is not like a conventional Single Frequency Repeater (parrot repeater). This SFR works a bit differently. The FDP SFR simultaneously receives and transmits at the same time, on the same frequency.

It does this by utilising DMR’s two time slots concurrently. The FDP SFR receives on one time slot, whilst transmitting on the other.

Advantages:

The SFR can be used on an existing LMRS single frequency license.

A duplexer is not required, so you are not bound by the bandwidth of the duplexer. This gives you frequency agility.

No duplexer – no insertion or power loss.

Ease of set-up.

A very cost effective and simple DMR Repeater Solution.

Increased coverage on your current license, even at low power limits.

Can be used as a Mobile or Base Transceiver with the use of a microphone, or when in repeater mode – by using a handheld unit in close proximity as a ‘remote handheld device’.

Relays other DMR radio’s encryption, for maximum security.

A talk-around function is not required when the repeater is out of range, making operation much simpler. The DMR radios will simply talk directly to each other instead (without having to separately activate talk-around or change the channel – like you would have to do with a conventional duplex repeater).

Operation:

The SFR should be used with DMR radios capable of Tier II DMO dual slot trunk (sometimes referred to as pseudo trunk or virtual trunk). DMO trunk radios will use whichever time slot is available. Most Tier II DMR radios can do this.

Specifications:

Mode: DMR (Digital Mobile Radio Standard) and Analogue.

TDMA Dual Slots – Tier II Digital

DMO Trunk (pseudo) & RMO

Single Frequency Repeater Mode (DMR) / Transceiver Mode

Analogue integration inc CTCSS/DCS

Allows mixed modes in the same zone

Approved for LMRS.

Frequency Range: 400 – 480Mhz

160 Channel – 16 channels per zone

Channel spacing: 12.5kHz digital / 25kHz & 12.5kHz analogue

Power Output: 25W/10W

Modulation: 4FSK – 7K60FXD 7K60FXE 16K0F3E & 10K1F3E

Sensitivity: 0.25uV – 5% BER digital/12dB SINAD analogue

DMR Roaming

Vocoder: AMBE+2

Weight: 1.5kg

Size: 175mm (L) x 175mm (W) x 63mm (H)

Operating Voltage: 12 – 13.8V negative ground

5 Programmable Function Keys – 10 different settings

Relays digital encryption from other radios, for maximum security

Analogue Scrambler

Large LCD Screen for easier menu navigating

Rugged design

ETSI and AS/NZS Compliant

Comes with Keypad Microphone, Mounting brackets and Fused Power Lead.

Question: How can I use my 5W licence on a repeater that does 10W?

Answer: The FDP SFR produces 25W on High power and 10W on Low power. However a 5W licence allows 8.3W EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) and this is to take antenna gain and other factors into account. So depending on the antenna chosen, and taking into effect feedline loss (length and quality/type, at a given frequency) and connector insertion loss, an EIRP figure can be easily calculated.

To give an example, if you were running 10W (40dBm) on UHF (let’s say 465Mhz) and your feedline was 25 feet (7.62m) of RG58 (2.8dB loss), using 2 x PL259 connectors (0.18db loss), to a basic dipole antenna (2.15dBi gain), your EIRP would be 39.17dBm or 8.26W.

Conversely, if you have a license that allows 50W (83W EIRP), this can be accomplished by running the SFR on high power, using low loss coax and high gain antenna.

Question: Whilst I can use the SFR on my single frequency license, can I use the SFR on a duplex repeater license?

Answer: Due to the nature of the SFR’s operation, at a standalone site you can use either the TX or RX side of a duplex repeater license (or use two SFR’s on both). At a communal site, you should only use the TX side of the license.

Question: Will the FDP SFR work with Mototrbo 2000/4000 series radios

Answer: Yes – when DCDM (Dual Capacity Direct Mode) is not enabled. Hytera (HYT) call this Strict TDMA Direct Mode.

Question: Will the FDP SFR relay “Private Call” within a Talk Group

Answer: Yes

Hotspoting the FDP SFR as an IP Linked 70cm Ham Repeater

Thanks largely to the efforts of VH4BS (School ICT Solutions), and with some insights from VK4EDM (Bay Radio) we have managed to successful hotspot the FDP SFR with a Zumspot and Jumbospot – having the SFR re-transmit the hotspot transmission. Some tweaking with the Pi-star’s tx offset configuation was required for both versions.

What an easy and cost effective way to set up an IP linked 70cm Ham Repeater.

IP linking the FDP SFR by other means

Due to the nature of the SFR’s operation, IP linking can be achieved by the use of a control radio connected to a RoIP controller such as a RoxiLink or similar ‘Zello’ box configuration, allowing IP based platform connection either by PC or mobile phone, depending on the device. This would also allow other transmission types to interconnect, like PoC radios, or even mobile phones. The advantage of using a control radio, is that it does not have to be located at the SFR site – it only has to be within RX and TX range of the site. An example of a control radio would be a FDP Pro DMR64 hooked up to the RoIP controller using an M (Motorola style M1A two pin two pole) connector cable.

Another easy and very cost effective method of linking repeaters.