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Author Topic: Repeater locations...  (Read 2775 times)

K0UA

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RE: Repeater locations...
« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2019, 09:08:49 PM »

I'm curious about the statement that "DFW area repeaters are congested."  I've lived in the DFW area since 1980.  Lately it's hard to find anyone on most of the repeaters in the area, at least on the north side.  Even during the morning and afternoon commute times, there's little activity, if any. 

That is about what I figured.  Thank you.
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73  James K0UA

KX4QP

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RE: Repeater locations...
« Reply #16 on: April 06, 2019, 04:57:55 AM »

It's not just DFW.

I live in north central North Carolina.  There are at least four repeaters (2m and 70cm, plus a 1.25m, I think) that are reachable from my (below terrain) home with a hand held.  Of those, the only one I have ever heard is the one I use during the first half of my morning commute, and the last half on the way home.  At the halfway point, roughly, I switch over to another repeater on a 1400' TV tower, and about every third or fourth day, I'll hear someone on that repeater during the half hour or so I can hear it (terrain is the limiter, not distance, in this foothills area -- I can reach it from a hilltop near my home, nearly 40 miles, with my 8W hand held).

Now, I haven't spent hours and hours listening to other local repeaters -- I don't have that time for ones that aren't reachable from my home -- but with only one in four I can reach having any kind of semi-regular activity, I'd have to say "congested" is the wrong word.  And yet there isn't enough linkage to let me check in on my club's weekly net with a receiver I can reach.

What needs to be fixed is the links between repeaters, not the number.  We've seemingly got more repeaters than we really need already (and I can't imagine the money that's been poured into these things, for equipment and space leases) -- but, at least here, you can't actually talk to anyone on any of them.
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KB8VUL

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RE: Repeater locations...
« Reply #17 on: July 04, 2019, 05:26:25 AM »

First off I do know that to establish a repeater that one needs to get approval from the state frequency coordinator. In my case the Texas VHF Society. And they issue frequency pairs based on the geographical location, antenna height, and power.

I have also noticed closed repeater systems. At first I wondered why? Now I understand. As the DFW repeaters in Dallas are very congested, and thus only available for limited use.

Thus now I have the desire to invest About $60,000 in putting up several closed repeater systems around Dallas Fort Worth for good coverage, as well as a couple of other areas in Texas I Visit very frequently and do not have cell coverage in the area. Interestingly though, they do have ground based cable modem internet.

Thus the following Questions...

1. Is it possible to have multiple 2m or 70cm repeaters at the same location?
Ie 2 or 3, 2m repeaters or 2 or 3, 70cm repeaters?

Yes it's possible depending on the frequencies.  UHF is easier because of the 5Mhz split, if you have a VHF transmit frequency close to a receive frequency it will be problems.

2. How does one go about getting a repeater located on a water tower, or building, or even radio tower? I have seen many radio towers, water towers and buildings with antenna systems on them that obviously don’t have ham radio repeaters on them.
Most repeaters that are high on a hill on a tower or building have been there for years and the groups hve agreements that were put in place when Amateur Radio was well supported by the local governments and business owners.  Now getting free or even reduced vertical real estate (typical cost for 150 foot is about 1600 a month in my area) is near impossible.

In other words, how do the ham radio clubs get it done? They obviously don’t own the towers, buildings and water towers? And they obviously can’t afford to pay huge amounts of rent for these locations either?

3. How far will $60,000 get in building repeaters. Short of the cost of building towers. As I know as an example a 2000’ tower alone is well over a million bucks. So tower cost is a consideration if I have to build my own towers versus using a preexisting tower, water tower, or building.
If buying new gear expect to pay 10K for repeater duplexer and antenna system 

4. Short of monthly internet provider costs for getting internet to the repeaters for allstar and IRLP nodes, and the possible monthly cost for the repeater location lease. Are there other monthly or  recurring expenses that I have not thought about?
As mentioned above, if you are renting tower space, expect a $4000 fee for a tower load analysis, $4000 to $6000 for antenna system install, and a power bill for the site.  POwer is not typically provided

5. Is there something else that I am totally missing?

Fyi... why not a portable allstar IRLP node connected to my phone? Always mobile so
2 reasons, not always in a cell coverage area, second, limited data availability on my phone.

Even when home... I have a HOA, so any HF ham antennas I am not able to erect. And I can’t erect any 2m/70cm antenna higher then my roof line (about 45’) and must be vertical. Also my attic which isn’t large. Has a radiant barrier and is full of A/C and heating and water heaters and metal ducting. So a repeater at my home is not possible.



So the real question here is what are you trying to accomplish?  You said closed repeater systems, so are you going to be the only one using these repeaters?
If that's the case what rea you going to be using them for?

If you are the only one that will be using the repeater system, consider getting frequencies in the commercial band and doing a build out with commercial gear.
The cost is basically the same, and you have full control of it.
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W1BR

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RE: Repeater locations...
« Reply #18 on: July 07, 2019, 06:24:16 AM »

You didn’t just tell them love it or leave it, that they aren’t required to use the repeater if they don’t like it? Lol

You've obviously never been wrapped up in it.  The phone calls don't cease.

Ha ha, that brings back memories!  But, the phone calls stopped around the late 1990's.  Now you have to make a phone call to get someone to chat with on the repeater.
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KX4QP

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RE: Repeater locations...
« Reply #19 on: July 08, 2019, 04:34:21 PM »

Now you have to make a phone call to get someone to chat with on the repeater.

Not quite, but it's close, especially if you commute earlier or later than most folks.  Seems like there's a regular group who chat away on one of the repeaters I use, a little after my morning commute (they start up a couple minutes before I pull into the parking lot at work, if not a little later than that).
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