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GE Master II repeater
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by KZ1X on February 27, 2004
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Several things:
1) software can't make a repeater; there are LOTS of things computers cannot do
2) the chance that you could get a 2 meter frequency coordination is pretty low
3) You can get an older MASTR II mobile radio for free if you look in the right places, modify it for full duplex in about 40 minutes, buy the NHRC plug-in module controller, get the channel elements re-crystalled at ICM, put two antennas up (they have to be vertically, not horizontally separated) and you'll need a power supply too.
4) personally, I think UHF works way better than VHF, and you can probably get a frequency pair on that band
5) on UHF, you could use a lower-isolation mobile duplexer which costs less than a 'regular' base duplexer, and then run only one antenna
6) I have 1/2" Heliax and connectors for your setup, which you will need
7) don't forget to turn the TX power down to about 1/2 the rated spec as repeaters can runn nearly 100% duty cycle sometimes
good luck, this is a great way to learn about repeaters
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RE: GE Master II repeater
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by KE4MOB on February 28, 2004
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KZ1X pretty much tells it the way it is. $500 would buy a duplexer...by all means, get the radio and mod it yourself and put the money in a good duplexer if you're going to use VHF.
If you don't want to mod the radio because you aren't good with a soldering iron, then (and I'm not being a troll or anything) you really should reconsider the whole idea of owning a repeater. It's work. If you're lucky, you'll spend three months or so getting the kinks worked out before you really get to enjoy the accomplishment. Murphy's law is alive and well.
It really pays to study the bandplan to the point where you know it as well as the coordinator. Just asking the coordinator "Do you have any open 2 meter frequencies?" will generally result in a "No". Do your research and remember, there's a block of frequencies in the 146-147 range that can either have + or - offsets, so that might save you there.
And by all means...go to www.repeater-builder.com and sign up on the Yahoo group, and there is a Yahoo group specifically set up for the GE MASTR II as well.
The MastrII mobile is a great little repeater. I've had a regulator go down in the power supply and hit the radio with 28V with no failures in the radio. They are built like brick outhouses..just be sure to drop the wattage by 50% and add fans to the heatsink and it will run forever.
Steve, KE4MOB
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RE: GE Master II repeater
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by KI4DRA on February 28, 2004
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Great information! Many Thanks!
Since it looks like the 2 meter band is full, what do you think about 6 meter repeaters? Any advantages or disadvantages over UHF?
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RE: GE Master II Mobile repeater
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by W4TYU on February 28, 2004
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My thoughts on a six meter repeater are "BIG". The separation between antennas to avoid desense becomes greater both vertically and horizontally. The antennas are larger. The duplexer, if used, is much larger.
You mentioned "a repeater for my own use". Wondering what you meant by that statement?
I spent a number of year helping maintain a mountain top repeater. About 80 miles round trip including a couple of miles graded rough uphill trail. It took a full afternoon to adjust the squelch. I had to bring the machine down several times to clean out the rodent dropping and replace wiring where the rodents had chewed the insulation. Also had to put up with the phone calls "when will the repeater be back up?"
In short, I would not advise anyone to put up a repeater unless they would be willing to be dedicated to the project. Look up the FCC requirements for amateur repeaters. The repeater owner has a number of responsibilities.
Ole man JEAN
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RE: GE Master II Mobile repeater
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by KI4DRA on February 28, 2004
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W4TYU,
To answer your question; I would like a repeater in which I can use autopatch whenever I wanted, and could chat all day with my wife if I wanted/not wanted. lol There are a ton of repeaters in my area, but since I don't own them I'm hessitant to use patch or take much time since others are waiting to use the system. I figure with my own system it would give me the freedom I want. At this point I don't know 100% if this will work out. I'm just looking at all my options. Fortunately, the money isn't a big deal. I just don't want to spend multiple thousands of dollars on this project, so I want it on some kind of budget.
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RE: GE Master II Mobile repeater
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by K4JSR on February 28, 2004
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Dave said
"Fortunately, the money isn't a big deal. I just don't want to spend multiple thousands of dollars on this project, so I want it on some kind of budget."
OOOOPS! Go do your research on repeaters. I think
you will find that they are very expensive if bought
new. Whether new or not, repeaters are very jealous
mistresses and want time and money when most inconvenient!
For what you say you want it for, you may be better
off setting up a simplex phone patch. When you put
up a repeater, you have even less privacy as for your
own use. You may want to consider 222 MHz, then.
Of course repeaters seem to be falling more and more in the noy used category. Cell phones really put a
big hit on a lot of major repeaters with auto patches.
Folks who would use the auto patch would usually hang
out and QSO with the other patch users. A lot of
them disappeared as cell phones gained popularity.
I don't want to be a wet blanket to your ambitions.
I just want you to know what you may be getting into.
73 and good luck regardless of which way you go with
this enterprise. Definitely subscribe to the SERA
Journal.
73 Cal K4JSR
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RE: GE Master II Mobile repeater
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by W4TYU on February 28, 2004
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Well, I tried and can't talk you out of it Hi! Pull up the SERA web site at www.sera.org. Read their thoughts on coordination etc. Then download the forms and go at it.
Ole man JEAN
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RE: GE Master II Mobile repeater
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by KI4DRA on February 29, 2004
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Thank you for the link to www.sera.org. Looks like I'm not going to be putting up a 2 meter repeater. lol They've been booked for some time.
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RE: GE Master II Mobile repeater
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by W0ORW on March 1, 2004
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The GE mobile repeaters which I am familiar with are essentially "frequency translators". They are used by Illinois State Police (and others I am sure) to link high band portables with the low band radio system used for regular dispatch. They are not full duplex devices; when the repeater is receiving from the portable, the low band radio in the squad is transmitting out on low band; and when the repeater is transmitting, the low band radio is receiving. They could be conceivably be built into a simplex repeater because of the frequency sampling they use, but they only put out about 1/3 watt.
Nick W0ORW
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RE: GE Master II Mobile repeater
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by WB2WIK on March 1, 2004
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I'm jumping in late, but if you're still there...
6m repeaters aren't too popular because of the "size" difficulties. The antennas and duplexers are enormous, and if you want to try to get away *without* a duplexer on six meters, you better have a great deal of real estate, since antenna separation needs to be hundreds of feet to make this work at 52 MHz.
6m also aren't too popular because there is very little need or use of the "VHF Low Band" for repeaters, anymore. In fact, there hasn't been for a long time. As such, there's not much out there to modify and get going on six, with the exception of a lot of old junque.
If you want your own "private repeater," so to speak (where you and your wife can chat 24/7 and you can use an autopatch any time you wish), you might consider a lesser used band where it's easy to get a coordination, like 903 MHz or 1270 MHz. Equipment is expensive, but antennas and duplexers are small and coordinated frequencies are likely available. Also, since there's not a lot of population on those bands, your repeater could be quite "private." Here in L.A., most of the 1.2 GHz machines are so private, they might as well be wired telephones...
WB2WIK/6
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