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Yaesu / Vertex VX-5000 Repeater Setup Compiled from an email exchange on the repeater-builder mailing list

This writeup discusses wiring an external repeater controller to the Yaesu-Vertex 5000 repeater using the existing DB25 connector.   These connections are unnecessary if you are using the chassis mounted RJ telephone style connector to interface your controller.   The squelch-gated audio is already present on that connector.   If you don't mind using two cables, one DB25 and one RJ, you don't even have to do the mods listed here.

Here are a couple of simple modifications for PL and COR logic...

For an "active low" COR logic (for example, for an RLC controller) install a 10K pull-up between Vertex pin 11 and Vertex pin 2 (+13.8VDC). You can install this resistor inside the Vertex on the board that contains the DB25 (preferred), or inside your controller from COR to +12v (pin numbers will vary with the controller manufacturer). Either location provides a pullup resistor for the COR output. Vertex pin 11 is then connected to the controller COS input pin.

Vertex pin 16 (CTCSS TONE DET) is an active low open collector (like pin 11). Same as above, the pullup resistor can be installed inside the Vertex on the DB25 board, or inside the controller. If you put it inside the Vertex, install a 10K pull-up between Vertex pin 2 (+13.8VDC) and pin 16. Now PL decode is "active low" and can be connected to the controllers PL decode input pin.

These operations on the DB25 board takes about 10 minutes and doesn't involve messing with any sensitive parts. It's easiest to remove the DB25 board from the unit (a couple of screws and two connectors). With the Vertex software, setup the the unit in "Duplex base station" mode. In this mode, the Vertex internal controller runs the show. Here's the really cool part! If you connect Vertex pin 13 (BASE Logic) to ground INSIDE THE DB25 PLUG THAT GOES INTO THE VERTEX, it tells the Vertex to have the RCVR and XMTR to work independently so that your external controller can take over. Yaesu calls this the Base (or SIMPLEX) mode. This allows you to have the Vertex revert back to a standalone repeater just by unplug your controller plug. Really nice if your controller dies or you just want to take it off-line for some reason. The repeater keeps working. Just keep in mind that the Vertex internal logic doesn't have any IDers. Just a hang time (also called a carrier delay) and time-out timer. Maybe program the Vertex for a 1-second carrier delay, and your normal controller for 3 seconds. Then tell your users that if they hear the short delay that they have to voice ID the repeater as well as themselves.

RX Audio Gating

Again, the audio on DB25 pin 6 of a stock VX-5000 repeater is not squelch gated or (squelch muted). The COR follows the incoming signal but the RX audio is constantly on. This is not good if your controller can't mute it (as is the case with the ACC 85 and 96 models).

One way to modify the repeater slightly to send squelch muted audio to the DB25 connector:
Look at the CTRL 1 or CTRL 2 schematic for the Vertex. The audio signal passes through each one but eventually goes to a capacitor and on to the audio amp driver. Once you find the right CTRL board, look at the top left of the schemtic. You should be able to find the RX audio section where it is transformer coupled and sent out the RJ45 (telephone) jack.

What you want to do is remove the cap which removes the un-squelched audio. Then jumper from near the transformer to the wiring that ends up at the DB25. Finally, mark the repeater as having a squelched audio mod. This mod is almost identical to the TX audio mod described in the manual (if they are still doing it). Or patch the squelched audio to a spare pin and connect that pin to your controllers audio input instead of pin 6.

Acknowledgements:

Pinout information and controller modification by Craig Garcia, WB6LZV   craig (dot) garcia (at) amd (dot) com.

Gated audio modification by Doug Otoupal, N5HYD   otoupal (at) astro (dot) as (dot) utexas (dot) edu.

Information edited from discussions on the Repeater Owners Reflector.