116 replies to this topic

[n4gix]

The antenna i'm using is:
 
http://www.cometante...s/uhf-antennas/

 

Do yourself huge favor and slip an appropriate length of shrink tube over the middle joint on the antenna to provide a much better water seal.

[berkinet]

The antenna i'm using is:...
...CA-712EFC

Speaking of the antenna. I was curious why you chose the CA-712EFC over the CA-F72GF.

While there is no real great difference between the two for GMRS, I picked the F72GF for a couple of reasons others might want to consider. Although there was a little extra work cutting the antenna to length I was able to tune it spot on to our transmit frequency. Also, because I had to open it anyway, I was able to seal it up nice and tight on reassembly and I had a chance to check all the internal solder joints as they have a (somewhat undeserved) reputation for problems.

[Sasquatch]

How did you guys learn how to do all of this neat stuff? I'm struggling here with all the acronyms.   

[berkinet]

How did you guys learn how to do all of this neat stuff?...

By making lots of mistakes 

[Sasquatch]

I'm truly in the presence of greatness on this forum!   

[Steve]

Do yourself huge favor and slip an appropriate length of shrink tube over the middle joint on the antenna to provide a much better water seal.

That is really excellent advice. Thanks. I'll do that. The middle already had become brittle.
S

[Steve]

How did you guys learn how to do all of this neat stuff? I'm struggling here with all the acronyms.

Lots of research and trial and error.

[Steve]

Speaking of the antenna. I was curious why you chose the CA-712EFC over the CA-F72GF.
While there is no real great difference between the two for GMRS, I picked the F72GF for a couple of reasons others might want to consider. Although there was a little extra work cutting the antenna to length I was able to tune it spot on to our transmit frequency. Also, because I had to open it anyway, I was able to seal it up nice and tight on reassembly and I had a chance to check all the internal solder joints as they have a (somewhat undeserved) reputation for problems.

I preferred the higher gain. Plus you can open the "C" antenna up and check joints and seal them if needed.

[zap]

Lots of research and trial and error.

Well go with trial and error.

Like for weatherproofing connections, I much prefer Cell tape to butyl (coax seal). It's also easier to find as Ace and Tractor Supply often stock it as "Magic Tape". For line grounding, butyl is the best way to go though.


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[mainehazmt]

Learned a lot from the CB days working with a shop. But really learned it over a military career working with the local LMR shops mostly the big M....

[Steve]

https://youtu.be/W0D5bmlRx-U

 

I made some progress..... i'm keying into a dummy load for testing around the house... just need to finish mounting the controller and fans, and building out the rest of the custom cables and circuits for the utility power out alarm, and fan control relay. The idea is to have one box with everything contained that i can pull out and take home to service. Testing sounds great, no noise from power supply or tx into the controller. idle power is 15 watts draw on utility, and 40 watts on TX, and the RF tx is only around 10 watts out, im running the TX880 on low power, and i'm not sure how much power exactly, i killed my meter. But it runs very cool on TX low power. I need to get a new cross needle SWR and RF meter now.

[Steve]

and some photos

 

https://goo.gl/photo...nU5TNpzWXnXqFm9

[Steve]

I can't believe it has been almost 4 years since I started this build but finally, everything is done, solar, batteries, controller, custom cables, duplexer, control radio, control yagi antenna, mast, coax, etc.    half way installed, low power, antenna only at ground level, and works great.

 

photos:

https://goo.gl/photo...nU5TNpzWXnXqFm9

 

battery low voltage alarm:

https://www.youtube....h?v=n1JL3mUtiUI

 

Dtmf channel control gmrs repeater kenwood TK-880

https://www.youtube....h?v=0d06MtueMWM

[berkinet]

Very nice.

[Soladaddy]

Digging the old PC tower case. Now that you have worked out all of the bugs, are you ready to mass produce on the cheap? lol.

[osculant]

Love this writeup, checked in over the last year and glad to see it basically 'done'. I have a tk-880 and have been playing with doing exactly what you've done here with an H, like you I also ended up getting an off the shelf repeater (gr300) to play with as well. Also for what it's worth I have two Ed Fong antennas I have been using for over a year and though my use has been limited to HAM and GMRS repeaters not too far,I haven't had any problems yet. The small footprint being referred to was it's wind profile, not it's coverage area.

What power supply did you end up using?

[axorlov]

As an owner of three tk-880h (two in cars, one in house), I love this build. Unlikely I will ever build a repeater, no need for me, but if I did, that would be a reference.