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2 way coverage help

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 11:43 pm
by AMR
Can anyone tell me what can i do to get better coverage with me tk 840 2 way system. i am using one of the radios as a base and i have my Omni directional antenna on top of my building which is about 25 foot high, and where i live there aren't many tall buildings but i can only go 6-8 miles and i loose the signal. Any idea what i need to do do get up to 15 or 20 miles without having to use a repeater? thanks

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 3:02 pm
by rescue161
Only way is going to be to put the antenna higher.

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:59 pm
by n5tbu
You should be getting more than 6-8 miles at 25 feet.
Have your system checked by a radio tech.
mod

Well help Us to Help You

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:11 am
by Raymond156
How many watts are the radios?
What type of mobile antenna?
What type of base antenna?
What type of cable feds the base antenna?

.

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:19 pm
by rescue161
25 feet isn't that tall/high. I have a site here that is around 50 feet above sea level (around 25 feet AAT). We only get about 6-8 miles for portables (depending on terrain). As long as we're in the open, we're fine, but if we're in a 'hole' or a building, we have have problems getting back to the repeater. This is a Securenet (DES) only repeater which explains the loss, but even with secure turned off, we still don't see a dramatic increase in coverage. Our system is UHF LOW which also is a factor in the range.

I also agree with Raymond especially when it comes to feedline. If you're using rg-58, then you need to upgrade to something better...

RG58 co-ax 17 feet is our CUT-OFF.

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:25 pm
by Raymond156
We do not run RG58 longer than 17 FEET.

When we have UHF we try to go to RG8X
as the least try cable to use.

The line loss adds up FAST.

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:21 am
by AMR
Ok, I hope everyone had a good holiday! I checked the mobile that i use as a base which is tk 840 and i found out that i only get 5 watts out of it(is there anyway i can make this up to 25 watts?) also i am using rg 58 100 feet long, and i have 1/4 wave antenna on top of all my cars and i am using Omni directional antenna for the base. if i need to make this antenna higher, how high would be good enough or should i just keep trying? thank you guys for all your responses. and no i my system was not checked by a tech, but i thought i knew what i was doing at least i got it started.

RG58"NO"

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:03 am
by Raymond156
The number one thing that is WRONG
is the RG58 cable is a BIG NO-NO

Use at least RG213

LMR400 is CHEAP.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:45 am
by AMR
ok how about RG8x will that be good enough. any other suggestions?

Thank you

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:49 am
by rescue161
RG-8 is not even going to cut it, much less RG-8X. Do as Raymond stated and get LMR400 or RG213. Even better would be hardline, but that gets expensive.

You're probably only getting a watt or two out of your antenna due to only having 5 watts coming out of the transmitter, so that RG-58 at 100 feet is eating up all of your power.

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:19 pm
by jim
LMR400 will be just fine at under 100 feet.

Hardline won't "get you out" any farther, although it might "hear" a little better in repeater applications.

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:19 am
by AMR
OK I BOUGHT 75 FEET OF LMR 400 AND ADDED 10 FEET TO THE HEIGHT. NOW I AM ASSUMING I SHOULD GET A LITTLE BETTER.

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:06 pm
by AMR
OK, I AM AMAZED WITH THE RESULTS AFTER I USED THE LMR400. I STILL GET SOME STATIC IN SOME AREAS BUT WHEN I GO FUTHER THE STATIC GOES AWAY, SO I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THAT. BUT I GAINED AT LEAST 5 MORE MILES THAN WHEN I WAS USING RG58.