I think I may need to break this up into more than one thread but here's my initial question.
To those of you using a TDL radio with R8's or the like, are you using a second battery to power the BASE receiver? (separate from the TDL "big" battery)..
I always use the cow bell on the base. Even when I am using the internal radio. Thats the same thing as the brick for all you lieca folks.
Our TDL's are set up as repeaters, powered by a 12v marine deep cycle battery.
< 1/2 mile roving we use internal tx on base with cowbell
1/2 to 1.5 miles, we set up TDL beside the base and both run off of 12v deep cycle
>1.5 miles, base has cowbell, and set up TDL a mile away with 12v marine.
Cowbell battery can be replaced by a $17 power sonic inside (model 1270 I think)
> I always use the cow bell on the base. Even when I am using the internal radio. Thats the same thing as the brick for all you lieca folks.
So you use the cowbell, along with the car battery when running external?
Are you using an R8 model 2 for your base/rover and are you using the "Y" cable to connect both the cowbell and the TDL data cable?
To echo Louis, I prefer to always run the TDL as a repeater, and have it run on a good 12V battery. The flexibility in strategically placing the repeater at a better location has paid huge dividends on range.
The other benefit, is that you can eliminate a cable (yes the "Y-Cable") and you can always move the repeater, without having to restart the base.
Although I'd prefer that they have a camcorder battery in their R8 base, our crews almost always power both the receiver and radio off the same external 12v battery. We use 35Ah gel cells that are designed for Hover Round wheelchairs; they're made for the type of long draw/recharge cycle that the radios put on them.
We also use the internal TX at short range, typically > 1/2 mile.
We use CMRx corrections and 8000 baud in order to minimize the duty cycle, and transmit on either 16 or 25 watts in order to minimize heat buildup.
If you use the db9 or serial connection at the R8 then you have to provide power to the R8. ie. no power trough the serial connection. If you use the round Lemo? or Leno? connector at the R* then you don't need to provide additional power to the R8.
Thats how our set-up works anyways.
Cow bell on the receiver, internal radio set up as base radio, the 25 watt radio (trimmark3) is used as a repeater, sometimes setting near the base other times on a easy to access spot, could be a mile away. No one here will give up their trimmark for a TDL.
Much simpler base set-up that way, often the big radio sets in the truck the entire time, if needed it's there. The 2 watt base radio gets good coverage.