Version information (see the "VK5DJ Repeater Controller VXXX.pdf" for detail on operation)


Version 6.31 fixes the CTCSS to also cancel the timer on the link port as well.
Version 6.32 fixes lockup when using TAIT with RX and TX both active
Version 6.33 adds a remote controlled pulse on secondary port (reset for those with no link)
Version 6.34 enables timeout within remote control to avoid lockup
Version 6.35 fixes a problem with remote control when there is no COS operation due to use of an external receiver.
Version 6.36 with external rcvr for dtmf there was a problem with audios being shut down
Version 6.37 timeout delay when using Function 03 08 wasn't recovering cleanly after a timeout.
Version 6.38 made frequency of beep and boop available in eedata for those who want to change it at program time and updated manual.
Version 6.39 enabled a function to allow EITHER of CTCSS received or main receiver COS to operate the TX. Function 03 20 (see manual)
Version 6.40 made the value of the CTCSS anti-jitter function available in EEDATA. See manual 6.40
Version 6.41 Adds a beep to the audio while CTCSS being received for timer cancellation (confirmation that the timer is cancelled)
Version 6.42 required 3 seconds of CTCSS to extend the timeout period to 60 minutes. Confirmation with 2 beeps.
Version 6.43 fixed a bug when a carrier drop occurred during updating a callsign or a message. It would result in a locked on carrier.
	     and a bug in the updating of a message. Both now work as intended. 22 September 2009
Version 6.45 fixed a bug in the 3sec callsign system when using extended tail. Added ACfail extended beep when normal beeps excluded.
             As a precaution against running out of stack space rewrote code to avoid one level - reduces chance of a lockup 

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Note: 4 September (Version 6.30)
Possible to now cancel the timer for club broadcasts using a CTCSS tone. Cancels for 75 minutes after tone disappears.
Normal timeout returns after 5 mute closures or end of 75 minute period. 
Fixed a document typo in the Control function 6 examples (due to cutting and pasting from control 7 example)
Fixed an error on page 8 re command 00 parameter 03 (timeout cancel)

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Note: 21 June 2007 (Version 6.22)
See manual for detail.
Adds use of mclr pin for AC fail. Needs a board mod only if AC Fail required - see manual.
Adds capacity to cancel callsigns and DTMF that doesn't key repeater
Fixes burst of PTT on switch on
Improved enabling and disabling of link/gateway
Enables Roger beep capability for normal repeater operation even with no link or gateway. 

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Note: January 2007 (Version 6.00)
Significant version number change due to changes in the remote control scheme.

Due to a need for more remote functions I have altered the remote system to a pattern where a 2 digit hex number is required for each address.
In addition I have re-ordered instructions to enable some saving in space. This has been so successful that more features are now contained in less program space although there are now 5 characters less space for the message and callsign.

This version tidies up the ident options - there are now 4 options:

Standard: end of transmission if timer expired and then once when timer expires when repeater unused.

Three second mode: during repeater use same as Standard mode but in quiet times it requires a 3 second received signal before it will provide an ident (helps avoid problems caused by button pushers). A quiet period (value depends on the secondary tail value) must pass before another 3 second received carrier will start an ident.

Swedish European: This mode idents at the start of transmissions if the call timer is expired, and during operation of the repeater whenever the timer expires. If secondary tail timer is activated (Function 01 10) it idents when the secondary timer shuts. The repeater then remains silent.

Italian European: This mode idents whenever the callsign timer expires (beacon mode) but not if a signal is being received. If timer expires during use, it idents when the mute closes. 

In addition to the 4 ident options, the extended tail function (also used for 3second ident mode) used in European countries is now fully adjustable in seconds (max of 15 secs).

The 1750 HZ beep mode is retained and another station without 1750 may transmit during the extended tail and use the repeater. The extended tail and delayed mute must be set for 1750 operation

A new mode called 'Extended CTCSS' is available. This mode may be used when CTCSS is required for operation. If the 'CTCSSExtended Mode' is set then if one station opens the repeater with CTCSS the repeater remains 'open' until a timer expires or another CTCSS station accesses the system.

Read the manual carefully for changes.

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Note: March 2006 (Version 5.09)
Following a request I have added beep access (1750Hz) to the controller.
It assumes that the CTCSS decoder has been retuned to 1750Hz and the lowpass filter bypassed or retuned. Alternatively an external tone decoder could be used through pin12 of JP5. The function 0 must be set for at least a 200msec mute delay and function 9 set for beep (add hex 08 to the value for function 9).
If set, the repeater sleeps until a beep occurs in the first 200msec of a transmission. It is then available for use until a 15 second gap in transmissions when the repeater again sleeps.

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Note : January/February 2006 (version 5.08)
Fixed a bug where remote control was locked out in timeout mode. Any DTMF tone now takes the controller out of timeout 'lock out' so effectively remote control works from inside timeout.

Fixed a bug when using CTCSS. If only a carrier was being received (an interfering signal) the controller would time out. In CTCSS mode it is now necessary that both CTCSS and open mute are needed to cause a timeout.

Added a feature in control 9 to change the callsign mode of operation. A choice of three callsign identification methods are now available. This was added especially to cater for our European friends. See Version 5.08 manual.

Added CTCSS option (add 8 to other options) that is an alternative cancel timer option. If the CTCSS option 8 is used then a CTCSS tone will lock out the main timer. This is useful when operators don't want to send DTMF tones before a long club broadcast to prevent unsavoury people recording tones for malicious reasons. With this function the braodcast operator merely applies CTCSS. This mode can be used in conjunction with other CTCSS modes but would not generally be used in this way as the timer would not be operational. This mode was a special request and is made available for those who might have a use for it.


