Cross band transmitter

[fireguy810]

I'm looking to setup sort of a cross band repeater, but it would only be one way. I want to take the audio from my scanner and transmit it low power out on a UHF radio. Not sure what type of radio I'll be using yet. Any ideas on how this can be done and what radio would be easiest to use??

 

[n8emr]

I want to take the audio from my scanner and transmit it low power out on a UHF radio. Not sure what type of radio I'll be using yet. Any ideas on how this can be done and what radio would be easiest to use??

I am not sure of any radio service where that would be legal. You could rebroadcast to an AM/FM broadcast band radio using one of the ipod transmitters.

 

[mjthomas59]

I understand what you are trying to do, and i really have no clue what the legal issues may or may not be. If you have say a GMRS license and you want to take your scanner feed and run it through a low power gmrs radio i don't know if that constitutes illegal use or not. The only constraint i could see is using a UHF radio with a VOX( voice activated transmit feature). You can then run a plug out of your headphone or ext. speaker from your scanner into the mic in on your radio. I'm not sure which would make for clearer audio, the headphone or the ext. speaker. From experience setting up my online scanner feed, getting the audio clear is a trial and error system.

I had thought about something like this in the past, just from a "could i do this and make it work" standpoint, but i never found a need for anything like this. I could see it being useful if you had a very good base setup with a high tower and good antenna that were picking up broadcasts that a handheld scanner couldn't. It that case you could just program your scanner for the gmrs frequency and you would be in business.

Good luck in your search for answers

 

[commstar]

http://aditl.com/ham/polly.html

The radio shack units work very well are very simple and go nearly anywhere with AA batts or 12V in as power sources

I have a couple of the Radio Shack units laying around somewhere, if you area interested, send me a PM and I will double check and we can work a deal.

 

[trooperdude]

How far do you need to transmit ?

You can always use bluetooth if it's a short distance without any legal hassles.

 

[N9JIG]

Bob Parnass, AJ9S, wrote several articles n using common baby monitors to do just the trick you are looking to do. I have done it myself and it works pretty darn well, even just using the mic setting on the office desk and a handheld scanner around the house and yard.

The baby monitors I have seen use 49 MHz. I wouldn't try it on GMRS, other licensees might get upset and file an FCC complaint. I don't think it would be legal on FRS or MURS, but you could look around for some Part 15 wireless mics to do the same trick.