Can this be done?

[Docmafia]

Setup: Simplex Repeater with a 2m Dual-band Handheld Ham Radio.

Is there a way to remotely control one ham radio from another ham radio with DTMF tones?

For example if i were to use a simplex repeater and wanted to change the frequency of the ham radio attached to the simplex repeater remotely from the ground, Could I use DTMF tones to do this?.

 

[K4DHR]

It depends on the model of the radio. Usually it is a feature found on some of the higher end dual band rigs. My former Kenwood TM-V7A had DTMF remote control, but my current Yaesu rig (FT-7800R) doesn't have it. Per the manual in the Kenwood, that feature was added to the radio to do exactly what you want to do here.

Take a close look at the equipment you're interested in and see if it has that feature or not.

 

[kb0nly]

The NHRC-2 controller can be remotely controlled by DTMF and also configured as a simplex repeater, what they call store and forward, using the voice recorder chip onboard.

Its a good option to consider.. NHRC Repeater Controllers

 

[Docmafia]

Im a fng, sorry

I am a newbie at this radio stuff don't really understand much about radio, but I am trying to learn.

My Goal is to take (1) simplex repeater, (1) 2m handheld Dual-Band Ham Radio (1) Battery Pack & (1) solar Panel put all this inside a Pelican weather proof case and place it on a tower that we have on a farm. We want to be able to extend our range of communication. We would like to make this repeater private with the ability to change the Frequency without climbing the tower. What would be the best way to do this cheaply?

 

[ka3jjz]

Also research the rules about what freqs are permitted for remote control, and control op responsibilities.

73 Mike

 

[gewecke]

The NHRC-2 controller can be remotely controlled by DTMF and also configured as a simplex repeater, what they call store and forward, using the voice recorder chip onboard.

Its a good option to consider.. NHRC Repeater Controllers

The ICS linker 2a can also do this,using DTMF but without the voice feature and for less money. Also keep in mind that both the remote radio and the link radio need to transmit your call sign,to stay legal.
Integrated Control Systems

n9zas

 

[hockeyshrink]

I am a newbie at this radio stuff don't really understand much about radio, but I am trying to learn.

My Goal is to take (1) simplex repeater, (1) 2m handheld Dual-Band Ham Radio (1) Battery Pack & (1) solar Panel put all this inside a Pelican weather proof case and place it on a tower that we have on a farm. We want to be able to extend our range of communication. We would like to make this repeater private with the ability to change the Frequency without climbing the tower. What would be the best way to do this cheaply?

If you are using this on amateur frequencies, all users will need to have their amateur license, and I believe your repeater will have to be approved by your local repeater coordination council.

 

[Squad10]

I'm not a ham, and do not know the legalities of my idea, but you may want to consider hooking up the Argent Data Sytems ADS-SR1 ($89.00) to the simplex repeater portable, program the portable with a unique NBFM frequency (the frequency you want to operate) and a unique CTCSS (usually 32) and/or DCS (usually 106) for as many channels as the radio is capable of operating (or you need) and put the radio in scan mode. What the “lead-in/lag” time is before voice communication begins will be determined by the receivers scan rate. It's a primative way to steer a radio, but it may work for you.

To all, feel free to tell me if you think my idea is crazy or illegal.

 

[PeterGV]

Wouldn't you be wwaaaaaaaay better of just getting a cheap, used, "normal" repeater? Like a MaxTrac or some such? Then you wouldn't have to worry about all the extra annoyance, and -- assuming you had a reasonable repeater controller board -- you could reprogram it using DTMF.

Peter
K1PGV

 

[elk2370bruce]

I'm not a ham, and do not know the legalities of my idea, but you may want to consider hooking up the Argent Data Sytems ADS-SR1 ($89.00) to the simplex repeater portable, program the portable with a unique NBFM frequency (the frequency you want to operate) and a unique CTCSS (usually 32) and/or DCS (usually 106) for as many channels as the radio is capable of operating (or you need) and put the radio in scan mode. What the “lead-in/lag” time is before voice communication begins will be determined by the receivers scan rate. It's a primative way to steer a radio, but it may work for you.

To all, feel free to tell me if you think my idea is crazy or illegal.

From what was clearly stated above, if you're not a licensed ham, nor are any other of the proposed users, you cannot use the amateur radio frequencies. Therefore, it would be totally illegal and there are cheaper. legal options available to you.

 

[canav844]

If you are using this on amateur frequencies, all users will need to have their amateur license, and I believe your repeater will have to be approved by your local repeater coordination council.

Not required, but recommended (to the part in bold), if one decides not to then they have the primary responsibility to resolve interference issues. Keep it to low power and the proper part of the band (many coordination groups put together a band plan that includes room for uncoordinated repeaters) and as long as everyone has their HAM license and the communications are not business related there would be no issue. Now if it's farmers discussing farm work, then there could be an issue with pecuniary interest and in that case simplex MURS or other business license options would need to be pursued; if it's farmers just chatting away while they work to pass the time then this kind of setup would be great for rag chewing.

W5YI : Sec. 97.205 Repeater station

Part 97 : Sec. 97.205 Repeater station (a) Any amateur station licensed to a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be a repeater. A holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be the control operator of a repeater, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held.

....




(c) Where the transmissions of a repeater cause harmful interference to another repeater, the two station licensees are equally and fully responsible for resolving the interference unless the operation of one station is recommended by a frequency coordinator and the operation of the other station is not. In that case, the licensee of the non- coordinated repeater has primary responsibility to resolve the interference.

 

[Squad10]

Docmafia, if your'e still out there after only two posts, please post your ham callsign to get these amateur radio cops off my back!

I've only had my First Class Radiotelephone License (now GP) for 37 years and their inference is that my simplex repeater setup idea suggests that you transmit illegally using it on the ham bands. Geeze!

By they way Docmafia, do not transmit on amateur radio frequencies unless the US government has authorized you to do so.

 

[hockeyshrink]

copy that

Not required, but recommended (to the part in bold), if one decides not to then they have the primary responsibility to resolve interference issues. Keep it to low power and the proper part of the band (many coordination groups put together a band plan that includes room for uncoordinated repeaters) and as long as everyone has their HAM license and the communications are not business related there would be no issue. Now if it's farmers discussing farm work, then there could be an issue with pecuniary interest and in that case simplex MURS or other business license options would need to be pursued; if it's farmers just chatting away while they work to pass the time then this kind of setup would be great for rag chewing.

W5YI : Sec. 97.205 Repeater station

Cool...thanks for clarifying, and very well said

'shrink