VETCOMMS

So the Echostation would be the simplex repeater but I'm not sure how the Rigblaster controller would be used. Is that a controller I can operate remotely with my phone if I need to shut down the repeater?

Ok thx. I saw an old thread on it but haven't read it fully. Just curious. Thx.

I'm just learning about this simplex repeater/controller. Is this something people can connect to a home repeater so I can then go out and test the repeater by myself from my vehicle? https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=98

I don't have any linked repeaters in my area and GMRS is still new to this part of the state. My question is two-fold. 1. Is there a way to listen online? 2. What is it like in areas where the repeaters are used frequently? A lot of small talk? Momma asking husband to pick up a gallon of milk? Off roaders in their jeeps doing jeep things? I ask because I just don't know.

Thanks for the info, I'll look at that link shortly. If I understood that last sentence then I can run bare copper ground wire buried underground from the antenna/mast to the grounding rod next to my house at the service panel. I shouldn't need a second ground rod at the antenna/mast located on the garage. I just have to make sure it's underground since I have a propensity to hit things with my mower.

I'm also curious about how others grounded their systems. I read that the ground rod near the antenna should be bonded to the home electrical ground near the service meter. From my garage to that ground rod it's about 50 yards away. Am I supposed to run 6 gauge bare copper wire 50 yards from the ground rod near the antenna on the garage over to the ground rod next to the house service meter?

Thanks for the info. Any issues in the wind with this?

I see people on the YouTubes talking about using EMT conduit. Not sure if that's the same thing?

I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to share how you mount your antenna mast to your shack or garage. Are there books or resources where I can learn how to do this properly? For example, I'm thinking of using chain link fence top rail mounted against the side of my garage using a metal band that curves around the mast and screws into the wall of the garage. Or is it better to get a gable mount? Any ideas, pictures, or sharing successes and failures along these lines is welcomed.

Using DOS makes me nervous and I don't have any XP laptops around. I looked at repeater builder and read about the Quantar repeater but wasn't clear on programming. Can it be done with Windows 10 or is it similar to the MTR 2000 and requires an older software to program?

Thahxks. I'll skip the mobile radio configuration. Hopefully a duplexer on ebay will not be defective.

Thanks WRKC, I wasn't aware of the need for older software for programming so that in itself just saved some headaches. Also I see Celwave and Sinclair as a couple of options for duplexers and if I'm understanding correctly, if I'm going to set this up for testing at my home the mobile duplexer is likely good enough but for a tower site the more expensive pass/notch duplexer is needed. There's another Motorola Repeater I'm curious about. I'll try to find it and edit the model in here but I think it's 2 mobiles in a case. It's the XPR 8300 and 8400 models.

With the XPR 8300 vs 8400 is the main difference that the 8400 can switch between analog and digital (mixed mode) wheras the 8300 can do analog or digital but cannot switch between the two modes?

Thanks for that gortex. Yeah, after reading that I'd say I'm a middle of the road kind of intent. Not an $8000 GTR 8000 but definitely not 2 mobile radios connected together. I did read that post you made but need to go back and read it again.

I have a dream. A dream that I can find a tower location and afford to rent a spot on it. That's the first thing to address however I like to think ahead hence the following question. What is a brand or model of continuous duty repeater that is tried and true that people like to use? Is this a Chevy vs Ford type of question? Motorola Quantar? Vertex? An old discontinued Motorola GRxxxx repeater? This also leads to another question. To minimize what I like to call riff-raff on the repeater, is there a way to keep people from scanning for the ctc tones when the repeater is auto-IDing and getting access to the repeater without first requesting? Does that scenario occur? If people are using the repeater inappropriately is there a way I can remotely shut it down, change ctc tones and bring it back online?

That APX 8500 sounds like the most universal quality commercial radio due to it's wide frequency range. I realize we're on a GMRS website but how do others use this radio outside of GMRS? I thought I saw on the Motorola website this radio transmits at 100 watts?

Ok thx. Was just curious what others did.

Just curious how others do this, but when programming a repeater into a mobile there's only so many characters allowed. I put in an abbreviation of the city where the repeater is to help me select which repeater depending on my location when I'm driving. I would like to put the repeater call sign there as well but not enough space (Anytone radio). How do others program their repeaters in?

This makes it sound like for the average Joe (me) that has minimal experience in this GMRS/radio hobby there's alot more to it than simply plugging in Chirp. I'm not skilled in this and don't even know what it means to do alignments so I'll either pay someone to program it or stay with the lower quality boxed GMRS radios.

So I just had a thought. Does anyone know how often local law enforcement/EMS switch out their radios? Do they auction that type of equipment or is it best to go through used-radios.com?

Thanks for that, I wasn't sure if the radio I mentioned can be turned down when programming. I'm not sure what you mean about the published split being -1. Does that have to do with narrowband? So to program is it similar to using Chirp? That's the extent of my programming experience.

So is this an example of a Kenwood that's relatively straight forward to program? https://used-radios.com/kenwood-tk-890h-uhf-450-490mhz-mobile-radio-advanced/

Wow! All things I never thought to ask. Thanks for sharing!

I've read commercial radios are much higher quality and recommended to those who can afford it and would like the benefit of a radio with better components. I also read it can be challenging to find software to program these radios but that some here can help with programming. My question is two-fold. 1. Is one brand easier to program than another? Ie-Kenwood vs Motorola 2. To get help with programming do I ship the radio to someone here or can they send me software and walk me through the process? Just learning how it all works.

This may have been what I had been hearing about.