DIY Ham Radio Repeater Using Baofeng UV5R for SHTF

[@joshze]

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

[@thebillo313]

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.

[@mickgatz214]

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]

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

[@davidyummus6259]

I'm confused as to the purpose of the Repeater Box if using VOX,... If you say "Hi Bill" into your HT & that is transmitted to the Receive Radio & that audio comes out of the speaker of the Receive Radio then the Transmit Radio with VOX turned on should hear that audio of "Hi Bill" & transmit it shouldn't it ?

[@thebillo313]

@@davidyummus6259 I think that what you described is true and would work. The wire ensures the “cleanest” sound. Without it the transmit radio would have an open microphone and could pick up ambient noise like a passing truck or a nearby bird and then transmit those random noises. I suppose in theory if someone were speaking nearby, they would accidentally be transmitting on him frequencies illegally. Great question, let me know if my answer makes any sense.

[@AtomkeySinclair]

The box is probably nothing more than the RX/TX (mic/speaker) pair being crossed over. Just an enclosure where the junction calls home. So, I bet you just take two of the dual jack cables, cut off the ear piece and mic, and then wire and solder them end to end, but mic to speaker, and speaker to mic. Perhaps a resistor inline on one side. It would be a simple and cheap experiment to find out.

[@timdietz350]

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?

[@thebillo313]

Do you mean from ambient noise nearby? Then no, when it has the plug plugged in it can only hear the signal and key up from that signal. Does that make sense?

[@timdietz350]

@@thebillo313 Thanks, that's exactly what I was trying to ask, whether the vox is triggered only by input from signal from the plug and nothing else.

[@MHlovesz]

Is this setup really works when the transmitting radio is 1 mile from the repeater?

[@thebillo313]

@@MHlovesz that’s a good question. I think probably not unless you have incredibly ideal conditions.

[@MHlovesz]

@@thebillo313 Then what is the point of this repeater, if it works only in the bedroom?

[@thebillo313]

@@MHlovesz I think people like to use this at camp grounds or on the farm. Anyplace where you just need a little, “boost”.

[@thebillo313]

@@MHlovesz well it’s also a fun experiment to see whether you can get it to work and work better.

[@faustorospigliosi]

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]

You might be right. This needs more testing.

[@terryjwood]

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]

@@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]

@@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!

[@joeyperez8581]

Outstanding. kn4jkz

[@thebillo313]

Thank you sir for your kind words and encouragement. KC3RYS / Billo

[@MrFunkyskier]

Have you actually used this setup in the field? I have, and it does not work. The transmitting radio saturates the receiver radio. It works in a lab, or in your back yard. But as soon as you put some distance between yourself and the system it fails. This might work with a high quality HT that can reject the RF saturation from the transmitting radio, but it won't work with UV5R's.

[@AtomkeySinclair]

Move one of the Baofeng's antenna to a feed line and away from the other unit. Or get a longer dual-jack pair of cables to move the radios further apart. The are desensing each other's antennas. That will fix the issue you are experiencing.

[@MrFunkyskier]

@@AtomkeySinclair I've tried that as well, which defeats the entire idea of a lunch box repeater. The premise is you can put two radios in a box and stick it in a tree or on a rooftop. It does not work, not even as a cross-band repeater from 2m to 70cm. If cheap Chinese radios are within 10ft (3m) of each other they de-sense and saturate each other.

[@AtomkeySinclair]

@@MrFunkyskier Very true. They will desense. Feed line for 1 radio fixes that :)

[@Steve-qn6bt]

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]

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

[@paulgraham5790]

I have tried it and desensing is a massive issue. What generally happens is the repeater works ok when you are close but at about half a mile you will be able to key it but there will be no audio as the nearby transmitter wipes the audio out. Some serious filtering and antenna separation is required to resolve it.

[@jetfu400]

@@thebillo313 make this video please

[@carolinawoods-n-water4392]

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

[@thebillo313]

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.

[@chrisferrell8741]

I am so lost because you didn't go over setting up the receive radio, jumped to some settings in the transmit radio and nothing at all about the radios using this setup. I need real help setting it up and this was the closest video I can even find. No help at all.

[@thebillo313]

@@chrisferrell8741 I’m sorry that you’re having trouble. The receive radio connected to the rig does not need any special setting. Your “repeater” is set so that users will transmit on frequency one and receive on frequency two. So the receive radio on your repeater should be set to frequency one. That’s the only setting that you really need to set. The only exception to this is if you wanted to use a PL code. You would need to set the PL code on the user’s radio and on the receive radio on your repeater. I did not cover this in the because it added a level of complication that I didn’t feel was needed. Let me know how it works out. Good luck and have fun!

[@CAMERON1OK]

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]

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

[@jrca1406]

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]

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]

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]

Whoa, great information. Thanks!

[@dariotrinidad1958]

sir please try with power supply if working thank you sir

[@thebillo313]

@@dariotrinidad1958 I’m sorry, I don’t think that I understand your request. Can you rephrase it? Thanks

[@mrwdpkr5851]

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

[@thebillo313]

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

[@funwithcoleson5380]

Very good

[@thebillo313]

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

[@kholt275]

I like to couple it to a really good antenna and the btech amp

[@thebillo313]

@@kholt275 you’re right, the whole point of a repeater is increase your transmission area. If that’s the case then you need a better antenna. So what antenna do you recommend?

[@bluesmanjsb]

@@thebillo313 long

[@arod1784]

Agreed. Well explained and demonstrated.

[@thebillo313]

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

[@nateforrest9803]

Genius!

[@thebillo313]

It takes one to know one! 😉

[@AdventuringMike]

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]

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]

@@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]

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

[@thebillo313]

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

[@thebillo313]

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

[@jetfu400]

this is the best video explaining this... thanks man... we need more of you.

[@thebillo313]

@@jetfu400 thank you so much for your encouragement! Do you have any ideas or suggestions for future videos? I’m always looking for ideas.

[@jetfu400]

@@thebillo313 do another video with these. make the transmitter with longer antenna extending to the roof of the house... then drive far and test how far can you go before it looses connection. i believe someone commented this test already. this will be a great help for some of us guys who is just starting and want a simple communication that extends far without burning cash. thanks man

[@idlesquirrel]

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

[@thebillo313]

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. 👍

[@baron1c]

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]

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.

[@chrisferrell8741]

And I'm sure you still believe it's made of cheese lol.

[@brodychase9665]

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

[@thebillo313]

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. 👍