How to Mount a Radio Repeater for the Best Performance?

Wendy
Apr 16,2024
- 0
Walkie Talkie Repeater, Base Station Antenna, GMRS Radio Repeater, Retevis RT97S

A walkie talkie repeater simultaneously receives a radio signal and re-transmits it at a higher power, so it can cover greater distances. This enables communication between radio users where obstructions, hills, trees, or distance are a problem. The positioning of the repeater is critical for good operation. Here is a guide to help you find the optimal placement of the radio repeater and antenna.

Where Radio Repeaters Should Get Placed

Ideally, your repeater should get mounted in a location that provides a virtual line of sight with all radios using it, but you’ll need to consider your structure and environment. Before installing the mount, performing a radio site coverage survey is a good idea to ensure optimal range and coverage when setting up your repeater. This includes details like ensuring the antennae are in an optimal central location, which you should simulate the coverage of before installing the antennae in place.

For industries like trucking, there’s no building or central location for this. Instead, repeater stations place the devices on tall structures or natural sites that are mostly free from obstruction and help facilitate long-range communication.

Where Base Station Antennas Should Get Placed

Try to install the base station antenna at the highest point to allow as much line of sight as possible, like on top of a tall building or hill above the trees, for maximum line-of-sight. Meaning you will get the most range and coverage possible.

Retevis RT97S Repeater Antenna Placement

Before considering the external installation of any antenna, a site survey should be conducted, followed by a coverage test. In this instance, one person should be positioned inside a centrally located building at the highest possible elevation in the desired coverage area. The second person should walk the site, communicating from inside every building and in all outside areas where radio coverage is desired.

A coverage field test should be conducted at whatever site is selected as a repeater location. If coverage is inadequate, relocate to a different location and repeat the process until the desired range and coverage are optimized.

Retevis RT97S GMRS Radio Repeater

Retevis RT97S is a portable GMRS radio repeater for extending a GMRS handheld radio's repeater. It's a compact unit with an LED indicator light to alert you if a channel is busy. It has a built-in duplexer. This allows the unit to transmit and receive on the same antenna at the same time. Essentially, the duplexer contains circuits that isolate the transmitter from the receiver. This way, the transmitter's radio frequency doesn’t damage the receiver.

The RT97S GMRS radio repeater requires only one repeater antenna, which transmits and receives two way radios. It's very simple to set up. In the bundle, the RT97S repeater is equipped with a 7.2 dBi GMRS omni-directional base antenna. It also includes a 15-meter coaxial cable connecting the antenna—high-quality, low-loss—that is safely out of the way of getting stepped on or worn down by external forces.