Greetings all, I joined this group because since earning my license I've wanted to set up a repeater. I think I'm getting close to that now. Let me tell you what I have and what I think I need. I ask that all of you smart, experienced repeater owners would help me along in my path. Please keep in mind, this is my first attempt at a repeater and really am not sure of all of the detail associated with this project.
I guess I should start with my operating budget on this project. With a YL, a X-XYL, and a child, I'm not able to go out and buy much new stuff, commerically manufactured stuff, or specailized equipment. I'm am able, though, to read a schematic and am not afraid of a soldering iron/gun. I know that I can't get a 2m frequency so that is out. It would be the easiest since I have a 2m Motorola repeater in my garage that needs to be converted to the Ham band. I have a 440 one too. Again, it was state surplus and needs converted to the Ham bands. It is also Motorola. I only took the repeaters because the price was right. Free (hi hi). I am interested in 6m, but I'm not set on any frequency yet. Which is good. The only repeaters I can find for 6m in the local area are paper ones. At least, I haven't been able to key a repeater up that the ARRL repeater guide says exists with the tones that the guide says are being used. So, I am assuming they are paper repeaters. That said, I have a pair of Midland 70-0351c radios. They have already been converted to the Ham bands and I use them for what little 6m FM work I do. I bought them thinking that I'd like to build the repeater out of them. They seem to be plentiful and cheap. Two great qualities that I was looking for in a radio. I have a repeater controller (actually 3 of them). The one I'm most interested in using didn't come out of a Motorola built repeater. It is actually a generic controller that was given to me (well us as I have 2 other hams my age that are interested in the project, but I'm the most interested so I'm nugging the project along). The controller was bought originally our Elmer, Don Lemley W8DL, to build a 440 repeater out of Motorola mobile units. He had purchased everything and then decided that he didn't want to have interference in his 440 work so he didn't put the project together. I might want to add that the controller that didn't come with a repeater is a black box right now. I put it in a box in the shack and would have to find it again before I could even tell you the make or model of it. I know it is new and hasn't been used. Like I said earlier, there are actually 3 of us that have talked/worked on this idea over the last 4 years. I don't have access to the 440 radios or antenna that was purchased years ago by our Elmer. For an antenna, assuming that I will be on 6m, I was thinking that J-Poles would be fine. I don't expect much use on the repeater other than eventually I'd like to link it with the local clubs nets so that I could at least use 6m myself. 6m isn't real popular in the general area, but I have faith if I build it, they will come. Besides, this project is only being done for my learning and technology advancement in ham radio. So, assuming the radios are up to par, so to speak, I have 2 radios, 2 antennas, a controller, and the feedline. The only major things I am missing are a location, or locations, and/or a set of cans. Now, if I had 2 locations (1 for the transmitter and 1 for the receiver), I know that I wouldn't need the duplexers. I also know those locations should be at least 25 miles apart. I'm thinking that the receiver could go at my house and I'm working on being able to put a transmitter at work which is about 28 miles away. If that happens, the question becomes linking the 2 sites together. I know the traditional way is to use radios. Any suggestions on makes/models? Keep in mind that I like the cheap, readily available, and easy to get into the ham bands. Another thought would be to use Echolink. It would be harder to get that through work's firewall, but has anyone used Echolink that way? Pros/Cons? Another suggestion from a ham that knows quite a bit about networking infrastructure was to use Skype to set up a call between the receiver and the transmitter. Anyone thought of that or, even better, using it? If I go about using Echolink as the linking process, I have 1 rigblaster nomic. I will go about getting another one. I know that something like that would be needed to interface the radios with the workstations that will be running Echolink. If I can't separate the transmitter and receiver, anyone know how to go about getting a set of duplexers? I'm not above trying to build them, but I would be I'd need to be looking at designs that I can find the materials for. I would also need tons of help trying to get them tuned to work correctly for me. By reading over this message, is there any assumptions that I'm missing? Anything you think I need to know? Anyone want to try to Elmer me on building a repeater? Any help is greatly appreciated and I am looking forward to reading what others have to say about my idea. 73 Eric k80hz
