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Re: Race radios
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:14 am
by 300
BajaF250 wrote:tcm glx wrote:hey Tom,
Those Motorola Maratracs..... i just popped on ebay and saw them. They look super affordable, how do you control the channel? Is it a base unti for power, then external mic, and external display for the frequency? I ask because I currently have a Kenwood tm-271, but I am looking to add a second radio.
Yeah, the Maratrac has two major components, the transmitter/reciever and the control head. There are three secondary components, the umbilical connector cable, the mic and the speaker. In order to program them, you need an antiquated computer, a 286 or 386, motorola dos driven software and a programming cable. A good friend has the computer, cable and software and we program them here. They can't be programmed on the fly. But again, I've not really needed to.
The control head changes the channels, volume scan etc. It doesn't have an external squelch, it's controlled by the internal computer... works well.
I mounted the t/r on the rear of the cab, behind the passengers seat and the control head is mounted under the dash on the driver's side. I mounted the speaker and the mic on the center of the dash for easy reach and audio. The darn thing has like a 35Watt power source for the speaker and it's LOUD! So, trackside, I just turn it up and I can hear it pretty much anywhere in camp.
Did you figure out what was wrong with Rick's radio? I was excited about it right up until it was DOA in Ensenada. We use the GM300's and used to have the software and cable, however the same problem finding an old computer to run the software and the cable may have gotten cut up for something else, can't find it, DOH!
Re: Race radios
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:28 am
by flyinbronco
300 wrote:BajaF250 wrote:tcm glx wrote:hey Tom,
Those Motorola Maratracs..... i just popped on ebay and saw them. They look super affordable, how do you control the channel? Is it a base unti for power, then external mic, and external display for the frequency? I ask because I currently have a Kenwood tm-271, but I am looking to add a second radio.
Yeah, the Maratrac has two major components, the transmitter/reciever and the control head. There are three secondary components, the umbilical connector cable, the mic and the speaker. In order to program them, you need an antiquated computer, a 286 or 386, motorola dos driven software and a programming cable. A good friend has the computer, cable and software and we program them here. They can't be programmed on the fly. But again, I've not really needed to.
The control head changes the channels, volume scan etc. It doesn't have an external squelch, it's controlled by the internal computer... works well.
I mounted the t/r on the rear of the cab, behind the passengers seat and the control head is mounted under the dash on the driver's side. I mounted the speaker and the mic on the center of the dash for easy reach and audio. The darn thing has like a 35Watt power source for the speaker and it's LOUD! So, trackside, I just turn it up and I can hear it pretty much anywhere in camp.
Did you figure out what was wrong with Rick's radio? I was excited about it right up until it was DOA in Ensenada. We use the GM300's and used to have the software and cable, however the same problem finding an old computer to run the software and the cable may have gotten cut up for something else, can't find it, DOH!
Yeah we figured it out but I really don't wanna say.
OK you beat it out of me. When I was reinstalling the battery at home I forgot to hook up the main power cable. It would receive fine but would only transmit about a mile. My bad. What a dummy.
Tom and I hung out at BFG pit 2 until we lost radio contact with the race Bronco. The last transmission we heard was 50 miles south of us. That's pretty good range and the clarity was awesome.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:45 am
by Broncodawg
When I was reinstalling the battery at home I forgot to hook up the main power cable.
I hate it when I do that haha!!!
50 miles is some pretty good range!!
Re: Race radios
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 8:16 pm
by BajaF250
Broncodawg wrote:When I was reinstalling the battery at home I forgot to hook up the main power cable.
I hate it when I do that haha!!!
50 miles is some pretty good range!!
Yeah, but it really wasn't Rick's fault... it was Darin's fault for not being available to help troubleshoot!
We had terrific comms all day long and I was really amazed at the 50 mile reception we got! We had just the right conditions for long transmission and reception. Those darn radios are so clear...
Re: Race radios
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:05 pm
by Wrightracing.net
Nick wrote:So who's gonna man up and admit to having the Weatherman disapproved, and much hated icom v8000?
I had a old Roadmaster for years that a team gave me for helping out at the races. After years I did get an Icom V8000. The radio was better than the roadmaster but was ok for pitting. When I started chasing for a class 8 team it became obvious how limited the radio was. I first picked up a 45watt Kenwood Tk730 radio. It worked so much better than the Icom. First off the modulation output was much cleaner and louder. Also the bleed over on other frequencieswas much higher on the Icom. Then I learned how to work on radio and now I refurb 110 watt Kenwoods for a bunch of team.
I started out finding radios and refurbishing them for friends. Now by word of mouth I have teams wanting radios all the time.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:42 pm
by BDKW1
Wrightracing.net wrote:It worked so much better than the Icom. First off the modulation output was much cleaner and louder. Also the bleed over on other frequencieswas much higher on the Icom.
Your Icom was not set up right then. I have used many of those with excellent results. Chase truck I would way rather have on of those than a Kenwood.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:53 pm
by Wrightracing.net
BDKW1 wrote:Wrightracing.net wrote:It worked so much better than the Icom. First off the modulation output was much cleaner and louder. Also the bleed over on other frequencieswas much higher on the Icom.
Your Icom was not set up right then. I have used many of those with excellent results. Chase truck I would way rather have on of those than a Kenwood.
The V8000 was a brand new setup with the tuning set perfect and BFG Relay 151.715 up on San Telmo Rd during the Baja 1000 confirmed the signal and sound difference. The programming on the road is nice on the Icom but I picked up a surplus TuffBook laptop cheap and keep it in my pit box.
but to each their own.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:18 am
by PaulW
I cannot offer much with regard to choosing a radio, but my recommendation has always been to be sure the radio comes with the software for the pc OS platform you are using with usb interface (not serial or other) and cables. For me going from XP to Win 7 to win 8 has been a real hassle. Same story for the pro supplier selling the radios. I discussed the situation with a PCI tech guy and he said they have one old XP machine they use for all programing.
Without your own abilities to change the radio memory then its a real hassle to get back to the radio seller. Seems like every race we have to deal with 1 or 2 new freqs. Then there is the local people around San Felipe Seems every group of off roaders has their own freqs.
HAM Kenwoods can be programmed from the radio direct using a keypad in the mike - a big advantage.
PW
Re: Race radios
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 9:01 am
by BDKW1
We actually kept an old DOS machine for programming Kenwoods. Some of the old programs only operate in DOS. Kenwood did not update software on a lot of models, they wanted you to upgrade..........
Re: Race radios
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:30 pm
by philofab
The ICOM V9000 can be manually set and programmed from the correct mic.
That is the biggest hassle with the Motorola. I need to build a small portable 286 so I can program them from places other than my shop.
An old laptop could possibly work if I could find one.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:41 pm
by drewbee88
Should write an app for android that can program them, or even a raspberry pi would be a fun on the go programmer, my bronco will have a nexus 7 as a head unit/GPS ....
Re: Race radios
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:39 pm
by BDKW1
philofab wrote:The ICOM V9000 can be manually set and programmed from the correct mic.
And that mic should be kept in a padded case in the glove box because it's made out of fragilium and flat out sucks for any actual use.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:13 pm
by philofab
Yup, that mic sucks and the PTT micro switch has a 20 cycle lifespan.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:19 pm
by philofab
drewbee88 wrote:Should write an app for android that can program them, or even a raspberry pi would be a fun on the go programmer, my bronco will have a nexus 7 as a head unit/GPS ....
Motorola's are very fragile to program in the first place, getting a newish device to interface would be extremely difficult if you managed to build a cable / interface box in the first place.
A modern phone has a million times the computing power of the 286 or 8088 the radios were designed to be programmed with.
The Motorola software would also have to be backward engineered as no source code or information is availible.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:28 pm
by Wrightracing.net
Ya, my pit box laptop Has Xp Pro and I can program the old Tk730 and the Tk790. Also XP lets me use old dos programs and new Windows software even for our handhelds. Another thing nice about it is I can edit GPS maps out in the field. I picked up the Military surplus Weather proof Tuff Book for $50. All I had to do was put a new harddrive and install Xp. It has been a life saver for a bunch of friends the day before the races. I pack it in a flight case withe our pit radio.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:40 pm
by Wrightracing.net
Here are some pictures of the pit boxes I have built for several teams.
Re: Race radios
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:49 pm
by SteveG
Wrightracing.net wrote:Here are some pictures of the pit boxes I have built for several teams.
I like!
Re: Race radios
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 5:43 am
by PaulW
David nice work.
Can you give us the details?
Re: Race radios
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:53 am
by mesquito_creek
Just out of curiosity, is the BFG Relay 151.715 an open simplex 2 meter relay? Or are they manning that station and verbally relaying to the receiving station? Seems it would get hammered with traffic if its a open simplex relay station...
Re: Race radios
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:54 am
by mesquito_creek
Let me rephase the question: Just out of curiosity, is the BFG Relay 151.715 an open simplex 2 meter repeater? Or are they manning that station and verbally relaying to the receiving station? Seems it would get hammered with traffic if its a open simplex repeater...