Bridge-com BDR 50U UHF repeater

[WSBP556]

Does anyone have any experience with the BridgeCom BDR 50U UHF repeater? I just purchased one. Reviews are great, but I wanted to see if anyone in the group had any experience with it?

 

thanks

[Guest]

I do not personally have one but a know a few Red Cross members that have them for official use and they work great. 

[WRYZ926]

That is what my local club is using for our GMRS repeater. It works fine and has handled everything we have thrown at it. We tested it for about two months before opening it up to the public. The duty cycle is fine for a lot of traffic. 

[WSEH489]

I just received mine the other day and it really solid and weighs about 20lbs. It will be installed once I settle on a site. However from the user manual, it seems there is no remote repeater on/off (kill switch)? Or am I missing something?

Dom

WSEH489

[WRYZ926]

You will have to setup a SYS-OP user and use DTMF tones for remote control. The SYS-OP user is only used for remote control of the repeater. I found the manual somewhat lacking in areas.

Here is a good video that helped me out. How to Program the BCR Repeater

And another good video: How to Program a BCR Repeater System. This video gives more details about installing the program and getting ports configured.

[WSEH489]

Thanks however it’s a BDR 50U which from the owner manual, seems to be very different from the BCR  line and since the thread title is Bridge-com BDR 50U UHF repeater  That’s what caught my attention  

 

Maybe their manual is really lacking

[WRYZ926]

Sorry about that, too much blood in the caffeine system today.

 

1 hour ago, WSEH489 said:

Maybe their manual is really lacking

And so are their videos for setting up the BDR50. Setting up the BDR50 for analog use should be the same as the BCR-40. The only decent video I could find for the BDR-50 is this one: DMR MADE EASY! | The Fastest Way to Get on the Air | Step-by-Step Digital Radio Workshop

Be warned, that video is an hour long.

[BoxCar]

That Bridgecom video is extremely basic. You need 4 things for a DMR radio, a radio ID, a contact, a frequency, and a zone or grouping of contacts/frequencies. Remember, EACH contact must have a frequency assigned which is not brought in that basic video.

[WRYZ926]

On 9/1/2024 at 9:07 PM, BoxCar said:

That Bridgecom video is extremely basic. 

Yes it is. I searched  for a bit looking for videos on programming the BDR50 but didn't find much. 

And the manual for the BCR40 isn't all that good either.

[linx]

That is what I use, the repeater works great with 1 exception. They advertise that you can use multiple tones CTCSS and DCS. If you choose to use DCS as the input tone, you are only allowed 1 user slot, and you can't even have an operator slot for repeater control. If you want to use multiple tones or have a non repeated operator tone, you are limited to CTCSS only.

I don't know if they have updated their documentation to reflect that now, but when I was purchasing mine about 9 months ago, it did not say anything about only being able to use 1 DCS input tone.

EDIT: I own the 40U. I saw this in the GMRS equipment section of the forum and didn't read the replies, I assumed this was for analog use.

Edited September 3, 2024 by linx
Clarification

[ZachG]

I own both the BCR-40U and BDR-50. I purchased the BDR-50 as a backup to our primary GMRS repeater. A few things that I don’t like about the BDR-50:

 

1. it doesn’t fit in a standard rack (at least not mine where everything else fits). The handles are on the outside rack ears (the L-brackets that actually hold the box onto the rack) and have bolts on the back, therefore the ears don’t sit flush on the rack, so they have to be removed.  The BCR-40 was designed correctly to leave the handles on, the BDR-50 was not.  See photo. 
 

2. There is not a 12v outlet for trickle charging. The BCR-40 has red and black screw connectors to add a 12v battery for backup. The BDR-50 does not. 
 

3. The BDR-50 is not capable of being a community repeater with multiple tones on analog unlike the BCR-40 which is. 
 

4. The BDR-50 does not have a programmable tail to add hang time to the end of the repeater transmission (the BCR-40!does allow this).

 

5. Overall, the CPS programming software for the BDR-50 leaves a lot to be desired and seems like it was thrown together quickly, probably why it was on sale and there isn’t much documentation out there. 
 

