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Reviews For: Computer Automation Technology - CAT-200 Repeater Controller

Category: Ham Repeater Controllers

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Review Summary For : Computer Automation Technology - CAT-200 Repeater Controller
Reviews: 9MSRP: $159.00
Description:
This controller was specially developed to provide sophisticated two port repeater and link operation, packed full of rich features, at a fantastic low cost. Some of the features include: Programmable Voice Messages, Remote Base Port, Thirty Two Controlling Functions, Four Logic Inputs, Four User Function Outputs, Peet Weather Station Interface for Weather reporting just to name a few!
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0094.9
W5KVV Rating: 2017-01-13
Good for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My club currently has 5 CAT 200's in service. Some are approaching a decade in service. For the money, they're a great controller. Easy to set up, easy to interface and easy to fine tune.

The only negative: Our older units periodically require a complete memory flush and reprogramming. For whatever reason, they seem to loose their mind, and have to be rebooted and reprogrammed from scratch. I'm assuming this is due to the age of the units, as they're right at ten years of service.

Other than that they've been trouble free. Hard to beat something that gives you ten years of service before the first minor hiccup.
KB8ZXE Rating: 2009-08-02
Good Controller Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned a CAT-200 for several years now. When I was building my repeater I had a tough time picking out a controller but I am glad I went with the CAT-200. Setting up the audio levels is a snap with the 5 pots that it has. Keypad test is a very useful feature. Programming follows an easy to understand scheme. Fan control is also very useful for turning on a fan when the repeater is transmitting. The plus 12volts on the DB-25 connector is nice too. Status LEDs would be nice but surely not required. I would have also liked to see both ports on a separate connector (port1 on a DB-9 and port2 on a DB-9)but having one DB-25 can have advantages too. Best of all CAT is very easy to work with and they get back to you very quickly if you have a question.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KB8ZXE on 2004-04-06

I have had the Cat-200 controller for about six months now. It is the best controller that you can buy for your money. It has a lot of features such as voice id, ked pad test, link port and more. It is also pretty easy to program over the air. I would buy another Cat-200 without question.


Bob KB8ZXE
KC0GLA Rating: 2009-01-10
Great Controller Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I put one of these in a repeater. I used the link for an IRLP link for a long time. Only problem is that the factory fuse blew. I found out that there was a change to the design used for that size of fuse. I replaced with a new style fuse and no more problems. The fuse problem was not a controller design problem.
KC9GMH Rating: 2008-10-04
Great controller for the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Very easy to program and has alot of features, for $200 its worth it. Work very well with my Kenwood TKR-750 repeater. I also have a Motorola m1225 as a link radio for our local skywarn repeater.
N1RIK Rating: 2008-02-09
Great controller! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The first Cat-200 Controller I purchased came with my GE Rangr UHF Repeater package I purchased about a year ago. I had previously been fond of the MCC RC-1000 controllers, which has pletty curtosy tones that you can create. What I did find out is with the RC-1000, is that it DOES NOT have independent RX and TX level controls for the repeater and remote base ports. This caused some issues with my 2 meter repeater. Once I experienced how simple it was to use a link radio with my Cat-200 controller on the 440 repeater, I had to replace my RC-1000 on the 2 meter. I have been happy with my Cat-200 controllers. They are fairly simple. They have a digital voice ID, no clock, limited courtesy tone options, however they interface great between your repeater and link radio. Also it features options to be used as a weather station (I have no use for that either). If I ever upgrade from this controller, it'll be another cat, like maybe a 300. A++++

You can hear mine on the air here:

Covering Moore County in North Carolina

145.370 -/offset PL 179.9 hz - Southern Pines, NC
442.250 +/offset PL 179.9 hz - Carthage/Cameron, NC

73 ~ Bill, N1RIK
K6VHP Rating: 2004-06-18
outstandin Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had one for quite a while, and would say "mega-dittos" to all the aforementioned comments! Great job, CAT!

dave
WA1MIK Rating: 2004-06-18
Simple but does the job Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my first one in early 2002 along with their serial interface. Worked flawlessly with a pair of Motorola MaxTracs. They sent me a couple of firmware upgrades for free. Bought a second one in 2004 to interface with a Motorola MSF5000. Made my own serial interface for $10. Bought the audio delay boards with each one. They have a nice BBS and are easy to contact. Very fast tech support when needed. They accept comments and are open to suggestions. The prices have gone up a bit, however. Still a good deal for what it does. May buy a third unit for yet another MSF5000.
VE7RMY Rating: 2004-02-19
Trouble Free Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I started to use this controller since April 2001 with a WR Repeater. I like the Over the Air programming feature via DTMF, DTMF Pad Tester and Voice ID. This is a great controller and the manual was very easy to follow. It's been trouble free for 3 years now. (www.qsl.net/va7pre)
KB3HJN Rating: 2004-01-05
Really good Controller. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had a CAT-200 for almost a year now and it serves as a great repeater controller. CAT has done a great job in the design on this controller, and at the price of $199.00, you can't really beat it for what you get. To hear it on the air, listen on 146.64MHz - in Pleasantville, Pennsylvania.

Aaron Riley, KB3HJN
Riley Electronic Services
www.rileyes.biz