2 way coverage help
Moderator: willbartlett
2 way coverage help
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
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- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 3:51 pm
Well help Us to Help You
How many watts are the radios?
What type of mobile antenna?
What type of base antenna?
What type of cable feds the base antenna?
.
What type of mobile antenna?
What type of base antenna?
What type of cable feds the base antenna?
.
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...
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...
Scott
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- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 3:51 pm
RG58 co-ax 17 feet is our CUT-OFF.
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.
When we have UHF we try to go to RG8X
as the least try cable to use.
The line loss adds up FAST.
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.
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- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 3:51 pm
RG58"NO"
The number one thing that is WRONG
is the RG58 cable is a BIG NO-NO
Use at least RG213
LMR400 is CHEAP.
is the RG58 cable is a BIG NO-NO
Use at least RG213
LMR400 is CHEAP.
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.
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.
Scott