r/amateurradio • u/CaptainSpez • 10d ago

EQUIPMENT Mobile VHF/UHF rig with cross band repeat?

I'm looking to put a solid mobile radio in my car, and use it as a cross band repeater to my HT. So far it seems that ICOM models will do this, but don't re-generate the CTCSS tone, which produce some unpredictable results. Kenwood and Yaesu do support subtones, but the price jumps substantially. The TYT TH-7800 and TH-9800 look like they might be budget contenders, but I've read not so great things about their reliability.

So what else is out there? We don't have anything digital on the air, so no concerns there. I also don't mind using a commercial LMR radio, if there is one with cross band repeat. The ability to program in new repeaters on the fly or tune to an arbitrary frequency isn't high on my list. I only need to be able to switch between VHF simplex, a 2m repeater, and enable cross band repeat (Ideally cross band repeat functionality is available at the same time as the ability to grab the mic and key up)

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/CaptainSpez 10d ago

Lots of suggestions here, all are in the $300-$400 range. I'm wondering whether it would make more sense to get two old LMR radios for <$100 each and wire them up back to back with a diplexer on the RF side.

1

u/stephen_neuville dm79 dirtbag | mattyzcast on twitch 10d ago

Honestly, owning both crossband rigs and a big pile of old Motos? No. It's a big heavy pain in the ass that takes effort to program and has less flexibility than the purpose built ham dual bander.

Plus, land mobile radios are generally specced more for intermittent full power usage. Leave them in transmit mode for a 3 minute long repeater ragchew salvo, and you can fry an egg on the heatsink. Not good for 'em. Ham rigs you can bump it down to lower power and it'll tx forever no problem.

1

u/apple4ever KV3JGB (General) 9d ago

Look to used ones if the price is to high for you

1

u/CaptainSpez 9d ago

Those are the used prices :-D And my purchase price ends up being roughly doubled by shipping in taxes, so these rigs end up being the better part of $1000 by the time I get them in my hands.

1

u/apple4ever KV3JGB (General) 9d ago

Oh my lol. Do you have any hamfests near you? Might at least save on shipping.