Although the 60 foot building is certainly tempting to use as the repeater location, you should first ensure that there isn't a bunch of HVAC equipment on the roof. The sheet-metal ducting and enclosures of rooftop HVAC installations are often prolific sources of passive intermodulation interference. Since radio equipment cannot be installed in an elevator machine/control room, you should plan on putting the repeater in an area where you have a cable pathway to the antenna that does not use the elevator hoistway.
You should be able to purchase a used GR1225 or similar UHF and narrow-band capable repeater for less than $1,000. A new basic UHF antenna, mount, and feedline might run around $600 or so. Simple four-channel UHF portable radios, such as the Motorola CP200, will run you around $300 each, and the programming software and cable will run another $500 or so. If I were to buy this system new, I would look at a Motorola CDR700 desktop repeater, with two CDM750 radios inside, for about $2,800. The HVN9025 programming software and RIBless cable will run another $400 or so. Simple, four-channel radios in the Professional line, such as the HT750 with a NiMH battery, will run around $400 each, and the RIBless programming cable costs about $200. The advantage of using these Motorola radios is that the repeater and the portables use exactly the same programming software. I urge you to NOT "mix and match" a bunch of used radios of various brands, since they may not have compatible reverse-burst squelch-tail elimination formats. If you buy your portables new, you have all fresh batteries of the same part number, the same chargers, and a warranty. Once you start mixing brands and models, the issue of programming software and cables becomes a headache. Finally, once you have put together a list of materials for your entire system, send that same list to every local radio shop and to big discount suppliers such as Houston Communications and Ameradio. In your cover letter to each potential vendor, ask each one to submit a single dollar figure to deliver all items on the list to your door, with all taxes and shipping charges included. No doubt, you will be astounded at the spread of the quotes! Make it clear that the vendor is not to make any changes, additions, or deletions. When I did this exercise several years ago for the purchase of an MTR2000 repeater, the spread of quotes was nearly $2,000- with the highest quote coming from one of the local shops. Caveat Emptor! 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of rahwayflynn Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 4:48 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] UHF System Budget Example I'm working with a relatively new non-profit that needs analog-only coverage over their 26 acre campus. Site is pancake flat, no hills. Anyone have a finance spreadsheet with the costs associated with a single-site UHF system build out? Even though much of the equipment will be used, the board likely will want to see the what "new" would cost. Side note: they have an existing 60 foot tall building to house the repeater, so the "tower" itself is covered.
