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  • #1

    Repeaters?

    Ok, I can't find the answer anywhere online, so....
    I know that repeaters receive a signal, and "repeat" it by retransmitting from it's likely higher location for possible extended line of sight (2m) travel....but...do they also send the signal to another repeater to continue the process, adding more and more extended range?....RX> "I" TX>.......RX> "I" TX>......RX> "I" TX>....and so on and so on?
    It would be difficult for me to try to figure this out by fanning out from my closest repeater location and trying to find the next repeater with the same frequency, if there is one.
    I gotta know...it's driving me nuts!
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Yeah, What Snal said! we were talking about thin the other night!
    Cam

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    • #3
      Linking Repeaters

      Snal

      Hope this explanation helps you out.

      W4OCO
      Mike


      Repeaters may be linked together in order to form what is known as a linked repeater system or linked repeater network. In such a system, when one repeater is keyed-up by receiving a signal, all the other repeaters in the network are also activated and will transmit the same signal. The connections between the repeaters are made via radio (usually on a different frequency from the published transmitting frequency) for maximum reliability. Such a system allows coverage over a wide area, enabling communication between amateurs often hundreds of miles (several hundred km) apart. All the user has to know is which channel to use in which area.

      In order to get better receive coverage over a wide area, a similar linked setup can also be done with what is known as a voted receiver system. In a voted receiver, there are several repeater nodes setup to receive on the same frequency. The repeater node with the strongest signal will be the one that actually triggers the central repeater transmitter to begin transmitting with its signal. Such a system can be used to widen coverage to low power amateur transmitters that would not be able to key up the central location, but can receive the signal from the central location without an issue. Voting systems require no knowledge or effort on the part of the user - the system just seems to have better-than-average handheld coverage.

      Repeaters may also be connected to over the Internet using voice over IP (VoIP) techniques. VoIP links are a convenient way to connecting distant repeaters that would otherwise be unreachable by VHF/UHF radio propagation. Popular VoIP amateur radio network protocols include Echolink, IRLP, WIRES and eQSO.
      "Moderation is the secret of survival"

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      • #4
        Ok...that answers my question. Thank you very much!

        Still on the repeater subject, I know it would depend of terrain, at least partially, as well as atmospheric conditions, but is there a non-specific range that one can expect to reach thru any given repeater or system of repeaters? To attempt to clarify my second question, should I expect to get out 100...200...300...400+ miles using the repeaters avilable in my location? I know that's way too generic. A better, or simpler question might be....how far have YOU talked with regularity on 2 meter?

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        • #5
          Cuz Cam and I are gonna be pissed if we've spent all this money and can't talk to each other...some 200-250 miles apart. :)

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          • #6
            W4OCO nailed it! Thanks :)

            The best example of 'linked repeaters' that is close to us, is the Repeaters on the Outer Banks... comes in mighty handy when a hurricane comes to town :)


            404 Not Found
            http://taars.us/cera/cera.html
            73

            later,
            ZA

            Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to
            beat you to death with it because it is empty.

            The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

            Comment

            • #7
              Cool ZA!...thanks!

              So how far are you from Asheville in bird miles? I think you'd stated that the mitchell repeater was within your reach.

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by snal View Post
                Ok...that answers my question. Thank you very much!

                Still on the repeater subject, I know it would depend of terrain, at least partially, as well as atmospheric conditions, but is there a non-specific range that one can expect to reach thru any given repeater or system of repeaters? To attempt to clarify my second question, should I expect to get out 100...200...300...400+ miles using the repeaters avilable in my location? I know that's way too generic. A better, or simpler question might be....how far have YOU talked with regularity on 2 meter?

                Occasionaly Charleston, WV can get into the Mt. Mitchell repeater. Out West with remote repeaters on top of the rockies (solar powered of course) extreme ranges can be had. Put a repeater on a hill and you can talk for a ways!!!

                On a good hill, a repeater can easily do 50 miles with a mobile under good conditions... The higher the hill the better the range...

                At my former location, the South Mountains blocked my entire view South and SouthEast of nearby repeaters :( Not a problem now :) VHF can't blast through mountains :(
                73

                later,
                ZA

                Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to
                beat you to death with it because it is empty.

                The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by snal View Post
                  Cool ZA!...thanks!

                  So how far are you from Asheville in bird miles? I think you'd stated that the mitchell repeater was within your reach.
                  About 70 miles...

                  I would seriously consider a VHF beam antenna to your signal to a mutually reachable repeater on both ends... You may hafta upgrade to General and use the 75/80m band to do this if you can't use the repeater option... Also consider NVIS, but it requires a General as well...

                  Near vertical incidence skywave - Wikipedia
                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Vertical_Incidence_Skywave
                  73

                  later,
                  ZA

                  Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to
                  beat you to death with it because it is empty.

                  The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Found this thread going back through the "log". Now that I have my 2m station 90% back on line I've been testing my reach out to repeaters. From my location, my best shot is south where there is a split on the south ends of Sleep Creek Mt and Capon Mt. here in the eastern panhandle of WV. I have hit repeaters 105 miles away. Last night I found a network in State College, PA that is 125 miles to my north that surprised me due to the 2000' plus mountains. The W3YA system covers almost the entire middle of PA. ( http://www.nittany-arc.net/w3yarepeater.html )

                    So if anyone is up to doing some checks via repeaters in the 4 states of PA, MD, WV and VA let me know. Also, if you want to locate 2m repeaters in your area this is a great site, http://www.artscipub.com/repeaters/

                    My setup is a HTX212 running 45 watts into a Cushcraft Ringo Ranger 2 at 20 feet. My ground elevation is about 800 feet.

                    KC4YIH

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Found this thread going back through them. Since I put the 2m station back together last week I've been "repeater hitting". My station is RS HTX212 using 45 watts and a Cushcraft Ringo Ranger 2 up about 20 feet. My ground elevation is around 800 feet.

                      I've found I can hit repeaters as far south along the I-81 corridor as Harrisonburg, VA about 25 miles south. I've managed to hit the W3YA network in State College, PA which is about 125 miles north. The W3YA system covers most of Central PA, http://www.nittany-arc.net/w3yarepeater.html

                      If anyone is interested in doing some testing let me know.

                      KC4YIH

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