CHAPTER 4: OPERATION
Operating Modes
The BCR Repeater has four different modes of operation: repeater mode, base station mode, and
auxiliary(AUX) mode. By default, the unit operates in repeater mode unless you explicitly change modes.
This chapter will give you a brief overview of each of the modes. The individual modes are covered in detail in
the chapters that follow. Also in each of the various operating modes an external peripheral can be connected
to the accessory connector located on the rear of the unit. Through programming, the external peripheral can
be made to work in conjunction with the repeater. The BCR repeater will ‘remember’ the mode it was in prior
to power down. When powered back up, the unit will revert to the previous mode.
Repeater Mode:
The BCR repeater is a full-featured community repeater with programmable settings for
channel spacing, TX Timeout, and CW-ID broadcasting preferences. In repeater mode, the BCR Repeater will
listen for calls from any user that belongs to the currently selected channel. If it detects a CTCSS tone or DCS
code of a valid user, it will repeat the call with the appropriate CTCSS/DCS encoding. While in repeater mode,
the BCR Repeater can also be remotely programmed using a two-way radio capable of generating DTMF tones.
For more information on repeater mode, see “Chapter 5: Repeater Mode”. For more information on remote
programming, see “Chapter 8: Remote Programming”.
If an external peripheral such as a phone patch is used in conjunction with repeater Mode, the external
peripheral will gain control of the transmitter upon engaging the external PTT line. When the external PTT line
is engaged, the circuit is designed to break the connection between the RX Module and the TX Module so that
the external peripheral has control.
The transmit options of the user in Slot 1 will be utilized.
If
necessary, the repeater supports a programmable COS output on pin 17 to be interfaced with the peripheral.
Base Station Mode:
The BCR repeater is a full-featured base station. By attaching an optional microphone,
the BCR Repeater can communicate as any user on the selected channel. For more information, see “Chapter
6: Base Station Mode.” If an external peripheral such as a DC Remote is used in base mode the
transmit
options of the user in Slot 1 will be utilized when the external PTT line is engaged.
Auxiliary Mode:
AUX mode can serve many purposes. Placing the BCR repeater in AUX mode disables the
internal controller and allows for the unit to be
totally controlled
by an external peripheral. For more
information, see “Chapter 7: Auxiliary Mode”.
Channel and User Database
You may program up to 16 channels for the BCR repeater to use. At any time, only one channel is active.
You can select which channel you would like activated by scrolling through the list of channels using the
SELECT knob on the unit’s front panel. Each of the 16 channels has unique settings for broadcast ID,
broadcast interval, Morse code rate, receiver frequency, transmitter frequency, channel spacing, power, and
TX Timeout time. Each channel can support up to 24 users. Each user has unique settings for user name,
status, RX signaling, TX signaling, courtesy tone, TX hold time, and tone-in-tail. In addition, base station
settings are determined on a per channel basis and utilize the operating parameters programmed on a per
user basis. Each user is assigned a particular slot within the channel. User slots are numbered sequentially
from 0 to 23. Slot 0 is the System Operator, which is the only user with remote programming privileges. The
remaining slots (1 through 23) are for common users, and no preference is given to users based on their
order within the slots.
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