Help identifying repeater

[BlueLineEnt]

Hi all,

I have a repeater where I work that was built for the under-financed department by some local hams who volunteered to help get system up and running so we wouldn't have to attempt to operate solely on direct anymore, given our area. I have no idea what is actually inside the tabletop box/console, whatever you want to call it in this case. However what I can tell you is it is labeled Motorola, has a volume/power knob, squelch knob, and a toggle switch that can take the repeater out of service without turning off the power using the knob. I also know that is has PL encode/decode capability, as we operate on UHF 460.xxxx out/465.000 in with a PL of 131.8. The only model number I have found on the placard on the case is L43JJB1190BM. I have checked around here and repeater builder, and it seems as though is may be a mitrek that has some sort of mods? It has antenna in and out jacks, that go into a duplexer that looks like something made with bricks and tinfoil.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Matt

PS...I'm not implying anything against hams or their homebrew equipment, as I am a ham as well, just not active in that realm of the radio world.

[Andy Brinkley]

The model # of L43JJB1190BM crosses to a VHF Mitrek super consolette (table top) base station, 40 watt RF.

More than likely some one has swapped the RF drawer with a UHF drawer and made it into a repeater.

[Bill_G]

I agree.

[BlueLineEnt]

OK thats great info guys, thanks! Now to see about getting it to a better location

[Jim202]

Be careful how you proceed from here. If you just pack up the box and drive it to a new location, it will cause the radio license to be modified.
Hopefully there is a valid one right now. Don't forget that you need an antenna and feed line at the new site. This isn't a mag mount on top of
a file cabinet I hope.

The move can be done, but it will take filling out an application for the license modification, sending it to the frequency coordinator with the required
$250 or so and sit back and wait, wait wait. The frequency coordinator will forward the modification form on to the FCC and again you wait. Maybe
if your lucky, you will get back in the mail a new copy of the modified license. Now you can go and move the station.

Jim

OK thats great info guys, thanks! Now to see about getting it to a better location

[Bill_G]

I think this is an amateur rptr. They coordinate locally. Or at least they do around here. I am no expert on FCC.

[Tom in D.C.]

Bill,

No, he said the system is on 460/465 so it's not an amateur repeater. Also, what is the legal status of a Mitrek that has had the common workaround done to it so it functions as a repeater? In such a case is it still type accepted for commercial use?

Regards,

[Bill_G]

Good point Tom. I see what you're saying.

[BlueLineEnt]

I personally am not a fan of this repeater as it has not worked well at all. It seems finicky, has terrible audio quality, and in general only seems to work half the time. I have no idea on the legality of it, and personally I would like to get back the MSF5000 that we originally had that didn't quite work well, but was at least type accepted and had the potential to be serviced relatively easily.

I believe the license is in the process of being modified hopefully to the new location we would like, however it currently isn't at the license location listed now anyway. Never has been, town manager wouldn't let it be put on the roof of historic town hall, which is listed as the repeater site. I actually think it's currently in a worse geographic area (at the bottom of a drumlin in a valley) than town hall would be. We're looking to go on top of a hospital on the top of a hill, which as long as the license is approved shouldn't be a problem, seeing as it's a public safety repeater.

[d119]

Bill,

No, he said the system is on 460/465 so it's not an amateur repeater. Also, what is the legal status of a Mitrek that has had the common workaround done to it so it functions as a repeater? In such a case is it still type accepted for commercial use?

Regards,

Since there really arent any modifications involved that directly affect the design of the RF boards as it concerns the production of RF, theoretically, it should be OK. That is, of course, provided it was properly bench tested and aligned prior to being placed into service.

I've never been a fan of mobile conversion repeaters.

[BlueLineEnt]

Now assuming the repeater is what we think it is, lets say we amend the license for what we are looking for, and they decide to assign us a new frequency in the same general range. Is it as simple as a mobile radio to plug in with CPS and modify the codeplug to the new frequency set, or is it more involved because of the way it is setup?

[Bill_G]

Mitreks are old school - channel elements.

[BlueLineEnt]

Well doesn't that just figure

[com501]

A new type accepted MotoTrbo repeater is cheap. It would also be narrowband compliant.

[BlueLineEnt]

Funny you mentioned that, the narrowband issue crossed my mind the other day. How much would we be talking?

[com501]

I know they cost less than $2k dealer, I would check here and see who wants to sell you one in your area. I would probably buy a new set of duplexers and maybe even a front end preselector depending upon your adjacent channel clutter. We always add the filter for radios going to mountaintops.