• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

General information on a Quantar UHF Repeater

Status
Not open for further replies.

dmason04

I support our police.
Joined
Aug 2, 2021
Messages
140
Location
BEE00-152-1-5
Howdy,

I was looking online and found a used Motorola Quantar repeater in UHF that I'm interested in purchasing. I wanted to see if the RR community knows the answers to the following questions:

Am I allowed to operate the repeater under a basic HAM tech license?
Will the repeater function as a TRS?
What sort of external antenna equipment will I need to mount on my house?

Thanks,
David
 

cpg178

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Messages
415
If your trying to make a trunked ham system your gonna need alot more than just 1 repeater
 

littona

Super Freq
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
374
Location
Council Bluffs, IA
Yes, but you should do frequency coordination with the respective group that handles your area. Is it required? No. But it's a good idea.
You need to ensure that you're staying within the frequency and power authorizations of your license.

Not sure what you mean by TRS... a Quantar is a repeater. It receives on one frequency and transmits on another simultaneously.

You'll need a UHF duplexer and an appropriate antenna.

Make sure you can get the Quantar programming software. You need a serial port to program it, but may be able to get away with a decent USB to serial port adapter. You can make the programming cable if you can get the parts. The programming cable for these machines is just a regular null-modem serial cable, nothing fancy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_modem
 

prcguy

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
17,174
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
The Quantar is without question, the finest affordable repeater you can buy right now. Its replacement is the GTR8000 but those are running around $7k and up used and Quantars dip down to around $600 for UHF occasionally. In the US you can own and operate a repeater with a Tech class amateur license but you may need to seek frequency coordination from your local ham coordinating group.

You will need a good duplexer so plan on spending about $250 on up used and the antenna is key to coverage so don't skimp there. I would not go for anything less than 6dBd omni gain and a commercial quality antenna not a hamster brand. Many ham antennas have internal wire element connections using chrome or other plated parts that can cause Passive Intermodulation when lit up with RF. It doesn't affect a regular push to talk radio but can raise the noise floor in a full duplex system.

The Quantar is very easy to program and align and once aligned it can be programmed across a few MHz without retuning. Programming software is available on Ebay and a programming cable is a simple 9 pin serial null modem cable. The 110 watt UHF version will run 110 watts key down forever but many people back the power down to about 85 watts or so.

What area are you in? If its So Cal I can help with technical info.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top