Soliciting suggestions for analog 2 meter repeater

[SteveShannon]

Our ham radio club is looking for a replacement 2 meter analog repeater. I’m kind of interested in a used Motorola. 
Our current repeater is a Yaesu DR1x that has locked up twice during the winter when we can’t get to it. We want something more reliable. 
We run at 25 watts now so it would not have to be more. Also, we don’t need digital audio, not DMR or P25.

Im interested in suggestions based on actual experience.  
Thanks! 

 

[WRQC527]

50 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Our ham radio club is looking for a replacement 2 meter analog repeater. I’m kind of interested in a used Motorola. 
Our current repeater is a Yaesu DR1x that has locked up twice during the winter when we can’t get to it. We want something more reliable. 
We run at 25 watts now so it would not have to be more. Also, we don’t need digital audio, not DMR or P25.

Im interested in suggestions based on actual experience.  
Thanks! 

 

We've been running a Motorola Quantar for many years. It's a solid repeater. We only recently put in a DR-2X running in analog. It's been running fine since May. I wouldn't count it out. Our Quantar may have developed a spur that supposedly interferes with a local ham's EME activity, so we'll only use it as a backup now once we get it serviced. That's something to think about with older equipment. Motorolas are bullet proof, but the Quantar is no longer supported by Motorola. Still, a good one will serve you well. Controlling it is tricky unless you have internet at the site. That was one of our issues. I have Motorola's RSS software on a Windows 10 laptop which makes it easy to program if I'm at the repeater. I found it free online. 

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, WRQC527 said:

We've been running a Motorola Quantar for many years. It's a solid repeater. We only recently put in a DR-2X running in analog. It's been running fine since May. I wouldn't count it out. Our Quantar may have developed a spur that supposedly interferes with a local ham's EME activity, so we'll only use it as a backup now once we get it serviced. That's something to think about with older equipment. Motorolas are bullet proof, but the Quantar is no longer supported by Motorola. Still, a good one will serve you well. Controlling it is tricky unless you have internet at the site. That was one of our issues. I have Motorola's RSS software on a Windows 10 laptop which makes it easy to program if I'm at the repeater. I found it free online. 

That’s exactly the kind of input I’m looking for.  Thank you!

[gortex2]

Quantar is excellent choice. You can find the 25 watt PA models with no issue but the 100 watt can be turned down with no issues. I reecvently switched all our SAR repeaters out to used Quantars and its night and day audio. 

[WRKC935]

Quantar or an MTR2000 would be what I would use. 

Both are 100% CCS rated duty cycle so no amount of ham use will effect either one of them. 

The MTR2000 does offer something the Quantar doesn't for down the road.  That being the STM32 interface that can be dropped directly into the chassis in the expansion card slot.  That card allows for ALL digital repeater modes to be supported.  I would think you could interface an STM32 into a Quantar as well, but it's not going to be as easy.

Of course the Quantar will support P25 natively where the MTR will not.  But again, you said analog only so that might not ever be a consideration.

I would say that you might want to PM me on here.  I have a couple VHF MTR's sitting in a rack that need a home and I am looking for a VHF Quantar for a project.  Not real woried about the spur.  I am betting that it can be dealt with easy enough. 

 

[SteveShannon]

45 minutes ago, WRKC935 said:

Quantar or an MTR2000 would be what I would use. 

Both are 100% CCS rated duty cycle so no amount of ham use will effect either one of them. 

The MTR2000 does offer something the Quantar doesn't for down the road.  That being the STM32 interface that can be dropped directly into the chassis in the expansion card slot.  That card allows for ALL digital repeater modes to be supported.  I would think you could interface an STM32 into a Quantar as well, but it's not going to be as easy.

Of course the Quantar will support P25 natively where the MTR will not.  But again, you said analog only so that might not ever be a consideration.

I would say that you might want to PM me on here.  I have a couple VHF MTR's sitting in a rack that need a home and I am looking for a VHF Quantar for a project.  Not real woried about the spur.  I am betting that it can be dealt with easy enough. 

 

Thanks very much. WRQC527 was the member with the spur on his Quantar. I’ll pass along your recommendations along with the others this question has received. Meanwhile I’ll research the MTRs. 

[WSDD519]

All of our repeaters are Kenwood units.  TKR750 and TKR850.  No problems at all.

[WRYZ926]

We just finished setting up a Motorola Quantar 2m repeater and Arcom RC210 controller with a 6 can duplexer. We still need to get a Raspberry Pi programmed for Allstar. We are going to replace the Yaesu repeater with the Motorola. We did a lot of research before making a purchase of the Motorola Quantar and it was the best option for us.

