Planned for a future addition to the network are 900Mhz repeaters, based on converted Motorola Maxtrac mobile radios paired or hopefully some MSF-5000 based 900Mhz repeaters.
The fact that antenna gains get pretty darn high at this wavelenght and that 900Mhz has great penetration and it is an experimenters band as no Amateur Radio manufacturer makes equipment for this band is what has my interest. Users of the system will need to convert commercial gear for use.
The antenna system for the repeater will consist of 4 to 6 phased high gain Celwave log periodic antennae spaced out around the tower and vertically polarized.
The prime mobile radio candidate for such conversions are the 10 watt Motorola 900Mhz Maxtrac units. Specifically the radios whose model numbers start with either D27 or D37. For more information on the Maxtrac conversion see the Batlabs site for information various other Motorola radios suitable for conversion to 900Mhz to include hand helds. There are other makes of radios as well, however the Matrac units are the easiest and cheapest to find and use.
In addition, a 1.2Ghz system is also being considered, however there are no details at this time as to its confinguration and will not debut until late 2003 at the earliest. I am keeping a close eye on the N2AYM system that Dan recently placed in operation on 1295Mhz here in Lakewood which is part of the Optic network. I will not be able to achieve the HAAT from my Lakewood site that N2AYM has and as such may not add a 1.2Ghz at the hub but rather at an off site location. Note, on this band older used or new Amateur equipment is the way to go, no commercial equipment makes the trip easily, although UHF Low Band Mitrek's (406-420 range) with a tripler may do it, 800Mhz Mitrek's have been used for 2.4Ghz repeaters, but I have no interest in going there yet.
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