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The problem with standards or protocols is that everyone wants one of their own.

That question has been asked a few times. You would need to bypass the built in duplexer and replace it with a duplexer capable of withstanding the greater output power. Technically it might be done, but practically it probably isn't worth it.

Thank you.

He has (or will have) a repeater with an SO-239 connector. He already has an antenna that has an SO-239 connector. He has LM-400 feedline that has PL-259 connectors that will mate directly to the antenna and repeater, no adapters needed. In terms of loss through connectors, that’s the least he can make it, regardless of whether he uses hardline or anything else. If he gets a jumper with N connectors on both ends he would have to add N to PL-259 adapters, which (using your numbers) would add 1 dB loss and negate the 0.75 dB difference (your numbers for the loss through 25’ of LM-400) in losses through the feedline. But what are the losses through 1/2 “Commscope? The losses per 100 ft (according to the Commscope website) are 2.342 dB or about 0.55 dB for 25 feet. So, by using Commscope Superflex and two adapters, the losses are 0.56 + 0.50 +0.50 or 1.56 dB So now he’s 0.8 dB negative compared to using what he already has. Yes, he might decide that he doesn’t have the coverage he wants and decide to buy an antenna with more gain. He still has that as an option. “But I digress I keep forgetting the hobby is about doing it as cheap as possible as hams do in this new age.” Way to lash out at both hams and those who have already stated they don’t have deep pockets.

It's possible, but not cost effective. A good quality commercial UHF amp is about $1,000 on the low side, and you may need to either attenuate the the repeater output for a 1w-5w input of a 50w amp or attenuate the amp output, as most commercial amps I have seen that take 10w in, normally make 100w out. After buying an amp, power supply, attenuator, and associated cables and misc. supplies to make it work, it would definitely be way more money than just buying a Quantar repeater for ~$1,200. Also, as others mentioned, I am not aware of any type approved amplifiers... so you run the risk of a "no-no" letter from the FCC, if they were to check your repeater site.

The biggest issue with what you are asking is finding an amplifier that will take the little bit of power that repeater puts out and amplifying it to 50 watts. One of the issues you will run into is the amp will need to be type accepted for GMRS and I don't believe there are any that are. Second issue is amp's typically don't have a 10dB gain number. Meaning 5 in for 50 out. it's less than that. Most of what I have seen in the commercial world was 6 dB of gain. which would be 5 in and 20 out. BUT 20 isn't bad with a good antenna, feedline and height of the mount for the antenna. Unless you are having specific coverage issues where the repeater can hear users that can't hear the repeater, the increase of output power does nothing except stroke your ego that you have 50 watts instead of 5 watts. And if the receiver in that repeater is not up to the task of hearing as far as 50 watts will transmit, then you end up with an alligator that's all mouth and no ears. Which leads to interfering with other repeater owners or prospective owners that can't use that pair because of interference.

Thanks, I see there are used mototurbo repeaters as well as other brands that are fairly reasonable in price but thought I'd ask.

There are similar types of plans. Trouble is there are too many of them. https://radiofreeq.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/3-3-3-radio-plan-for-shtf-communications/ https://ovatvc.org/2022/03/the-wilderness-protocol/ https://tcares.net/the-wilderness-protocol/

I agree the GR series wasn't a power house but works well for a home GMRS repeater. I still have 6 of them on the air. All are 45 watt models moved down to 25. I wouldn't put them at a tower site with other equipment but we did have an LTR system with those for 15 years on the air with TPL PA. My only complaint with the XPR-8400 is its essentially the same as the GR series using 2 mobiles in the box. I have bought a few where the decks got swapped because one PA was burnt out. That's the biggest complaint with those. An MTR or Quantar is the best choice if you can swing it. -If you still want to use the GR repeater just spend $20 on a back to back radio cable and its back on the air. Its really only 3 wires that are used from each 16 pin. (Ground-Ground, PTT-COR, Mic High-Discriminator).

LDF4-50A CommScope 1/2" hardline is 1.4db of loss at 450mhz. LDF4-50A I said before use the LMR and the ham radio antenna and find out how bad it works. Then either leave the hobby disappointed that it doesn't do what everyone on here says a repeater can do or go spend funds on he proper stuff to do it right. I'll leave this topic and go back to real radios now.

Join. They're not perfect but they do a lot for the hobby. And, a hobby where most folks have at least 4-5 digits in gear so dues shouldn't be the main criterion for saying "no."

It was the topic of the same question back in February: There was also some argument over on Radio Reference: https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/brc-hp-500-high-gain-460-470-mhz-gmrs-band-repeater-base-antenna-11-7db-gain.438247/

Not quite sure where all this paranoia about the Federal Government comes from, but the events since the presidential election of 2020 show that election workers have more to fear from being Dox'ed by anti-government activists than the other way around: Attacks Against Election Officials are taking a Toll

For most normal people, GMRS is not a hobby.

I've been using LMR400 on my repeater for over a year-and-a-half and it has been plenty "good enough" for me and everyone in the several hundred square miles that the repeater covers. Is it as good as a multi-thousand dollar commercial-grade repeater installation? NO Will the coax last forever? NO Does it work? YES Be wary of "some people" that love spending other people's money.

Photo #3 is what the display on my two radios looks like. Given the functions along the sides of the screen in the first two photos, I wonder if they edited in the screen from a photo of the at778