gortex2

I'll have to dig for final pictures but here was the pictures from our "trial" unit. Pretty much all is the same other than we replaced the connectors on the ICOM with BNC (it was an orderable part from them) vs the adapter we used on this unit. For this one that was VHF that basically the only change we made. The UHF has a similar duplexer but in silver. That really the only way to know them apart without turning on the radios. I'd have to dig for the parts list as this was done back in 2013.

So other than the Bridgecomm I can say for 100% none of the new repeaters I linked are 2 mobile radios inside a box. They are full blown repeaters. This is why I posted those repeaters. If Bridgecomm is 2 mobiles inside they don't talk about that in the programming of the repeater. You hook up the cable and program the code plug in the repeater per their video here on their site. I realize there are many "mobile" based repeaters that can be built and are even sold however the repeaters I linked are true repeaters. Many folks don't have the technical ability to assemble multiple radios so that's why I put the links here. I realize there are many "mobile" based repeaters that can be built and are even sold however the repeaters I linked are true repeaters. Many folks don't have the technical ability to assemble multiple radios so that's why I put the links here.

Yup. Purchased alot of used gear from Sunny for our SAR team. Also shipped him a pallet of gear in the past. Good guys.

Repeater Builder had some charts https://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/separation.html

There is no rule stating you can use another service with an approved device in another service. So yes. Does it happen. Probably. Is it right. Not by the rules. To be honest I'm not relying on any radio in an emergency. Way better stuff to rely on.

For me I monitor 675/141.3 when traveling only because that is our SAR repeater frequency for years (back to the react days). When around town or my repeaters my radios sit on my repeater. When in the Jeep we scan as the rides use a different channel every trip. I would say 90% of the conversations we hear in the jeeps are channel 1 or 2.

That's an incorrect statement. They are allowed to use any Amateur Radio Frequency only. I'm sure this will spark a debate but that's the rules. Most hams will bend them to allow them to talk on public safety and other frequencies claiming the rule.

I left the KG1000 off the list as its not a repeater. Its a mobile radio. The goal was to give folks out of the box repeaters. If we got into radios to make repeaters there would be hundreds but they all require 2 radios, controllers, cables and programming.

I wouldn't even attempt with anything less that 20'. If your using CCR stuff double that as the don't have the filtering to handle it.

It all depends on line of sight. When we scout repeater sites for our SAR stuff we actually used FRS radios alot. My opinion is if I can talk on 2 watts from a mountaintop to a handheld in an area I need coverage a 25 watt repeater will be more than suitable. I have UHF SAR repeaters running 25 watts that can hear a 4 watt portable fine from 40 miles out. But you can see the tower from 40 miles. 50 watts is max on GMRS. I have never needed that much power for anything I do on GMRS and both my Jeeps have the MTX Midland at 15 watts. Never had issues with either talking to who I need to. BTW.. there is no such thing as a "Emergency Amateur Radio". If an amateur radio is being used they have different licensed frequencies for power levels. Amateur Radio frequencies are not GMRS and amateurs cannot use 100 watts on GMRS just becasue.

We have 2 repeaters for our SAR group based on portables. Both use modified ICOM handhelds (Swapped MX antenna jack for BNC Jack from ham radio. I used a very small duplexer made for 15 watts or less. They are controlled with a vox style controller that plug into the mic jacks. Battery eliminators on all radios with a 3AH Gel Cell mounted in the pelican case. VHF is 2.3 watts out to the antenna on high power. UHF is 3 watts out to the antenna. They work as intended but if they sold the RT97 at the time I would have ordered it. Both are in a small pelican case. That was part of our use case. We have a portable mast with 25' of LMR400 and Unity Gain antenna for each. 2 guys can walk up a trail with the case, antenna and cable and set it up on a hill to give us that extra range. It doesn't get used all the time, but the location it was built for works well. We are primarily VHF so the power is not perfect but is better than hauling our big repeater up to a site with a 6 wheeler. The UHF has only been used for training. Works good, but as said if I had the RT or Midland option at that point I would have gotten those. In the end we have about $1000 per Pelican Case. The radios were purchased on state contract for $299 each, Duplexer was $100, repeater controller was 100 and another $200 in battery, RF jumpers, bulkhead mount and charger for battery. We went with the ICOM LMR radio because we use public safety band, and to be honest they are way better than any CCR you will try. The receiver on the ICOM is very hot and is very narrow to the band in use.

How far do you want it to work and what power levels are you using ? Ideally you want 20-25' vertical separation for good isolation. The closer they are the less isolation you get. In the end its almost always cheaper to buy a duplexer than run 2 antenna lines and antenna's. In the LMR world antenna's can be closer but are normally filtered to limit the exposure of each other. On one of our SAR sites we have a DB404 10' below the RX DB408. The receive multi-coupler has not only pass cavities but also notch for the TX channels. The TX combiner has pass cavities for the TX channel only. There is no noticeable decense on the system. But the combiners and multi-coupler cost more than most of you spend on a vehicle.

What is he using for a base radio ? Its not unexpected if your both on a base radio with a decent antenna.

So why not just get online and grab a UHF repeater premade. In the end it will be simpler and probably cheaper. You will still need a duplexer for either a true LMR repeater or a home built one. I don't know anyone that sells a premade cable and controller for the MCS. I'm sure you can find a controller and use some of the above cables but if you dont have the technical skills to solder and assemble complete units are easier. There is alot of info on the MCS here - https://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/mcs2000/mcs2000-index.html

What are you using for a controller ? That may help deciding which cable to use. As said for a basic repeater you can use 3 wires. Done that on many GM300/Maxtrac radios over the years.

