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Motorola CP200 UHF Range

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Good evening I wanted to see if anybody else has issues with the range of there CP200. I have the standered antenna on it. The stock antenna. Did anybody else try to hook up a mobile antenna to it to improve the range or buy anther rubber duck antenna. I dont know if a mobile antenna can be setup with this radio or not. The school repeater I am trying to pickup is only down the road and I cant even pick it up. It is a 20W repeater. It is a UHF repeater and radio.


Thank you
 

W8RMH

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We use CP200s at work. They cover a one square block, 22 story building in simplex only with no problems.

Are you sure that system is even monitorable. A 20 watt repeater isn't really that strong. It also depends on their antenna setup. It may be more orientated for indoor use thereby limiting it's functional range to a block or so.
 
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We use CP200s at work. They cover a one square block, 22 story building in simplex only with no problems.

Are you sure that system is even monitorable. A 20 watt repeater isn't really that strong. It also depends on their antenna setup. It may be more orientated for indoor use thereby limiting it's functional range to a block or so.

I think the repeater antenna is a pipe on the side of the building. Yes it is monitorable when I am at the school. But when I leave is when I loose reception of the repeater.
 

gtaman

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I also use the Motorola CP200 and I have had zero problems with them. I can't hit repeaters from miles away and I usually get about 2 to 3 miles on simplex.
 
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I also use the Motorola CP200 and I have had zero problems with them. I can't hit repeaters from miles away and I usually get about 2 to 3 miles on simplex.


Were you in a place where there are alot of buildings and were the repeaters high powered or not?
 
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gtaman

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Were you in a place where there are alot of buildings and were the repeaters high powered or not?

I've used them in the woods, upstate Michigan and I commonly use them in downtown. I get usially a mile down town. The repeaters were high and low powered. I can can pick up a 20 watt repeater easy with them.
 
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I've used them in the woods, upstate Michigan and I commonly use them in downtown. I get usially a mile down town. The repeaters were high and low powered. I can can pick up a 20 watt repeater easy with them.

Do you think the radio needs to be serviced? I am using the short stubby antenna.
 

FKimble

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Get a mobile antenna for your car(even a mag mount) and whatever adapter is needed to attach the cable to the radio. Should extend your range significantly.
 
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Get a mobile antenna for your car(even a mag mount) and whatever adapter is needed to attach the cable to the radio. Should extend your range significantly.

I have a mag mount UHF antenna but it has the wrong connecter on it. I can see if my tech can take off that connecter and but the right one on and see if that works or not. I was using that mag mount for anther radio.
 

gtaman

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I have a mag mount UHF antenna but it has the wrong connecter on it. I can see if my tech can take off that connecter and but the right one on and see if that works or not. I was using that mag mount for anther radio.

I wouldn't go for an external antenna. A lot of CP200 have center pin issues when you use and then remove them. You should defiantly go for a wideband antenna they work much better. Also you radio could be programmed to have a tight squelch. And that will block a lot of transmissions.
 
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I wouldn't go for an external antenna. A lot of CP200 have center pin issues when you use and then remove them. You should defiantly go for a wideband antenna they work much better. Also you radio could be programmed to have a tight squelch. And that will block a lot of transmissions.

Ok thank you for all the help. I will try normal squelch and if that dont work I will buy a Wide band antenna.
 
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