The Burns Lake SAR Portable Repeater




                                                                                      

    Why it's needed: Your mobile or handheld transceiver, has a limited range due to it's antenna height with respect to the radio horizon and rf attenuating surroundings.  Repeater systems are used to "transfer" your transmitted and received signals from a much higher elevation electronically . A repeater "gets out" your signal and receives the station you are talking to with a far greater range and coverage area! You take advantage of the repeater's higher elevation to increase your effective transmitting and receiving coverage versus your mobile or hand held transceiver.

                                                                                         


        The BLSAR portable repeater is a Simplex Repeater. It receives on a frequency of 149.525 mhz, it records the message ( 60 seconds maximum )on a digital recorder, it then transmits this message on 149.495 mhz. So when your radio is set up for this repeater operation you will be transmitting on 149.525 mhz and receiving on 149.495 mhz.
  So after you release the PPT button you will "hear your message" being transmitted.

The repeater is portable as shown above. It also requires an antenna, which can be of several forms but the most common would be as below.
                     
                                                                                         

     It also needs a 12 volt DC power source. Typically  a 12 volt automobile or marine battery. Some method of maintaining an effective charge of this battery should also be considered otherwise the operation life would depend on the quality and capacity of the battery.

                                                                                        

Notes:
    - The battery depicted above would never be accepted by any air carrier for transportation.  So a battery will probably have to be of an approved type and should be housed in an approved container if it is to be transported in an aircraft.
    - As with any radio, never transmit without an antenna attached. With this system I recommend to never hook up a power supply without having the antenna hooked up as the transmitter can be inadvertently activated by a stray signal.
     - Also this unit, at this time, is not housed by any means to protect it from the elements. So measures must be taken to do so when leaving this unit outdoors.
                                                                            


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