 6

OUTAUD6

A/D5

AUDIN6

S/N Gate 7

AUDIN7

A/D6

OUTAUD7

AUDIN5

AUDIN6

AUDIN7

AUDIN8

R97

10k

R96

10k

R95

10k

R94

10k

R114

1k

R113

1k

R112

1k

R111

1k

R124

10k

R123

10k

R122

10k

R121

10k

R132
100k

R131
100k

R130
100k

R129
100k

TP7
Noise5

TP8
Noise6

TP9
Noise7

TP10
Noise8

TP15
AUD5

TP16
AUD6

TP17
AUD7

TP18
AUD8