A few years ago, a non-ham friend of mine was sent by his employer to update the remote control electronics in a series of practice target systems on a military base. Although he was told he could just throw the old units out, he understood they were still fully functional and since they seemed to be radios of some type, decided to hold onto a bunch and see if I could do something with them. That was my introduction to the DTX-series of small data radios manufactured by Ritron®.
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Although they now have a number of other models, the ones I have had the opportunity to work with include the VHF DTX-150 and the UHF DTX-450.
(Click image for a larger view) |
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| As you can see from the information below, although they have no display, no keypad, or PTT button built in, these computer programmed units are full of features; (Click here for the factory data sheet) |
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- Low Cost ($15-$20 used @ hamfests / Ebay)
- Small (2.5"W x 1.25"D x 4.5"L)
- 8.9oz
- SMD Design
- 11 channel synthesized, PC programmable, independent TX/RX freq and codes
- 136-151 MHz
- WBFM
- CTCSS/DCS encode/decode, Two tone sequential paging decode
- Voice/Data
- Power saver mode
- Made in USA
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- 0-5W output (adjustable)
- 5 or 12.5KHZ channel steps
- Computer programmed, easy to clone several
- Rugged; No knobs, buttons, display, or internal speaker
- Minimal connections: 3.5mm jack, 2.5mm jack, antenna BNC and 10-pin IDC header
- +10-15 VDC supply using internal regulator or +8-15 VDC regulator bypassed
- Current Drain - Transmit: 800ma @ 2W/1500ma @ 5W - Receive: 65ma
- Local "Radio Test" capability
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| On the top, there are two mini-jacks, a BNC antenna jack, and a 10-pin header connector. The pin-outs are as follows; |
- 3.5mm Jack (stereo)
- Tip: RX Audio (1W into 8 Ohms
- Ring: Programming data from PC
- Sleeve: Ground
- 2.5mm Jack (mono)
- Tip: TX Key and Audio combined
- Sleeve: Ground
- Programming
- Main Programming Cable Model 9/RTC-PAS
- Adapter/Connector 9pin-to-25-pin Model 2147C001
- Adapter 9-pin to 3.5mm Jack Model 02100344
- Programming software is only available in DOS
- Software version is 3.0R20 (Serial FFC1 or FFC3)
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- 10-pin IDC Box Header
- Pin 1 - TX Wideband Modulation Input
- Pin 2 - RX Wideband Demodulated Output
- Pin 3 - Channel Select
- Pin 4 - Coded Squelch Detect Output
- Pin 5 - Supply Voltage Input
- Pin 6 - PTT & TX Key Input (polarity selectable)
- Pin 7 - RX Carrier Detect Output (polarity selectable)
- Pin 8 - TX Audio Input
- Pin 9 - Ground
- Pin 10 - RX Audio Output
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Posssible uses include, but are not limited to;
- APRS
- Echolink Node (with a Raspberry Pi?)
- Propagation beacon
- Telemetry transmitter
- WEFAX receiver
- Fox Hunt transmitter (voice or CW beacon!)
- Data transmitter for remote weather station (with Ardunio?)
- Use one VHF and one UHF as a cross band repeater
- Connect an Arduino with an LCD or TFT display as an interface
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