ARES Alerting Project

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ARES Alerting Project

• A Low Cost - Build It Yourself Tone Alert for
  Activating Your ARES Group
• Presented by
• Jeff Young, KB3HF
• MO. Section EC

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Today's Problem

• SCC Current Alerting Uses Public Service System.
• Narrow Banding Mandate Requires New Equipment
• Tone Alerts Are Expensive Not Budgeted in
  Narrow Band Updates

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Alternative System

• Amateur Based System Independent of PS System /
  Narrow Banding Requirements.
• Usable on Amateur Repeater Systems Which Have
  Wide Coverage.
• Sponsored by Amateur Groups (ARES).

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Solution

• Design a Low Cost, Reliable 2 Tone Sequential
  Decoder.
• Must Externally Interface to Any Amateur
  Radio/Scanner Without Modification.
• Great Group Build It Yourself Project Builds
  Individual Skills.

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Decoder Features

• Plugs Into Radio External Speaker Jack.
• External Speaker Plugs Into Decoder.
• Audio Mute / Bypass Switch.
• Ready LED, Alert LED Indicators.
• Timed Audio - Mutes After Alert.
• Reset Button to Reset Alert LED.
• 12V DC Operation.
• Piezoelectric Alerting Sound Generator Optional.

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Example

• Tone Decoder Amateur Radio.

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Example

• Tone Decoder Scanner.

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Users

• St. Charles Co. ARES Group Using First 18
  Decoders.
• Boone Co., St. Louis Co., Jefferson Co., and
  Franklin Co. Missouri ARES Groups Have Obtained
  and Are Using the Decoders.
• 103 Total Decoders Now in Use.
• Decoders Have Been Very Reliable.

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Encoding

• Encoding is 2 Audio Tones Transmitted
  Sequentially.
• Method is Referred to as Motorola Quick Call II
  or QC2.
• First Tone is 1 Second in Length followed by the
  Second Tone of 3 Seconds in Length.

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Encoding Methods

• Two Tone Encoders Are Available.
• Communications Specialists
• Zetron Encoder

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Encoding Methods

• Motorola Public Service Radios / MaxTrac/GM300
  with Signaling

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Encoding Methods

• Repeater Controller
• CAT 1000 Repeater Controller Does 2 Tone
  Sequential Paging.
• Repeater Scheduler Allows Automatic Paging For
  Weekly Nets.
• DTMF Accessed Macros Allow Multiple/Authorized
  Users to Send a Page Without a Personal Encoder.

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Encoding Methods

• CAT 700 Repeater Controller With SelecTone
  Encoder Added

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Hardware

• Custom PC Circuit Board.
• PIC Microprocessor Based System.
• All Circuit Parts Commonly Available.
• Step-by-Step Heathkit Type Assembly
  Instructions.
• Unit Cost Between 28 - 34 if Parts Bought in
  Quantity.

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Schematic
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Parts List
Designation QTY v Part Value Source Part No.
C1,C2,C3,C6,C8 5   Capacitor .1 uF DigiKey 399-4151-ND
C4, C5 2   Capacitor 22 pF DigiKey BC1005CT-ND
C7 1   Capacitor, Tant 4.7 uF Futurlec C0047UT
D2 1   Diode 1N4004 All Electronics 1N4004
Q1,Q2 2   Transistor 2N3904 Futurlec 2N3904
JP1, JP2 2   Jumper 0 Ohms DigiKey 0.0QBK-ND
R10 1   Resistor 120 Ohms DigiKey 120QBK-ND
R5 1   Resistor 330 Ohms DigiKey 330QBK-ND
R1, R6, R7, RX 4   Resistor 1K Ohm DigiKey 1.0KQBK-ND
R9 1   Resistor 10K Ohm DigiKey 10KQBK-ND
R8 1   Resistor 20K Ohm DigiKey 20KQBK-ND
R2, R3 2   Resistor 100K Ohm DigiKey 100KQBK-ND
R4 1   Resistor 1M Ohm DigiKey 1.0MQBK-ND
R11 1   Resistor 8.2 Ohms 5W DigiKey TWW5J8R2E-ND
SCR1 1   SCR 2N5062 DigiKey 2N5062GOS-ND
U1 1   Op Amp LM358AN DigiKey LM358ANFS-ND
U2 1   Microprocessor 12F609 DigiKey PIC12F609-I/P-ND
U3 1   Voltage Regulator LM7805T Futurlec 7805T
X1 1   Crystal 4MHz DigiKey X971-ND
D3 1   LED RED T1-3/4 Futurlec LED5RFL
D1 1   LED GRN T1-3/4 Futurlec LED5G
SW1 1   Push Button N.C. All Electronics MPB-5
SW2 1   Toggle Switch DPDT Futurlec DPDT11
SA1 1   Tone Generator SONALERT DigiKey 102-1634-ND
RLY1 1   Relay Relay SPDT Futurlec JRC-23F-05
1   Relay (Alternate) Relay SPDT DigiKey PB1017-ND
2   LED Mount T1-3/4 All Electronics HLED-4
2   Dip Socket 8 Pin Futurlec ICS8
J3 1   DC Jack 12V Coaxial Futurlec DCCHM4
P3 1   DC Plug 12V Coaxial Plug Futurlec DCPWRF004
J1, J2 2   Jack 3.5 mm Mono Futurlec P035SCK00
P1, P2 2   Plug 3.5mm Mono Futurlec P035MB
1   Enclosure 6"x3"x2" All Electronics MB-113
4   Feet Stickon DigiKey SJ5508-0-ND
1   PC Board Rev 1.1 Futurlec Custom Design
4   Spacers Nylon 4 Hole DigiKey 876K-ND
6   Screw 4-40x5/8" DigiKey H348-ND
6   Nuts 4-40 DigiKey H216-ND
6   Lock Washer 4-40 DigiKey H236-ND
7   26 Ga. Wires 2-Blk, Red, Yel, Grn, Blu, Wht
2   22 Ga Wires Blk, Red
2   Labels
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Instructions
Step by Step Assembly Instructions
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Illustrations
FIG 10
FIG 9
FIG 11
FIG 12
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Illustrations
FIG 17
FIG 18
FIG 19
FIG 20
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Illustrations
FIG 25
FIG 26
FIG 27
FIG 28
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Final

• Decoders Have Worked Well For Over Two Years Now.
• Group Project For DIY Building.
• Great Tool for Alerting Nets, SkyWarn
  Activations, Meetings, etc.

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Final

• Demo of Paging Capability
• CAT 700 Repeater Controller With Selectone
  Encoder Added
• Zetron Encoder
• Motorola GM300 VHF Radio
• Questions??