The VK5DJ Repeater Controller

Designed to control a local duplex rpeater, the controller also supports linking to another system or the linking port can be used as a gateway.
Configurations include
(a) a single Duplex repeater
(b) a Duplex repeater linked to another duplex repeater
(c) a Duplex repeater linked to an IRLP node (or Echolink).
Most configurations may be altered by remote control although the password and whether the controls from the RX/TX are active low or active high must be set at program time.

The controller provides the following functions:

• Callsign generator with timer
• Short message morse beacon if required.
• Two adjustable tails - one before the beep and one after.
• Tail with mode pips (high pitch and low pitch depending on receiver)
• Remote inhibit of timer (two methods)
• Remote inhibit of primary repeater
• Remote inhibit of gateway (or link)
• Remote control of CTCSS requirement on primary or secondary
• Remote control of 'roger' beeps (inhibit or allow)
• Remote callsign change
• Remote adjustment of callsign delay (1 to 75 minutes in 1 minute increments)
• Remote adjustment of timeout period (0 to 75 minutes in 1 min increments)
• Remote adjustment of extended CTCSS operation
• Remote adjustment to support either a link or a gateway
• Remote adjustment of morse code speed (very slow to approx 35 wpm) and tone
• Remote adjustment of COS trigger (delay opening up to 255msecs)
• Remote adjustment of tail length (tail adjustable in 0.1sec increments from 0 - 15 seconds).
• Remote adjustment of secondary tail length (after the beep) from 0-15 seconds.
• Remote enable and timing of a regular CW message (never, or 1-75 minutes in 1 minute increments).
• Remote change of the morse message
• Remote decision on whether to pass DTMF tones through and DTMF may be received from any of three receivers (external, rptr, link)
• By retuning the CTCSS decoder the controller can be programmed to use 1750 tone "beep" access.
• AC Fail indication if a small board modification is made.
• LEDs to indicate power on, DTMF decoded, CTCSS decoded, PTT main, PTT secondary

All components are readily available in Australia including commercial boards.

PCBs with plated through holes and component mask are available from the author for AUS$15 each and the sometimes hard to get MC145436 DTMF chips are available for $7-50 each.

On the supply of a 16F628 the author will burn the program into the PIC for Australian amateurs at no cost . P/P of $2 would be appreciated.

PIC16F648A is an acceptable subsitute for the 16F628 as the former has twice the memory and if later versions of the software no longer fit (I currently have about 20 bytes of program memory free) I will switch to the 16F648A.
For more details refer to this page: http://vk5dj.mountgambier.org/Repeater.html


By John Drew