Drake_TR-270_review_1998.pdf

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1、-11- TheR. L.DrakeTR270 2Meter-PlusFMTransceiver BY DAVE INGRAM, K4TWJ Front viewofR.L. DrakesTR270 gives only a hintof its special features. Unitiscom- parable to a six foot rackofcommunications gear. R ight from the first view. yougetthe impression that R.L.Drakesnew TR270is morethan an average 2

2、meter FM transceiver.Theassumption is correct inadozen differentways. Indeed, the TR270 is a full-blown FM communi- cations systemwithevery support item and asset imaginable in a neat desktop package. If you are serious aboutVHF andFMorappreciategoingfirst class,you will love thismultipurpose unit!

3、TheTR270containsanelaborate2me- terFMtransceiver plus a second inde- pendently-operating VHF/UHF FM re- ceiver-each with separate volume and squelchcontrols,memoryset.and anten- nasockets. It also contains a continuous- duty AC power supply (with DC input capability),a hefty front-facingspeaker; 400

4、 memories; CTCSS encoder, de- coder.and audio fitter;a vast setup menu for configuring to personal needs; and much more.The TR270 is also a 2 meter or a7OCm-to-2 meter repeater, a packet system, a satellite rig, a WEatherFAX receiver,and anACARSmonitor,andthe unit can be computer controlled. Overvie

5、w The TR270 is enclosed in amatteblack cabinet measuring 4.75Hx11.0Wx 13.5D, and it weighs 13 pounds. The rig iswell-ventilated andfittedwith a large rear healsink for cooling. A large and backlitmultifunction display, full-size knobs, and hefty speaker grill grace the front panel. Inside is a 2 met

6、er FM trans- ceiver, a separate VHF/UHFFMreceiv- er, a heavy-duty AC power supply, plus slots for adding Drakes optional TNC270 modulefor packetingand DEMOD270 for copying WEather FAX, RTTY, Morse, ACARS, etc. Rear sockets are provided for AC poweroran external 13 volt DC source; an external TNC; au

7、dio from an HFshortwavereceiverforcopying RTTY, CWoFAX, etc.; and an RS-232portfor computer control of the TR270. The units 2 meter transceiver covers 144.0 to 148.0 MHz (142 to 150 MHz for authorized MARS/CAP use), with output power selections of 1,10,and 25 walls. *4941Scenic View Drive, Birmingha

8、m, AL35210 14 co .February1998 The second receiver covers 136 to 174 MHz and 420 to 470 MHz.Separate an- tennasocketsforthetransceiverandsec- ond receiver are included on the rear panel. Since both rigs operate simultane- ously,volumeandsquelchcontrolsonthe front panel set their levels on the double

9、 duty speaker. The TR270 is equippedwith 400 mem- ories which are assigned as follows: 100 to transceiver VFO A, 100 to transceiver VFOB,100 to second receiver VFO A, and 100 to second receiver VFOB.All memories can store any frequency, re- peater offset, CTCSS tone, and scan- relatedaction. Additio

10、nal featuresinclude CTCSS decoding,a CTCSS filter to elim- inate low-frequency rumble when copy- ing signals with tones, automatic or man- ual repeater offsetting, programmable splits, several scan modes, and 10 DTMF autodialers, plus more.Allof the TR270 features and functions are ac- cessed via th

11、efrontkeypad, up/downbut- tons, and tuning control. Keypad buttons are also usedto direct-enterfrequencies, select DTMF tones, and select menu options. My explanation may seem com- plex, but the TR270is actually quite user- friendly. In fact,Itried the bozo test of operating it before reading the ma

12、nual and was quite successful, Its a neat rig! Special Featuresand Functions Defining where one group of features ends and another begins is nigh impossi- ble in a do everything rig such as the TR270, as numerous functions areinter- related.An internal set of 60 menu-selec- table operating parameter

13、s, for example, allows eachowner to customize aTR270 according to personal preferences.The menu set includes everything from VFO steps, scanmodes.satellite band scan ranges, and DTMF autodialer delays to precise low/mediumlhigh power outputs, transmit time-outs, antenna/rig selec- tions,activationof

14、 coaxvoltage for a pre- amp, and much more. For scanning, an operatorcanspecifyfrequencyranges for VFO A andS,assemble special memory lists,and/orspecify memories to be scannedorskipped asdesired.Scanning can alsobeset to pause and continue, pause until a carrier drops, or pause and stop/cancelscann

15、ing.Othermenu-selec- tablefeaturesof interest includeusingthe TR270asacrossbandorinbandrepeater, specifying time betweenLOSof asatel- sayYousawIIInCO ItsAlsoASatelliteRig The TR270maybe an FM-only trans- ceiver, but so are many of our presently active OSCAR satellites such asAO-27 plus MIR and thesp

16、aceshuttle. Fur- thermore,AO-27 and another upcoming satellite are FMunits-orbitingFM re- peaters with 2 meteruplinks/rncmdown- links and packetcapabilities. These satel- litesarein low orbits and are often accessible with simpleturnstileantennas. Additionally, commercial satellites such asNOAAAPT t

