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Repeater antenna recommendation


fmorfe

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Putting a repeater on the air shortly. Im looking for recommendations for an antenna. Im looking at the comet or the diamond . Both are rated at about 5.5 db gain. Also have seen a phelps dodge station master for 250 dollars. Not sure if its worth it though. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

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the older 201's are better IMO. I have been using them for over 20 yrs.since PD changed hands yrs ago the new stuff is not the same. of the last 6 RFS  201 we bought 4 went back inside of a yr b/c the radome separated from the support pipe. I still have on in my service bay just because.

here is what I have been using for a while, cheap light and work OK 5dbd

 

http://www.tessco.com/products/headerProductSearch.do?searchType=1&searchField=1&searchText=fg4605

also in 7dbd

http://www.tessco.com/products/headerProductSearch.do?searchType=1&searchField=1&searchText=fg4607

these are list prices if you hunt around you can find them for almost half that.

here is the current 201

http://www.tessco.com/products/displayProductInfo.do?sku=341716&eventPage=5

 

I am not to familiar w/the comet or diamond antennas ,you'll have to search here to see what thought are on those.

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  • 1 year later...

For what it's worth. I'm not sure what size setup you are looking at. For a small to medium coverage area setup. There is a ham guy who makes some outstanding jpole antennas. I just bought this one http://www.jpole-antenna.com/shop/462-mhz-land-mobile-gmrs-j-pole-antenna/

 

My systems is small. My antenna is only up about 15ft. I'm running the repeater at 25 watts and am covering a good 5-7 miles solid with just that setup. If I could test with the antenna higher, I'm sure the performance would easily increase to a comparable $200 antenna. I am very impressed on the performance of this antenna.

 

*Edit*

 

I'm also using LMR400 with it, but planning to upgrade to some hardline. Feedline is just as important as the antenna. Keep that in mind :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've got a VHF channel master laying around somewhere…only down side to them is that the VHF ones are 20ft long and a single piece. 

 

I've got a 6dB Telewave antenna that was being used temporarily and worked well. For a building installation/tower install I try and use nothing less than a DB408…usually end up using 420's though.

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  • 3 weeks later...

If you want an antenna to last a lifetime spend a bit more and buy a DB404. I run these on all my repeaters and have yet to have an issue including when they are iced over or not. I also use one as a portable antenna on my mobile repeater and being all aluminum holds up better than any fiberglass stick i have ever tried. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

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