Icom Systems group sells a version of the FR3000 with a 100w amp and additional power supply, if you are looking for off the shelf.. that is how you get 50+ watts at 100% duty cycle... Most folks opt to go to less than 100% duty cycle to keep from doubling the cost... but if you really need 50+w all day all night all nice..... you need a station with an amp rated at that....
Probably still cheaper than buying a Harris or Motorola 100w station ie Mastr III or Quantar or similar ... For public Safety I would still look at these latter two choices.. as their 100% track record is readily duplicate-able. I believe Kenwood sells a similar arrangement... The little desktop size repeater just do not have the heatsink and cooling to do 50W @100% without some form of additional external amp... It is about heat dissipation.. 50watts is easy.. cooling 24x7 in any reasonable environment is a little trickier... While you can force anything to do 100% that does not mean it was engineered for it..or suggested.. :-) That engineering generally costs... or if it is for amateur.. Build it :-) Doug KD8B At 02:10 PM 11/16/2009, you wrote: > > >Any suggestions on a 50 watt repeater to buy? I've been looking >around and keep looking at the Icom FR3000, I know there are others >but I am having trouble finding a 50 Watt Continous duty... The Icom >FR5000 is 25W at 100% duty cycle but is considered a 50 watt repeater.
