BoxCar

Probably the best 101 level training is the ARRL Technician book. Yes, its geared towards getting an amateur license but the theory is basic and applies to all types of radio and electronics.

No, I don't know what is carried on the cable. My best estimation is that the signals are a combination of analog (voice) from the microphone and either DTMF tones or digital codes from the keys. PTT is probably either voltage or ground to key the transmitter. Someone with an Oscope could breakout the wires and examine the signals. I don't have any test equipment more sophisticated than a VOM and SWR meter.

The setup needed for repeater use varies depending on the make and model handheld you are using. Check for user manuals for your HH units as they will also have the necessary steps to load in repeater channels. Also, remember the axiom High in, low out. Your transmit frequency is always the higher frequency while you receive on the lower.

There is no difference between different Ethernet cables with differing Cat labels. The ratings have to do with the capacitance and coupling between the pairs in the cable, which affect how well the cable handles data bits. In actual practice, a Cat 5 cable handles data up to 100 Mbps as well as a Cat 6. For extending a radio's faceplate from the radio body, a Cat 3 cable has all the capability needed. The distance limit, 100 meters, is based on the resistance of the wire to current flow.

With line-of-sight radios (UHF and VHF frequencies), added power means you have better reception in the area covered rather than greater distance. The distance (farz) depends on how high the antenna is above the surrounding ground. An antenna 6 feet above ground level (AGL) can reach a repeater many miles away if the repeater is on ground higher than you. That' why so many repeaters are located on high hills, buildings, and mountains. Height more than power equals distance.

Your radiation pattern from an omni antenna would look like a beach ball with a weight pushing down at the top making the top and bottom flat. Tilting the antenna lifts one side of the ball but pushes the other side down reducing signal strength to the horizon. The side pointing up will send more signal toward clouds and possibly also reducing signal strength at te horizon. The best result is keep the antenna vertical and increase height.

Rept18 should be the correct slot for the site you are trying to access. The question I have for you is what mode are you using to send the tone? If the repeater uses the same tone both in and out, the Tone Squelch is the correct entry. If the repeater uses only a receive tone, the you need the tone on your transmit and the mode as Tone.

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It came through Baltimore.

There's a few tools you will need to troubleshoot the issue. The one to start with will be a multimeter to measure voltage and current. The second is Ohm's Law, knowing how voltage, current and resistance interact. Dividing power (watts) by voltage tells you the current (amps) available.

Why not just order a 70 foot cable from Gigaparts?

What's the output amperage of the solar charger? it may not put out enough current to power the SR-112.

Especially with the Bolton cable showing 8.9 for loss at 450 MHz.

I only know of one radio that comes with an N connector as its output. Using adapters is common and they don't really add to any loss figures so an N female to PL259 or N male to SO239 adapters are fairly common. They are a little on the pricey side compared to the normal PL/SO adapters but I believe that is due to the number of connectors sold rather than the manufacturing costs.

Yes - it's called in your pocket. Amazon.com: BAOFENG GM-15 Pro GMRS Radio Handheld Battery BL-13UV 1500mAh Orignal Battery Rechargeable GM-15 Pro,TP-8Plus, Radioddity GM-30 MU-5 MURS Radio,TD-H5 P15UV Two Way Radio etc : Electronics

Yes, and if you drank a case of Hamm's every day till you peed sky blue water, you would get a free case every day till you died.

Shop around for a coordinator. The FCC lists the authorized coordinators on its website. If you deal directly with the coordinator you save any dealer markup.

You should always listen before sending. With no receive tones you would hear any traffic on the channel,

If the antenna is installed as part of the construction process it could be argued as an architectural feature.

The Litchfield repeater should be using TONE, not CROSS. Create another entry for Payson using TONE with 065 in the DCS field.

No. Some things are blamed on greenhouse gases and other on green men.

Using the input tone on your receiver is a personal choice. Often we amateurs will either set up our repeaters with no output tone or leave our receiver set to no tone (carrier squelch) even when the repeater broadcasts a tone. Again, it's a personal choice, but leaving the tone out when first setting up does simplify troubleshooting. However, amateurs have many more channels to play with and all of our repeaters are coordinated to prevent signals from one being heard on another.

Like Randy says, how do you define "Best". A handheld unit is not the best for attaching to an antenna for base station use. It will work, but not well. I would recommend you look for a 20 to 25W mobile radio with a 15A power supply. The mobile will require 7 to 8 amps of power draw while transmitting, and a 15W power supply will supply at least 11A continuously. For your coaxial cable between the radio and your antenna, use LMR400 or equivalent from one of the amateur radio dealers like The Wireman, Gigaparts, Ham Radio Outlet, or DXEngineering and not the cheapie stuff from Amazon. The antenna you use is the most important piece of the kit, and for that there are several recommendations on this site.

The antenna is more important than the power output of a transmitter.

Personally, I have both the Yaesu ft-4xr and the FT-65. Both a great radios and I'll carry one with me when I go out. I also have Baofengs, TYTs, and Pofungs from the Chinesebside but It's the Yaesus I would rely on for emcomm.