Does anyone rent repeaters?

[GreggInFL]

Behind Door A are the 10W/5W portables offered by the likes of Retevis and Midland.  If these work, great; if not we must open Door B, the full-blown mast/tower 50W versions.  We'd hate to buy a portable setup only to discover it to be inadequate wrt power and elevation.

Does anyone rent these?

TIA.

[Socalgmrs]

So a mast/tower and antenna should also be in a 5/10w system.  The coax, antenna, and tower are completely independent of the radio/repeater.  It’s really what makes the system work.  Money should always be spent on coax, antenna and some way of getting the antenna up as high as possible. While I personally can’t stand retivis and, midland even more(overview priced junk) , those repeaters do the job for a season.  If used with the proper coax antenna and height they will easily do 50plus miles. You will not get the long term use from them of a better quality repeater.     One could always purchase a good professional quality already built portable repeater with Motorola 40w radios from eBay for less than $400. 2?” Motorola radios, dulpexer, power supply ectbbbYou would still need an antenna, co-ax and tower of some sort but you would have an affordable professional repeater. 

[WRKC935]

I guess the question is what are you trying to accomplish, and what current access do you have to a tower?  What height is it and what are you trying to cover?

There is software out there that will give you are reasonably good idea of your coverage footprint based on those things. 

[nokones]

There some Commercial radio shops that rent various equipment such as portable repeaters but not GMRS repeaters. Although, you could rent a commercial UHF repeater package and have a GMRS channel pair programmed and the duplexer tuned accordingly.

[GreggInFL]

18 hours ago, WRXP381 said:

So a mast/tower and antenna should also be in a 5/10w system.  The coax, antenna, and tower are completely independent of the radio/repeater.  It’s really what makes the system work.  Money should always be spent on coax, antenna and some way of getting the antenna up as high as possible. While I personally can’t stand retivis and, midland even more(overview priced junk) , those repeaters do the job for a season.  If used with the proper coax antenna and height they will easily do 50plus miles. You will not get the long term use from them of a better quality repeater.     One could always purchase a good professional quality already built portable repeater with Motorola 40w radios from eBay for less than $400. 2?” Motorola radios, dulpexer, power supply ectbbbYou would still need an antenna, co-ax and tower of some sort but you would have an affordable professional repeater. 

Good points all.  I especially like the idea of budgeting better used equipment.  Thanks.

[GreggInFL]

15 hours ago, WRKC935 said:

I guess the question is what are you trying to accomplish, and what current access do you have to a tower?  What height is it and what are you trying to cover?

There is software out there that will give you are reasonably good idea of your coverage footprint based on those things. 

We are trying to put together a comm solution for the neighborhood to back up cell towers that may go offline.  The odds of that happening are low but not zero (especially here in Hurricane Central).  Consequently, we don't want to throw a lot of resources at something that may never be used.

We only need to go about three miles through the flat woods so, as WRXP381 noted, emphasis is on elevation, which has nothing to do with equipment of course.  This means a fairly simple system could be used, like this Midland bundle, which could be set up post hurricane with a 12V battery and a solar panel.

Simple and cost effective, but I'd hate to buy it only to learn that more power and/or antenna is needed.  Hence the question about renting.

[GreggInFL]

12 hours ago, nokones said:

There some Commercial radio shops that rent various equipment such as portable repeaters but not GMRS repeaters. Although, you could rent a commercial UHF repeater package and have a GMRS channel pair programmed and the duplexer tuned accordingly.

Good to know.  I like that.  Thanks.

[WRWE456]

Seems like you could put up a base station antenna set up (which you may want anyway) and that would allow you to test range using a mobile and or HT's. Then if that gives you the range you need swap out the radio for a repeater.

[CoffeeTime]

Hello Gregg,

I would ask myself : What

height do I have available to mount an elevated Repeater antenna?  Would the height available to me (totally) clear all obstructions for each user of my system? 

