Cross Band Repeater

[KAA951]

Saw a neat setup that Jefferson Co Emer Mgmt has bought though the homeland security grants. It is a suitcase sized case built by Commenco out of KCMO that holds a UHF, VHF and 800 Radio. Simply set the channels, throw up an antenna and throw a switch or two- instant interoperability.

Anyone else seen these? They should be pretty standard if they are being bought off the grant approved equipment list.

 

[n0lqt]

Anyone else seen these? They should be pretty standard if they are being bought off the grant approved equipment list.

Yes, they are quite common and easy to assemble. I have a cross band repeater mode built into a Kenwood TH-78 HT (Ham Radio, 2meter/70cm) Hams have been doing it for 20 years or so.

Usually the Public Service version is more of a "link system" than a cross band repeater. They are usually a duplex-duplex system. The system receives on the "output" frequency on each band and then repeats it on the "input" frequency of the other band. Handy for disaster management. Confusing in normal operation though....n0lqt-.-

 

[n4voxgill]

Many Homeland grants have been used to buy TPL unit that has a laptop computer with up to 10 mobile radios. The radios can be any band and trunked. With the laptop you can connect any or all the radios to each other for communication. I know one agency that is working with Nextel to connect a nextel phone into the system, as most federal agents carry nextel.

 

[rick521]

Not sure of exact make or model, but Saline County Emergency Mangement has a similiar unit.

 

[Buckskinner33]

Those are a cool setup. I seen one the NARCs use to do surv. with.
I also heard there was even a smaller setup that was the size of a briefcase but its not made by CommenCo.