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Note: 7 September 2005 (Version 5.06)
Fixed a bug whereby the PTT of the simplex radio could be on under some circumstances with the simplex mute active. Mostly not a problem as PTT would mean mute no longer active - a just in case fix.


Note: 4th June 2005  (version 5.04)
Fixed some items that hadn't been brought up to date in the document file.
Prevented a short burst of carrier that followed a successful remote control function. It was actually a left over bit of tail that hadn't been suppressed. 

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Note: 26th April 2005 (Version 5.03)
Following a request for greater control of the CTCSS function I have broadened the range of options. This has been achieved by storing a value in EEPROM and therefore a change in control codes.
New options include:
Capacity to make CTCSS required for the rptr and gateway TXs to operate (existing)
Capacity to require CTCSS for gateway entrance into the repeater system (existing)
Capacity to require CTCSS to access the gateway (but not the repeater) from the repeater.

The third option is the new feature. See the latest "VK5DJ Repeater Controller.pdf" manual.

As a consequence of storing a byte in EEPROM and making this multifunction, there was no longer a need for 4 and 5 to be separate functions. I was already unhappy about using # as a function for the DTMF and Beep, so I have shifted function # to function 4. See the manual - function # is no longer available. In addition the reset function * now only resets functions 1,2,3. that is the inhibits of the two transmitters and the timeout timer. 

The new list of functions is:
Remote controls: 
0=mute delay ($0 to $FF)
1= inhibit main TX	
2= inhibit link TX  	  
3= cancels the main timer for broadcast operation
4= DTMF and Beep options (0=no relay, 1=to rptr, 2=to simplex, 3=both) 
     choose beeps (add 4 to above numbers to inhibit beeps)
5= CTCSS options
6= change callsign (see later for notes)
7= change call delay (units 1 min, HEX 0A gives 10 minutes)
8= change timeout delay (units 1 minute, HEX 03 gives 3 mins)
9= flip between gateway and link operation for the secondary port (see note) 
A= morse code speed ($03 to $18, where $03=30wpm, $04 is default) 
B= length of tail ($00 to $96 in multiples of 0.1 secs. Default is $0A for 1 sec)
C= disable or adjust timing of regular CW message. 0=disable (1 minute inc)
D= change CW message 
*= reset controls 1,2,3 to default, that is, timer active, gateway on, main TX
     on, no CTCSS required for main or simplex ports.

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Note: 7 April 2005 version 5.02
Added a * to the address. A star does not inhibit the DTMF pass through but the first password entry does. In addition, a DTMF timeout occurs if there is no tone for 5 secs.
I've also overcome a small delay that occured between the opening of a mute and the controller recognising this during the transmission of a callsign or message.

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Note: 4 April 2005 Version5.01

Added the capacity to control whether the control DTMF tones are passed through the controller or inhibited to prevent people hearing the tones on the output.
This will be helpful when users want to control a remote repeater or an IRLP node.
The new control is function "#". A sample would be * + password + "#" +"00".
Here are the options:
00 = DTMF not heard on output
01 = DTMF heard on rptr TX only
02 = DTMF heard on simplex TX only
03 = DTMF heard on both TXs
The last three options all do the same thing of course if the microphone jumper is bridged on the board.

Added the capacity to cancel boops and beeps. This is accessed through function # by adding 4 to the above numbers if beeps/boops are not required. See manual.

It is now possible to have a zero length tail on the main rptr port by turning off beeps and using Function B to set tail length at 0. 

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Note: 25th March 2005

16F628 controller with interrupt timing

This version has interrupt driven timing rather than using a polling system. This has resulted in more accurate timings without undue affect on other operations. Consequences are that the following delays are now in minutes:
(1) callsign delay
(2) message delay
(3) timeout delay

While the tail timer is in 1/10s of a second.
Here is the summary:

Control 7 is call delay in minutes (so 987 7 02 sets it for 2 mins, while 987 7 0A sets it for 10 minutes)

Control 8 is timeout in minutes (so 987 8 03 would be 3 mins, while 987 8 10 would be 16 mins (hex 10 is 16 decimal)

Control B is tail length in 1/10s of a second (so 987 B 0A would be 1.0 secs and 987 B 05 would be 0.5 secs)

Control C is delay between sending message text. Note a period of 0 means no message is sent.  eg for a 30 minute delay which is 1E in hex would be sent 987 C 1E ) 

In addition I have made a small change to the "OK" transmitted after a successful DTMF command - this is now an accurate representation of success - previously it may have indicated success when that was not so.

I have also fixed a small unintended delay problem with the opening of the mute from the main receiver.

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Note: January 2005

This version of the VK5DJ repeater controller uses a 16F628 PIC (either the 16F628A or the 16F628 providing you set your programmer accordingly). A small modification must be made to the bottom of the board to accommodate the 16F628 - addition of one short jumper - see the accompanying "Link.jpg". The link joins what was the MCLRE pin to the "data received" pin of the MC145436. This enables a more complete decode of the DTMF tones. As an incidental benefit there is no longer a need for resistors in the 8870 modification (if a mc145436 is unavailable). 

Major differences between the 16F84 and the 16F628 controller are a result of the double sized memory of the 16F628. Additional features have been added including the capacity to change the speed of the morse code, a message may be sent at regular intervals in morse code, the length of the tail may be adjusted, the callsign and message are now entered in the hex for the letter or numeral (plus the "/" character).

Read the document file thoroughly.

Have fun
John Drew
VK5DJ
September 2004
