Simplex Repeaters

[SteveH]

About 3 years ago I purchased an Argent simplex repeater. Seemed like a neat thing to have. Played with it off and on and found out it could handle digital transmissions as well as voice.  The Argent info page is at: http://www.argentdata.com/products/repeater.html

 

I've messed with it a bit as has a friend of mine.

 

The repeater has the following general functions:

• Store and forward: receives a voice or digital transmission and then replays it over the air. This is the basic "parrot" function.
• Mailbox: You can leave a message on the repeater for someone to pick up later.
• Announcements: Can send out a prerecorded message on a schedule or upon request.

The programming, mailbox and message functions are actuated by DTMF.
Some functions can be password protected so unauthorized people can't mess with the repeater.

Since the messages are stored in memory, there is limited capacity. Mine has been upgraded and can record about 13 minutes of audio. Not bad.

 

Using the basic repeater function, it can be confusing to a first time user since the transmission from the repeater follows the initial transmission.  Watching people use one for the first time can be amusing.

 

Where these things seem to be of the most value are as a simple way to set up a temporary repeater in the field and as a device to play pre-recorded announcements either on demand or at intervals. You only need a radio, the $100 repeater box and an antenna - no second radio or duplexer.

 

I am aware of a couple of permanent simplex 2 meter ham repeaters in Maine (one is operated by a GMRS repeater owner) as well as a few others out of state. One, in PA, is used for ARES for voice and digital.

 

I was wondering if anyone here is either using or has used a simplex repeater (for ham or GMRS), has considered using one or has any great ideas on what useful purpose one can provide in the GMRS world.

 

Steve

 

[PastorGary]

About 7 years ago, there was one on the air for a few months locally on a ham frequency, but for some reason it was replaced by a conventional analog two frequency repeater on the same frequency with input 600khz up from the output.  Don't know why it didn't work out,  but since that system is used for weather spotting and reporting, it may not have been 'fast' enough for emergencies....???   (I'm not a ham, so that's just a guess.)

[SteveH]

I did find a great use for the simplex repeater. I had been checking my repeater's coverage by driving around and having my wife at home with a HT. I'd call and she'd give me a reception report. Not her favorite activity. To relieve her of that duty I attached my simplex repeater to a GM300 and my repeater antenna. Now I can drive around and check for poor coverage areas without her having to be involved. She's happier now (not a radio person but does very well on the radio).

 

Argent Data Systems has a nice adapter for the GM300 that plugs into the 16 pin connector. It can be found at https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=169. The output is a 6 pin mini-DIN connector. They also have a cable that goes from that connector to the repeater's connector but that's not in the catalog yet.

 

Steve

[quarterwave]

I built an interface to a Maxtrac and used it with a PC and EchoStation for a while a few years ago. It would do voice ID, etc. Easy to use and customize on the PC. I don't use it now, but I still have the stuff to. It seems you have to really be into it to use it with someone else....it's very hard for someone not as versed in radio to understand and pace a conversation, get used to hearing them selves. 

 

However, it makes a handy range tester, I would have mine shoot the output of my repeater back to me on another freq so I could judge the signal quality when I was testing it by myself. 

 

When some bubble packers camp out on a GMRS freq....its a good way to discourage them...(voice ID's and canned messages every 15 minutes about GMRS requiring a license)....although that's probably a rule violation too 

 

I usually just had it ID if keyed, and setup a test message on demand. Beyond that...I didn't use it for practical communications. I have 2 real repeaters, so that's all I need. 

[SteveH]

I like the idea of having the "GMRS requires a license" message - clever no matter what the FCC thinks. Hey, just helping with education.

 

I've got a dozen ham friends that are within or almost within 2 meter simplex distance from me. I put an announcement on the repeater that can be retrieved by using some DTMF key presses. It's just a familiarization thing - can you retrieve the message? For the guys that have marginal paths, the more ambitious are raising their antennas or trying out a yagi.

 

What does work well is to place and retrieve digital messages on the repeater. We're using 5 and 10 carrier PSK125R which send at about 440 and 1100 words/minute respectively. 

 

All of that said, still trying to find a real practical use for the thing besides radio checks.

 

Steve

[PastorGary]

Well, if all else fails, use it to do initial unofficial "Nor'Easter" advisories to folks that may not know what's heading their way.  Looks like that would be allowed under 47CFR95.181  with stipulations mentioned in 47CFR95.143

[SteveH]

One of the fellows here suggested that a good use would be for group gatherings (he was thinking more in terms of ham 2m and ARES) for sending out informational announcements. For GMRS use, anyone with a bubble pack radio could hear the announcements as long as they were within range. Might be useful at a campsite or similar.

Steve

[wqwi512]

      Prior to puting up a full duplex 6M repeater I did a speak-repeater. You'd go in on 52.090MHz, PL 88.5Hz, and seconds later hear your message on 53.090MHz output. I'd thought it to be a great way to test the site and to see how such a repeater would work. I was awaiting for my custom duplexers from Fiplex, so I'd bought the MFJ speak-repeater and a CW ID'er.  Hooked up to the mic / speaker of an 6M FM Alinco DR-06T rig and a 6M Cushcraft Ringo Ranger. Worked great! Unfortunately, even though I had the FREQ pair coordinated with WNYSORC, they were not pleased with me testing with the speak-repeat since they said it was not a REAL repeater. Whelp, still I was not sorry for using it to test the FREQ pair. Got a lot of good signal tests done that way. I'm considering doin' it again temporarily here in WV, but with either a Moto Radius, or Maxtrac. Use it to test where signal is great, and where it sucks, then put the duplex repeater back up again when, or if, I'm satisfied with the results of the speak-repeater tests. WQDG395

[PastorGary]

Phil - Thank you for the additional info about equipment that many persons may not have used or even heard about.

 

Welcome to the Forum...

[SteveH]

Thanks for the report. Was there a reason you decided to set it up with the split frequency?

 

I've run my simplex repeater on 2 meters from time to time and I did check with the New England coordinator to see if it should be coordinated should I run it full time. The answer was "no - just find a simplex frequency with little activity."

 

Steve

[MSensei]

Maybe you could consider the simplex repeaters as "starter" repeaters for those who are just getting into GMRS?  I assume they are rather low maintenance....