Hello everyone,
I am getting ready to purchase and install a new UHF repeater in Erie, PA. This area is the home of practically everything 2M, and in being in an urban area like the City of Erie, I feel it would be beneficial to install a UHF repeater for the amateur radio community.
I had my own UHF repeater setup on GMRS and it was kind of rocky at best coverage-wise. So, I am trying to see what other operators have in mind for my setup.
Right now, I will be using two Motorola mobile radios, the transmit radio rated at 45 watts. I want to get a Comet CA-712EF UHF antenna to use on the system. The radios would have a mobile duplexer tuned to the frequencies I plan to use.
Now, I can have the antenna anywhere from 35 to maybe 60 feet safely in the air. My question is, what kind of coverage can be anticipated from a small repeater with an antenna at this height? I'm more concerned about portable coverage than anything else.
The antenna has a rated gain of 9dbi. The place where the repeater antenna is being installed is at my residence, a flat urban area - but with other small obstructions in the residential neighborhood, like houses (no higher than two stories). I am about 20 blocks from the downtown area with large buildings and towers.
So, is this something I should invest money into? Or is it something that won't get a lot of good coverage in ones opinion? I hate to see spending the money, and it becoming a "wannabe-repeater".
Any comments or advice are appreciated, along with any questions! It would be nice to get input from others who may have done a simlar task and their results!
Plese remember, this is a low-profile repeater with the hopes of having some decent coverage -- even if it is limited to mobiles in distant ranges.
I am getting ready to purchase and install a new UHF repeater in Erie, PA. This area is the home of practically everything 2M, and in being in an urban area like the City of Erie, I feel it would be beneficial to install a UHF repeater for the amateur radio community.
I had my own UHF repeater setup on GMRS and it was kind of rocky at best coverage-wise. So, I am trying to see what other operators have in mind for my setup.
Right now, I will be using two Motorola mobile radios, the transmit radio rated at 45 watts. I want to get a Comet CA-712EF UHF antenna to use on the system. The radios would have a mobile duplexer tuned to the frequencies I plan to use.
Now, I can have the antenna anywhere from 35 to maybe 60 feet safely in the air. My question is, what kind of coverage can be anticipated from a small repeater with an antenna at this height? I'm more concerned about portable coverage than anything else.
The antenna has a rated gain of 9dbi. The place where the repeater antenna is being installed is at my residence, a flat urban area - but with other small obstructions in the residential neighborhood, like houses (no higher than two stories). I am about 20 blocks from the downtown area with large buildings and towers.
So, is this something I should invest money into? Or is it something that won't get a lot of good coverage in ones opinion? I hate to see spending the money, and it becoming a "wannabe-repeater".
Any comments or advice are appreciated, along with any questions! It would be nice to get input from others who may have done a simlar task and their results!
Plese remember, this is a low-profile repeater with the hopes of having some decent coverage -- even if it is limited to mobiles in distant ranges.
Last edited: