When people contact Kevin through the Repeater Builders page for advice and opinion on a subject, he always tries to answer the query to the best of his ability. There are times when he can't provide an answer due to the broadness of the subject and differing specific types of equipment that are commonly used. In this instance, he usually refers the person to one of the general or specific repeater e-mail lists, as there are more people to draw information from. Some of you have relayed that you are not into email lists and for that reason, this Elmer list was created.

These Elmers listed below have years of experience dealing with duplex radio and have agreed to help answer general and technical questions concerning communications systems used in repeater, linking, or remote base service. These individuals may have differing types of expertise based on their personal preference and experience. Some of our Elmers speak other languages than English.

If you have an inquiry, feel free to contact an Elmer via email. They are willing to try to answer your question to the best of their ability. No question is too simple. The Elmer won't think your question is dumb. Please realize this is a free service and it may take some time for the individual to review the problem and offer advice or opinion on the matter.

The Elmers listed below will provide information on the following subjects to the best of their ability:

= Equipment selection/recommendations
  - Repeaters (stations and duplexed mobile radios)
  - Linking/remote base radios
  - Antennas
  - Duplexers
  - Filtering products (cavity filters, isolators, etc.)
  - Voting comparators
  - Voting receivers (remote or satellite receiver sites)
  - Controllers
  - Crystals
  - Power supplies
  - Surge/lightning arrestors
  - Transmission lines and connectors
  - Preamplifiers
  - Power Amplifiers
  - Crossband couplers
  - Audio Processing
  - Tone signaling  (PL, Channel Guard, Call Guard, CTCSS)
  - Testing and servicing equipment

=Model-Specific Questions (specifications, troubleshooting, tune-up, modifications, etc.)
+ RF Products
  - GE
  - Motorola
  - Glenayre/Quintron
  - Maggiore
  - Hamtronics
  - Kenwood
  - Yaesu/Vertex
  - ICOM
  - Spectrum
  - Home Brew

+ Controllers
  - SCOM
  - Link Comm
  - ACC
  - MCC
  - CAT
  - NHRC
  - CSI
  - Pacific Research
  - Zetron
  - Home Brew

+ Other Products
  - RVS
  - Hall (voters and remote base controllers)
  - Astron
  - Communications Specialists

= Theory and Engineering Questions
  - Filtering/duplexing/isolation
  - Troubleshooting techniques
  - Analog circuit design
  - RF circuit design
  - Digital circuit design
  - Transmission line theory
  - Coverage modelling/path analysis
  - Antenna design/theory
  - Intermod analysis
  - Isolation analysis
  - System troubleshooting (desense, noise, intermodulation, etc.)
  - Performance/optimization (audio quality, antenna patterns, etc.)

= Implementation Concepts
  - Linking schemes
  - Installation techniques and materials
  - Tower/rigging techniques and materials
  - Interfacing/Third-Party Equipment
 

To email any of the individuals below, just click on their name. Your mailer will open up with the email address and subject line already filled in. You may add to the subject line, but please don't modify the part that is automatically filled in.

The email address that is preloaded into your mailer will NOT be a useable address.
You will have to correct it by replacing " at " with "@" and " dot " with "." and remove any spaces.
Sorry, but this address disguising is needed due to the spambots that search the web for valid email addresses.

Jeff DePolo WN3A
Jeff is a Broadcast and Communications Consultant as his day job, specializing in designing, constructing, and maintaining broadcast and telecommunications facilities. He has built and maintains many repeater systems, both his own as well as for commercial clients and other amateurs and radio clubs. Jeff will attempt to answer any technical questions regarding amateur repeaters.

Ray Vaughan KD4BBM
Ray has been building repeaters from GE MASTR Exec II radios for many years. He prefers to be contacted only about building repeaters from GE Exec II's, namely Desktop Stations. You can also look at Ray's website on building repeaters from MASTR Exec II Desktop Stations.

Kevin Custer W3KKC
Kevin has been around radio for many years and has several commercial, gmrs, mars, and amateur repeaters including two very large amateur link systems in western PA. Kevin helps with numerous individual and club repeaters in Pa, Va, Md, Wv, and Ohio on bands from 10 meters to 900 MHz. He will attempt to answer any technical questions concerning commercial or amateur repeaters. Kevin's area of expertiese is the MICOR, MASTR II, MVP, and Hamtronics lines.
Kevin's Repeater Builder website.

