I know this video is over two years old, but still wanted to thank you for creating and posting it. Been subscribed to your videos for a while and keep coming back to this one. - I picked up an ADS-SR1 a while back and was having fun with it using it with a Baofeng HT. Amazingly with a decent antenna even with 5W, it had decent range much further than I expected. Finally picked up a Yaesu FT-2900R and made a cable for it to interface with the ADS-SR1 (combination of the RJ12 Mic jack and the 2-pole 3.5mm speaker jack on the back) and it worked! Wished I had your FT-2600M which has a proper 'Data' jack that my 2900R is missing. :) Thanks again! Cheers and 73's!
Daniel, this is bit if a late reply, but I just ordered the SR1 and have the exact same radios you have. You have any specs or links on the cable you built? Much appreciated!
If other handhelds are in range of the originating handheld then they will hear both transmissions. You can "hide" this effect by using two different PL/CTCSS tones for the transmit and receive (rolling it on the repeater unit). However, this will only work if you have a radio that permits separate tones for transmit and receive.
Radio Shack used to sell a version of this repeater system but closed them out after a short time and a friend of mine bought it quite cheap and we used to use it. Although it did in fact work great, you had to remember if you were in range of the person talking and could hear them "direct", you had to wait for their transmission to be repeated via the repeater system before you could reply. Basically you would hear the other person's broadcast *twice*. Once live (direct) from their radio and the second time via the repeater. Even if you couldn't hear the other person direct you had to keep in mind there would always be a delay between responses, and if the person talking was long winded the delay could be quite lengthy depending on how long they spoke. Additionally, If you didn't wait for the repeater to rebroadcast the other persons transmission and began replying after hearing them direct, the repeater wouldn't be able to hear your reply and thus, would not repeat YOUR transmission. If you kept these basic conditions in mind then this type of repeater setup could work well. If not it was just one big mess trying to figure out why the other person wasn't hearing you, or why the repeater didn't repeat a transmission :\ I used to have three of those Yaesu FT-2600 mobile radio's, all used for packet and they were great for that purpose because they had a DB9 connector on the back and were simple to interface a TNC to them. Plus they had 60 watts RF output. They were my favorite model at the time for data purposes - still are actually :)
Awesome!! Great practical example. Its definitely a training issue using the simplex repeater but it has alot of advantages built in to the device. I'm building a prototype solar ammo can version and hope to deploy it on a 4000" mountain soon. want to see its capabilities during adverse weather and document it. good vid.
Good for using as a preppergation beacon. As in working on your own, checking your local area for blackspots etc. Would also be useful for site assessment of base station antenna placement. In fact using a ctcss tone as default maybe we all need a Simplex Repeater set up.
+Commsprepper great set up, I wanted to do something like this, but had only seen the handheld repeater system. This gives real hope so when I get back east I can do the same as you set it up to use my base/mobile with the choice of 25 or 60 watts to transmit with instead of 5 watts with a handheld especially with a nice base antenna in the air. Thanks for sharing! 😀
GG - Thanks for the comment and feedback. 4000' mountain... that will have some reach for sure! This test was at 1500' and still reaches out. Running out of days here at the retreat but hope to get a few more vids out.
How is this different from just buying a repeater with cross band repeat? Is it that the message is retransmitted on the same band with an offset, negating the need for 70cm/2m dual band radios?
Not sure how to answer the question. The simplex repeater "echos" transmissions on the same channel/freq/band. Cross-banding permits access to between bands for radios that may not have both bands. What I like about the simplex repeater is it can be connected to a handheld - creating a basic repeater for only few bucks. Does this help with your question?
Not to nitpick but your repeater simplex channel should be 146.565 not 146.560. Upper half of the two meter band is on 30 khz splits which means simplex channels of 146.520 (nat'l simplex), up 30 khz to 146.550, and then a split channel up 15 khz to 146.565.
War Planner no problems - thanks for the info. This simplex repeater was in up for an hour to make this video (four years ago). Now that radio is a packet node. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
when using your set up does everyone on the HT side of the ridge hear your broadcast twice (once from HT and again from repeater) and listeners on the opposite side of the ridge only receive your message once (only from repeater)?