 Antenna elevation is the #1 issue for a GMRS Repeater antenna. I learned this fact after spending the $$$.   

If you can't get a Repeater antenna above the line of sight obstructions-- between it and the desired contact points, then the return on investment $$$  is not very satisfying. 

However, with the short distance/ and Flat Ground as you have described above,  you do have much going for you.   However,  UHF signal absorption (from woodland tree foliage) will still be a consideration.  The distant ground-level radios transmitting back to/into the Repeater (using 5-watt HT radios) will need those maybe 5 watts to penetrate this foliage to reach the Repeater antenna.     

 If you have not yet performed range/ground testing,  I would get a helper and do some tests at ground level.  Start testing with fully charged 5-watt radios. Test signals between each desired home location back to the future repeater location area.   Perform all testing at ground level both inside and outside of those locations/houses.  

I would also look for any close walking distance clearings (for each of those houses) and test there too.  If a lack of contact arises for a specific location --then leave that house and close the distance to the Repeater location until contact is made.  This will provide a lot of good info about the problems between the houses back to a repeater site under the conditions of that day.

Afterward, or at the same time with another HT radio,  I  would also adapt an HT to a borrowed GMRS frequency base antenna to test any improved reception at Ground Level--  Big antenna -vs- little HT rubber duck antenna.  You might not need a huge elevation. 

I use a Comet CA-712EFC and the reception is nice.  However, a simple test with any brand GMRS base style antenna (connected by adapters to your HT)  located at the future Repeater site will also give you good info before spending the big $$$ buying your own.

Best Regards!

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

[GreggInFL]

On 7/15/2024 at 10:44 AM, WRWE456 said:

Seems like you could put up a base station antenna set up (which you may want anyway) and that would allow you to test range using a mobile and or HT's. Then if that gives you the range you need swap out the radio for a repeater.

LOL.  Guess who bought a base station radio today?  Love the logic.  Thanks.

[GreggInFL]

On 7/15/2024 at 10:53 AM, CoffeeTime said:

Hello Gregg,

I would ask myself : What

height do I have available to mount an elevated Repeater antenna?  Would the height available to me (totally) clear all obstructions for each user of my system? 

 Antenna elevation is the #1 issue for a GMRS Repeater antenna. I learned this fact after spending the $$$.   

If you can't get a Repeater antenna above the line of sight obstructions-- between it and the desired contact points, then the return on investment $$$  is not very satisfying. 

However, with the short distance/ and Flat Ground as you have described above,  you do have much going for you.   However,  UHF signal absorption (from woodland tree foliage) will still be a consideration.  The distant ground-level radios transmitting back to/into the Repeater (using 5-watt HT radios) will need those maybe 5 watts to penetrate this foliage to reach the Repeater antenna.     

 If you have not yet performed range/ground testing,  I would get a helper and do some tests at ground level.  Start testing with fully charged 5-watt radios. Test signals between each desired home location back to the future repeater location area.   Perform all testing at ground level both inside and outside of those locations/houses.  

I would also look for any close walking distance clearings (for each of those houses) and test there too.  If a lack of contact arises for a specific location --then leave that house and close the distance to the Repeater location until contact is made.  This will provide a lot of good info about the problems between the houses back to a repeater site under the conditions of that day.

Afterward, or at the same time with another HT radio,  I  would also adapt an HT to a borrowed GMRS frequency base antenna to test any improved reception at Ground Level--  Big antenna -vs- little HT rubber duck antenna.  You might not need a huge elevation. 

I use a Comet CA-712EFC and the reception is nice.  However, a simple test with any brand GMRS base style antenna (connected by adapters to your HT)  located at the future Repeater site will also give you good info before spending the big $$$ buying your own.

Best Regards!

Good points all, and thanks for getting into the detail.  I have connected with a neighbor who has similar interests and we will probably end up working on this together, with a plan similar to what you describe.

I love this bar.