By Ken Larson KJ6RZ
[webmaster note: The following are a few snippets from the article at http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html which was brought to my attention by Don, AAØBZ. I urge you to read the entire article. Thanks, Don!]
“Cross band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios. The purpose of a cross band repeater is the same as any radio repeater. It allows stations to communicate that ordinarily would not be able to do so because of the distance or terrain between them.”
“A cross band repeater is similar in function to a standard repeater in that it contains a receiver and a transmitter that are linked together, but which operate on different frequencies. Voice signals that the repeater receives on its input frequency are automatically retransmitted on its output frequency. A repeater is a relay station.
A cross band repeater is implemented using a dual band 2 meter – 70 cm radio. The repeater receives signals on one amateur radio band (for example 70 cm) and retransmits those signals on a second amateur band (2 meters). Thus the name cross band repeater.”
“Cross band repeating works best in simplex networks. Cross band repeating can be using (sic) on a standard repeater network, … however, if this is done, more discipline is required by those operating on the net. The problem is that the cross band repeater will not switch into the 70 cm receive mode until after the carrier of the main 2 meter repeater has dropped. This makes the turn around times on the net (the time between the last person speaking and the next person beginning) abnormally long. If people on the main 2 meter net begin talking before the repeater carrier has dropped, the people with 70 cm handheld radios will rarely get a chance to speak. To provide for fairness on the net, anyone wishing to speak must wait until the repeater carrier has dropped before beginning to talk.”
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