Deployed Mtn top repeaters

[otobmark]

Is there a best practices for doing this? What about unattended for longer periods of time? This is in reference to W. NC disaster response.

 

[jeepsandradios]

So not sure exactly what your asking about, but I've delat with some "portable" repeaters for SAR. Normally we hike into a spot, set a repeater on the ground, and setup and antenna. All gear is labled with our agency and contact information. This has alwasy been on State/Federal Land and not private property. We have done this a dozen or so times and never run into issues with damage or theft but all deployements are 24-48 hours long at the most.

If I was putting this or wanting to put this on private property I would be contacting the land owners for permission. In a disaster type scenario as above I would think it would not be a major issue. With that said unless there are roads to get whewre you want you have to hikle gear in. Our stuff is portable so 2-3 guys can hike the kit in. For a long term deployment I would think power is the real issue. If your hiking in a generator you need gas. Solar is ok but takes time to replenish unless you have a large bank of batteries. Every mission requirement is different and I think thats the biggest change.

In reality I'd like to drive our mobile communication unit to the top of the mountain, turn on the repeater and walk away. While its been done once years ago in reality it rarely is acheavable.

Laslty is suplimental deployements. I have towed a trailer mounted SOW to a tower site on a mountain to add capabilities not on that site, ie ham/gmrs/sar.

Is this what your asking about ?

 

[otobmark]

So not sure exactly what your asking about, but I've delat with some "portable" repeaters for SAR. Normally we hike into a spot, set a repeater on the ground, and setup and antenna. All gear is labled with our agency and contact information. This has alwasy been on State/Federal Land and not private property. We have done this a dozen or so times and never run into issues with damage or theft but all deployements are 24-48 hours long at the most.

If I was putting this or wanting to put this on private property I would be contacting the land owners for permission. In a disaster type scenario as above I would think it would not be a major issue. With that said unless there are roads to get whewre you want you have to hikle gear in. Our stuff is portable so 2-3 guys can hike the kit in. For a long term deployment I would think power is the real issue. If your hiking in a generator you need gas. Solar is ok but takes time to replenish unless you have a large bank of batteries. Every mission requirement is different and I think thats the biggest change.

In reality I'd like to drive our mobile communication unit to the top of the mountain, turn on the repeater and walk away. While its been done once years ago in reality it rarely is acheavable.

Laslty is suplimental deployements. I have towed a trailer mounted SOW to a tower site on a mountain to add capabilities not on that site, ie ham/gmrs/sar.

Is this what your asking about ?

Yep

 

[kayn1n32008]

Is there a best practices for doing this? What about unattended for longer periods of time? This is in reference to W. NC disaster response.

Low power. Like 10w or less TXPO, before duplexer. Unless you want to be running it off a generator, then you will need a plan to keep the generator fueled.

10w with 200Ah of battery and solar to charge, should keep you going for a while.

You want it up high, and don't expect t it to perform like a permanent repeater.

Also don't be planning on using traditional repeaters. They are power pigs. Even in stand-by.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Low power. Like 10w or less TXPO, before duplexer. Unless you want to be running it off a generator, then you will need a plan to keep the generator fueled.

10w with 200Ah of battery and solar to charge, should keep you going for a while.

You want it up high, and don't expect t it to perform like a permanent repeater.

Also don't be planning on using traditional repeaters. They are power pigs. Even in stand-by.

MT-4E and what other repeaters might meet those requirements?

 

[mmckenna]

MT-4E and what other repeaters might meet those requirements?

Not temporary, but I'm installing 3 Kenwood NXR-1800's next week at three very remote sites. Each site has about 200 watts of solar panels, 200 amp/hour battery pack. Power feeds the repeaters as well as some IP linking radios. Even in the dead of winter, it runs fine. Repeaters are cranked down to 10 watts.

These are replacing some Bridgecom repeaters with some hammy POS IP linking setup that has been a pain in my a$$ for the last few years. The Bridgecoms were running 10 watts also, and when the IP linking crap worked, they did OK. (NOT recommending the Bridgecom!)

 

[otobmark]

Not temporary, but I'm installing 3 Kenwood NXR-1800's next week at three very remote sites. Each site has about 200 watts of solar panels, 200 amp/hour battery pack. Power feeds the repeaters as well as some IP linking radios. Even in the dead of winter, it runs fine. Repeaters are cranked down to 10 watts.

Real world example! Confidence building….

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Not temporary, but I'm installing 3 Kenwood NXR-1800's next week at three very remote sites. Each site has about 200 watts of solar panels, 200 amp/hour battery pack. Power feeds the repeaters as well as some IP linking radios. Even in the dead of winter, it runs fine. Repeaters are cranked down to 10 watts.

These are replacing some Bridgecom repeaters with some hammy POS IP linking setup that has been a pain in my a$$ for the last few years. The Bridgecoms were running 10 watts also, and when the IP linking crap worked, they did OK. (NOT recommending the Bridgecom!)

I'm waiting on the Kairos-E to be fully available. Will be interesting to see what those are capable of (such as using them for P25 trunking). The NXR-1000 is built on the Kairos-E platform so they should be fairly similar on power draw.

 

[kayn1n32008]

MT-4E and what other repeaters might meet those requirements?

None? The Daniels/Codan MT-4E can not be beat for off grid mountain top repeaters.

Especially for a temporary deployment. The VHF exciter is good for 8w. The UHF exciter is good for either 6w or 8w depending on the band split.

For a temporary, battery/solar repeater on VHF or UHF, you wouldn't even need a PA.

Real world example! Confidence building….

Real world is their portable repeaters are used by many wild land fire agencies for temporary, repeater coverage.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Id love to find some VHF cards for a Daniels. I have one in 800 and its never been used. No need for 800 around us. Our temp repeater is the TKR750 right now with it at 10 watts. It uses more power than I'd like.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Id love to find some VHF cards for a Daniels. I have one in 800 and its never been used. No need for 800 around us. Our temp repeater is the TKR750 right now with it at 10 watts. It uses more power than I'd like.

Watch ebay. MT-4 stuff shows up now and again. Search for Daniels Electronics.

Steer clear of MT-2 and MT-1 stuff, it's crystal based, MT-3 and MT-4 is synthesized. MT-4 is programmed with windows software.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Id love to find some VHF cards for a Daniels. I have one in 800 and its never been used. No need for 800 around us. Our temp repeater is the TKR750 right now with it at 10 watts. It uses more power than I'd like.

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VR-4 VHF receiver currently on Ebay. $188.88. Even if it's not P25 enabled, it's a hell of a deal.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Id love to find some VHF cards for a Daniels. I have one in 800 and its never been used. No need for 800 around us. Our temp repeater is the TKR750 right now with it at 10 watts. It uses more power than I'd like.

There are 1x each of a P25 exciter and 1x P25 receiver as well. Pretty good deal for 250 each. Even if they are not P25 enabled, still a hell of a good deal.