Radio Repeater

[ThomasMolino]

Hello,

I am working with a close friend and we are currently trying to get a repeater for UHF at a very low cost. We are a non-profit organization working to restore and preserve historic fire apparatus.

If you are able to sell a repeater or have extended knowledge with repeater use please contact me! Mobile repeaters preferred, But we will accept what we can get!

thomas.molino@yahoo.com

 

[W2NJS]

Your post raises a lot of questions that probably should be answered before any useful information can be provided. How big an area do you need to cover? What kind of an FCC license do you intend to get? Answers to these two "starter" questions will get you some responses and help, I'm sure.

I'm a member of SPAAMFAA and I assume you guys are as well.

Regards.

Tom, W2NJS

 

[ThomasMolino]

We currently applied to a GMRS license

The range we need to cove would be approximation 5 miles. (A LARGE parade line front to back basically)

 

[rescue161]

Repeaters and "very low cost" are like oil and water. They just don't mix.

Are you talking 5 miles on a straight road? Is the whole thing going to portable? Is this just for temporary setups or are you wanting it to be permanent? Are there any tall buildings that would allow you to put up a temporary antenna? If that's the case, then it could be done with a UHF Yagi, 2 Maxtracs, RICK or other type controller, and a mobile duplexer with a very short feedline.

2 Maxtrcas - ~$100.00 (About $50.00 each)
UHF Mobile Duplexer - ~$100.00
RICK or other controller - ~$100.00
UHF Yagi - ~ $50.00
GOOD Coax - Varies, depending on how much, but you can get Andrews 1/2 Heliax for about $1.50 a foot.

Even with this bare minimum setup, it will cost you about $400.00 and then you have to pay someone to program the radios, set up the controller and adjust the duplexer. Then once you get it running, then you have to put it somewhere and most people won't just let you set up a repeater on their property, at least without paying them something.

So after spending all of that, you'll probably be VERY disappointed in the results.

I had a repeater set up one time that used 50 feet of Andrews 1/2 "hardline", a DB404 antenna at about 35 feet, two Maxtracs, an ICS controller, UHF mobile duplexer, and a 35 Amp power supply. We could barely squeeze out 6-7 miles with handhelds.