My views on this: #1 - If you want a closed repeater then you should get a private repeater pair coordinated in an appropriate private-communication pool. will happily assign you a private repeater pair for a reasonable price. Plain and simple. Amateur radio is not a replacement for a cell phone, nor should it be treated like one. If you legitimately NEED private communications this isn't even a significant expense. Make your 'radio club' worthwhile with a *real* private repeater (that your non-radio-geek wife can use, too!)
Just because you hold an amateur license doesn't mean your communications/equipment/use are always in the interest of amateur radio and quite often are in the exact opposite interest of the overall community. This also includes situations where all the rest of the users of your closed repeater happen to be licensed amateurs, too. If nothing else, GMRS licenses are cheap (not ham cheap, but cheaper than a 'real' repeater pair) and get you UHF and plenty of power for most communications. #2 - digital does not mean 'closed system' - it means you gotta pay (for hardware) to play. Its also not the end of the 'home made repeater' - if anything its just the beginning... Just my 2 cents as a semi-interested party. JS Maire-Radios wrote: > > > * yes I know what you mean but the good Doctor on the voice > message need to have an open mind and not expect everyone to give it > all away. If he wants an open repeater maybe he need to get one > and pay for it. Let everyone use it any time and see how it goes. > The days when you built a repeater from parts is almost over now with > all the digital systems out there. * > * * > * John *
