Full Duplex Crossband Repeater
For sure you want to know, why another software-based crossband repeater function is of need, nevertheless the transceiver itself has a built in crossband repeater function. As mentioned in the foreword, some functions of the transceiver will be improved and extended by FT847-SuperControl�.
The built in crossband repeater of your transceiver is only a one way repeater. That means, we can use only one frequency as uplink and only one frequency as downlink. The built in crossband repeater works only this way and can only be used for some kind of normal repeater behavior.
For example: input-frequency 433.550.000 -> output-frequency: 144.562.500
In this case, an incoming signal will be repeated to the output frequency, like a common repeater. Crossband means, that this repeating is only possible with two frequencies on different bands. In contrast to the crossband repeater, a normal repeater will repeat the frequency to the same band.
FT847-SuperControl� extends the function of the built in crossband repeater to a full duplex crossband repeater. Full duplex means, that both frequencies can be used as input and output frequency.
For example: i/o-frequency: 433.550.000 <-> i/o-frequency: 144.562.500
For this function, both VFO's will be exchanged by the software continuously, while the crossband repeater function on the transceiver is turned on.
Also for full duplex crossbanding, you can choose your favorite frequency pair. FT847-SuperControl� will try to accept all possible frequency pairs and modes. For example a 160m band frequency can be repeated to a 70cm band frequency, and lsb can be repeated to fm mode of course, but there are still some words to say about this (ab)using of this function.
If you are using the full duplex crossband repeater to repeat hf to vhf/uhf frequencies, or ssb modes to am/fm modes, you'll hear a rapid clicking of relais type devices inside your transceiver.
It is highly recommended to use the crossband repeater only with frequencies in the vhf/uhf bands and of course with the same modes, otherwise the (ab)using of this function may lead into heavy damage of your transceivers relais type decices in future.
Starting the full duplex crossband repeater:
Please make sure, FT847-SuperControl� and of course your transceiver is in satellite mode. You can switch your transceiver into satellite mode by using the button "SAT ON" in the software. Now you can tune in your favorite frequency pair or simply load a previously saved crossband or satellite memory. You can start the crossband repeater by using the button "CROSS ON", a new information window will appear (refer to picture 1.1).
(Picture 1.1)
This information window will tell you, that you should go to your internal transceiver menu by pushing the "MENU" button on your transceiver, and change menu no. "41- X-RPT" to the status "ON". Then you should leave the internal transceiver menu by pushing again the button "MENU" on the transceiver. At least confirm the information window in the FT847-SuperControl� software with a click on the "OK" button. Please exactly follow these steps, otherwise it may result in a malfunction.
If everything went ok, you should now be able to watch a rapidly vfo-switching on both, the software's and the transceiver's VFO's. You can choose between several switching speeds by using the slider-control in the root program window (below the "CROSS ON" button), a value of "5" seems to get the best results.
A special feature is, that we can configure a repeater offset to one VFO by using the button "RPT" in the root program window. So it will be possible to access normal repeaters via the full duplex crossband repeater function ! If you have a repeater at your location, on which the carrier falls off fast, you can try to work it via the crossband repeater. It is not possible to interrupt a repeated signal by putting a signal to the other VFO, sending is only possible if your FT-847 is not on the air.
You can end the crossband repeater function by using the button "CROSS OFF".