Sangean DAR-101 and ATS-909X2 (firmware 070) automatic recording start

I was quite intrigued by the ATS-909X2's ability to trigger external audio recorders, so I got my hands on the DAR-101 audio recorder (now being rebranded as Recorder 01), which can be remotely started by the radio.


Unfortunately, the experience of using the two units together is not the best.


The recorder's manual points to the radio's manual, and the radio's manual points to the recorder's manual, and both manuals provide little hints of what needs to be done, but none of them had a good and clear explanation in one place.
The Universal Radio's page about the DAR-101 has the needed steps: https://www.universal-radio.com/catal...
The short version is: There's a DAR-101 setting called REC STANDBY, which is used to trigger recording on incoming telephone call (in telephone mode), but it also works in music mode, to start recording with external trigger from the radio. The ATS-909X2 sends the trigger, when its alarm activates. The rest of the details are in the manuals.

Additionally, for some reason, my ATS-909X2 wouldn't accept the 2.5 mm TRS cable I used, when I plug it completely in. Instead I need to leave around 2 mm gap between the cable and the radio body. I only have one cable at the moment, so I'm not sure if this is an issue with my cable or with the radio.

Finally, unlike with the Sony ICF-SW77, mentioned in the Universal Radio's article, with the ATS-909X2 there doesn't seem to be a way to program the duration of the recording. Instead, it will keep the recorder keyed-up for 60 minutes (so 59:59 record time) and then stop and turn itself off. I think that this reduces the usability of the radio, and that it would have been better, if there was an option to program the duration of the recording.


00:00 - General comments
00:31 - Taking a look at the ports on the DAR-101
02:18 - Explanation how remote port works on DAR-101
03:12 - Enabling remote recording start with REC Standby option on DAR-101
04:53 - Turning DAR-101 on remotely
05:59 - ATS-909X2 cables
07:30 - Setting up alarms on ATS-909X2
08:52 - Demonstration of remote start
09:22 - Comments about inability to program stop time for recording
10:27 - Associating frequency with alarm timer on ATS-909X2
13:10 - Recording timers on the DAR-101
15:00 - General comments about recording feature
17:57 - Turning the alarm off
18:25 - Radio version number