tkr-820
Moderator: willbartlett
tkr-820
I bought a tkr-820 and plan on puting it up on GMRS. Since this repeater is only a 25w I was thinking of getting a amp to run it a 50w. This will be my first repeater so I am looking for some info of what would be a good amp for this. Thanks
Sex at age 90 is like trying to shoot pool with a rope
Why do you think you need a power amplifier?
The improvement from the additional 3db of transmitter power will be barely noticeable. Unless you have 50W mobile units, the mobile talk back range will be of more concern. Increasing the transmitter output power may even cause receiver desenitzation problems unless you have a top quality duplexer.
Your money is better spent on a good antenna, hardline and duplexer which are critical to good repeater performance.
The improvement from the additional 3db of transmitter power will be barely noticeable. Unless you have 50W mobile units, the mobile talk back range will be of more concern. Increasing the transmitter output power may even cause receiver desenitzation problems unless you have a top quality duplexer.
Your money is better spent on a good antenna, hardline and duplexer which are critical to good repeater performance.
I support a handful of these TKR-820s at my facility, they're good repeaters.
K2HZ is right, for your money you'd be better off buying a high-gain vertical antenna and some good feedline. You can find many gain antennas that will outperform the 3dB a 50 watt amp will offer you over your transmitter's 25 watt output.
My applications are industrial, I tend to over-spec my systems just a bit in terms of what's outdoors. I've had very good luck with Decibel Products DB633 antenna (http://www.allentelecom.com/products/an ... 633-C.aspx) which is a 3dB gain vertical, they also make radome enclosed UHF vertical antennas of a similar nature with gains as high as 8dB.
I mostly use Times LMR feedline for my applications, my UHF repeaters are using LMR900 (http://www.timesmicrowave.com/content/pdf/lmr/32-35.pdf).
If you're looking for a vendor, you might try Talley Communications in Phoenix. I've done business with Talley here in the LA basin for a few years, and while you can maybe find stuff a bit cheaper elsewhere, I like the after-sale customer support I get from them. (http://www.talleycom.com/MoreInfo/drivedirect.html)
The TKR-820 is a solid, stable repeater system. Mine have been in service for several years and we've had absolutely no trouble at all with them.
Good luck!
Paul
K2HZ is right, for your money you'd be better off buying a high-gain vertical antenna and some good feedline. You can find many gain antennas that will outperform the 3dB a 50 watt amp will offer you over your transmitter's 25 watt output.
My applications are industrial, I tend to over-spec my systems just a bit in terms of what's outdoors. I've had very good luck with Decibel Products DB633 antenna (http://www.allentelecom.com/products/an ... 633-C.aspx) which is a 3dB gain vertical, they also make radome enclosed UHF vertical antennas of a similar nature with gains as high as 8dB.
I mostly use Times LMR feedline for my applications, my UHF repeaters are using LMR900 (http://www.timesmicrowave.com/content/pdf/lmr/32-35.pdf).
If you're looking for a vendor, you might try Talley Communications in Phoenix. I've done business with Talley here in the LA basin for a few years, and while you can maybe find stuff a bit cheaper elsewhere, I like the after-sale customer support I get from them. (http://www.talleycom.com/MoreInfo/drivedirect.html)
The TKR-820 is a solid, stable repeater system. Mine have been in service for several years and we've had absolutely no trouble at all with them.
Good luck!
Paul