DIY Ham Radio Repeater Using Baofeng UV5R for SHTF

Рет қаралды 9,410

Күн бұрын

How to build an inexpensive Ham radio repeater using two hand held radios. This build uses two Mighty UV5Rs, however you can do this with any two radio. The wire shown in the video will only work with radios that have Kenwood connections.
K-Head Two Way Radio Repeater Box:
amzn.to/49SusUg
UV8R bundle which includes the 8 watt upgrade from the UV5R with extended battery pack and Abree 771 whip antenna:
amzn.to/3uGK9Pv
If you do not want or need to purchase the bundle then here is each component.
UV8R:
amzn.to/49MDYIc
Nagoya 771, 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF - upgrade from Rubber Duck and not needed if purchasing the bundle above:
amzn.to/49Ra1qz
Baofeng BL-53800mAh Extended Battery and USB Charger; not needed if purchasing the bundle above:
amzn.to/3GSS66m
Baofeng programming cable:
amzn.to/3USGlVS
Solar Charger Power Bank - 36,800mAh for use with extended battery for long run repeaters:
amzn.to/3TQrsTF
Haven't Gotten Your Ham License yet? Click Here to Learn How:
• EZ - Get a HAM Radio L...
0:00 Intro
0:24 VOX Setting
1:55 Repeater Offset
2:25 Connecting the Repeater Radios
3:14 What does it look like?
3:40 Programming the radio to use the Repeater
4:43 Testing the Repeater
5:08 Wrap-Up
5:45 High Comedy

Пікірлер: 50

@mickgatz214 15 күн бұрын

THANX For video Bill, I only just figured it out m'self Tip... Make sure the repeater radios are in FREQUENCY mode, or it wont' work. Cheers!

@thebillo313 10 күн бұрын

Hi Mick, thanks for the tip. I'm planing on revisiting this build this weekend. Maybe a new video. Thanks again

@carolinawoods-n-water4392 4 ай бұрын

Just got into radios and appreciate plain language, demos & such that clearly explain the tech side. Thank you!

@thebillo313 4 ай бұрын

Cool, I'm glad that I could help. Let me know if you have questions, maybe it will inspire a new video. I'm always looking for ideas.

@joshze 4 ай бұрын

Great video. As a novice this was easy to understand. Thank you.

@thebillo313 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I got myself confused a couple times while filming. I’m glad that it came out as easy to understand.

@CAMERON1OK 2 ай бұрын

Simply described thanks. Already had spare radios, and a 3.5mm jack lead lying around, so just bought a 2.5 to 3.55 mm converter - bingo jib done. Thanks

@thebillo313 Ай бұрын

That’s awesome, I’m glad that I could help.

@brodychase9665 4 ай бұрын

Great video, finally a simple explanation that a beginner can understand… Totally looking forward to you, making a complete system with solar charging.

@thebillo313 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind feedback. I’ve gotten several great suggestions from comments. Now I’m also looking forward to making a complete system. 👍

@arod1784 4 ай бұрын

Agreed. Well explained and demonstrated.

@thebillo313 4 ай бұрын

Thank you, I’m glad that it was understandable. 👍

@funwithcoleson5380 2 ай бұрын

Very good

@thebillo313 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your kind comment. Your encouragement is appreciated.

@mrwdpkr5851 3 ай бұрын

You did a great job explaining this , Thanks ! What is the frame you have around the upper / left side of your radios ?

@thebillo313 3 ай бұрын

Hey, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. The frame is a button guard that stops accidental button presses as well as volume changes. I put them on all of my Uv5r. Here is a link to the file if you to print one. Thanks again! www.thingiverse.com/thing:5208414

@nateforrest9803 4 ай бұрын

Genius!

@thebillo313 4 ай бұрын

It takes one to know one! 😉

@Steve-qn6bt 27 күн бұрын

The problem with this video and countless other videos about making a functioning repeater using two Baofeng UV-5Rs is that not one of them I have ever seen has tested the "repeater" anywhere other than on the bench. Not one audio test, not one range test, not one test of any kind. I hereby challenge TheBillo313 to and the rest of them to show us a real-world test where they have placed this "repeater" at some remote location and actually recorded the audio that comes out of the radios transmitting to and receiving from the "repeater".

@thebillo313 27 күн бұрын

This is a great idea for a video. I’ll start work on this idea tomorrow. I appreciate your comment, thanks.

@idlesquirrel 3 ай бұрын

Well done. This could also be done with GMRS too if you get the gmrs baofeng uv-9g correct?

@thebillo313 3 ай бұрын

Yes it can. I know that many folks out there have done it. Let me know if you do it and how it works out. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. 👍

@timdietz350 18 күн бұрын

When the TX radio is set to vox like this with the plug attached will it also key up if it just hears enough noise from outside the repeater box itself or will it only key up based on a signal from the cable?

@jrca1406 3 ай бұрын

Building this basic repeater and doing some research in antennae separation. I’m going to use vertical separation (one pointed up, other pointed down) with 6” coax extensions. Total separation from antenna base-to-base should be close to 18”. From my understanding, (Omni-direction, low power, real-world/hobby level expectations) a minimum of 1/4 wavelength is needed but full wave is desired. UHF RX/TX wave is around 25”, so I’ll be running about 3/4 wave separation…. Anyone know if this train of thought is on the right track? Please keep in mind, I’m using UV5R’s in a non-duplexer, $30 set up and therefore, I OBVIOUSLY don’t care about maximum efficiency, just relevant possibilities and ideas. Thanks

@thebillo313 3 ай бұрын

The device I use in the video comes with about 6 feet of wire, to make one wavelength separation easy. It’s a great idea to have one antenna up and the other down I hadn’t thought about that, thanks. for the price it’s a great experiment to learn, or something that you want to set up in your backyard for fun. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

@vetinger 2 ай бұрын

the voltage output of WONGKUO Solar Charger Power Bank - 36,800mAh Portable Solar Phone Charger, QC3.0 is 5 VDC. It cannot charge Baofeng rechargeable battery that has 8 VDC

@thebillo313 2 ай бұрын

Whoa, great information. Thanks!

@AdventuringMike Ай бұрын

So it only partially worked for me, it would transmit my signal and repeat it properly in some cases but then others it would just continuously transmit not let the signal go through

@thebillo313 Ай бұрын

Yeah it’s a little funky try some of these ideas: Separate the radios as far as you can, at least six feet Orient the antennas so one is pointed up and the other down. Have one radio on uhf and the other in vhf / make it crossband. Let me know how it works.

@AdventuringMike Ай бұрын

@@thebillo313 well I just gave that a try it worked for a moment then wouldn't transmit voice but was still transmitting static. It started to heat up my antennas. Thought I broke my radios but they still work independent. Been seing alot of videos where they only use one audio jack on each radio 3.something on one end and 2.somthing on the other radio. I may give that a try. Its either that or I got a bad relay box on amazon. Just cant figure out how it works for a moment then stops working.

@AdventuringMike Ай бұрын

Im even using the uv5r. Dont know if being an 8watt unit makes and diff

@thebillo313 Ай бұрын

@@AdventuringMike I’m sorry to hear that you’re having a difficult time. Please let me know if you figure it out.

@thebillo313 Ай бұрын

@@AdventuringMike try lowering the wattage if you can. I’ve heard that the transmitting radio can overpower the f receiver.

@chrisb3989 Ай бұрын

I wish someone would open one of these black boxes I suspect they contain nothing and it’s just a cross over cable

@Steve-qn6bt 27 күн бұрын

My guess is that they have some kind of isolation transformer, because by plugging a standard cable into each radio, turning on the receive radio causes, at least in my case, the transmit radio to transmit, regardless of the VOX setting.

@chrisb3989 27 күн бұрын

@@Steve-qn6bt cross over cable?

@thebillo313 27 күн бұрын

You know, that’s a really good idea. I would love to make that video but I don’t have the knowledge to speak intelligently. (As if I ever do that!). Thanks for the idea I’ll need to find a friend with knowledge.

@chrisb3989 27 күн бұрын

@@thebillo313 it’s ok I purchased one and opened it and it is full of components……..and it works as claimed with no VOX required. My apologies to the manufacturer for expressing doubts

@baron1c 3 ай бұрын

You lost me with the astronauts on the moon thing. I have never seen astronauts on the moon. I have only ever seen them in a secrets recording studio, with a set designed to make is think it was the moon. 😂 🧐

@thebillo313 3 ай бұрын

Ha ha you’re right! As a matter of fact I almost re-recorded it while was editing. I was going to instead reference Maverick from Top Gun. Good pick up.

@faustorospigliosi 3 ай бұрын

That doesn't work at all, it's useless. Try setting up that system. The two radios are coupled if the radios are separated from each other by 650 feet. If it works.

@thebillo313 3 ай бұрын

You might be right. This needs more testing.

@terryjwood 3 ай бұрын

Without a duplexer the transmitter will de-sense the receiver, since they're so close in frequency. But this might work really well if you use two meters in and 70 centimeters out -- or vice versa! A cross band repeater. Try a couple of simplex frequencies -- especially ones that aren't harmonically related.

@thebillo313 3 ай бұрын

@@terryjwood someone suggested having the radios at least one wavelength away from each other. That will be one experiment. Another suggestion is exactly what you suggested. Cross Band and avoid harmonics. Ha, I guess RF theory is what it is because others have done these experiments before me and forged a path. I'm one of those rock-heads that has to do it themselves in order to learn. XD Seriously, thanks for your comments, I really appreciate the conversation.

@terryjwood 3 ай бұрын

@@thebillo313 I bought a six pack of these radios (Retevis RT5RV) after watching Dave Kessler's (KE0OG) review of them. I've been wondering what I could do with the 4 remaining radios. A cross band repeater could be just the thing! It would be great in an emergency. Sure, it would be better if there was a way to send an ID, but it's still legal for the parties using the repeater to sign the call of the repeater: "W3WKD via the WA3VQJ repeater!" A battery and/or a solar panel, 2 external antennas, that linking cable from your video and you're good to go! The users would have to setup their rigs for crossband operation. But that's trivial to do on my FT991A, for instance. I could see these making a real difference in a pinch! Thanks for the great idea! I'm going to give this a try!