Setting up a repeater in Bangor Area Maine

[christophercmp]

So I live in Glenburn Maine. I have my GMRS license. There use to be a repeater that I use to use. But the repeater is no longer available. I would like to build a repeater in central Maine where I live. I was thinking about building one. Have it setup in my bedroom at my parents house. This is something that I have not done before. But I would run a antenna through my window and put it on the roof of my house. My bedroom is on the second floor of my house. I have a metal roof so if the antenna is magnetic it would be good because as I was told by other operators in my area that the metal becomes a ground and it will help the antenna. The antenna would be angled towards the lake as my roof is angled. My house is kind of on top of a hill. It is near pushaw lake. My goal is to have the repeater reach out to 50 miles or more. I would like to have this open to the snowmobile riders around to be able to use it for emergency in the winter and also be able to have them communicate with local snowmobile clubs about trails. Also use them for fishing events as well. Any suggestion on what frequencies and pl tones I should use? As well as what radios I should use for the repeater and antenna?

[Logan5]

so do you have any old UHF mobile radios? namely Motorola, I have 2 old Motorola radios that came already paired. seems some programing and a hand made cable is all that is needed to make into not part 95 certified repeater. However you will also need a duplexor or you will have to run 2 antennas spread 20+ feet apart. You also mention a lot of people potentially will use your repeater, you will need to confirm GMRS licenses of all of those people. Do you have access to a radio shop? consider a part time job at a radio shop to help obtain the equipment you need.

[Logan5]

Read the forum areas about antennas and duplexors, you need to understand the beast before you spend any of your money. Oh and feedline, review different coax types and loss per 100 feet. Youtube has videos about all of this as well. I do not recommend mag mount antennas. Make your own j-pole and or other home mades that you can experiment with.

[Logan5]

It would help if you study the HAM book as it's technical learning is similar to GMRS

[christophercmp]

so do you have any old UHF mobile radios? namely Motorola, I have 2 old Motorola radios that came already paired. seems some programing and a hand made cable is all that is needed to make into not part 95 certified repeater. However you will also need a duplexor or you will have to run 2 antennas spread 20+ feet apart. You also mention a lot of people potentially will use your repeater, you will need to confirm GMRS licenses of all of those people. Do you have access to a radio shop? consider a part time job at a radio shop to help obtain the equipment you need.

 

I do not have any mobile radios. This would be my first purchase. I have hand held radios. A duplexor shouldn't be that much. So why do i have to make sure everyone is licensed? I mean even if I operate on a FRS frequency? It would be the same as like taxi driver calling into a dispatcher. I have two jobs. There really isn't radio shops around here. I would just purchase my radios off the internet.

[christophercmp]

Read the forum areas about antennas and duplexors, you need to understand the beast before you spend any of your money. Oh and feedline, review different coax types and loss per 100 feet. Youtube has videos about all of this as well. I do not recommend mag mount antennas. Make your own j-pole and or other home mades that you can experiment with.

 

I was just going to go online and see if there was already one made.

[PastorGary]

Welcome to MyGMRS...

 

Please refer to ALL of the GMRS and FRS regulations in the link below before you do any planning.   A GMRS repeater owner and ALL USERS, other than the owner's immediate family, MUST have their own individually issued GMRS licenses.

 

FCC RULES LINK >  http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?rgn=div5&node=47:5.0.1.1.5

[Logan5]

You can not operate a repeater on an FRS channel. A repeater can only be operated on the license GMRS channels. If you want license free, forget the repeater and stick with FRS. If you operate a GMRS repeater, You as operator are required by the FCC to maintain records of user license. If you allow unlicensed users, you could be held liable for facilitating illegal activity. Take your time and read the entire Wiki's so that you understand the Law and the technical issues at hand.

[Logan5]

a cheap Chinese duplexor will cost you 99 to 149, most claim they come tuned to order, but I would get an old HAM to check it out. E-bay has some good deals on used duplexors, I prefer a full size duplexor, I got mine used for 150, plus 85 tuning and additional shipping. This is why I recommend getting your HAM ticket, Many radio clubs have old radio stuff to give kids with radio interest. Many also have a biannual swap meet, where you can pick up cheap to FREE parts.

[Logan5]

Ignorance of the LAW is not a legal defence. If you want to play, learn the rules. If you want to learn. Listen.

[n4gix]

Chris, the quickest and easiest way to put up a repeater is to buy one from places such as eBay where there are quite often completely assembled repeaters available. However, a repeater is the least of the expenses involved. Without a properly installed antenna system, the repeater is just another useless doorstop...

 

A good commercial quality antenna mounted as high* as possible, along with at least 1/4" super-flex heliax is the minimum I would recommend. You can accomplish more with such an antenna system and 5 watts input power than you can with a crappy antenna system and 50 watts input power.

 

I would budget $1500 as a minimum starting expense. BTW, is this your GMRS license or your dad's? I see it was issued 11/28/2012 and expires 11/28/2017.

 

*NOTE: 50' is what I consider minimum effective height. Keep in mind that UHF frequencies are LOS (line of sight).

[coryb27]

You can not operate a repeater on an FRS channel. A repeater can only be operated on the license GMRS channels. If you want license free, forget the repeater and stick with FRS. If you operate a GMRS repeater, You as operator are required by the FCC to maintain records of user license. If you allow unlicensed users, you could be held liable for facilitating illegal activity. Take your time and read the entire Wiki's so that you understand the Law and the technical issues at hand.

 

Logan,

 

I have searched the part 95 rules and can fine no place that says as a repeater owner it is my responsibility to verify the license status of any users. My repeater is listed as open and I do not police it as we do not have issues like the people in NYC. My second issue is your statement "if you allow unlicensed users you could be held liable" but legal advisement from my attorney says if I did not commit a crime I am not liable, since I am licensed it would be the person using my system illegally that is responsible for there own actions. I totally understand that Ignorance of the LAW is not a legal defense but misinterpretation of the law does not make it rule. Just to be sure I searched the FCC legal fillings and could not find a single instance of a repeater owner being held responsible for the actions of another user.

[Logan5]

You are correct, I misstated the obligation of the repeater operator. Looks like I chased him away anyway.  I personally keep a files on each user of my repeater asset, to prevent abuse of the station and or any of the licensed users, using it.

[coryb27]

I like to know who is using it but i dont keep records and believe in the open repeater concept. Once I changed from permission only to community access repeaters I noticed the usage number starting to climb. I built it so others could use it, the equipment does no good to anybody sitting idle for 90% of the time. My hope is to generate some local interest in the hobby by offering solid systems with good coverage areas without the hassle of having to get permission.