BoxCar

Repeaters are normally listed by their output frequency, you receive channel. Repeater channels set in your radio have the correct output channel (5 MHz higher) coded into the channel selected. Repeater input frequencies are all at 467 MHz while all the other channels are 462 MHz.

Antenna height.

Repurpose a part 90 radio for those conditions but any radio meeting FCC requirements is all you need in Asheville.

A 50 AH battery is overkill. Use the 80/20 rule that 80% of the on time is receive only. Calculate the amps used for an hour of on time and multiply that by the expected number of hours of operation. That will give you the size (in AH) battery needed. The excess power supplied by the solar system deep charges the battery providing even more operating cushion.

Dale's brother.

I would put the antenna where its not obvious from the street if possible. It's also best to mount it while doing something else such as hanging lights or cleaning gutters. People don't pay attention if they see an expected task.

An SWR meter isn't the best thing for testing if you are planning on building antennas. A better piece of test equipment is a Nano VNA as it will not only tell the wave ratio but also tell you at what frequency your antenna works best.

Ask the dealer service dept which fuse block locations are unused for his truck model.

Signal Stick makes one as well.

As UHF is primarily line-of-sight, increased power either from the transmitter or antenna gain does not equate to further distance. The increase is in signal density or available RF energy in the same area. The two things most responsible for better service are antenna height above ground (AGL) and our friend, signal density. Antennas increase signal density by "squishing" the radiation pattern from a ball shape toward an egg shaped oval. The higher the antenna gain the more the signal is "squished" flat. The biggest help in your situation will be getting the antenna higher above ground level.

Put the mag mount on a cookie sheet or 16 inch pizza pan and test again. Unless your antenna is specifically marked as a No Ground Plane required, it needs a ground plane as the ground plane is actually an integral part of the antenna's makeup.

Contact the site owner, Rich. He has to make those edits.

What is your antenna mounted on in your office? You need to have it connected to a piece of metal as a ground plane for the antenna to work correctly.

Nope.

You obviously bought one that was pregnant.

Sounds as if your PS isn't right if the fan slows when keying up. A 50W radio will draw 12 to 15 amps when sending. Your PS needs to be 20A or better for that mobile.

U Have Fun?

Between here and there depending on where here is.

The terrain has a lot to do with contacts beyond the line of sight. UHF bounces off hard surfaces such as concrete and granite. Its very possible your signal was reflecting through canyons. Digital signals don't do well as the bit stream becomes jumbled through the multipath hops.

Reduce the power going into the duplexer as the losses caused by the duplexer is turned to heat. The loss in dB remains the same but the amount of heat created is reduced.

For the cheap "flat pack" duplexers it probably won't make any difference. The duplexer was probably lying flat when tuned though.

The adapter has to be listed as an accessory - but not always. If the battery used on the 15-PRO is the same as the model you have the adapter for, then it will fit. CCR makers change battery size and shape at will, so no guarantees.

A mag mount on a cookie sheet would also be a BIG improvement.

But you're not normal. A ton or so of bricks from a full load - on your good days.

Great choice - blame someone else!