Portable Repeater Kit

[MacWa77ace]

I saw this video today and have collated all the correct names of parts and links on amazon for comparable parts. This seems like a kit I might build for fun, but its pricey for something I may never use IRL.

Here are the names of the parts [and Amazon links] as the video presenter was a little vague:

• SMA Female to BNC Female Convert Adapter for Two Way Radio BaoFeng UV-5R FD-880 of 4-Pack
• BNC 144-146/430-440 MHz 2M/70cm Super-Elastic Memory Steel Flexible Vertical Handheld Dual-Band Antenna, 15.75 inch
• Walkie Talkie Repeater Box Two Way RC-108 for Handheld Radio UV-5R GT-3 TYT- BF-888S Wouxun Two Way Walkie Talkie Repeater Box Handheld Radio
• BNC Connector Shorting Copper Protecting Dust Cap Protective Cover (10-Pack) for BNC Female Cable
• BNC Cable - 2PCS 50 ohm RG58 BNC Male to Female Coax Cable Bulkhead 1FT Low Loss Antenna Extension Cable
• CASE #1 -- CASE #2

I also put up two cases that cost less than the Apache, are waterproof and lockable, and are more size compatable IMO.

$123 including a case.
[Not including the radios or the high cap batteries]

[Moab]

You can get the real Signal Sticks for the same price. They are widely known as the best antenna for two way handhelds. Certainly much better than the knock offs in your list.

Wouldn't a better antenna be in order here though? I bought one of these recently. Very lightweight. And very good reviews online. He makes several different models:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222236729085?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=38vzsG44TBm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=OOH5b8UqSIO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[MacWa77ace]

@Moab
Couldn't find them on Amazon. Do you have a link on Amazon?

I don't use eBay. That's an SMA you linked.

It should be a BNC connector, to connect to the bulkhead BNC adaptor. You convert the Baofeng's SMA to BNC in this kit. SMA might be done but none of the antenna parts I linked are for that setup.

[Moab]

https://signalstuff.com/shop

Only sold directly. Be sure to order correct connection. I used BNC adapters for my radios and purchased the BNC version of these antennas for slightly better strength at the connection point. One style of BNC adapter has a large surface area that makes it more solid. Advice in the guerilla guide to baofengs is to replace these with BNC. 

Adapters on this page:

I just found this on AliExpress: 
$1.23 | BNC SMA Adapters BNC (Q9) Female to SMA Male Female Disc Adapter Gold Silver Black Nickel Plated RF Connector
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKvMKc7

Cable extensions for putting your antenna on a chestrig:

I just found this on AliExpress: 
$5.82 | RG58 Cable BNC To BNC Male Female Q9 Plug Jack L TYPE Connector Copper Extension RF Brass Coaxial Wire Coax Jumper Pigtail Cable
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqvRAUL

Also HF had their pelican cases in sale last week.

[EBuff75]

Here's the N9TAX antenna from the eBay link:  https://n9taxlabs.com/shop/ols/products/dual-band-slim-jim-antenna-with-10-or-16-foot-cable

[MacWa77ace]

Adding a set of 2) 8 watt Baofengs with the 3800mAh batteries in case anyone needs it. >> Amazon Link

It seems to me that the receiver radio doesn't have to be an 8watt, but the transmitting radio would benefit from the higher output.

As a mental exercise I'm thinking of ways to make this with a larger battery setup. I'm thinking there are a couple of ways to do it. One is get a 12v battery and hook up the car adapters to the radios. Amazon Link for set of two 12v car adapters



There are slim versions of these that might fit that 3.6" tall case. I ordered one to replace the battery in the UPS on my fiber cable modem last year and that is 12v 7mAh 2"w. And I'm waiting for delivery on a set of two 12v 9mAh to replace the ones in my big unit. Those are 2.5"w. Of course the larger batteries would mean more weight and I'd put two, one for each radio.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to setup a tiger tail in this configuration or if it would even be needed?

[airballrad]

I have been seeing this and similar videos on YouTube and also did some investigative shopping. I am having a hard time coming up with a use case that makes sense for my purposes and my AO. Florida is really stinkin' flat, so it would be tough to get an antenna up high enough to be helpful. I am glad to see there are some inexpensive options to make this happen, though, and I have the components needed in a Wishlist so that I can find them quickly if I change my mind.

I think my better option is to save my pennies and eventually get a mobile radio that can serve as a cross band repeater for those rare occasions where this sort of thing comes up. I can go to 50 watts with that, have a much bigger power source, and can attach a substantial mast to mount the antenna up high. 

[MacWa77ace]

I have been seeing this and similar videos on YouTube and also did some investigative shopping. I am having a hard time coming up with a use case that makes sense for my purposes and my AO. Florida is really stinkin' flat, so it would be tough to get an antenna up high enough to be helpful. I am glad to see there are some inexpensive options to make this happen, though, and I have the components needed in a Wishlist so that I can find them quickly if I change my mind.

I think my better option is to save my pennies and eventually get a mobile radio that can serve as a cross band repeater for those rare occasions where this sort of thing comes up. I can go to 50 watts with that, have a much bigger power source, and can attach a substantial mast to mount the antenna up high.

LOL, I live in Florida also. And I live right near a golf course that was constructed on an old landfill. It's probably 60 ft high. And on the opposite side of it from my neighborhood is the everglades and a main road. So that's one place I thought of that might work. And thinking of my neighborhood, there are plenty of flagpoles and tall tree's that might be used to haul the case up the tree using a throw rope. [like setting up a wire antenna except you'd haul up the case. Or maybe attach two wire antennas and throw them up into trees. I'm not an expert on the antennas. So my ideas my be bad because they're simple.

There's also a repeater tower that is about a mile from me that is on the SARNET and I can hit that from my house.

Flat Florida means you don't have to get up that high to make a big difference. Up on an over pass or on top of a semi trailer will add a lot of distance.

The rooves of tall buildings in an urban setup. It's hard for me to justify also but seems like a doable project and fun.

I know in the video the guy said to setup the receiving radio on the 2m and the transmitting radio on the 70cm for security, but the band might be dependent on the terrain. You might want to setup both on the 70cm RX/TX if you're in an urban setting and both on 2m if you're in the wide open spaces. You could still offset them pretty far and be on the same band. 

I'm also thinking that it'd be a good idea to store a few repeater setups on the radios as channels,, so you could easily change them up for security. Those could be saved as channels on a Baofeng.

[airballrad]

LOL, I live in Florida also. And I live right near a golf course that was constructed on an old landfill. It's probably 60 ft high. And on the opposite side of it from my neighborhood is the everglades and a main road. So that's one place I thought of that might work. And thinking of my neighborhood, there are plenty of flagpoles and tall tree's that might be used to haul the case up the tree using a throw rope. [like setting up a wire antenna except you'd haul up the case. Or maybe attach two wire antennas and throw them up into trees. I'm not an expert on the antennas. So my ideas my be bad because they're simple.

My house is two stories and I have some trees. So either could help for getting my roll-up J-pole up high. I'm also spoiled in that I have GMRS and VHF repeaters on tall towers within 10 miles. They are hardened and on backup power for local EOC purposes, so it'll be bad if they go down.

There's also a repeater tower that is about a mile from me that is on the SARNET and I can hit that from my house.

I'm jealous; my closest SARNET repeater is down indefinitely for road construction and the next closest to that was blown down by Milton. So that is out of reach for now.

I know in the video the guy said to setup the receiving radio on the 2m and the transmitting radio on the 70cm for security, but the band might be dependent on the terrain. You might want to setup both on the 70cm RX/TX if you're in an urban setting and both on 2m if you're in the wide open spaces. You could still offset them pretty far and be on the same band. 

I'm also thinking that it'd be a good idea to store a few repeater setups on the radios as channels,, so you could easily change them up for security. Those could be saved as channels on a Baofeng.

Cross band (receive on 2M and transmit on 70cm or vice versa) has advantages for a number of reasons; it can increase security, it can take advantage of terrain, and it in some setups can make it so that one radio can do all the work. It does complicate things a bit on the user end, but that can be overcome with programming in advance. I can program all my radios with my phone via Bluetooth, so it makes adjustments in the field a lot faster.

[MacWa77ace]

As a mental exercise I'm thinking of ways to make this with a larger battery setup. I'm thinking there are a couple of ways to do it. One is get a 12v battery and hook up the car adapters to the radios. Amazon Link for set of two 12v car adapters



There are slim versions of these that might fit that 3.6" tall case. I ordered one to replace the battery in the UPS on my fiber cable modem last year and that is 12v 7mAh 2"w. And I'm waiting for delivery on a set of two 12v 9mAh to replace the ones in my big unit. Those are 2.5"w. Of course the larger batteries would mean more weight and I'd put two, one for each radio.

AAANND, for convenience I'd need to build in a charging circuit with an external plug to recharge this type of battery. I'm thinking computer power cord and receptor plug as a case passthru. The cord could be stowed inside the case when not in use.

Then a charging circuit in a box inside the case. Might have to go back to that large Apache case in the video. Or I already have the even larger 4800 Apache I haven't found a use for, that's really big.



the passthru socket would have to be waterproof'd.

[airballrad]

the passthru socket would have to be waterproof'd.

Anderson connectors are handy. Is there a waterproof one you could use? My battery case just has a rubber cover on the external connectors.

[MacWa77ace]

Eureka, or I had another idea.
I might not have to build the recharge circuit for those 12v batteries [or scavenge one from an old UPS]. 

Why can't I just use a float charger setup? They're like $12. It'd fit in the case and I could just customize the  'passthru' socket to connect to the float charger.

If I use two batteries I'd still have to wire them in parallel for charging, and connect them to the radio adaptors. So would still need to put that on a board I think.