6. If you look at the manual there are several features that are in the manual but have whole sections with big red letters over them with “NOT FUNCTIONAL” written - https://support.bridgecomsystems.com/hubfs/Tech (General Files)/BridgeCom_BDR-50_User_manual.pdf

 

7. The Morse code CWID is not programmable to wait until transmissions stop - if you have it set for 20 minutes, for instance, the second the first person to transmit finishes their transmission f the CWID comes blaring in, but it does so without a PL tone, so whomever is responding to that transmission doesn’t realize they are being blocked out by the CWID.

Overall the sound quality is good, it just seems like it was a test case that Bridgecom never really saw through and decided to move away from soon after launching best I can tell.  
 

My least favorite thing about the BCR-40 is the fan noise. Maybe it’s just my unit, but I’ve replaced the fans, re-routed the wiring, etc - all with the help of Bridgecom customer support - and you can hear the fans whirring up in the audio (sounds like a car alternator sounds on some mobile radios in vehicles) every time the repeater transmits. It’s super annoying to me because I have 25 year old $300 eBay repeaters that sound way cleaner than my BCR-40.

 

one good thing is that the BDR-50 does not have that fan noise and the audio is noticeably clearer than the BCR-40.
 

With all of that, if I had to do it over again, I would not have spent $1,500-$2,000 on the BDR-50.  I bought it as a backup and liked the idea of it being digital capable of GMRS allows digital some day.

 

Hope that helps  

 

[WRYZ926]

25 minutes ago, ZachG said:

The Morse code CWID is not programmable to wait until transmissions stop - if you have it set for 20 minutes, for instance, the second the first person to transmit finishes their transmission f the CWID comes blaring in, but it does so without a PL tone, so whomever is responding to that transmission doesn’t realize they are being blocked out by the CWID.

That is the issue I have with the BCR-40 as it does the same thing. I had a lot of people complaining about that. And when I contacted Bridgecom, their response was that is just how it is and shut the CW ID off if you don't like it. They basically said to deal with it as they aren't willing to fix it.

When I made a comment on their reply on the Bridgecom Facebook page, they deleted it right away with a comment that they don't allow any negative posts.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

That is the issue I have with the BCR-40 as it does the same thing. I had a lot of people complaining about that. And when I contacted Bridgecom, their response was that is just how it is and shut the CW ID off if you don't like it. They basically said to deal with it as they aren't willing to fix it.

When I made a comment on their reply on the Bridgecom Facebook page, they deleted it right away with a comment that they don't allow any negative posts.

Our old Yaesu DR-1x repeater transmits its CW ID at a slightly muted level and mixes it with whatever audio is being repeated.  That way the ID can be heard, but so can the transmission.

[WRYZ926]

7 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Our old Yaesu DR-1x repeater transmits its CW ID at a slightly muted level and mixes it with whatever audio is being repeated.  That way the ID can be heard, but so can the transmission.

That's how the Arcom RC-210 controllers and the old raspberry pi controllers we had work.

We still need to figure out the high SWR issue with our GMRS repeater and then it is going to get connected to the RC-210.

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

That's how the Arcom RC-210 controllers and the old raspberry pi controllers we had work.

We still need to figure out the high SWR issue with our GMRS repeater and then it is going to get connected to the RC-210.

We had an RC-210 connected to our DR-1x repeater but we disconnected it when we visited the repeater last fall.  Twice in past years our repeater locked up and had to be power cycled in order to recover. Unfortunately, a lock up like that can last several months before we are able to get back on the mountain. During the winter, snow and the narrow goat (okay, Jeep) path we have to follow to get to the site prevents us from getting there, sometimes until June. We thought the repeater was just getting old and ordered a Hytera replacement. It didn’t arrive in time to put it in service before snow blocked our access.

Then, I found an article on the Arcom site that describes lockups of the DR-1X when connected to the RC-210 and as a result we disconnected the Arcom and reverted to using the built-in CW ID provided by the DR-1X. Nearly immediately we noticed a cleaner signal and better range.

I ordered a new West Mountain Radio Rigrunner back in September that we plan to add to our system to monitor and control the power going to our various repeaters (VHF, UHF, Digipeater) and microwave link. Unfortunately it’s backordered.  When I ordered it their website said “back ordered until December 31, 2025”, but in January one of their employees sent a response to my status request.  He was obviously frustrated by their inability to fill back orders by the earlier quoted date. He said they have a lot of backorders and they just don’t know when they’ll be able to fill them.  I actually feel bad for the guy!

