Montana farmer Riley Slivka recently tested the Retevis RT97S GMRS Repeater on his family’s 3,000-acre farm in the Missouri River Breaks. The results underscore how advanced two-way radio technology can address communication challenges on rugged agricultural landscapes.
Slivka AG grows wheat, barley, and pulse crops while managing 150-200 cattle across dramatic landscapes with 1,000-foot cliffs. Three generations of the family work together, using Retevis Mobile Radio devices, but the terrain often creates communication barriers between equipment operators and grain truck drivers.
“The canyon areas created dead zones,” Slivka explains. “When hauling grain 60 miles to elevators with poor cell service, we needed a more reliable way to stay connected.”
The Retevis RT97S gmrs repeater system arrived with antenna mounts, coaxial cable, and a 12V adapter. Slivka initially installed it in a pickup truck to test various locations. The mobile tests showed impressive results with 12-14 miles of coverage, even with 1,000-foot elevation changes.
“We could communicate from canyon floors to hilltops that previously blocked signals. The radio repeater worked like a bridge, maintaining clear communication,” he notes.
After testing several locations, Slivka selected a TV antenna pole on the highest hill of the farm. The location offered:
Farm crews now use Retevis NR30S Mobile Radios to connect seamlessly through the RT97S portable gmrs repeater. “It’s simple to set up—just mount the repeater, connect power and the antenna, and you’re good to go,” Slivka says.
During spring planting, the RT97S Radio Repeater was crucial for:
Slivka concludes: “For under $500, we solved communication headaches that previously cost us hours every week. On a farm, reliable radios are just as vital as good tractors.”
In addition to the RT97S, we also offer the RT97L waterproof repeater, a new addition to our GMRS repeater lineup. Designed for even greater coverage, the RT97L offers:
GMRS Repeater Kit for Sale Now:
RT97S GMRS Repeater: https://www.retevis.com/rt97s-full-duplex-portable-gmrs-repeater-us
RT97L Waterproof Repeater: https://www.retevis.com/25w-rt97l-gmrs-long-range-waterproof-full-duplex-repeater-us
RT97S + Speaker Mic + Antenna + Coaxial Cable: https://www.retevis.com/rt97s-portable-repeater-and-frp-antenna-bundle-us
RT97S GMRS Repeater Kit + NR30S: https://www.retevis.com/retevis-nr30s-radio-with-rt97s-repeater-gmrs-long-distance-communication-solutions-us