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Author Topic: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?  (Read 761 times)

KC8LMA

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2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« on: December 02, 2021, 06:45:54 AM »

Hello,

Awhile back I recall that there were some solid state 2m repeaters coming out of China with some decent prices on them (I can't speak for the quality of them). Would anyone on the forums happen to have any information on possibly what brands these might be? At the time I didn't take note of what they were and of course now, when I need the information, I can't remember anything.

Thank you in advance
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K7LZR

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2021, 07:44:15 AM »

I don't know about those from China, maybe good maybe bad. But if you want a good, reliable repeater then go with a good used Motorola such as the GR300.....
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N0ETR

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2021, 11:45:18 AM »

I don't know how you want to use your repeater, or how much power out you need, but RETEVIS makes a portable repeater that has it's own duplexer built in, and is tunable from 136 to 174MHZ. It is advertised as a 10 watt unit but by the time that 10 watts goes through the duplexer you loose about 3 Db for an output of 5 watts. The cost is $364.99.
If you go to youtube and type in NOTARUBICON, there is a guy that has done a demonstration of the unit and explains all of the hook ups. I will let you look up the video to hear more about duty cycles and usage. The guy is kind of non ham and is a GMRS guy. If you can stand to listen to him, the video has good info. If 5 watts won't cut it you may be able to add an amplifier. You said you wanted cheap so this could be an option. Go to retevis.com for more info.
73
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K3XR

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2021, 12:29:51 PM »

Here is some information you may find helpful .

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9804093.pdf
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K6AER

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2021, 08:03:40 PM »

Most repeaters are going for days without any one even kerchunking them.  Why would anyone put up a new repeater?
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K0UA

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2021, 08:31:08 PM »

Most repeaters are going for days without any one even kerchunking them.  Why would anyone put up a new repeater?

There should be a rule:  Three repeaters must be taken off the air before a new one can be installed. :)
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73  James K0UA

K4JJL

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2021, 10:42:19 AM »

The radios aren't the expensive parts in VHF repeater systems.  It's the duplexer.  Make sure that whatever duplexer you get, it needs to function w/ a 600k split.  Most commercial models are 2 MHz or greater splits.
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KG4RUL

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2021, 05:01:11 AM »

Once you have selected and purchased the repeater and duplexer, the REALLY hard part begins -  the antenna system.  The antenna itself, the structure to mount it on (as high as possible), low-loss cox to feed it and lightning/surge protection.
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K6CPO

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2021, 03:50:10 PM »

Most repeaters are going for days without any one even kerchunking them.  Why would anyone put up a new repeater?

Not to mention obtaining a frequency pair and getting it coordinated would be next to impossible.
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K0UA

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2021, 01:18:47 PM »

So remember, do your part to make things right, get those 3 repeaters OFF the air before you put yours on, and this solves the frequency coordination AND the procurement of workable equipment. (use one of the 3 you got to go off the air). Do it right, be part of the solution, not part of the problem. :) 

Personally I don't know why anyone would want to put up a repeater........or be a Navy diver for that matter.  :)
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73  James K0UA

K6CPO

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2021, 02:43:24 PM »

So remember, do your part to make things right, get those 3 repeaters OFF the air before you put yours on, and this solves the frequency coordination AND the procurement of workable equipment. (use one of the 3 you got to go off the air). Do it right, be part of the solution, not part of the problem. :) 

Personally I don't know why anyone would want to put up a repeater........or be a Navy diver for that matter.  :)

It sorta just happened.  My CO said we needed a couple of divers in my unit and I suggested we send a couple of our own people to dive school.  His reply was "Good idea. You want to go?"  How could I refuse?  Now, if he had suggested jump school, I would have declined. Never jump out of a perfectly good airplane...
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K0UA

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2021, 01:34:51 PM »

"I don't know why anybody would want to be a navy diver"

That was a line from a movie about a navy diver.  I would seem that being a navy diver was a pretty hard avocation. We thank you for your service, and the hardships I am sure you went thru to help protect our freedom. 73  James
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73  James K0UA

K6BRN

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2021, 02:18:43 PM »

John:

FB on being a Navy diver - and kudos to you for your achievement.  It's a challenging specialty.  My older brother was a UDT frogman back in the '70's and taught me to dive.

Had a chuckle over your QRZ page though:

"What I do in ham radio is of no concern to anyone on this forum."

Okee dokee.  Well ... why have a QRZ page, then?  :)

Brian - K6BRN
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KB8VUL

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2021, 01:09:59 PM »

Find a couple CDM 750 Motorola radios and the back to back cable to go between them.
Get them programmed up and find a decent duplexer and try that out. 
You will need it to CW ID every ten minutes but there are a number of Raspberry Pi and Arduino setups that will do that part.

Once you have that going, if you want more buy more. If you find out that it's not worth the effort, then you will have spend considerably less money than you would have to buy an MTR or similar.
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N2AYM

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Re: 2m affordable solid state repeater ideas?
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2021, 06:07:25 AM »

From what I understand Maggiore is still in business and operates
out of Coatesville, PA - they made a pretty good repeater(Hi Pro E)

Maggiore Electronic Lab
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