Batboard

Im exploring the possibility of building our department an inexpensive low wattage simplex repeater. Our channel is something that would only be used for two calls per week AVERAGE. Im not famliar with how to set one up, but I know I would need two mobile radios single channel, some cables, a RICK box???, a power supply, and a battery backup IF desired, and of course an antenna. Can anyone shed some light on how I can set this up to give us a little more power for future use?
Thanks
Craig Hicks FF/NREMT

ALSO--- What must I do as far as licensing for a repeated channel for the FCC etc.

You can always set this up as a store and forward device, using a digital voice recorder that keys the main transmitter, with the receiver being used in conjunction with the DVR to receive the call, then stores the voice for retransmission, this way you have a timed 'rebroadcast' of the messages without the cost of a repeater.

you are public safety?
forget store and forward. You'll open yourself up to legal problems when your trying to talk at an incident and the repeater tries to hog time.

Your only real choice is a repeater.

you're going to need 2 frequencies to make that work. you have to apply for a license thru the fcc. and my guess it that it'll take around 2 years to get everything thru for department use. it don't matter how often you use it.

Store and foward is used mostly in dispatch rebroadcast situations... At least thats what it is popular for around here.

Departments that are in RF holes for members will have one setup to retransmit the calls, and is activated by the dispatch tones. Works for them, annoying for us. Gotta do what you have to do. It does not repeat anything else.

Many of them will not (unless setup that way) transmit until it has clear air. If people keep talking before it transmits or if it hears something on the same freq, it will be delayed until there is a clear window. Then your getting a transmission that could be 30sec to several minutes old.

PJ, they use these for Public Safety?

I would assume that as soon as anything is in an incident they get straight off that channel and switch off the scan.
Will the new Ma/Com system deal with these spots or is that State agencies only

I have a unit that will retransmit paging tones or tones and the voice message. Gets your pages into weak areas, just requires a m200/GM300/CDM1250 series radio with 16pin connector.

It also has local page button, channel steering outputs and momentary + Latched relays on board.

It only does pages, not any other transmissions.

Let me know if you are interested.