Simplex Repeaters

[kyle]

I'm think the best set up for Z-con for us to talk from one side of the camp to the other is FMS/GMRS radio. Unfortunately, there is a nice sized hill in the way. I'm thinking of taking an FMS radio, a solar panel, a simplex repeater and then vacuume seal it all in clear plastic.

Do any of you resourceful people know where I can get a simplex repeater? The only one I know of is that Radio Shack one (#19-345) but I think they stopped making them.

For those of you that don't know what a simplex repeater is...

A radio repeater is a piece of equipment that take a radio wave and resends it out immediately at a frequency a few degrees off from where it was recieved. For Ham radios, they are designed in a way to pick up the signal that way.

Unfortunately, those cheap little FMS/GMRS radios you pick up at sports stores (which most people end up brining to Z-con) cannot offset frequncies like that. When a signal is received by a simplex repeater, a recorder stores the message (usually up to 60 seconds worth max.). When the received signal ends, the digital voice recorder retransmits the message on the same frequency. A commonly used term to describe this activity is "store and forward".

I've never messed with them but form what I understand you just plug a radio up to it and it then acts as a low-tech very inexpensive repeater. I put this on top of the hill and *Poof* the whole camp will be able to talk to each other.

They look kinda like these:

[spartan]

eBay?

Found This[/url]

[SuFiPirate]

Found This[/url]

Lmao, look at the price on the box.

Must've got it at a yardsale or something

[spartan]

Found This[/url]

Lmao, look at the price on the box.

Must've got it at a yardsale or something

It is listed as coming from an Estate sale. Under $10 originally, now going for over $50. I was kind of surprised and was figuring that A) There would be more available. B) They would be cheap.

[kyle]

eBay?

Found This[/url]

Yeah, I saw that but I'm concerned about it working. I'd rather pay $100 for one I know will work than $60 on one that's iffy.

<edit> Screw it. I went ahead bid on it. I can't find one anywhere else.

[zXzGrifterzXz]

Unfortunately, those cheap little FMS/GMRS radios you pick up at sports stores (which most people end up brining to Z-con) cannot offset frequncies like that.

So would those of us with the Motorola Radios need to upgrade to use this repeater?

[spartan]

Unfortunately, those cheap little FMS/GMRS radios you pick up at sports stores (which most people end up brining to Z-con) cannot offset frequncies like that.

So would those of us with the Motorola Radios need to upgrade to use this repeater?

From the way it looks, what makes the Radio Shack simplex repeater special/desirable is that it works with the FRS/GMRS radios, as opposed to the HAM equipment most repeaters are set up for.

<edit> Thanks for catching my typo Kyle. Corrected.

[kyle]

Unfortunately, those cheap little FMS/GMRS radios you pick up at sports stores (which most people end up brining to Z-con) cannot offset frequncies like that.

So would those of us with the Motorola Radios need to upgrade to use this repeater?

From the way it looks, what makes the Radio Shack simplex repeater special/desirable is that it works with the FMS/FMRS radios, as opposed to the HAM equipment most repeaters are set up for.

I think you mean FRS/GMRS. But, you can use that repeater for any two-way radio.

[zXzGrifterzXz]

I think you mean FRS/GMRS. But, you can use that repeater for any two-way radio.

Awesome.

[Morb]

Interesting. I'm wondering about it's effectiveness however. If it retransmits a few seconds later, wouldnt it get real confusing for those who are in range? I mean, you'd hear the original broadcast, then you're respond, the repeater would send out the first broadcast and then your response, and eventually the channel would be walked all over by conversations trying to get caught up to each other.

[kyle]

Interesting. I'm wondering about it's effectiveness however. If it retransmits a few seconds later, wouldnt it get real confusing for those who are in range? I mean, you'd hear the original broadcast, then you're respond, the repeater would send out the first broadcast and then your response, and eventually the channel would be walked all over by conversations trying to get caught up to each other.

Yes, that is a draw back. It's designed for a group that is aware of the limitation of the repeater. It won't work for most things but it's perfect for what I need it for, which is getting radio waves over a stupid mountain at Zombie Con.

I also found this one:
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products. ... id=MFJ-662