WRZT743 Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 So this is how I set up a garage radio station very cheap key word CHEAP Baofeng UV-5G Plus $35- https://www.baofengradio.com/products/uv-5g-plus-5w-gmrs-radio Commountain Heavy Speaker Mic $20- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MX4J3W8/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07MX4J3W8&pd_rd_w=FkIlh&content-id=amzn1.sym.386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_p=386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_r=7TFA91RXNWDQRYP7RH6R&pd_rd_wg=HOOT3&pd_rd_r=25bf468d-0588-4e66-8c45-ea93606e0b2c&s=gps&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM Bingfu Vehicle Antenna with Ground Planes $37 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLKLHHNP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Program Plug and Play for the most part Total $92 Contact made to repeaters 15 miles away no problem. It can get better, the antenna is good with the factory setting but it is tuned for 440.xxx We want 462.xxx-467.xxx for GMRS so I purchased some 10G black solid copper wire from my local home improvement store and trimmed it to the perfect tune for 467.400 my SWR is 1.02 - 1.03 I am happy with that. Tune the Antenna with a NanoVNA NanoVNA $50- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08132DJLS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I will take picture of the set up tomorrow in the daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRKC935 Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 as long as it works it's a good setup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRPL700 Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 10 hours ago, WRZT743 said: So this is how I set up a garage radio station very cheap key word CHEAP Baofeng UV-5G Plus $35- https://www.baofengradio.com/products/uv-5g-plus-5w-gmrs-radio I am curious what power out you got when you tested the Baofeng UV-5G Plus???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRZT743 Posted January 4 Author Report Share Posted January 4 I can test when I get home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRZT743 Posted January 5 Author Report Share Posted January 5 15 hours ago, WRPL700 said: I am curious what power out you got when you tested the Baofeng UV-5G Plus???? Low- 2 watts Med- 4.5 watts High- 8 watts WRUU653 and SteveShannon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRPL700 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 8 hours ago, WRZT743 said: Low- 2 watts Med- 4.5 watts High- 8 watts Hey thanks for the update. I have seen on Randy's You-Tube video that his was putting out about 7 watts, but I was a bit suspicous that he had been sent a souped up version. This is good news and I may have to break down and get one. Thanks again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXB215 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 CCRs are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRPL700 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 7 hours ago, WRXB215 said: CCRs are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. A wise man once said...... You are right though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRZT743 Posted January 11 Author Report Share Posted January 11 On 1/5/2024 at 7:47 AM, WRXB215 said: CCRs are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXB215 Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 @WRZT743 I do use CCRs myself. Can't afford anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRYZ926 Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 If it works, it works. Nothing wrong with using what you have. WRUU653 and WRXB215 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShannon Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 The people who are dead set against CCRs will never acknowledge anything right with them, but the fact is that they are a large reason why a lot of people get into playing with radios. And once you learn about radios, if you can afford it, chances are you’ll get something better. WRUU653 and WRYZ926 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radioguy7268 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 My biggest gripe about using CCR's for a repeater is that most people are over-paying for under performing pieces. You can buy a decent pair of brand name used mobile radios for less than $150, spend another $15 on a cheap 'repeater maker' cable, and have something that will actually work without de-sensing itself, and put out 10-15 watts all day long without burning itself out. The trouble comes in finding software & programming, but it's not insurmountable. Or, you can keep buying more and more CCR's trying to find the next YouTuber's favorite combination, and trying to crank up 8-10 watts out of a portable until it burns up - while trying to SAVE money on cheap radios. I guess if you're learning what doesn't work, you're on the way towards learning what will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXB215 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 2 hours ago, Radioguy7268 said: will actually work without de-sensing itself Without a duplexer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShannon Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 39 minutes ago, WRXB215 said: Without a duplexer? It’s not a repeater, at least according to the first post. It’s just a radio station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radioguy7268 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Duplexer is the preferred method for achieving isolation on repeater antenna systems. The OP is talking about a CCR portable as a fixed base - so I won't go any further off topic, but I'd still recommend a used mobile instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXB215 Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 13 hours ago, Radioguy7268 said: My biggest gripe about using CCR's for a repeater is that most people are over-paying for under performing pieces. You can buy a decent pair of brand name used mobile radios for less than $150, spend another $15 on a cheap 'repeater maker' cable, and have something that will actually work without de-sensing itself, and put out 10-15 watts all day long without burning itself out. The trouble comes in finding software & programming, but it's not insurmountable. @Sshannon and @Radioguy7268 Not trying to hijack the thread, it's just that this is what caught my attention. I would like to find out more about this. If I need to start a new thread I will gladly do so. I'm just really interested in finding out more about this type of repeater build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShannon Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 3 hours ago, WRXB215 said: @Sshannon and @Radioguy7268 Not trying to hijack the thread, it's just that this is what caught my attention. I would like to find out more about this. If I need to start a new thread I will gladly do so. I'm just really interested in finding out more about this type of repeater build. I haven’t built a repeater from two transceivers. I know people have and I also know that desense must be overcome for some transceivers. To me it’s a waste compared to a purpose built repeater because you end up with an unused transmitter on one transceiver and an unused receiver on the other transceiver. If you have access to transceivers that have the capability built in it’s easier. The GMRS Wouxun KG1000 and its ham radio counterpart the Wouxun KG-UV980 are sold with the capability incorporated and a 15 foot cable to connect two of them. i would recommend starting a separate thread. I predict you’ll have a popular thread. WRUU653 and WRYZ926 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRZT743 Posted January 12 Author Report Share Posted January 12 feel free to chat here.... I plan on having a mobile as a base station in my house but also wanted to listen while in my garage. So I took what I already knew worked in my truck and put that antenna on the garage. I did not want to buy another power station to run a mobile unit for the little I will be in there. That is why I used a handheld comes with power cable. I was amazed that I was hitting repeaters as far as I was and as clear as I was being told it was. Wanted to share, that's all not saying it the best set up just saying it was CHEAP and WORKS. WRUU653 and SteveShannon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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