How can I put my repeater on high ground if I dont own any ?

[WSEM262]

Here in North GA we are pretty saturated by networked/linked repeaters...  so I'd like to put my own stand-alone repeater on a tower if possible.

I have a repeater ready to go and it's operating as a "backyard repeater" currently. Im using a Comet GP6NC on a 30ft mast off the back of my garage. It's listed online as "Lanierland 600".  Antenna is approx 1350ft above sea level. (picture is/was my previous GP9N)

I have pretty good range, but there is much higher elevation (approx 200ft) to the South of me which blocks my signal completely. The entire area is pretty hilly.

 

Three options are:

1) Solicit the local golf course (Countryland GC) that occupies much of that high ground to the South... and ask to install a mast/antenna/repeater on the roof of their clubhouse/facility. 

2) Track down who owns a tower (Forsyth County I believe) nearby that is on the highest ground in the area. Given that this tower is probably owned by local govt, I dont expect a favorable response.

3) Buy/build my own 50ft tower to replace my 30ft mast. Not sure if the add'l 20ft is worth the $2k it will cost me to do this. 

 

Ideas/thoughts ???

[dosw]

Reach out to the owners of 2m or 70cm repeaters listed in your area; it takes a little research to find them, but they typically identify with Morse which will give you a call sign that you can use to find the owner. Or look in Repeaterbook, or on the band plan website for your region. A 2m/70cm repeater owner could help you through the process of finding a site (possibly the site they're using), getting in contact, and so on.

 

Some hams are happy hams, and will help.

[SteveShannon]

4 hours ago, WSEM262 said:

 

Here in North GA we are pretty saturated by networked/linked repeaters...  so I'd like to put my own stand-alone repeater on a tower if possible.

 

If the area is already saturated with repeaters, how do you plan to avoid causing interference by adding another?

[WRYZ926]

Just how many linked repeaters are there in your area? Are all 8 repeater channels in use?

If all 8 repeater channels are already in use then you will just cause interference issues.

[WRXL702]

With All Due Respect - You Are Wanting To Establish A New "Small / Baby Repeater Station" In An Already Saturated GMRS Repeater Area. Also, Many Folks Have A Misconception About Their Future GMRS Repeaters & The Performance With The Mind Set - "I Have My Own Repeater & Now I Can Talk Several Miles Further."

Unless You Are Considering, At A Minimum, An $8000 to $12000 Investment Into A Repeater Site / Station With Utilizing Tower Rental Only, Installing New Cabling & Infrastructure, & Not Erecting Your Own Usable Higher Tower At A Higher HAAT - You Are Just Wasting Your Time & $$.

Wish You Well & Good Luck.......

[WSEM262]

2 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

If the area is already saturated with repeaters, how do you plan to avoid causing interference by adding another?

The 462.600 freqency is one that hasnt saturated the area. Im hoping to be the one doing the saturating.

[WSEM262]

2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Just how many linked repeaters are there in your area? Are all 8 repeater channels in use?

If all 8 repeater channels are already in use then you will just cause interference issues.

Not all in use so im good on 462.600

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, WSEM262 said:

Not all in use so im good on 462.600

Then contact someone with a tower (ham radio club possibly) and ask for a price to place your antenna on their tower and your repeater in their building.

[WSEM262]

Stopped by today.

Ill do some research and make some calls Monday AM.

[Raybestos]

On 11/7/2024 at 4:20 PM, WRYZ926 said:

Just how many linked repeaters are there in your area? Are all 8 repeater channels in use?

If all 8 repeater channels are already in use then you will just cause interference issues.

If a group has endeavored to hog up all eight pairs in an area, if someone puts up an independent repeater and it happens to cause the greedy hogs interference, I look at that independent owner as performing a great public service.

[RayDiddio]

25 minutes ago, Raybestos said:

If a group has endeavored to hog up all eight pairs in an area, if someone puts up an independent repeater and it happens to cause the greedy hogs interference, I look at that independent owner as performing a great public service.

Let the repeater wars BEGIN!!

[UncleYoda]

1 hour ago, Raybestos said:

If a group has endeavored to hog up all eight pairs in an area, if someone puts up an independent repeater and it happens to cause the greedy hogs interference, I look at that independent owner as performing a great public service.

We don't have one group hogging everything, but all the frequencies are in use or at least claimed except maybe the 550 (off-air but still listed).  I'm not sure what the best choice is for the next one to be put up.  Is that private 600 one ever used or are they just camping on the frequency?

[Raybestos]

Hi Uncle Yoda!  The 550 is now showing as "Off-line".  Not sure what happened to it.  

That other one you mentioned, everyone I know in the area has laughed about it for years.  They have that silly disclaimer that it is "members only" or similar, but always say that they are not currently accepting new members because of concerns about overcrowding in an emergency.      Seriously? I know people that monitor it regularly and never hear a peep on it, or maybe hear a brief test or kerchunk at times.  Why they don't just say that it is a private clique and they don't want anyone else joining from outside, rather than playing word games, nobody I know has figured out.  I think you called it with "...just camping out on the frequency."

The one guy who located a repeater on top of their (mostly unused) channel would have probably been fine had he not chosen to pipe in garbage from all around the country via that network, artificially creating frequent traffic on his repeater and causing them to feel somehow "threatened".