17、ransmit weatherpictures/ ItsAlsoAPacketSystem Ifyou like a neat, clean station for pack- eting, Drakes TR270 is the answer. Just plug in its optionalTNCand connect the output to an IBM-compatible computer, and youre ready for 1200 or 9600 baud packeting in high style. TheTNC270 is supplied with two

18、software packs: PC PACKRAITfor DOSand PC PACKRAIT for Windows. TheTNCcontains 18K of battery-backed RAM for mailboxing, and operates in Command, Host, and KISS modes. It has an enhanced MHEARD functionthatidentifies TCP/IP, NETI ROM, and stations. Also in- cluded is an easy-learn command set for sta

19、rting and an expertcommand set for advancedpackennq.Status indicators for the TNCare built right into the TR270s front display. If desired, an external TNC can also be connected to the TR270 via a rear socket. Interior view01the TR270 showingspeaker(left top),powersupply (behind it), andmain circuit

20、 boards. OptionalTNCandOEMOOIFAXcards plug into slots on main board. ItsAlsoA Repeater! SeveraldualbandFM transceivers in- clude a light-duty crossband repeat func- tion. The TR270, however, goes several steps beyond that point. In addition to relaying signals from a 70 cm input fre- quency to 2 met

21、ers, this gem is also a 2 meter repeater. You simply select a de- sired 2 meter input frequency on the sec- ond receiver, set a 2 meter output fre- quencyon the transceiver, and menu- activatethetnbandrepeatfunction. Needless to say, you should check with localareacoordinators before blindly setting

22、upshop on an assumed quiet channel!Thisiswhensomeofthe TR270s special features really shine. First it can be set to recognize any CTCSStone and use its CTCSS filter, plus eventransmit a different CTCSS lone for security measures. Second, output power can be reduced to any level for limiting cov- era

23、ge range.Third,the internal power sup- ply is rated at 140 watts, which, combined with the large heatsink, ensures cool, reli- able operation on an unlimited basis. Taking a TR270 into a disaster area or emergency situation (and using itconsci- entiously!) could be a blessing. lite signal and rescan

24、ningforanother satellite, and data flow for computer con- trol. The only thing the TR270 will not do is operateCWor SSB.Itis a dedicated FM rig for the dedicated FM enthusiast whoenjoys having itall! $29.95 $39.95 $64.95 $41.95 $39.95 $49.95 $39.95 $49.95 $64.95 ,. Mr.NiCdE.N. Ymlare1dutyeydepackage

25、s.quietduallansare used 1 0 keepthehealsnandInlemal componen1$ extremely cool.OXR series amplrliers providethesame opefabooillteakn$astheDXPseries.NCOlII8C1Ol$standardonaIDXA Teletec. OXSeriHG.aAsFET PrNrn9S_alsoalrllilalllelor57plusS;-:W=NC-U CORPORAJIONClro-.UneToIF.(888)323-6888 TlCllolQl(919) 55

26、6-7800Fax(919) 55-D8sktop QXpL1806maier15Wll8OW1379,00DXRL180_6meter15W118CW$639.00 OXPV1752maier5OW/175W532900DXR-V175_2meter5OWI175W$629.00 DXP-V2202?QMHz2OW/l5OW$369.00OXRV220_220 MHz2OW/15QW$659.00 OXP-Ul50,=3QW/1SOW$429.00OXRUl50_,=70W/l5IJW$789,00 Conclusion Are DrakesTR270, optionalTNC270, an

27、d DEMOD270 worthy of their listed re- tail prices ($999, $249, and $99, respec- lively)? You bet! The combined setup is a killer! The TR270 is first class through- out, backed with a full one-year warran- ty,andknowingDrake, willnotbe On TheAir Getting behind the controls of a TR270 is like turning

28、a kid loose in a candy store. Its difficult to choose what to pursue first! letsscan some of the public-service and marine channels and try the orbiting 2 meter FM repeater satellite. Wait-lets set the TR270 scanning the 137 MHz range and cable its DEMOD oul10our computer for viewing weather picture

29、s, Shall we use the rig to chat with the local repeater gang, or set ituptobe a re - peater? Howabout packeting via OSCAR today and copying someHFfax tonight? Whoa,Dave-slowdown! Okay, the TR270 is very easy to use and everyone complimented its terrific audio. Using the rig for local repeater chats,

30、 however, seems like driving a Rolls Royce to the corner store. There are enough features. fritls.andspecialassetsin this gemto cap- tivate your interest for many years. WEFAX and ACARS. Too Assuming Drakesoptional DEMOD270is installed in the TR270, the rig is ready to copy WEather FAX pictures tran

31、smitted in the 137.0to137.500 MHz range. NOAAs APT weather satellite emitsa ret- atively strong signal, and reception is often good when using a 45 degree-tilted 3-element 2 meter beam. Yes, and copy- ing weather pictures is only one piece of the pie. Additional capabilities of the DEMOD270 include

32、decoding facsimile, Morse code. RTTY and NAVTEX trans- mission onHFbands. plus monitoring ACARS (Aircraft Communications and Reporting Systems) within air bands. Each of those operations involves adding a cable between the TR270 and the ear- phone socket of an all-modeHF receiver and/or an AM aircraft-band receiver. A complete package of PC software for FAX and AGARS is supplied with the DEMOD270, and it makes getting up and running quite easy. sayYousawIt In COFebruary 1998CO17