I must have to respectfully disagree with Kirk as well.  Many times, from a real repeater site, communications can be done with very little power.  A local coverage node (inside ones house) can be done on low power as well.  The UV-5R will handle multiple 3 minute key-downs on low power without turning into a plastic blob (remote base operation).  CTCSS hides most receiver inadequacies.

Not everyone has ready access to programming hardware and software need for a Maxtrac or Radius, so these cheap Chinese radios can be moved in frequency without effort.  Sure, they're not a Motorola, but many times users of AllStar don't necessarily need a Motorola quality radio.

That said, one of my most favorite radios for dedicated linking is a MaraTrac.  The VHF 100 Watt model usually is very cheap and it's easy to convert them to a lower powered unit by snipping out several components and using solder wick to 'bypass' the 2 final transistors.  You end up with a 15 Watt unit that will last almost forever. 

Bottom line - it's all in what you want and need.

Kevin - WJ8G


 
No need to re-thing this Kirk.  It would work fine for a simple node. Now if you wanted to monitor the Win System with 100% duty cycle, you may have a point. But that is not the intent of my posting.
 
 
 
73
Jim W7RY
 
 
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] Chinese Radios For Nodes
 
i dont mean to be disrespectful...but WHY would you use a POOR PERFORMING UV-5R when for less than $50 you could use a Maxtrac or Radius mobile?????
RCVR performance is dismal at best with poor image rejection,lousy dynamic range and the selectivity of a barn door?
The first time it stays keyed for 10 minutes you will be the proud owner of a colorful chinese blob of smoldering plastic....
Seriously...rethink this???
 
Kirk (WB6EGR)
 


On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 7:29 PM, Jim W7RY <w7ry@centurytel.net> wrote:
 
There is COR voltage along with some transistors that control the TDA-2822 audio chip. There is also a discrete volume control too. So you can get fixed de-emphasised RX audio to drive a URI. So it looks like the UV5r would be a good candidate for a node radio and long as you use the internal PL decoder which would be fine.
 
 
 
73
Jim W7RY