Thanks Rich. I need to get rid of a ton of stuff and rather sell here.

They will work fine.

You can use that cable but will need one for each radio. I assume your using the mid power model. You can find the plugs and pins cheaper and spin your own cable. All you need is PTT, COR, Discriminator, Ground and Mic Hi. In the end depending on what your doing its 3 wires to each radio. (RX Radio - COR, GND and RX Discriminator, TX Radio - GND, PTT and Mic) Pinout for the Accessory Connector 1 SPKR+ 2 INT SPKR+ 3 SPKR- 4 DIGITAL GND 5 BUSY 6 BUS+ 7 I/O 8 8 I/O 5 9 EMERGENCY 10 ANALOG GND 11 FIL AUD OUT 12 AUX RX IN2 13 MIC IN 14 SW B+ 15 IGNITION 16 I/O 2 17 LH RESET 18 BUS- 19 SCI RX DATA 20 I/O 4 21 I/O 3 22 RSSI OUT 23 EXTERNAL MIC IN 24 AUX TX IN2 25 UNIV IO OUT

I don't see this device mentioned much but I think it would be a slick device for the RT97S or Midland. I think you could probably stuff it inside the box too and not worry about the external location. https://midians.com/products/id-1/ We used a lot of these back in the day. They used to run around $100. Not sure what they cost now. Communications Specialist used to make the ID-8 also. It was very similar but used a DTMF pad to program then you put that aside. https://www.com-spec.com/id8.htm The ID-O-Matic is still used by some but a bit larger. http://www.hamgadgets.com/ID-O-MATIC-IV These are all options for home brew repeaters or repeaters where an ID is required. There are also Pi based controllers that incorporate the CWID into the controller but that's a PC and not what these above are.

And to some point that's why I went P25. Only folks who are serious about the quality of the network spend the money. It eliminated all the CCR stuff that was always static and dropping out. Even DMR is suffering from poor hot spots and poor radios. Back when MARC started the TRBO network the repeaters sounded great. All was on it was MSI radios. As the CCR work and others linked and added to it it changed the level of acceptance. Not saying its all bad but different user experiences for sure. I'll also admit pretty much everyone who uses my P25 stuff is in public safety so its simpler to use one radio in a vehicle than a stack. And they are disciplined in radio use in a different field. NXDN is interesting. I was with a shop when ICOM and Kenwood released the first radio. We sold a ton on 6.25khz which was crazy at the time. Most were on site comms for hospitals and jails. I just ended up with a Kenwood NX700 that has NXDN but from what I've read its changed a bit. I'll probably surplus it as what I needed the radio for is 1 VHF analog channel. I hate to waste a radio with that much capability.

Do you have a different radio you can try to listen on to and see if it does the same ? Its not digital DMR or anything. To me seems like a carrier on the air maybe from a poor designed repeater or mobile someplace ? I'd be curious what a mobile or different radio would here ?

The Quantar are rock solid units. Parts are still plentiful if you know where to look. Many systems are still in service with these. Our SAR simulcast uses these extensively.

Without getting into the debate on Part 90 vs 95 figured I'd list some basic Repeaters for UHF that would be good base units if your shopping for new. Low Power RT97 - List Price - $536 (Sale Price - $371.99) - https://www.retevis.com/rt97-portable-gmrs-repeater-mobile-repeater#A9150CX1 Midland MRX10 - List Price - $ 459.00 - https://midlandusa.com/products/midland-mxr10-repeater Mid Power Bridgecomm BCR-40U - List Price $1499.00 - https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/collections/amateur-radio-repeaters/products/bcr-40u ICOM FR6300H - List Price $1819.00 - https://theantennafarm.com/shop-by-categories/radios/repeater-systems/uhf-repeaters/11680-icom-fr6300h-detail Kenwood NXR-810K - List Price - $1770.00 - https://theantennafarm.com/shop-by-categories/radios/repeater-systems/uhf-repeaters/9640-kenwood-nxr-810k-detail Motorola SLR5700 - List Price $ 3700.00 - https://theantennafarm.com/shop-by-categories/radios/repeater-systems/uhf-repeaters/9581-motorola-slr5700-detail To be noted none of the mid power repeaters come with a duplexer. That will tac on another $300 and up depending on what you purchase. Granted there are many UHF part 90 repeaters used on the market that can be had for way less money than above but wanted to list new prices. If your searching online and someone is advertising a GR1225 on GMRS for $1000 I'd think twice. For mid power I have no experience with the Bridgecomm or the new NRX (however have many of the older Kenwood) units. Just wanted to put some info in one location. The low power units are nice because they basically work out of the box. I also realize the prices on the mid power units look high when your comparing to some of the CCR world but they will outlast pretty much all the home brewed stuff as they are built to do what they are. Some used older stuff that can be had reasonably are the Vertex VXR Series, Motorola GR1225, Motorola MTR2000, Motorola Quantar, Kenwood TKR850, Midland Base Tech II (Was a solid unit), ICOM FR4000 and the Motorola XPR series.

Most commercially made repeaters have this built in. All my LMR, Public Safety and Ham repeaters ID per regulations. Most of mine ID with no PL so you don't here it unless you are in CSQ mode. We have one SAR repeater that does ID with PL as that was like the previous and the folks wanted it to continue that way. All my repeaters have this built into the software and we do not run "external" controllers.

Personally I wouldn't compare a comet hobby antenna to the Midland. Id at least start with a Laird or similar LMR branded antenna. The L-Com 9db antenna is 8' tall. At this point until someone gets one in their hands its hard to know. It would be nice if they would offer it on the site separate with some info. I would imagine in the future it will be there just like mobile antenna's