On 5/24/2010 11:19 AM, J. Moen wrote:
Yes, the simplest part of setting up a new D-STAR compatible repeater
is the D-STAR part. The real work is the traditional stuff -- site,
analog radios, duplexers, antennas etc.
That would be ANY repeater, actually. ;-)
Why do hams think the radio part of well-performing repeaters is the
expensive part? Always amazes me.
If it's going to be used to offer service to a so-called "served agency"
(even though we can't legally provide service to anyone, nor accept
remuneration for same)...
- Site rent (or a sweetheart deal) for somewhere really worth putting a
repeater at
- Hardline & Connectors
- Double-shielded jumpers
- Commercial-grade antenna
- Proper weatherproofing materials (no, $1/roll electrical tape doesn't
cut it)
- Commercial-grade filtering products (duplexer/pre-selector cans/etc.)
- Commercial-grade power supply
- A secure way to remotely power cycle it all (especially D-STAR repeaters)
- Commercial-grade router that can be remotely managed (unless you enjoy
pain)
- Commercial-grade server with dual power supplies (unless you enjoy
outages)
- Commercial-grade Lightning protection/grounding for everything,
including the Internet connection.
Optional:
- Commercial-grade pre-amplifier (if you have appropriate test gear to
see if you made a positive or negative difference adding it)
- Commercial-grade final Amplifier (again, don't bother if you don't
know what "balanced system" means and have added the pre-amp)
And you can remove "commercial-grade" and fight with maintenance on it
as much as you like (it's a hobby, after all), if you're not planning on
signing up with a "served agency" to be primary for emergency traffic on
it, and emergency traffic will only show up as a last-resort.
Buying an Icom D-STAR repeater: Couple thousand bucks
Buying all the appropriate stuff to put it up correctly: Another couple
thousand bucks.
Owning the right test gear to know you did it right: ANOTHER couple
thousand bucks.
Knowing you did it right: Priceless.
:-)
Unless you're individually quite wealthy, a properly done repeater is
not "affordable" at all. Consider a typical new high-quality HF rig,
something a contester would be proud to use after reading the technical
specifications... and look at the price tag.... a repeater done right
costs at least that much.
The list above is just the standard list we use to deploy ANALOG
repeaters... typed up off the top of my head. Proper repeater
installation hasn't really changed in 20 years, other than a modern
crimp-on RF connector done with the right tools actually does yield more
consistent results, faster... and they didn't back then...
If you're going up to 1.2 GHz... even more expensive "additional gear"
is required.
Nate WY0X
p.s. I didn't install the RF side of W0CDS, and will make no claims for
or against its performance. I know the people who did, and they usually
do things right... but in regards to W0CDS, I just maintain the Linux
box for 'em.
