Batboard

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=4674

My friends and I want a GMRS repeater, but don't have the budget for any big-name purchases. Will this repeater do the trick? I don't know anything of this brand.
Thanks!

WR stands for 'Western Radio', and I would normally stay far, far away from them. Known to be spurrious & problematic, with virtually no support available. Of course, for $55 dollars, it won't be such a big deal if it ends up not working for you.

Todd

My two bits worth:
It depends what you want to do with this repeater.
If you are a technician, and have test equipment and really don't need reliable service by all means buy the cheapest thing you can find.
You may get enough experience to become a full fleged radio tech.

Off hand I know of no one that would tune up or maintain your WR repeater.
On the other hand there are many used repeaters on the market made from commonly available components such as Motorola Maxars or the like, then there are used industrial units such as Micors, MSF, MTR, and even Mastr ll which go for very little out here. (the Mll)
There is also the issues of Antenna, cables, coax, duplexer and site.

From many years of experience I have found that possibly the worst deal is if someone gave one of these off brand units to you.
It is possible to spend the cost of crystals, and the other required bits&peices only to find that it is a pile of (****), which is why it was so cheap in the first place.
Did I ever get burned from:
A Canadian Marconi, and a Regency repeater.
But they were CHEAP!!
If you lust for a Mercedes, a Ugo won't hack it.

For sheer simplicity, dependability and ease on the pocketbook, you might want to consider these two options:

get two MAXTRACS and whip up a little RICK. very very simple to get a repeater going like this. Just remember the duty cycle of the maxtrac and you should have no problems. What's nice is that the max is usually multichannel, so you can program an alternate pair (or some crazy combination as needed.

MASTR-II use a M-II mobile with one of the commercialy available controllers... you have yourself a decent powered repeater at little expense also. A bit better in duty cycle than the max. downside: you have to re-rock the icoms for the proper pair, and will need a service monitor to get the thing right on frequency

(well, you should do this with the maxtrac also).

We have used both of these schemes at times, and have always been satisfied.

No matter what you do, do NOT skimp on the duplexer and the cabling from the repeater to duplexer. Saving a couple of bucks now, will only bite you in the rear down the line. Do the best you can afford. It's cheap insurance for good performance.

then after you are all settled in, you can raid the bank account and go for a full bore Quantar !

keep smiling,

73,

Mike in CT
KM1R