[WRYZ926]

I forgot to add that we are also going to eventually replace our 70cm Yaesu repeaters with Motorola Quantar repeaters in the near future. The Yaesus's have worked well for us over the years but it is time for an upgrade and the Motorola Quantar fits all of our needs.

[SteveShannon]

After hearing a few recommendations for the Motorola Quantar, a repeater that’s no longer in production (afaik) where is the best place to buy it?

[WRQC527]

Ours came from other clubs that were taking them out of service years ago, so our trustee at the time knew them. At one time we had a 440, we now have two 2-meter units. They're all over Ebay if you want to roll the dice, but I also see them on Haloid Radio and Used-Radios.com. I'd be inclined to get one from one of those two or some other actual business since they have some sort of support. Ebay is, well, Ebay.

[WRYZ926]

We bought ours from a company that resells used ones after going through them and making any repairs if needed. I can try to find out the name of the company for you.

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, WRQC527 said:

Ours came from other clubs that were taking them out of service years ago, so our trustee at the time knew them. At one time we had a 440, we now have two 2-meter units. They're all over Ebay if you want to roll the dice, but I also see them on Haloid Radio and Used-Radios.com. I'd be inclined to get one from one of those two or some other actual business since they have some sort of support. Ebay is, well, Ebay.

I agree; I want to avoid buying from an unknown vendor. I’ve seen that Haloid has them for right about $1,000. I’ll look int used-radios.com also. 
Thanks!

[SteveShannon]

45 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

We bought ours from a company that resells used ones after going through them and making any repairs if needed. I can try to find out the name of the company for you.

Thanks, I would appreciate it. 

[WRYZ926]

Now that I had time to think about it. we got our 2m Motorola Quantar from Used-Radios.com.

https://used-radios.com/search.php?page=1&section=product&search_query=motorola+quantar

[SteveShannon]

1 minute ago, WRYZ926 said:

Now that I had time to think about it. we got our 2m Motorola Quantar from Used-Radios.com.

Great to know. Thanks!

[wayoverthere]

2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Now that I had time to think about it. we got our 2m Motorola Quantar from Used-Radios.com.

https://used-radios.com/search.php?page=1&section=product&search_query=motorola+quantar

They were going to be my suggestion as well. A little pricier than the general ebay seller, but tested good gear. They ARE on ebay with the username erac1 last I saw.

 

Have bought a couple things from them in the past, and they've been easy to deal with and helpful, zero issues

[WRQC527]

Almost lost ours to the Airport Fire last night. 

[SteveShannon]

28 minutes ago, WRQC527 said:

Almost lost ours to the Airport Fire last night. 

Is everyone alright?

[gortex2]

Sunny Communications owns used-radios.com. They are a standa up place. I know multiple customers that deal with them on out of support equipment. Many have received parts and if there is an issue they just send another. I got one of our SAR repeaters from them. It was a like new 25 watt VHF which is what I wanted. Looked like it had never been installed when I unboxed it. 

 

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, gortex2 said:

Sunny Communications owns used-radios.com. They are a standa up place. I know multiple customers that deal with them on out of support equipment. Many have received parts and if there is an issue they just send another. I got one of our SAR repeaters from them. It was a like new 25 watt VHF which is what I wanted. Looked like it had never been installed when I unboxed it. 

 

Great! Thanks!

[WRQC527]

4 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Is everyone alright?

Lots of evacuations from this one, probably over 10,000 acres burned. We have 3 big fires going here now, the Airport Fire, the Line Fire, and the Bridge Fire. Our repeater site is down for the foreseeable future because the power is out. Fortunately no fatalities that I know of. 

[WRUU653]

2 minutes ago, WRQC527 said:

Fortunately no fatalities that I know of

This is good news. Stay safe.

I saw a similar photo from the lake fire in Santa Ynez where the fire came right up to a radio tower fence. The fact that the tower was still there must have been due to the great work these fire fighters do. 

[STORMRIDER1970]

Our club installed a DR1 in 2014 and its been in operation since with zero issues at 50 watts. We also installed a DR2X in 2018 and it is been the main repeater for the Boredom Breaker net running several continuous hours daily. As much as I dislike to advocate for Yaesu, they are good, solid units. 

[SteveShannon]

40 minutes ago, STORMRIDER1970 said:

Our club installed a DR1 in 2014 and its been in operation since with zero issues at 50 watts. We also installed a DR2X in 2018 and it is been the main repeater for the Boredom Breaker net running several continuous hours daily. As much as I dislike to advocate for Yaesu, they are good, solid units. 

Except ours has locked up twice in the winter in two years, requiring us to wait until the snow melts to power fail it.