mjz55
Member
I saw this and thought of using two mobiles instead of two HT's on GMRS. Is this unit worth anything or is it junk? I also saw another picture of this unit and also a mini duplexer attached with two HT's. What does the duplexer do?
bob-the-scanner-man said:I've heard that the actual repeater controllers made by Radio-tone are pretty good. The duplexers they sell, are not. At least that's what I've heard.
I saw this and thought of using two mobiles instead of two HT's on GMRS. Is this unit worth anything or is it junk? I also saw another picture of this unit and also a mini duplexer attached with two HT's. What does the duplexer do?
gewecke, I'm sorry I am totally clueless what I need. I don't know what you think I need.
I just saw they make a non cross-tone version Radio-Tone Duplex repeater controller - Radioshop888 KG-UVD1P KG-UV6D TG-UV2 ROIP Repeater Controller Speaker Mic Ham Radio KG-669 KG-689 PX-777 PX-888 FT-897 FT-857 VX-177 VXA-300 KG-679 VEV-3288S V-1000 TG-UV FT-817ND FT-60R FT-897 FT-857 VX-7R VX-. Did anyone use this?
Hello,
Kev
I'm new to posting on the forum, but have been a long time lurker, learning from a great many posts and posters.
I'm not sure of this forum's generally-accepted position on opening old threads, but I know that many prefer that you try to limit creating new posts for existing/older discussions. So I'm gonna take a leap and go ahead and bump this thread back to the top with a few comments and questions about the Radio Tone repeater product line.
First, a few words on my experience with the Radio Tone RT-FDR1, which is the "same-band" version of the repeater made by Radio Tone. I know this thread is about the RT-CRC1 (the cross-band version), but I believe they work the same. Honestly, I can't figure why Radio Tone produced a cross-band and a same-band version of the repeater. It's the RX and TX radios (and their frequencies) that are connected to the controller that determine whether you're repeating within the same band or cross banding. Am I missing something?!
Anyway...I have the FDR1 cabled up to two Wouxun KG-UV2D radios, operating on (obviously) two different frequencies (in my case I'm testing the setup with GMRS freqs--call sign WQAP467). Just cabled up and operating around the house, the repeater works great. Does exactly what it's advertised to do. However, try to use the same setup from more than about a 100 meters away (well within simplex range!), and the entire system fails completely. This is the case when using the rubber-ducky antennas on the Wouxuns, two mag-mount antennas, and a Comet tri-band antenna mounted on the house and a cheap duplexer (supposedly tuned to the two GMRS freqs I've chosen for my repeater).
I'm working the repeater using two 4W GMRS HTs. Again, in close proximity, the controller works fine; from anything further away than the immediate premises, the controller malfunctions. However, if I hit the repeater with 50W from my GMRS mobile, it sorta works--not like it should, but at least you can tell that it's trying to do what it's supposed to. If I move another 150 meters away, even with the 50W mobile rig, the repeater again drops out.
This should not be happening, especially with a high-quality antenna stuck up in the air at 40' HAAT. A regular HT monitoring the repeater input freq. at the repeater location was receiving with full quieting. So I know that the RX is good. Likewise, transmitting simplex from the repeater location on the repeater output freq. was received with full quieting over 1KM away; so TX is good.
After doing a lot of reading, I think I have a duplexer and desensitization issue. But I'm really not sure, as I've read of a few people who have the Radio Tone repeaters working just fine. (Maybe they have fancy duplexers...)
So, this is a very long-winded way of asking: Those of you (Kev, "kevtheskin") who have the Radio Tone repeater working, how did you do it?! What are you using for antennas, duplexers, TX/RX freq separation, antenna separation, etc.? I haven't been able to find any way of getting the repeater to work "normally" with any combination of antennas.
I think "bobthescannerman" might have given the best advice that the small, inexpensive duplexers are junk. I think that's what my problem is.
So, anyone want to weigh in on a good hardware assortment to get the Radio Tone repeater working? Maybe a recommendation on a good duplexer that's less than, say, $200? I hear the Wacom's are great, but at the cheapest, they're around $500! (Yeah, yeah, I know: Anyone who thinks they're going to get into the repeater business, better be prepared to drain his bank account. But, c'mon, there's gotta be a way to make this work.)
Thanks. I look forward to any input. Thanks for you patience in reading this LONG post!
73.
-Mike
K0MTB
WQAP467