R&R is great. Getting allot done (even with the breaks to make vids). The Internet connection has been the most frustrating. Even when working correctly - the upload speeds take for ever to post vids. Only a few days left on site to finish my projects and make a few more vids. I want to take the Wouxun/TNC-X/ATV mobile and make a vid using that equipment somewhere on the mountain.
Interesting idea! Especially for simplex comms! I'm puzzled, if you're an amateur radio operator, why are you not letting us hear your call sign? Afraid that it's a made up or it belongs to someone else? I only ask is because I've heard of some here on RU-vid that it's plausible that they're radio operators but bleep out their call sign while making their video, I'm just wondering as to why do that?
Thanks for the video. I see that the cable that you used to connect the mobile rig to the repeater controller has a phone jack to go into the controller, but what about the other end? How did you connect it to the mobile radio? I sent an email to Argent, but they haven't written back. Thanks for any help you can offer. 73
Best video I've seen on this yet - great stuff, very straightforward and intuitive. What cable do you use from the simplex repeater to the Yaesu base station? I've been all over their site, but only see connectors for HT's.
I'm looking to setup a gmrs repeater but this method seems like it would be annoying having to wait and keep hearing myself and vice versa with another person. Is that what happens?
Yeah, that's what'd happen - unless you had no tone on the simplex repeater but sent in a 67 Hz tone, while your buddy sent in a 110.9 Hz tone or similar, and you mute your own tone on receive. If transmissions are short, great! But yeah, communicating should take literally twice the time.
Technically that is not exactly correct...I assume you are referring only the definitions section of Part 95 for GMRS that defines what a repeater is. The ADS - SR1 is a repeater only in name. Legally it's a message forward device, this is why ADS refers to it as a store forward. Since message forward is not clearly prohibited in PRS/GMRS (95.33 / 95.1733) AND the permissible uses of GMRS (95.1731) are not limited to what is delineated is it is unclear at best the legality of using message forward on GMRS. In your video, on 2m, you don't have a repeater either. It's a message forward device as specified in Part 97.219.
Do you happen to have a wiring diagram for the Argent ADS-SR1 repeater to the Yaesu radio cable? I have the RJ45 wiring block. I'm having some issues with my Yaesu FT-2980r working together with the repeater.
Hi.. how would you rate the AUDIO QUALITY of the device? I have somewhat of a dilemma. I want to use some of my installed gear for emergency “SHTF/WROL” applications. The dilemma I have is that most of the users of my repeaters will be non-tech people. I would love to have a system in place that would permit voice storage of short yet critical messages that can be retrieved by either anyone -OR- with proper validation of a short DTMF code to add a tiny level of “security” to the system. (obviously it’s audio which can be readily decoded by ear or device... it’s just to keep the average listener / eavesdropper a bit clueless) I have a GMRS repeater and an IG (“business band”) repeater currently on the air. The GMRS is analog only, no encryption and 45 watts, pursuant to the applicable part-90 regs. It’s a Quantar with advanced signaling pkg ,a BpBr duplexer (high RF environment- a high-rise rooftop shared by a dozen or so public-safety repeaters/transmitters, microwave links and paging transmitters). Both repeaters utilize individual Telewave 4-element folded dipole antennas and have very short feedline to each repeater. It has a fairly decent coverage area, as does my “business band” unit. The GMRS repeater gives me an advantage of having many GMRS/FRS licensees in the area, many who are using my “open” repeater at present. The users may be an advantage as they can possibly relay information and/or assist with tasks in an emergency. BUT.. they also pose a potential disadvantage. During any sort of crisis or emergency, especially a SHTF/WROL situation, the less people who know your plans, information and strategies-> the better. The “Business Band” repeater is a Hytera RD982 UHF. It’s a DMR/analog mixed-mode capable unit that’s capable of 48 watts of transmitter power that is turned down to 8 watts and fed into a TPL power amplifier that then puts out 100 watts. The logic was to minimize the strain on the repeater transmitter -and- getting a higher transmitter power than natively produced by the repeater’s transmitter. I have it currently running in “mixed-mode” so it will receive and relay analog narrowband transmissions that match the DPL code / or / will take an input on either digital “time slot” (DMR is TDMA) and repeat it on the same slot... this allows TWO concurrent voice communications to take place simultaneously when using the DMR mode. Obviously, when using analog mode, you can only have one “talk path” functioning at a given time, making the digital mode twice as capable. I also have a second site which offers overlapping coverage territory and expanded coverage in areas not currently covered. It’s within L.O.S. , permitting microwave linking, far more robust in storms, etc, than wired internet or tie-line leased copper telco circuit. The primary Hytera repeater currently has a twin, programmed identically, in the same rack. It’s configured as a “fail over”. (No amplifier/ separate antenna w/cheap “notch style” “mobile” duplexer for now...) Additionally, several of my “family only” radios (Hytera PD782G / PD982 and X1P) have been equipped with AES-256 encryption for a moderate level of conversation privacy. These radios have a separate “Zone” set up with channels that have encryption enabled. The channels and zones are clearly configured and laid out in such a fashion that it permits them to be used easily by the non-geek folk in the family. Friends and associates have been given the freq pair and CC (“color code” - no, SJW’s.... it’s not a racial thing 😉🤣) AND have been issued a “radio ID” to use on the repeater. What I’d like to
quick question, when you broadcast on your handheld and there's other handheld nearby, do they hear both the original transmission and also the secondary transmission? I'm thinking so just not sure. thanks for posting this video.
Hey do you have a video showing a radio + TNC + IPad or Idevice setup? I'm trying to see if there are any apps or software to go direct or via Bluetooth to make this happen.
Contact me if you are interested in a collaborative video, or if you know how to make it happen. I'm very interested in the possibilities of mobile packet Ham!
How do you handle the issue of some people hearing you twice? And does the ADS SR1 understand tones so you can make the repeater somewhat more private?
You can use separate RX and TX frequencies to avoid hearing stations twice. The function/action of PL (tones) and DPL take place in the radio you are using, not in the repeater.
Something I did when I first started the channel for privacy reasons. I have since given up on that - it's too hard to make Amateur radio videos and not have the call sign in them - Hank K1DOS
Would this be the same type setup for gmrs as well? Can a licensed gmrs set this up with no issue? We live near Tulsa OK, but outside of the city, and there is only one gmrs repeater, about 40 miles away from me. I pretty interested in setting up my own base station for more effective gmrs use.
that is so cool brother. I got one big fav to ask in the start of your vids can you turn down the val its to much I have to remove my head phones each time.. thanks..
Hello I plan on setting up one of these on either my motorola xtl 800mhz or my xpr4550 vhf. Which one do you guys think will be better? I am only using the radios for when I am out cutting firewood I would be looking to talk up to 20 miles away do you think it would work?
I don't know what the TYT-9000 radio is but Argent Data sells brand specific cables in addition to the simplex repeater. I have Kenwood and Yaesu radios so I got those cables.
+Commsprepper I have one of those radio tone controller box. will that work with the 2500. I tried but think I need the 3 ring auxiliary cable. kinda new in radio and waiting on a call sign
+Commsprepper ok I don't have the TNC-X cable I had just tried a regular auxiliary cord for cell to truck radio. when I ordered the RT-SRC1 I got the baofeng cable was just wondering if I got the right cable it would retransmit thru the 2500
A typical repeater setup has a transmitter and receiver and are able to listen and transmit 6 kilohertz apart from each other, alot of filtering is needed to do this. If you try and use just two radios on the same band the transmitting radio will swamp the receiving radio and it wont work unless they are very far apart from each other.
You're new to the internet I guess. Pro-tip, not everyone is as nice and gentle as you are. I've had preppers tell me, to my face that they are going to forgo buying any preps besides guns, because they intend to take what ever they want from other preppers if a disaster were to occur. We don't need an excuse to want to keep our privacy, and if you disagree I'd ask for your; SSN, home address, drivers license ID #, date of birth, and mothers maiden name. You're not doing anything wrong right?
The legality of this is lacking. It doesn't auto identify, and you have no remote way to shut it down ,so its lacking a control operator. I would remove this video before the fcc catches wind of it.
Reading more into it, it has an "announcement" feature that could identify the operator for it. The lack of shut down would bother me though. (edit looks like dtmf tones can shut it down too! cool.)
icanrunfasterwithmyknife This unit has lots of cool features. It will auto ID with code and you can also have a pre-recorded voice ID. For remote control you can enable and disable the repeater function via DTMF command (repeater on/off) See manual www.argentdata.com/support/ads-sr1-manual.pdf.
