Custom Siren system encoder

[Stormsetter4]

That's pretty slick. Is your weather radio setup to disregard all other messages except tornado warnings?

BTW, might want to have a backup means of activation. Weather radio transmitters do go down. Did you ever get a primary encoder setup?

Another thing to look at, does your charger automatically restart itself when the battery drops below a certain level? I had a Kenwood two way that would only charge when you first put the radio on the charger base. Once it timed out it stopped charging and wouldn't restart until you turned the power off and back on, or if you removed the radio and put it back in. I left it on the charger for a week once when I was out of town. When I got back home it was dead.

Yep, I have it set only to tornado warnings. We are going to have several means of back up activation. One at city hall, and hopefully one with somebody else. Not sure if the charger restarts itself, I will probably need to look into that. We will be doing monthly tests though.
Thanks for the compliments!

[holler]

If it doesn't restart itself just hook it up to a basic timer that turns it on/off once a day.

My radio guy usually hooks up a battery eliminator, or just connects the AC adapter directly to the terminals where the battery used to be.

[Stormsetter4]

If it doesn't restart itself just hook it up to a basic timer that turns it on/off once a day.

My radio guy usually hooks up a battery eliminator, or just connects the AC adapter directly to the terminals where the battery used to be.

Yeah, I will try doing that. I want it to be battery back up though, so if our part of town is out of power, but the other half of town with a siren in it has power, they will still go off. I will probably hook it to a timer.

[holler]

Better solution is place the entire thing on a small UPS. It will help filter out the trash on the incoming power and give you better/more reliable battery backup capability. Those Ni-Cad batteries are bad about retaining a memory, and if they stay on charge all the time they go flat in about 15 minutes.

BTW is the repeater on a backup also?

[Stormsetter4]

Better solution is place the entire thing on a small UPS. It will help filter out the trash on the incoming power and give you better/more reliable battery backup capability. Those Ni-Cad batteries are bad about retaining a memory, and if they stay on charge all the time they go flat in about 15 minutes.

BTW is the repeater on a backup also?

I was thinking about putting it on a UPS. My dad has a big one that runs his computer that I could hook it to. No sure if the repeater is on a backup, but I'm sure it is because it is a police frequency.

[estokke09]

Cool setup! I have that exact weather radio, it works great. Based on personal experience, for a UPS I would recommend an APC.

[Stormsetter4]

Cool setup! I have that exact weather radio, it works great. Based on personal experience, for a UPS I would recommend an APC.

Yeah, APC's are good.

[theroofable]

Not sure I would rely on this for actual use in a city system. However, it would do the job as a backup.

[Stormsetter4]

Not sure I would rely on this for actual use in a city system. However, it would do the job as a backup.

For right now, It is the best we can afford, but in the future we will get a much better primary activation encoder, preferably a SS2000.

[theroofable]

You should just get a base radio. You don't need an encoder, most radios can do it themselves, just as your portable. A nice permanent install with an outdoor antenna would go a long way. Much more reliable too. This setup could be done for much less than the price of an SS2000. If you feel the need to get an encoder, get a Zetron model 5 or 15. Still much cheaper, and does the same thing. Let me say it again though, an encoder is not necessary.

Here is an example of what we use for base radios. A mobile radio mounted on a power supply with a desk mic. The power supply has an option for battery backup as well.