Leaderboard

OK,,, progress update. Have two repeaters on the air now. 725 and 675. the 675 has traveler PL in it. Need to get 675 on the console and both on the logging recorder. But that's not a big deal. When we added the second repeater and went to the split antenna's the talk out suffered and we ended up installing a Station Master antenna on the TX combiner to make up for the loss. This will most likely end up being a db420 before long though. I am still not happy with it as it don't talk out like it did with the 408 on the top of the tower. Combiner is tuned for 735, 675 625 and 575. If these two get busy I will add another repeater. But I doubt that is gonna happen. Number of users on 725 never really took off like I thought it might so we will see how things go. Site is now going to have public safety radio equipment in it and will meet all requirements for that level of communications equipment. Meaning battery / UPS with generator. So the repeaters WILL have 100% expected up time short of equipment failure. Repeaters are listed on here. As stated on the listings these are OPEN repeaters and if you hear us on feel free to say hello. For short comms, 725 is fine... If you are going to rag chew, please use 675 and leave holes for others to join in. Access IS FREE... donations of useful equipment and cash are always welcome but NOT required for access. We are looking at installing solar and wind generation gear and hope to have the repeaters with GREEN power.

Did you take the 10 or the 40? I'm a little surprised there wasn't more to hear on the linked setups around Tucson on the 10, or Abq on the 40

Looking at the photo the plug is like several I have. The knurled nut on the end around the center pin likely unscrews. Typically there is a fuse in there. It might be the fuse is toast.

The factory most likely tests their antennas with a laboratory grade VNA. Here is a photo I just took using a calibrated NanoVNA to check one of my 144-520MHz HT antennas. Not bad at all. I can tell you that the results changed, but insignificantly, between holding the VNA vertical, horizontal, standing it on a table, laying it flat on a wooden table, laying it flat on wooden table with the antenna overhanging the edge of the table, and when touching and not touching the chassis ground of the VNA. When comparing HT antenna performance, the best comparison of antennas is not going to be it’s SWR, but relative difference in signal strength at some given far field distance using some given amount of input power. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

I didnt bother reading this whole thread, but allow me to share my (very recent) experience.. I recently built a repeater using two KG1000G's, a cheap mobile duplexer, a Tram 1486 on the roof and LMR400 coax - all the experts assured that my 'toy' would not work at all. Despite what all the experts predicted, not only did it work, it worked better than I expected, with a range of about 40 miles in each direction. I have now got my hands on a (very) used Vertex VXR-7000 repeater - after paying for programming and re-tuning the internal duplexer, cost was about $650 - it DOES work better - less de-sense so it is noticeably more sensitive/able to receive signals that the KG1000g setup could not, and i'm getting a bit better range.. But the other big difference is that it is 'full duty cycle' so it can be used 24/7 - Wouxun says that the KG-1000Gs can also be used 24/7, but i'm not sure I believe that claim.. Was I happy with the KG1000G setup? YES! Am I more happy with the "real" repeater? Yes. Do the math and do what works for you..Ignore the 'experts' as many dont seem to understand the difference between the term "will not work at all" and 'will not work perfectly/be the best" ...

Congrats on the KG-1000G ! IMHO, the best mobile GMRS radio you can find today.. If you get a "UHF" antenna, you will have to cut it.. If you get any antenna that says "GMRS", you will not have to cut it. Although every different GMRS antenna has different specs, pretty much any GMRS antenna mounted properly on your (jeep??) will work just as well as any other since when you are on the trails you're generally not really talking very long distances.. No doubt some sad-GMRS user will quote a bunch of specs saying one antenna has better gain or lower loss, blah blah.. But in the real world, when on the trail you're not going to notice much difference so dont get too wrapped up on what the basement dwellers spew.

By the time you buy 2 KG1000 radios and cable you can purchase a good used repeater on line. You still need a duplexer and feedline and antenna. Those will most likely cost more than the repeater. a 35' tower will require around 50' of feedline depending on how close you can put repeater to your tower. Grounding of said tower, cable and repeater. Just things to think about.

Totally true. Usages cases are different for different people. Cobbled-together repeater with cheap diplexer works wonders in the mountains or in the woods where there is no RF interference. 10 miles - sure possible with tall antenna. Even more if you place your repeater in a good place, up the tall tree or high on the hill. Same system will be deaf and mute in urban or suburban setting.

You said it's not a hobby, then listed a whole bunch of hobbies that it's used for, and then said those hobbies don't sound like hobbies. That's not an opinion... that is silliness.