Thread: Repeater Question

Hello All,

I was just wondering if you can repeat VHF to 700MHz and 700MHz back to VHF? I was told it wasn't possible but I would like to get a second opinion. Could yo please let me know. Thanks for your help.

Kyle

Originally Posted by Kstrack

Hello All,

I was just wondering if you can repeat VHF to 700MHz and 700MHz back to VHF? I was told it wasn't possible but I would like to get a second opinion. Could yo please let me know. Thanks for your help.

Kyle

I don't see why 700 to VHF or VHF to 700 would be any different than any other frequency combination. The Comm van / EOC bus in my county and a couple other vehicles from the EMA currently have the ability to go from our current 800 MHz trunked system to UHF/VHF and back, since they're set up to allow interoperability with agencies in adjoining counties. I'm not a radio tech so it's possible there's some glitch like the 700 MHz frequency resonates with the UHF frequency in such a way as to cause earthquakes, landslides, locust plagues, etc. but I doubt it. Could whomever told you it wasn't possible just have meant the equipment wasn't being produced yet? It ought to be as simple as getting a repeater made for the correct frequencies. There's a couple places that say they make what you're looking for:

Daniels makes one: Daniels

Motorola makes a vehicle cross-band repeater, so I'm sure they make a fixed unit too: Motorola

Motorola even makes a repeater that simply takes two mobile units on whatever frequency and repeats 'em: Motorola 2

If you google "crossband repeater" you'll get a bunch of hits. There's definitely stuff out there that will do just what you want.

yeah your EMA probibly has an ACU 1000 or ACU 1000 T which are basicaly "switchboards" for different radio bands. myslef and another member of our technical comitee of our club has the EMA's signed out cause its been sitting in a closet for three years wit nobody knowing what to do with it lol.


they take a number of radios and tie them into a "box" with this "box" you can take signals from one radio and it retransmitted from a different type radio system in the "box" to "cross band repeat"



you can make a Hf rig talk on 2196 or uhf to vhf etc. Also it is phone patch capable

Originally Posted by Kstrack

Hello All,

I was just wondering if you can repeat VHF to 700MHz and 700MHz back to VHF? I was told it wasn't possible but I would like to get a second opinion. Could yo please let me know. Thanks for your help.

Kyle,

Would you mind sharing how you got this info? I know there are some very knowledgeable people working on Monroe County's future radio system. If one of them told you this, there may be some valid reasoning.

But Monroe County also has a very large rumor mill that doesn't really run on facts....

Maybe the real question is: "Can VHF be cross patched to 700 MHZ in the planned Monroe County system?" For the answer to that, you'll want to go to the horse's mouth. Much as there are some very good techs here on ELB, if they are not familiar with the MC plans, their answers may not be fully accurate.

The short answer is yes it can be done even if one or both systems are trunked. Trunked radio system make it hard to do but, it can still be done.

Yes it can be done, and it doesn't matter if you are going from analog to digital or untrunked to a trunked system.

Our county moved from UHF analog conventional system (10 Ch LEO, 10 ch FB) to a 700 MHz digital trunked APCO 25 Phase 2 system. In the process they had the UHF side tied into the the new system so that they had time to replace 300+ mobile radios for LE during the cutover and then did the same for fireboard during the transition.

Originally Posted by Steve0625

Kyle,

Would you mind sharing how you got this info? I know there are some very knowledgeable people working on Monroe County's future radio system. If one of them told you this, there may be some valid reasoning.

But Monroe County also has a very large rumor mill that doesn't really run on facts....

Maybe the real question is: "Can VHF be cross patched to 700 MHZ in the planned Monroe County system?" For the answer to that, you'll want to go to the horse's mouth. Much as there are some very good techs here on ELB, if they are not familiar with the MC plans, their answers may not be fully accurate.

This was mentioned to me just in passing. I figured there had to by a way. The problem I that I am running into is that no one can tell me what type of Voice Coder they are going to be using for the new county system. I am also trying to find out what Ontario County is going to use since we work with them also.

Kyle

Originally Posted by Kstrack

This was mentioned to me just in passing. I figured there had to by a way. The problem I that I am running into is that no one can tell me what type of Voice Coder they are going to be using for the new county system. I am also trying to find out what Ontario County is going to use since we work with them also.

Kyle

Tony DiLettera or Jim Herbst would be good contacts to make over at Radio Center.

One things for sure, its gonna cost some beans.

Jared J, and others

I was reminded at our Region 39 800 MHz meeting today -The ACU-1000 is an audio bridge, not a repeater - so you are going to need licensed radio frequency pairs for any repeater function. But, it can input radios from different bandwidths and digital and trunked channels. (Jared - In Tennessee, you can get some great guidance from the 45th Civil Support Unit, and Chattanooga/Hamilton County on programming.) A lot of the ACU-1000 consoles were purchased with Homeland Security Grants and are sitting idle because nobody took the time to learn how to program the things. They were successfully employed in Chicago and New York City because they have full-time staffs assigned to maintain the equipment.

The question is not going to be if VHF to 700 Mhz cross banded repeating can be done. Yes,. . . if you have enough money, someone can provide the technology. Better question, DO YOU HAVE THE FCC LICENSED FREQUENCIES? And, most agencies are just now planning FCC system licenses for 700 MHz. (We had a planning meeting on this today in Nashville.) On a system titled- LET'S TALK- Tennessee agencies are linking all the different Interoperability frequencies (VHF, UHF, 700, and 800 MHz) and identifying a standard for P25 radio communications.

However, many states, like Tennessee, are setting aside specific frequencies in VHF, UHF, and 700 MHz for fire department mutual aid, law enforcement mutual aid, and transportation (Highway and Road Dept.) and public works mutual aid.

Check with your regional radio systems planning agencies that are empowered to review radio systems applications for FCC licenses. They can provide additional assistance.