Jim Hartzell WA3UQD
Jim has been in Two-Way for over 30 years building and maintaining repeaters from manufacturers like GE, Motorola, RCA, and SEA. He will attempt to answer any technical questions concerning commercial or amateur repeaters. His specialty is concerning the controllers from Computer Automation Technology (CAT), especially the CAT-1000. Jim has provided articles concerning the CAT controllers here on this site.

Steve Makky, Sr. KA2AYR
Steve has been working on many communications systems for over 22 years from amateur to public safety, many on sites that are in RF dense environments including unique sites like the World Trade Center and Empire State Building. He has many attributes including a General Radiotelephone Operator's License, many Motorola product specific schools and is a certified "Emergency Number Professional". Steve likes operating on 6 meters but uses and maintains RF components to 900 MHz. including Hamtronics equipment. He may be able to assist with RF equipment, site, intermod, antenna, feedline and coverage related issues.

Chris Baldwin KF6AJM
I have extensive experience with all of the Advanced Computer Controls repeater controllers and accessories. I'm also good with the Motorola Spectra TAC Total Area Coverage voting system, specifically experience with its usage in the amateur repeater systems. I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others, as it doesn't seem there are many people who know about this system, especially in the ham band, who are on-line and willing to help. I also have experience with the MICOR repeater radios, and the Spectra TAC system's interconnection to it. I've done remote-site linking (translation) for Spectra TAC on 420MHz and 900MHz.

Juan, XE2SI Habla Espanol
Juan writes: "I would like to participate in the Elmer program. I have been a ham since 1964, I started in the old days of 2m AM in the "you had to build your own equipment" era, then I started on repeaters in 1972 using old tube type radios, now I am very familiar with Motorola Mitreks and MICORs, have done a good quantity of repeaters for amateur use and also for commercial freqs., with a simple COR to sophisticated controllers and with comunity tone panels, have done experimenting also with LTR trunking. Presently I have a two-way radio business here in Tijuana, Mexico since 1977 were I have direct dealership from Kenwood LMR in Los Angeles. I can help as an Elmer with the spanish speaking people that visit your web site, I am online most of the day because the nature of my work...
Hope I can be of some help to all people interested in experimenting in this hobby."

Mark Lacy W5TXR
I worked for Motorola 25+ years, experience as a senior field technician, systems infrastructure technician, and systems designer. I've attended numerous Motorola schools, and am knowledgeable in MSF5000, Starpoint/Starplex, P25, Spectra, Spectra Astro, Spectra TAC, Astro-TAC, Digi-TAC, Centracom-Gold, MaraTrac, Mitrek, simulcast, system levels, and site management. I have extensive experience with repeater systems, repeater system design, RF Propagation software, repeater systems w/Spectra TAC, linking and EchoLink. I designed and marketed a high-end EchoLink Interface (3 models). I have an extensive inventory of parts and components including rebuilt Spectra TAC modules. I'm currently located at a USAF base in England and will be back in the states in a January 2019. I enjoy Elmer work. I'm very involved here in the UK.
Mark's website

Ronnie Whitt NW5V
I am a senior RF tech at Communications International. I have about 40+ years experience in all types of RF equipment. I started out in a small Mom and Pop Comm shop in Baytown Texas. I worked at ARCO Channelview TX as a in plant tech, all Motorola equipment. Then went to Motorola in Texas City. Worked at another small rf shop in Alabama, a Kenwood dealer. Now at Comm Inter. I am a full time bench tech now, working on Harris and Kenwood equipment. I have built systems from the small single repeater to the large multi site state wide public service communications networks. So now I am slowing down a little, not on the road so much any more so a little more time to play! I don't mind helping anyone with a question or two.
DE.. NW5V

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If you have knowledge on the subject of repeaters and would like to participate in the Repeater Elmer program, send an email to: Kevin Custer, W3KKC

Page last updated April 30, 2013 by W3KKC
The information presented in this web site and on these web pages is © Copyrighted 1995 - current by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors.