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Marc ▪︎ Roger. Sounds like the snubnose 19-inch rack is going to be fastened down for greater installation hardening. That'll truly add an even mkre customized appearance with the added benefit of fastening everything down. I supposed you could consider some short heavy duty springs between the brackets and 19-inch rack to arrest resonance and vibration ... especially during trail events. Peter

That's awesome to hear! Once all the brackets are made and the cosmetics are done, I have to get some fresh images out!

Bummer... hopefully the next one will work out. I am trying to do them at least once a quarter... sometimes more.

Bummer. I can't make it due to another commitment.

Marc, Much appreciate the thorough answers to my questions plus the additional info and background as to how/why this all came about. This PW County site seems to be well situated and for a good cause. The heat map predicted reliable coverage is excellent and whenever I install a base station omni at our DC residence [to replace the current configuration comprised of unity gain "rubber duck" antenna sitting on a pizza pan], I expect to be able to hit the new repeater. Glad to hear that the subject GMRS station will be open during other than emergency operations periods. "See" you on the airwaves and [hopefully] at the next meetup whenever and whereever it'll be. [P.S. I must've shown the photo of your Jeep's rear-seat-mounted multiband repeater to a dozen telecom friends. Awesome and unique integration work]. Regards | Peter | WSIC582

I don't believe it!

Okay. Didn't think it would, but just a shot in the dark. However, I believe if I fire up my PRC 77, I'll get traffic.....

So I tuned it to that frequency. Haven't heard anything, nothing, bupkis! That's how it worked out!

Me too... I HAD two brand new RT97L's that I could have used to test this.. but I gave them both away.. Now i'm kicking myself and I wish I was not so kind, unselfish and loving toward my fellow-man... Never again!

Thanks, that’s very helpful. So each repeater is capable of receiving on two different frequencies and repeating on one. Interesting. I learned something new today. I’d like to hear from someone who actually has tried it.

Only quick way to find out is test it with an SWR meter. Some of these multi band antennas show oscillation in the SWR across a range of frequencies. You might get lucky where the GMRS frequencies falls into one of the low SWR valley. The link below is a test I did of a favorite wide band mobile antenna. Usable. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/268-ca-2x4sr/?context=new And this link is for a test on a Ham dual band mobile antenna to see if it was usable. Doesn't look good. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/283-sg7500a-swr-scans-2jpg/

Here is the image they provide on the product page showing the channel pairs used. They basically suggest using both the 600 and 725 repeater pairs as a means of setting this up, repeating to and from 600 and 725.

The only way to know for sure is to put a meter or portable antenna analyzer on it and test it.. But, like the @mb523 said, its not going to work very well.

They are probably using more than one channel. Jump one on 600 jump 2 on 625 and no loop. They state you name your frequency and they program it. You don't have the option to change it.

Maybe one of these might get through your browser protection. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=retevis+daisy+chain+rt97l

That page does not come up for me.. But lets also take a moment to remember that Retevis also posted on their website and on Youtube, a video showing/proving that you can add their 25W external linear amplifier to the original RT97 and it will then output 25 watts.. They even showed a power-test on the video to prove it.. ..... Until a big GMRS youtuber came along and called them out by pointing out that it would output more power but it will not be able to RECEIVE anything because the amp is placed after the duplexer....and if you placed the amp before the internal duplexer that was rated for 5W, it would destroy it... Then they deleted everything....

The problem is that it results in an infinite loop, going right back to the first repeater.

467t/462r > 467r/462t > 462r/467t > 467r/462t So one radio needs to be in talk around mode. You would need a 3rd repeater to make it normal.

You want your antenna to match the frequencies you're transmitting on as closely as possible. 154/430Mhz is the common VHF/UHF split for a dual band HAM antenna. It won't have good SWR on GMRS since it isn't tuned for the 462/467 range needed for GMRS. It may work, but it won't work well. You want to look for a GMRS specific antenna like this one:

Interesting concept. Not exactly sure how it's accomplished with a single duplexer though, unless both sides (462&467) are full RXTX units. Either way, talk about long squelch tails and lag.

One of you should put up a large scale repeater if you want one for the area.

https://www.retevis.com/products/25w-portable-rt97l-dual-daisy-chaining-repeater?srsltid=AfmBOoqaP81EZD5UCS-Aq0JdALo4gAj3TX5dGPSacv3UlR2TZa6hv5SA

Nicely done - a huge improvement in group run communications! I helped our club migrate to GMRS a couple years ago and it was very well received. It is now a requirement for all club sanctioned events. We've got a thread detailing the change and the pros of GMRS, along with a rundown of our favorite and suggested gear to get folks started. I joke the radio is so you can hear good dad jokes on a long trip but we do a lot of training and guiding, so it really aids with instruction, direction, and safety. I can also run a separate channel on dual watch with the group and my tailgunner so we can talk logistics if need be.

How close to 462/467 must an antenna be to function? I have access to the antenna shown nearby. A friend ran into it and says, "Worthless label. 154/430Mhz. Made in China. About 6 feet tall. 58 cable with a BNC connector. Free to a good home." I'd use it (if it can work with GMRS) on a 15-20' mast with a DB25-G (25W) in a flat, wooded area. I'm not talking 5 x 9 perfection, just adequate to be heard and understood over a short distance, say < three miles. I know, I know, "Try it and find out." I hesitate to try it because 1) it might not work for GMRS and 2) as an apparent dual-band it might lure me into becoming a ham. What say the crowd?