ACC Controller Repairs Since ACC is no longer in business and some of the parts used in their controllers have been discontinued, repairs are becomming more difficult. Some of the resources that are available are listed below. If you have information that should be added to this file, please email it to steve@link-comm.com. ----------- Our contact information as of May, 2003 follows. You can always check for updated information at http://link-comm.com/contact.html. Link Communications, Inc. 1035 Cerise Rd Billings, MT 59101-7378 (406) 245-5002 info@link-comm.com http://www.link-comm.com File archive - Take link from http://www.link-comm.com. Includes files for burning your own updates, most of the RC-850 manual and other misc info. Manuals - $20 for RC-85 or RC-96 manual, $40 for RC-850 (two binders). Only the RC-850 manual is available electronically (see above). RC-85/96 Firmware Updates - Complete version 5.2 upgrade kit $125. Includes 27C011 emulator board, DS1216E clock module, 28C64A EEPROM and manual. Parts available separately as well. 27C011 Emulator Board - Makes a 27C010 eprom (included) work like a 27C011 (which is no longer available). $65. DS1216E Clock Module - $36.50. Must be enabled after installation by entering "9213528835". This "secret" code sets tens year to 5. The controller should respond to the code by saying "ok". If the DS1216E is not initialized properly, the following features in V5 will not work: female vocabulary, time, date, HF remote base. 28C64A EEPROM - $15. Needed for later software versions. RC-96 PAL - $15. TMS5220 Speech Synthesizer - $15. This part has been discontinued, but we still have a few. You may want one for a spare. RC-850 Firmware Upgrades - A complete upgrade kit is NOT available. If you do not have the computer interface board, you will not be able to upgrade past V3.42. V3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8 all require the computer interface board which is not available. If you already have 27C011 eproms, they can be reprogrammed for $10 each. If you do not have them but have everything else you need for V3.8, two of the 27C011 eprom emulator boards can be used. If you have 3.7 and are running links or remote bases, you should probably not upgrade to 3.8 as it is rumored that it has a bug that mutes link/remote audio when a voice ID runs on the repeater channel and the CWINT does not work if the link/remote COS becomes active. Shipping is additional. $7.50 for small parts, $10 for one manual binder, $15 for two manual binders (RC-850 manual). ----------- The "ACC Repair Guy" Paul Kindell, WB8ZVL 92 Circle Drive Lebanon, Ohio 45036 513-695-1318 Work 8am-5pm EDT or 513-925-1318 paul@accrepairs.com http://www.accrepairs.com Repairs 85's 96's 850's, DVR's and FC900's. Also provided the following information: RC-85 PAL "Faker" When upgrading an RC-85 from something prior to V3.xx to V3.xx or later, the 74LS138 must be replaced with something else. ACC used a $150 PAL board to do the job, but you can do it by rewiring the 74LS138. I took years ago a good pal from an RC-85 and hooked a dip sw to it's input. By running data into the PAL I came up with this design for the 74LS138. It is my opinion the PAL was just a way to try and copy protect the eprom and/or get $150.00 from everyone. I take 2 16 pin machine pin, IC sockets and plug them together. Take 4 short pieces of wire wrap wire and strip the ends back. Solder one wire into the socket pin 7, then another into socket pin 9, 10, & 11. You should now have 4 wires sticking up into the air from the socket. Take the 74LS138 and bend up in the air pins 7, 9, 10, & 11. Now solder the wire from the ic socket pin 7 to ic pin 9. Socket wire pin 9 to ic pin 7. Socket wire pin 10 to ic pin 11. Socket wire 11 to ic pin 10. This has worked for me in the past. I have the 2 pals I got from ACC back on 4/11/95. They are GAL16V8B, my blown PAL shows the number PAL10L8NC (I think it's blown, my RC-85 is still not working yet) I doubt they can be read, but I don't really think we need to. I think we can use the Faker or design our own PAL to do the same thing ACC's did. Paul WB8ZVL ---------------- At one time there was a list of sources for some of the parts used in the ACC controllers. If someone still has that list, please send it to me at steve@link-comm.com.