> One of the repeater groups in my area is prepping a TKR-750 > for installation. I did the checkout and setup of the > machine, and my opinions are mixed. The radio (the TKR-850 > is the very similar UHF model) appears to be fairly well-made, > but I have some doubts about it being well-designed.
? > There have been too many reports of the PA failing to give > me a lot of confidence. It may be that the owners of the > failed repeaters did not heed the warning that it was rated > for continuous (repeater) duty only at 25 watts. Bingo! If you need continuous duty high power... you simply drive an external RF Amplifier designed for the cause. > In my opinion, the Motorola RKR1225 is a better repeater, > for the same or less (!) money. I've fixed more than one Motorola R1225 repeater with a self de-soldering RF PA Section than had failed in service. As a full service Authorized Kenwood LMR Service Station I've never had to fix a bad TKR Repeater PA in/from anyone who has kept to the mfgrs spec. In fact... I've not ever had to fix a TKR version 2 repeater pa, ever. > The TKR-750/850 repeater is an entry-level (low-tier) radio > that has a lot of features for the money. "entry-level (low-tier)"..? want eggs in your beer? > When operated within its limitations, it should be a > good investment. How about "within the manufactures recommendations"... > Be aware that the TKR-750 is not really intended for > operation in the 2m band, and a 600 kHz split may result in > higher than expected desense due to internal leakage. I can sell you a TKR-750 designed to operate within the two meter band. So far I've not received any reports of desense problems in any of the many repeaters I've sent out the door. > The unit I tested did not have courtesy beep, but it > did have built-in CWID. In Amateur Radio Service, both the above are most often provided by an external amateur radio repeater controller connected to the rear I/O jack. In stand alone applications the courtesy beep is much less desired over a CW ID'er. One can easily tack an external courtesy beep tone gen circuit to the back if you need the "roger beep" acknowledgment after each transmission. s.
