Quantar 800MHZ repeater MODEL: T5365a

[comm17]

Hello,

We are currently using a trunked Motorola Smartnet II radio system. Many of the system's users have went with other technology but we are currently cash strapped. Is it possible to take the five Quantar 800MHZ repeaters (model # T5365a) and make it into a five site conventional system? I am aware there are several options out there ie: voting, simulcast etc..... Can I get everyone's opinions on whether the repeaters will work and which would be the most economical setup for us. I am kinda radio dumb so any plain language you can apply to your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[WA0CBW]

There are a lot of variables that would come into play here but the Quantars with some programing and hardware (duplexers; antennas; etc) could be made to function as stand-alone repeaters. Depending on your area licensing them may be your bigger problem. Another issue would be the future availability of spare parts for these repeaters as they have been out of production for awhile.

BB

 

[mmckenna]

I do believe the 6809 station controller boards will do conventional just fine. Basically the failsoft mode is conventional.... Depending on how yours are set up, this might be pretty simple. You'd need a wireline card to to connect them back to a dispatch console, or if you wanted to use a voting system. If it was just 5 separate repeaters on 5 separate channels, then you should be good to go other than needing the antenna systems for each site.

The Quantar, while it has been around for a while, isn't that bad a repeater. I just bought a new 800MHz 100 watt repeater last year with both conventional and P25. There are used parts all over the place, and as the old Smartnet systems get replaced, there will likely be more on the used market.

Quantars are still shown as available from Motorola. While they may be nearing end of life, I wouldn't dump them. You already own them, you can get parts, and they are probably working just fine.

If you ever decide to do a simulcast system, you'll want to keep these. The MTR3000/MotoTrbo units are very difficult to get to simulcast due to all the signal processing they do.