When you have this repeater active what is it's duty cycle going to be? Also are you just going to use the truck to get it to the top of the hill and then drop off the package and retrieve it later? If this is the case have you thought about putting all of this on a trailer with a small crankup tower to extend the antenna a little higher up and then you could mount solar panels to the unit and charge/recharge the batteries all the time. Stan
--- On Sat, 1/30/10, Tim Ahrens <[email protected]> wrote: From: Tim Ahrens <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Battery system for portable repeater (non solar) To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, January 30, 2010, 2:47 PM Hi Mike, We're using a Kenwood TKR-720. The price was right (we had it on hand), it's relatively compact, & does what we need it to. Older technology, with the front panel controller, etc. You know of a way to reduce the current? Did remove the + from the audio amp & got it down to 300ma, but also removed a voltage for the xmit control - could fix, but I think it would require the removal of the logic board to get at the traces. Understand about the generator, but that's one more 'messy' thing to check on our monthly checks, bad gas, gummy gas, carb problems, fuel leaks, etc. I know they have spark arrestors, but I can see us putting this thing on the side of a hill, and having some wild hog come along & knock it over, putting the exhaust right on flammable grass, etc! That was an interesting article on a build it yourself alternator/charging system. That battery tender looks like it might fill the bill.. I'll check it out. Thanks again, Tim
