Going round the mountain

IK9C5 · Post by **IK9C5** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:23 pm

Here is the problem that I have. I am going to build a new house next spring and were it is going to be built I am in a dead zone and I dont get any reception. If I go down the road about a 1/2 mile I get clear line of site to the 2m repeter that covers the valley. Could I build a low power repeter to get to the repeter on the Hill using a yagi type antenna going from my house to the repeter? I am licnesed on 3 freqs in the 150 band and could I use one of the 150 freqs and the 2m repeter freqs on low power just to get around the mtn? Or is that a no no.

Thanks in advance.....

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:37 pm

Why not just stay amateur band for the entire setup? Build a crossband repeater and then you can use UHF to get out to the 2m repeater.

That setup could be as simple as a couple Maxtracs and a power supply, in a box with a diplexer and a dual band antenna.

IK9C5 · Post by **IK9C5** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:27 am

Do I need to get with the freq. Coordinater in my area to do a crossband?
What is the min. watts I could get away with?

Thanks in advance.....

440roadrunner · Post by **440roadrunner** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:36 am

You CANNOT repeat amateur to non amateur communications

(Actually news agencies or others can rebroadcast amateur communications without your permission, but amateurs cannot rebroadcast commercial freq's)

Be careful what you set up for a "cross band" link. It is popular now, to use one of these dual band mobiles for a so called crossband repeater. There is normally NO WAY to properly control it as a repeater, for time out, ID, remote shutdown control, etc.

If you put up a "real" UHF/VHF amateur link, that would be OK. You don't need coordination "by law" and if you are in a rural area, and you can determine for certain that your proposed UHF pair is "clear" you don't need to worry about coordination. It is, however, an excellant idea if this will be a fairly permanent, and active, machine.

However, it would be a wise idea to consult with the owner of the VHF repeater before you do this--and take steps (like remote shutdown control and CTCSS protection) to protect your "system" from interferance that could be carried on to the existing VHF machine.

Also note that in the amateur bands, ALL primary remote control must be carried out on 222mhz or higher.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:00 am

Use a pair of radios, for example a couple Maxtracs, and set them up with PL and time out timers, etc.

A simple CW ID board can be added for the UHF side of the link. I wouldn't suggest putting it on the VHF side since it would cause confusion and annoyance when it sends the id straight into the repeater that you are trying to get to.

Also, a DTMF decoder board with a relay inline of the PTT lines between radios would be another good idea. That would allow you to transmit a set of commands to the UHF side to turn on and off the crossband repeat. But realize you have to be responsible for it since it will be transmitting to another stations repeater.

Best to also get permission of the repeater owner as mentioned. Or put a UHF repeater at the top of the mountain and link them together then everyone benefits. lol

IK9C5 · Post by **IK9C5** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:55 am

Man with all that stuff to think about I am going to have to look in to it with some more detail

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:00 pm

Yep, unfortunately this not a simple question, there is alot of stuff to consider.

Have you tried different elevations around the property to see if you can get to the repeater? Maybe it will just be a matter of finding a good location for a high gain antenna.

It's hard to make many suggestions without physically seeing the property obviously.

IK9C5 · Post by **IK9C5** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:49 pm

Unfortunately I am at the base of the mountain that has the repeter and it is on the second peak and the only way to get out of the area that Im in is to repete out. It is a good thing that I have 9 months to work on a the problem. I may just have to build a mobile rig and drive to were I have reception.

psapengineer · Post by **psapengineer** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:37 pm

Do you own the land at the top too, or do you own the place you think you'd need to put a repeater?

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:37 pm

.

Passive repeater? Two hi gain directional antennas back to back.

IK9C5 · Post by **IK9C5** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:12 am

Ok after doing what I should have done if the first place (talking with the local club rep) I have found out that to the south of me (line of sight) the is a repeter that is linked to 4 other repeters in the county that I live in. I still have probelm with the state wide repeter.

So what is a passive repeter?

Going round the mountain

Going round the mountain

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