TK-8180 and NCS-C250 as a repeater

[ndejohn]

Hello All:

I have a question to throw out there. I have (2) Kenwood TK-8180's and an NCS-C250. I am wondering if I can build a UHF low-power (25 Watts) repeater using the NCS as the "repeater controller" per say. I know that I will need a duplexer as well. But, my main concern is will the NCS do what I need or is there a different/easier way to build a UHF repeater using the two radios that I have. Antenna, hardline and all that is already taken care.

This is something I am looking to deploy in the field and be temporary.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[ramal121]

Wellll yeah, the NCS-C250 will work fine, but it is a bi-directional controller and is designed for inter-op use. Is this what you are looking for or are you just in the market for a small tactical uni-directional repeater? If so, there are controllers out there that cost a fraction of that if not the dollars for a couple of connectors and cable.

 

[ndejohn]

Wellll yeah, the NCS-C250 will work fine, but it is a bi-directional controller and is designed for inter-op use. Is this what you are looking for or are you just in the market for a small tactical uni-directional repeater? If so, there are controllers out there that cost a fraction of that if not the dollars for a couple of connectors and cable.

Basically, I am looking for a quick tactical repeater. The only reason why I was asking about the NCS is because I have one at my disposal that is not being used so I would like to put it to use and wanted to know if it could be done and I guess the second part to my question now is how?

 

[ramal121]

Normally with a couple of mobiles and a simple uni-directional controller you can program the radios with the same transmit and receive frequencies (that are correct for the repeater). Since it only goes one direction, you are assured one radio will receive and cause to the other to go into transmit. They won't switch their roles.

Now if you do this in a bi-directional repeater, you won't know which radio will receive first causing the other to go into transmit. If you go backwards into a duplexer, bad things can happen.

You could put a bogus transmit freq in one radio and a bogus receive in the other to force the thing to go in one direction only. This is probably not the best route to go.

Best thing to do is see if the NCS thing can be switched to uni-directional mode. If it cannot be done, I'd consider modifying the cables to the radios themselves. On the receive radio cable remove the PTT line and on the transmit radio remove the receive indicate (COR) line. This would prevent the repeater from going backwards in the wrong direction.