Progress update - I have the repeater up and running in a temporary setup for ease of trials. Currently 15' AGL on a temporary handmade tilt tower using a 50' RG-8 run. Even with the rolling hills of the thick woods, i am able to kerchunk at approx 5-7 miles currently on a 5w HT(bottom areas sketchy). Once i am satisfied with trials of different frequencies, i will move the antenna to my in ground tower at twice the height with LMR400.