We still plan to replace the repeater when we have access, but now we’re not sure if we’ll reconnect the RC-210.  If we do we will completely rewire it in case the wiring is part of the problem with signal quality.

Sorry that none of that helps with your SWR. I just thought you might be interested in our experience with the RC-210. We have had it for years and really never operated without it until recently.  We like the audio reporting that it provides, but we have to figure out why the repeater works better without it than with.

[WRYZ926]

We have had good luck with the RC-210 and Motorola repeaters. We have been running them for about 18 months now. So far we only have our 2m and 70 cm repeaters connected to them. We also have a good battery backup system in place that is monitored constantly.

I don't know what has happened with our GMRS repeater antenna/coax. I went out to sweep all of the antennas to include several that have been abandoned on the tower to see if any of them can be used for 2m Winlink and 2m APRS. When I checked the GMRS antenna I was getting a SWR of 4.0:1. We had replaced the PL259 connector on the end of the 7/8 hardline last fall with a N Type connector and the SWR at that time was 1.7:1. I didn't have all of the test equipment with me at that time to check the coax. The antennas are at 400-450 feet. I am hoping we can get to the site soon and do some more trouble shooting. It would be nice if it is a bad jumper cable or a bad lightning arrester. Otherwise we will have to get someone to climb the tower.

I have shut the GMRS repeater down until we get the SWR problem fixed. 

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

We have had good luck with the RC-210 and Motorola repeaters. We have been running them for about 18 months now. So far we only have our 2m and 70 cm repeaters connected to them. We also have a good battery backup system in place that is monitored constantly.

I don't know what has happened with our GMRS repeater antenna/coax. I went out to sweep all of the antennas to include several that have been abandoned on the tower to see if any of them can be used for 2m Winlink and 2m APRS. When I checked the GMRS antenna I was getting a SWR of 4.0:1. We had replaced the PL259 connector on the end of the 7/8 hardline last fall with a N Type connector and the SWR at that time was 1.7:1. I didn't have all of the test equipment with me at that time to check the coax. The antennas are at 400-450 feet. I am hoping we can get to the site soon and do some more trouble shooting. It would be nice if it is a bad jumper cable or a bad lightning arrester. Otherwise we will have to get someone to climb the tower.

I have shut the GMRS repeater down until we get the SWR problem fixed. 

Yeah, other people just don’t realize how much work a repeater can be.  Good luck finding the problem causing the high SWR.  Hopefully it’s at the bottom, not the top.

[WRYZ926]

It is definitely a lot of work to run and maintain repeaters. We are lucky that we are allowed to use the local radio station's 1,000 ft backup tower rent free. It is a tax write off for the station.

I am really hoping it is the jumper of lightning arrestor. Otherwise we will have to get someone that is certified/licensed to climb commercial towers. If we do have to replace the coax then I will see if we can get a grant to go with 1 1/4 hardline instead of the 7/8 hardline.

[GreggInFL]

16 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

It is definitely a lot of work to run and maintain repeaters. We are lucky that we are allowed to use the local radio station's 1,000 ft backup tower rent free. It is a tax write off for the station.

I am really hoping it is the jumper of lightning arrestor. Otherwise we will have to get someone that is certified/licensed to climb commercial towers. If we do have to replace the coax then I will see if we can get a grant to go with 1 1/4 hardline instead of the 7/8 hardline.

Are grants available for putting up a community repeater, or components thereof?

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, GreggInFL said:

Are grants available for putting up a community repeater, or components thereof?

Yes!  We applied and received a nice grant for our repeater last year and the foundation told us to be sure and put in for another this year. 

[GreggInFL]

1 hour ago, SteveShannon said:

Yes!  We applied and received a nice grant for our repeater last year and the foundation told us to be sure and put in for another this year. 

Which foundation is this? Is it local or national?

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, GreggInFL said:

Which foundation is this? Is it local or national?

It was local, the Butte-Silver Bow Community Foundation. We have several local foundations. One requirement that’s common for all of them is that we must be a 501(c)3, with the IRS letter to show for it. 

[WRYZ926]

3 hours ago, GreggInFL said:

Are grants available for putting up a community repeater, or components thereof?

Yes grants are available for non profit organizations. Our group is registered as a 503-C non profit. We get grants every year. Most grants are small but every bit helps. It is usually local foundations that give us the grants.

Most foundations are more than happy to donate to non profits in the form of grants as that is a nice tax write off for them.