What are repeaters and how are they used?

A repeater receives a signal and re-transmits it, usually with higher power and from a better location, to provide a greater communications range. Often located atop a tall building or high mountain, VHF and UHF repeaters greatly extend the operating range of amateurs using mobile and hand-held transceivers.

Do you need a transceiver to use a repeater?

To use a repeater, you must have a transceiver that can transmit on the repeater’s input frequency and receive on the repeater’s output frequency. The input and output frequencies are separated by a predetermined amount that is different for each band.

What’s the range of a FM simplex antenna?

The communications range for VHF and UHF FM simplex is usually limited to your local area (5-15 miles). If you live high on a mountain and use a high-gain directional antenna, you may be able to extend your range considerably. Unfortunately, most of us do not have the luxury of ideal VHF/UHF operating conditions.

Which is the best band for FM repeaters?

Generally, it’s a good idea to use VHF or UHF for all local communications. The HF bands should be reserved for longer-distance contacts to reduce interference on the HF bands. VHF and UHF FM voice operation takes two forms: simplex and repeater.

How many repeaters are there on 440 MHz?

While the majority of repeaters (over 6000) are on 2 meters, there are more than 1600 repeaters on 222 MHz, more than 5000 on 440 MHz, over 70 on 902 MHz and more than 200 on 1270 MHz. More repeaters are being put into service all the time.

What is the frequency of a 23 cm repeater?

Frequencies between 223.42 and 223.9 MHz are set aside for simplex operation. On 23 cm, repeater inputs run between 1270 and 1276 MHz, with corresponding outputs between 1282 and 1288 MHz. Simplex operation is between 1294 and 1295 MHz.