Repeater antenna

[WRYG716]

Building a repeater for my local neighborhood just wondering if anybody has any recommendations for the best antenna! Distance wise we are in hill country lots of mountains and trees. Repeater site is on a mountain 1200 feet. 

[Socalgmrs]

15 minutes ago, WRYG716 said:

Building a repeater for my local neighborhood just wondering if anybody has any recommendations for the best antenna! Distance wise we are in hill country lots of mountains and trees. Repeater site is on a mountain 1200 feet. 

You’re gonna have to put a budget. Many small repeaters in my area run comet 712efc antennas for $125. And get 20-200miles depending on wattage and line of sight.   However you can spend $1000 on a good commercial antenna sooo…… what’s your approximate budget? 

[WSAM454]

At 1200 feet, what kind of wind loads and temperture/weather conditions will the antenna be subjected to?   You might need something more 'commercial quality' to stand up the the conditions at the site.

[SteveShannon]

13 hours ago, WRYG716 said:

Building a repeater for my local neighborhood just wondering if anybody has any recommendations for the best antenna! Distance wise we are in hill country lots of mountains and trees. Repeater site is on a mountain 1200 feet. 

Is that 1200 feet above the users of the repeater?  How close are they?  
Commercial antennas are frequently phased arrays of folded dipoles.  A coax feedline leads to a phasing harness.  By manipulating the harness the pattern can be aimed downward to give better coverage.

Our 2 meter and 70 centimeter repeaters have such antennas.  They are attached to a tower that is erected at an old forest service lookout site on a mountain about 4400 feet (actual elevation 9700’ MSL) above our city, which is about 5300’ MSL.  The downward tilt provided by phasing gets us great coverage.

 

[gortex2]

As was asked whats the site like. If your going on a public safety or commerical site that may change what you need to use. Also you may need downtilt on the antenna to be more effective. I run the DB404 and DB408 on all my repeaters. They are a good commercial antenna and used for public safety as well. 

[Flameout]

I kind of lean towards the Comet 712EFC myself. I took down my Commscope DB404 and replaced it with the Comet (up about 65')

I'm at 1250' asl with the lowest elevation in my area being 700' (Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers)