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Reviews For: Link Communications RLC-4

Category: Ham Repeater Controllers

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Review Summary For : Link Communications RLC-4
Reviews: 3MSRP: 499.95
Description:
4-Port Repeater and Linking Controller
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.rlccontrollers.com/index.php/site/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0033.3
AK2O Rating: 2020-09-20
Poor documentation Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm working on a new unit (-4) for a local Club in town. The manual documentation is less than perfect. For example, the de-emp jumpers labeled in the manual do not match up the PCB silkscreen labels. I find the command details rather confusing. (the -1 is much better). Also, the manual does not include a schematic drawing. I've requested one from OEM. At this point I may pass on the job and give it to someone with more patience. I have not powered it up at this point; just put it back in the box for now.
N1BUG Rating: 2008-05-22
Good with some annoyances Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using the RLC-4 for six years. It is controlling two repeaters, one 2 meters and one 440.

The controller has been very reliable, no failures in six years. Programming has been no problem. Audio is great. Most things work very smoothly and as expected.

But it could be better. I had problems trying to use a CW character as a courtesy tone. Sometimes the controller would mangle the character. Not badly but very noticeable. It sounded as though the controller would be busy with other tasks or get interrupted, which throws off timing for generating the elements of the CW character. Also I had programmed different audio pitch for the CW character associated with each receiver. Occasionally the controller would get them confused and start using one pitch for both receivers. Very strange. Considering how the programming was set up I cannot imagine how this could happen. I have never had a problem with CW ID, only when trying to use CW as a courtesy tone.

It would be nice if the controller had a real time clock that could be used to automate events. Also the user timers are a little coarse for some purposes, with the minimum prorammable interval being one second. Actually the minimum reliable programming for user timers is two seconds due to the way the controller keeps track of time. If programmed for one second, the timer will expire on the next "tick" of the second hand, so to speak - which could be about to happen just as the timer is started.

I am also using RLC-ADM audio delay modules with the controller. As long as you don't need a delay longer than 197 ms they work great. I am disappointed at the way they attach to the RLC-4, plugging onto a 4 pin header. This is not a secure attachment and leaves the ADM very loose and floppy.

I'm giving it a 3 because of the issues stated above. But it does a good job of controlling multiple repeaters and just keeps on ticking.
KC7YNS Rating: 2002-01-06
excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The club I belong to has 8 RLC-4's, with 7 in service (1 as a spare), the controllers are used in a linked system.the system consists of 4 2 meter machines (2 Motorola micors, 1 GE master II) with 3 70 cm machines ( motorola 2 msf-5000 and a micor) with a 4th 70 cm machine to be added. and 3 uhf link radio's (msf-5000's) all running through RLC-4's. we've got some impressive coverage with this system, with all machines being able to be tied together, also with patch capabilities.

We also have some stand alone and portable machines using the RLC-4 with the same good
results

programming is fairly straight forward with one glitch, it seems if you use the D command in your security codes to access the controller for programming via DTMF, it is the default for DTMF disconnect ( our fault for not reading the book all the way through) must be a guy thing...hehehe.

otherwise personaly I don't think you can find a better controller