What
is a Radio Repeater?
You have probably seen the term “repeater” mentioned on scanning websites or maybe in your scanner manual, but what exactly is a repeater? A repeater is a automatic (unmanned) station that receives a radio signal, and then rebroadcasts it on another frequency in an effort to extend the range of the signal.
Without a repeater station, a typical scanner frequency is limited usual by line of site. This means that mountains, buildings, trees and others obstructions will often block the signal. To solve this problem, a repeater station is installed in a high location, usual a mountain top or a tall building. See figure 1 below.
A repeater has an input frequency and a output frequency. Remote stations wishing to use a repeater station must be equipped to transmit on one frequency, and receive on another frequency. You can see how this differs from the standard “Simplex” form of communication that takes place without a repeater. In the case of simplex, both stations communicate using a common frequency. The transmit and receive frequencies are the same.
So what does this all mean to you the listener? In order to hear both sides of the communication, you should always listen to the repeater output frequency. This is also always the easiest of the two frequency to receive.
If you have any questions or comments please email me at KA7UNW@live.com
Copyright 2015 Andy Strike. All rights reserved.
You have probably seen the term “repeater” mentioned on scanning websites or maybe in your scanner manual, but what exactly is a repeater? A repeater is a automatic (unmanned) station that receives a radio signal, and then rebroadcasts it on another frequency in an effort to extend the range of the signal.
Without a repeater station, a typical scanner frequency is limited usual by line of site. This means that mountains, buildings, trees and others obstructions will often block the signal. To solve this problem, a repeater station is installed in a high location, usual a mountain top or a tall building. See figure 1 below.
A repeater has an input frequency and a output frequency. Remote stations wishing to use a repeater station must be equipped to transmit on one frequency, and receive on another frequency. You can see how this differs from the standard “Simplex” form of communication that takes place without a repeater. In the case of simplex, both stations communicate using a common frequency. The transmit and receive frequencies are the same.
So what does this all mean to you the listener? In order to hear both sides of the communication, you should always listen to the repeater output frequency. This is also always the easiest of the two frequency to receive.
If you have any questions or comments please email me at KA7UNW@live.com
Copyright 2015 Andy Strike. All rights reserved.
Figure 1. Repeater Station
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