A repeater is a device that receives radio transmissions on one frequency, and then simultaneously re-transmits (“repeats”, hence the name!) them on a second frequency, but with more power because it can draw on mains electrical power (or a big 12 volt battery) and usually a bigger aerial than on a small battery-powered walkie-talkie radio.
Nearby walkie-talkies or other users whose radios are set to use these two frequencies can then communicate via the repeater.
The purpose of the repeater is to increase the area of signal coverage of a group of walkie-talkie or other radio users.
Limitations Of Walkie Talkies In Terms Of Range
Walkie-talkie radios have a range that is limited by their power output and small aerial.
Also their location and the terrain in which they are being used affects their range and area of coverage.
Hills, woods, and buildings can all impede radio signals.
How A Repeater Can Improve Things
The repeater is positioned somewhere high up (and usually near the centre of the area to be covered, although not in this picture!)
The walkie-talkies radios are set to transmit on one frequency, which is picked up by the repeater, and then instantly re-broadcast on a second frequency.
The walkie-talkies must be set up to work with a repeater. You cannot simply plug in a repeater and have it operating with some existing radios, unless they have been programmed to work with it.
What Does The Repeater Look Like?
The repeater is an electronic “box of tricks” with an aerial attached. It is about the size and weight of a large desktop PC’s “system unit”. In our “hire fleet” we have Vertex and Hytera repeaters, for use with different models of walkie-talkie that we have for hire.
It needs mains power, and it needs to be out of the weather (although its aerial can obviously be outside).
The repeater (or at least it’s aerial) should ideally be positioned somewhere near the centre of the area you want to cover, and as high up and in as unobstructed a position as is possible.
An aerial will be connected to the repeater, and then attached somewhere – the higher up, the better.
A repeater can only “repeat” one frequency at a time, so if your event uses several radio frequencies for different purposes, you would need more than one repeater.
Using Walkie Talkie Radios Via A Repeater
Walkie-talkies need to be set up to use a repeater on one or more of their channels.
You cannot simply get a repeater and assume it will work with some existing radios.
A walkie-talkie’s channel that is set for use without a repeater, will not work via a repeater.
Fortunately, we have set up all of our “hire fleet” of walkie-talkies so that some of their channels (4 of the 16 channels on our Hytera digital walkie-talkies) are ready to work with our repeaters for hire, so they are always “ready to go” for use with or without one of our repeaters without any need for reprogramming.