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Noise Interference on Repeater…

prcguy

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I’ve think I found something that looks like it’ll work good…idk (take a look at attached) Says Motorola brand. Is this similar to the 1500 you were talking about..?
That looks like a 1500 and pass/notch and can work fine for what you are doing. What's the price? I think if in good serviceable condition its worth up to maybe $200 but $150 would be a good price.

Edit: I saw the ad and they want $549. Someone is smoking crack on that one.
 

cavmedic

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I just looked around on eBay and all UHF duplexers are ridiculous prices, many times what they are worth. Find a ham swap meet in your area and prices should be much more reasonable.
Since the GMRS boom, that’s the going price for set of pass reject cans on UHF. Even the chinesium flat packs went up about 100 bucks.


It doesn’t help that new unit pricing is up as well with 2-3 month lead time. ( ya know, Covid)
 

drake1792

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I’m not sure how to upload an audio file or video but the repeater started up at it again but now with a way different sound..
 

drake1792

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Thanks everyone for all the info. The issue went away after I disconnected my scanner antenna from the scanner. I’ve tested this multiple times and I’m pretty sure that’s the culprit. The antennas are all mounted on the same mast so I will have to spread them out more. I have the scanner unhooked from the external antenna now and the issue have been resolved. Just have to move the antennas around and hopefully when I plug it back in the issue won’t come back. Thanks again to everyone! Lots of knowledge gained!!
 

ramal121

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And it's IMD for the win! Hope you're OK for now and you still have some hair left on your head. Good luck.
 
Last edited:

drake1792

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And it's IMD for the win! Hope you're OK for now and you still have some hair left on your head. Good luck.
The scanner was actually the first thing I unplugged. The noise went away, checked it a couple more times just to be sure and I got lucky. Gonna get a new duplexer, and hopefully get it up on its new site soon! Thanks for the help!
 

ramal121

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Good deal. Yea, flat packs are pretty whimpy and running them at 50 watts is kinda scary. The comments to turn the repeater down to 25 watts is well taken, however, a MTR 2000 doesn't like to go that low and the transmitter can possibly go sour on you at that level. Invest in a good duplexer, have it tuned properly, and crank that MTR back up to 75 to 100 watts. You'll have a barnburner of a GMRS repeater.
 

drake1792

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Good deal. Yea, flat packs are pretty whimpy and running them at 50 watts is kinda scary. The comments to turn the repeater down to 25 watts is well taken, however, a MTR 2000 doesn't like to go that low and the transmitter can possibly go sour on you at that level. Invest in a good duplexer, have it tuned properly, and crank that MTR back up to 75 to 100 watts. You'll have a barnburner of a GMRS repeater.
That’s the plan! Looking at a Decibel DB4076W-A and plan to run about 65-85watts through it to get a true 50watts out to the antenna.
 

prcguy

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That’s the plan! Looking at a Decibel DB4076W-A and plan to run about 65-85watts through it to get a true 50watts out to the antenna.
If the duplexer has 1.2dB loss then 67 watts in will give you 50 watts out. However, I believe if the FCC visits your repeater they will be looking for 50 watts max out of the transmitter port before any other components.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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If the duplexer has 1.2dB loss then 67 watts in will give you 50 watts out. However, I believe if the FCC visits your repeater they will be looking for 50 watts max out of the transmitter port before any other components.
I have always wondered what exactly they would consider to be the transmitter. Suppose I have an MSF5000 with internal duplexer, triple circulators etc. All packaged by Motorola. I could have 50 watts coming out of the side of the thing and the PA is cranking 105 + watts. Would I push the limit? You betcha..
 

rescuecomm

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Not interfering with anyone, then the FEDS may not care. Me and some guys put a GMRS repeater on the air in 1987, only to have somebody in the next county over put a construction company on the same pair months later. Our 25 watt Uniden did 18 through the duplexer and had a good site, but the other guys covered us up almost anywhere. Probably running 50 watts out of the duplexer. Only the GMRS rules rewrite got rid of them.
 

prcguy

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I have always wondered what exactly they would consider to be the transmitter. Suppose I have an MSF5000 with internal duplexer, triple circulators etc. All packaged by Motorola. I could have 50 watts coming out of the side of the thing and the PA is cranking 105 + watts. Would I push the limit? You betcha..
It is the transmitter and before any isolators, filters or duplexer. If you have a four channel hybrid combiner for GMRS then it will be 50 legal watts out of each transmitter and you get about 10 watts per transmitter out of the combiner. Not that I would adhere to that.
 
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