Bridgecom BCR-220 configuration for AllStarLink using RA-42

This post describes the steps needed to interface a Bridgecom BCR-220 repeater to AllStarLink using the Masters Communications RA-42.

You will need to change the repeater's configuration using the Bridgecom supplied programming adapter and software.  First read and save your current configuration.

My factory configuration looks like the following:

You will need to make the following changes to your configuration for the repeater to work with an external controller.  This configuration uses the Bridgecom controller for CTCSS encode and decode.

Here are my new settings for the repeater:

Set Broadcast interval to zero and uncheck Broadcast Activity Independent.

Slot 00 is the sysop slot.  It is repurposed when using an external controller.  Set the CTCSS to the tone you want to use.  It should be the same as the setting for slot 01.  When the CTCSS tone is detected for slot 00, the COS signal is pulled low so that the external controller can operate the transmitter.

Set the courtesy tone to None.

The following setting allows you to use the repeater when the external controller is not working.  Set the CTCSS tone to another value.

You will need a DB25 male connector and a DB9 male connector for the interface cable. The cable to interface from the repeater to the RA42 should be constructed as follows:

DB-25 (BCR-220)	Notes	DB-9 (RA-42)
8- Rx Discriminator Out		6 - Audio In
17 - COS Active Low		3 - COS Input
19 - TX Audio In	Add series 4.7K resistor	2 - Left Audio Output
20 - PTT In (Active Low)		5 - PTT Output
25 - Ground		8 - Ground

The simpleusb.conf should have deemphasis enabled and preemphasis disabled.  Carrierfrom should be set to usbinvert. My configuration looks like the following:

[usb_64837]

eeprom = 0                  ; EEPROM installed: 0,1                                         ; 0 = no (default)                                                ; 1 = yes

hdwtype = 0                 ; Leave this set to 0 for USB sound fobs modified using                                                                        ; the instructions from usbfob.pdf. Use a setting of                                                                              ; 1 is for Dingotel/Sph interfaces.

; Receiver parameters

rxboost = 0                 ; 0 = 20db attenuator inserted, 1= 20db attenuator removed                                                                    ; Set to 1 for additonal gain if using a low-level receiver output

carrierfrom = usbinvert     ; no,usb,usbinvert                                                ; no - no carrier detection at all                                ; usb - from the COR line on the USB sound fob (Active high)

                            ; usbinvert - from the inverted COR line on the USB sound fob (Active low)

ctcssfrom = no              ; no,usb,usbinvert                                                ; no - CTCSS decoding, system will be carrier squelch             ; usb - CTCSS decoding using input from USB sound fob (Active high)                                                            ; usbinvert - from the inverted CTCSS line on the USB sound fob (Active low)

deemphasis = yes            ; enable de-emphasis (input from discriminator)

plfilter = yes              ; enable PL filter

;rxondelay = 0              ; number of 20ms intervals to hold off receiver turn-on indication

; Transmitter parameters

txmixa = voice              ; Left channel output (A): no,voice                              ; no - Do not output anything                                    ; voice - output voice only

txmixb = no                 ; Right channel output (B): no,voice                              ; no - Do not output anything                                    ; voice - output voice only

txboost = 0

invertptt = 0               ; Invert PTT: 0,1                                                ; 0 - ground to transmit                                          ; 1 - open to transmit

preemphasis = 0             ; Perform standard 6db/octave pre-emphasis

; pager = no                ; no,a,b (e.g. pager = b means "put the normal repeat audio on channel A, and the pager audio on channel B")

; duplex3 = 0               ; duplex 3 gain setting (0 to disable)

duplex = 0                  ; Duplex 0,1                                                      ; 0 - half duplex                                                ; 1 - full duplex

You now need to use simpleusb-tune-menu to set the RX and TX levels.