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RI-210 Vertex Repeater Controller, Telephone Interface and Tone Panel

(OBSOLETE, See RI-200)

The RI-210 Repeater Controller, telephone interface and tone panel was designed from the ground up to install directly inside the Vertex Repeater. All installation cables are included. No special tools are required to install the RI-210 Repeater Controller.

The microprocessor-controlled RI-210 is not just another repeater controller. Unlike many other repeater controllers, the RI-210 comes fully equipped with a full CTCSS and DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) tone panel, on board squelch SmartSquelch, full duplex telephone interconnect, remote level control and auxiliary expansion port. With the auxiliary expansion port, you can connect multiple repeaters, links and remotes together. All critical functions are included on board - CW ID, Squelch, telephone hybrid, CTCSS, DCS and DTMF encoders and decoders.

Note: This repeater is no longer available from Vertex Standard so we are no longer still supplying this controller. Instead, you can interface the RI-200 controller to the VXR-5000 repeater.

REPEATER CONTROLLER

The RI-210 is a full featured repeater controller that can be customized for your application. Hang time, time out timer, courtesy tones and CW ID intervals can be programmed. All if these functions and many others are user programmable. All of these features and the RI-210 fits directly inside the Vertex VXR-5000 repeater.

The RI-210 even has a macro command editor. You can create and assign a 1 to 4 digit name for your own custom user commands. The RI-210 comes preprogrammed with some user commands, including turning the repeater, CTCSS and other items on and off.

INSTALLATION AND SETUP

The RI-210 installs directly inside the Vertex VXR-5000 repeater. No soldering or special tools are required. All mating connectors and cables are included with the RI-210. A step by step installation procedure is also included.

A built-in receiver audio level meter will help you to assure that your installation is perfect. All you need to do is send a known deviation level on the input of the repeater, press a button and adjust the receiver audio level until the correct number of lights are lit.

CTCSS and DCS OPERATION

The RI-210 comes standard with CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) and DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) built in. No external decoders and encoders to wire in. There are no special connections or modifications to make. CTCSS and DCS are ready to use.

Multiple decode CTCSS tones and DCS codes can be used with out any additional hardware. This enables you to decode up to 154 different codes (50 CTCSS and 104 DCS) and to turn on or off each one independently. Both CTCSS and DCS can be used together on your system. The RI-210 incorporates these tone panel features into six separate tone panels. One tone panel for repeater operation, one for user command control, one for system command control, one for dial click control, one for telephone usage and one for the auxiliary I/O port. You can have one group of tones for repeater access only and another group of tones for telephone operation.

The RI-210 can also cross encode tones. Any of the decoded tones or codes can be assigned a different encode tone or code. Example, when you decode 100.0 Hz you can encode 127.3 Hz and when you decode 131.8 Hz you can encode DCS code 023.

USER PROGRAMMABLE INPUTS AND OUTPUTS

The RI-210 has 3 digital inputs and 3 digital outputs. These inputs and outputs are user programmable. The inputs can trigger macros and change the controller operation. These inputs can be used for alarms and many other applications. The output can be directly controlled or controlled with macros. The outputs can be used to turn on or off external items or by using programmable timers and internal events the outputs can be use to automatically turn on and off an external fan when the transmitter is on the air.

USER PROGRAMMABLE SCHEDULER

You can schedule up to 8 events to occur at programmed times of the day. You can use the scheduler to turn off and on the repeater, change the CTCSS, disable telephone usage or any user programmable feature at predetermined times during the day. A courtesy message is available to let you know that the time clock is not set and the scheduler is disabled.

The scheduler also has additional features such as, repeater inactivity timer, interval timer and internal events (COS, CTCSS, PTT, etc.). If the CTCSS or DCS decode was turned off, you can program your repeater to turn the CTCSS and DCS decode back on after a programmed time of no activity. Use the PTT event to turn on a fan and keep the fan on for a programmable period of time after the transmitter is off the air.

REMOTELY ADJUSTABLE AUDIO

The RI-210 includes digital potentiometers that can be remotely controlled. The transmitter audio level, telephone audio level and squelch can be remotely adjusted. With this feature, you will no longer have to made a trip to the repeater site to adjust the audio or squelch controls.

SQUELCH (SmartSquelch)

One of the most powerful features of the RI-210 is its built-in squelch (COS). The RI-210 squelch circuit is directly controlled and monitored by the microprocessor. The microprocessor performs complex math functions resulting in a high performance squelch system. The squelch starts with a fast 10 ms decay delay and extends this delay depending on the quality of the signal on the repeater input. SmartSquelch knows the difference between a hand-held moving in and out of nulls and a fast mobile flutter and will not chop up the audio. SmartSquelch will also change the courtesy message when the signal becomes noisier. This is the weak signal courtesy feature.

USER PROGRAMMING

The RI-210 can be completely customized for your application. The programming mode has security password features to avoid unauthorized programming access. You can access and program the RI-210 over the telephone, while the repeater is on the air and without the repeater users knowledge.

SELF BALANCING DUPLEX TELEPHONE INTERCONNECT

The RI-210 incorporates a highly intelligent telephone interconnect. This interconnect uses a full duplex hybrid that is balanced by the microprocessor each time an outgoing call is made. The hybrid is a circuit that separates the transmit and receive audio from the telephone line before it is sent to the repeater. Most hybrids are adjusted for maximum performance at time of manufacturing. Over time, variations will occur on a telephone line and the performance of other hybrids will be compromised.

Through programming, you can setup the telephone interconnect for either half duplex, full duplex or half duplex privacy modes. In the half duplex privacy mode, the mobile audio is muted to prevent other people from hearing the mobile side if the conversation.

The RI-210 also supports 99 auto dial number and a last number re-dial.

TOLL RESTRICTION

The RI-210 includes a full featured toll restriction. This feature is user programmable and will allow you to reject single telephone numbers, area codes, prefixes, or any possible combination you may require. You can reject all dial "1" calls but allow "1-800" and "1-888" calls. You can also make special "secret" telephone access commands that override the toll restriction for that call only.

LINE BUSY

Multiple RI-210's or other telephone equipment can be connected to the same telephone line. When the repeater user makes a call, the RI-210 checks the telephone line for usage. If the line is in use, the repeater user would hear a busy signal and can try the telephone call later.

SELECTIVE CALLING

The RI-210 has several incoming call modes. In one of the modes, the RI-210 will answer the incoming call before connecting the call over the air. The caller can enter an access code and the call would ring over the air with the selected CTCSS tone or DCS code. You can also include a 1 to 8 digit DTMF sequence with the CTCSS tone or DCS code for signaling a specific mobile in a group.

TELEPHONE CONTROLLING

The RI-210 can be completely controlled and programmed over the telephone line. This feature includes its own security passwords for unauthorized access. You can even make a telephone call to the RI-210 and connect the telephone audio over the air to make a call to a user without anyone sending commands over the repeater.

STANDARD FEATURES

Plugs directly inside the Vertex VXR-5000 Commercial-Grade Repeater and is complete with pre-aligned audio levels.
All features are remotely programmable via radio or telephone.
Intelligent telephone interface with automatic hybrid balance on every call.
Reverse patch with selective calling. CTCSS, DCS and DTMF.
99 number auto-dial and last number re-dial.
Full featured toll restriction.
Telephone interface includes a microprocessor controlled AGC (Automatic Gain Control).
Programmable CW identifier.
System status display panel. All critical audio level adjustments are remotely settable via radio or telephone.
On board Squelch circuit, SmartSquelch.
An intelligent microprocessor controlled squelch, it's fast and it's remotely programmable via radio or telephone.
Full CTCSS and DCS decode and encode, including standard tone panel features.
Multiple CTCSS tones and/or DCS codes may be decoded.
154 users (50 CTCSS and 104 DCS) remotely programmable via radio or telephone.
On board selectable sub-audio and splatter filters.
System scheduler, automatically execute commands at pre-programmed times.
DTMF decode and encode with mute, pass or regenerate features.
Push to Talk control. You can build user commands for users without DTMF equipped radios.
Programmable time out and courtesy timers.
WATCH DOG and Power supply supervisory circuit.
NON-VOLATILE EEPROM data storage.
System data is stored without a memory backup battery.
Auxiliary interface, connect two controllers together for linking or multiple repeater operation.
Macro Programming allows full customizing of the repeater user commands.
Low power consumption, less than 60mA, Ideal for solar powered sites.
Operates from 8 to 15 volts DC.

PROGRAMMABLE FEATURES

The controller is shipped with default commands, ready for operation.
Programmable CW identifier, courtesy tones and system messages.
Remotely program all functions and features.
Macro programming.
Build custom user commands.
User programmable password security.
Transmit carrier delay time.
Time-out timer.
Courtesy timer.
Macro scheduler.
Automatically execute commands at preprogrammed times.
Multiple CTCSS and DCS tone panel decode and encode.
Six full CTCSS and DCS tone panels, one each for the repeater, telephone, auxiliary link, user commands, system commands and dial click control..
Programmable Tone generator.
Remotely programmable audio levels.
Remotely adjustable squelch.

TELEPHONE FEATURES

Outgoing telephone calls with accept / reject tables for complete toll restriction.
99 number auto dialer and last number re-dial.
Multiple telephone number prefixing for PBX, cancel call waiting, various long distance providers, etc.
Programming for multiple credit card account calling.
Multiple incoming call modes.
Selective calling, CTCSS, DCS and DTMF.
Programmable call progress time out timers.
Automatic hybrid balance on each call.
Incoming call automatic audio level control.

SPECIFICATION

Operating voltage: 10 to 15 volts DC.
Operating current: less than 60 mA with display off.
Size: Analog 3.5 x 6.1, Display 3.5 x 1.6
Temperature Range: -30°C to +60°C
Main CPU: Intel P87C51FB with 8.5K EEPROM
Squelch: SmartSquelch^TM (DSP squelch)
CTCSS/DCS decoder: MX-Com MX805
DTMF decoder: Mitel MT8880
Audio response: ±0.75db, 300 – 3500 Hz
LPF cutoff: 4500 Hz
HPF cutoff: 280 Hz
Hum and Noise: -45db
Port connection: DB-15.
Auxiliary buss: 1 Channel full duplex