berkinet Posted October 23, 2020 Report Posted October 23, 2020 The in-vehicle repeaters are useful for extending the range of a hand-held and little more. It's what public safety does with them.With the caveat that the "extension" effectively allows the hand-held to act as a remote microphone for the mobile radio in the car. And, the mobile radio itself may work through another repeater. Of course, in many cases the mobile is down around 10mHz and talks directly to the dispatch center. In other words the in-vehicle repeater is not connecting two local hand-helds. Quote
gman1971 Posted October 23, 2020 Report Posted October 23, 2020 I don't think anyone here disputed portable or mobile repeaters... I use them on all my cars... If Racine is anything like Madison WI (in terms of terrain), then you DO need repeaters to get any decent range, the terrain here is just too rough/hilly with a lot of dead spots for just simplex portable-portable operation. G. Quote
STTScott Posted November 17, 2020 Report Posted November 17, 2020 I've noticed that, too. It just seems to me that it makes more sense to find a repeater nearby. And if there ain't one nearby, well then tough turds or try to find local traffic on your radio's own power and go from there. Personally, to me, making your own repeater station is a major PITA if you're not knee-deep into this hobby with deep-ish pockets. Just my $.02. ScottWRJX210 jimndfw 1 Quote
n4gix Posted November 17, 2020 Report Posted November 17, 2020 Personally, to me, making your own repeater station is a major PITA if you're not knee-deep into this hobby with deep-ish pockets. Scott, I could not agree more! Unless you have the $$$'s to rent space on a tall tower (200' or more), then it is an exercise in futility. jimndfw 1 Quote
gman1971 Posted November 17, 2020 Report Posted November 17, 2020 With 40-60' AGL you can have some decent performance for a family repeater network. Also while height is very important, its not the only thing you'll need to have a decent usable range... high quality radios, preselectors, cavities, duplexer, coax, connectors, and most importantly a good antenna, will make a huuuuge difference in how well the repeater works, and that is applicable whether its placed at 40 feet or 200 feet. G. Scott, I could not agree more! Unless you have the $$$'s to rent space on a tall tower (200' or more), then it is an exercise in futility. Quote
1URFE57 Posted November 17, 2020 Report Posted November 17, 2020 This pandemic makes me spend more time with radios lately and speaking of Repeaters I just put up one last weekend, got a cheap XPR8300 off Ebay and I have EVX-R70 on the way for a cheap too this is not a high end setup like Heliax cable, Celwave duplexers, hundred foot tower and so on I bet anyone would laugh and shake their head if they see it... ...All I want is to cover my usual route of 10 miles around town but right now I got 18 miles which is good I think. gman1971, WROC668 and Bow 3 Quote
gman1971 Posted November 18, 2020 Report Posted November 18, 2020 Nice... 18 miles is not bad for a home setup... terrain helps a lot... here in Madison WI reaching 18 miles is very difficult without some elevation... XPR repeaters are bargains in a box... the R70 is basically an 8400 with different firmware... Congrats. G. Quote
1URFE57 Posted November 20, 2020 Report Posted November 20, 2020 Nice... 18 miles is not bad for a home setup... terrain helps a lot... here in Madison WI reaching 18 miles is very difficult without some elevation... XPR repeaters are bargains in a box... the R70 is basically an 8400 with different firmware... Congrats. G.Thanks! I agree with terrain dependant with regards to coverage on the North side I only managing 7 miles max due buildings and elevation while in the South side of the repeater 16-18 miles since this is an less building elevation is lower and mostly plain along a Toll way. I have received my EVX-R70 and another good buy very clean unit likes new I will alternate this with the 8300, my next project will be the MTR's I know SLR's are the future but it's too expensive at the moment. gman1971 1 Quote
gman1971 Posted November 21, 2020 Report Posted November 21, 2020 Yes, SLR is where its at.. these have the same amazing receiver as the XPR5550e mobiles... which is darn good.. but the XPR8x00 repeater is not bad either. G. Thanks! I agree with terrain dependant with regards to coverage on the North side I only managing 7 miles max due buildings and elevation while in the South side of the repeater 16-18 miles since this is an less building elevation is lower and mostly plain along a Toll way. I have received my EVX-R70 and another good buy very clean unit likes new I will alternate this with the 8300, my next project will be the MTR's I know SLR's are the future but it's too expensive at the moment. Quote
1URFE57 Posted November 21, 2020 Report Posted November 21, 2020 Yes, SLR is where its at.. these have the same amazing receiver as the XPR5550e mobiles... which is darn good.. but the XPR8x00 repeater is not bad either. G.I totally agree these XPR repeaters are flooding ebay right now with different price range, Ok I'm putting the R70 today for a test run its funny that Motorola skip built-in CWID on this one... gman1971 1 Quote
gman1971 Posted November 22, 2020 Report Posted November 22, 2020 How is the R70 running? Is it all good to go now? G. I totally agree these XPR repeaters are flooding ebay right now with different price range, Ok I'm putting the R70 today for a test run its funny that Motorola skip built-in CWID on this one... Quote
1URFE57 Posted November 23, 2020 Report Posted November 23, 2020 How is the R70 running? Is it all good to go now? G.R70 works great but less the built-in CWiD but other than that happy with the repeater, CPS 16.8 and Clone Editor 5.5 are identical in nature but some of the setting and menu in the CPS are not in the Clone Editor. I will take some photo of my antennas just for laughs!... https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/d49/alincastre1223/Repeaters.jpeg Quote
gman1971 Posted November 23, 2020 Report Posted November 23, 2020 Ugh, Baoturds detected near XPR repeaters... blasphemy.... Here is a glimpse of the the Motorolian Imperial Fleet under my command: Quote
IronArcher Posted November 23, 2020 Report Posted November 23, 2020 Newer guy here.I’ve done tower climbing before (for a wireless internet company).If there was anyone around me that needed a climber for a fraction of the claimed cost (not debating that price, I just have no idea what climbers charge. I got $100 per climb (yes, it was for a friend)) I would consider getting certified.Never knew they charged that much Raybestos 1 Quote
gortex2 Posted November 23, 2020 Report Posted November 23, 2020 Newer guy here.I’ve done tower climbing before (for a wireless internet company).If there was anyone around me that needed a climber for a fraction of the claimed cost (not debating that price, I just have no idea what climbers charge. I got $100 per climb (yes, it was for a friend)) I would consider getting certified.Never knew they charged that much The issue is insurance costs for tower work. I am guessing if you have to pay for insurance which pretty much any commercially owned tower will require you will charge more than $100 Radioguy7268 1 Quote
1URFE57 Posted November 23, 2020 Report Posted November 23, 2020 Ugh, Baoturds detected near XPR repeaters... blasphemy.... Here is a glimpse of the the Motorolian Imperial Fleet under my command:Is this your Battle Group?...nice! you spotted the cheap skates just part of the kamikaze squadron hanging in the abandoned junkyard. The Mother Ship!https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/d49/alincastre1223/theshack.jpeg gman1971 1 Quote
gman1971 Posted November 24, 2020 Report Posted November 24, 2020 NICEE!!! G. Is this your Battle Group?...nice! you spotted the cheap skates just part of the kamikaze squadron hanging in the abandoned junkyard. The Mother Ship!https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/d49/alincastre1223/theshack.jpeg Quote
n4gix Posted November 28, 2020 Report Posted November 28, 2020 Newer guy here.I’ve done tower climbing before (for a wireless internet company).If there was anyone around me that needed a climber for a fraction of the claimed cost (not debating that price, I just have no idea what climbers charge. I got $100 per climb (yes, it was for a friend)) I would consider getting certified.Never knew they charged that much Back in the 80's I charged $8/foot for a climb plus any hardware I supplied. I carried a $2 million dollar liability policy. coryb27 1 Quote
1URFE57 Posted December 3, 2020 Report Posted December 3, 2020 New project on Testing Stage: Cheap skate Repeater Repeater no.3- GM300'shttps://hosting.photobucket.com/images/d49/alincastre1223/RPT_3.jpeg Quote
gman1971 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Posted December 4, 2020 Nice!! Motorolian motherships... G. New project on Testing Stage: Cheap skate Repeater Repeater no.3- GM300'shttps://hosting.photobucket.com/images/d49/alincastre1223/RPT_3.jpeg 1URFE57 1 Quote
1URFE57 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Posted December 4, 2020 Nice!! Motorolian motherships... G.Put away the R70 I will be using the XPR and GM300 for now that mdc-1200 gives me giggles!... Quote
gman1971 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Posted December 4, 2020 No R70?? how come? are the GM300 good?? They must be... nice nice!! G. Put away the R70 I will be using the XPR and GM300 for now that mdc-1200 gives me giggles!... Quote
1URFE57 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Posted December 4, 2020 No R70?? how come? are the GM300 good?? They must be... nice nice!! G.R70 running ok but its back in the box as a spare I miss the CWiD in the XPR and the GM300's are just fun to setup, iCOM F221/221-S are good for rpt setup as well but interface cable are not as cheap as the motos. Quote
gman1971 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Posted December 4, 2020 Very nice. GM300, are those hard to program, what do you use? I am mostly into XPR and EVX radios... most of the older stuff I haven't messed with it much... if at all. G. Quote
1URFE57 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Posted December 4, 2020 Very nice. GM300, are those hard to program, what do you use? I am mostly into XPR and EVX radios... most of the older stuff I haven't messed with it much... if at all. G.I have two GP300 that I usually use I might add the XPR handies in my collection but I'm on the market for new HF radio so they have to wait. I also has TYT MD380 for DMR but I don't use it anymore I got iCOM F621TR in the truck very cheap since they're not as popular as the F221s and the F500s and of course the famous Baofengs... ...That's the thing with old school stuff they need old school hardware too some uses DOSBox but I prefer a real serial port. Quote
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