One of my UHF repeaters functioned with a Maratrac transmitter for over a year, very light duty cycle and the wattage was turned down. Well, it eventually went out so I installed a second, the output was set as it came in at about 100 watts, didn't last 3 days. The UHF Maratracs were cooled by three large fans, doesn't matter, they are designed for a light duty cycle.
Unless you are sure about the duty cycle and lower wattage output, using a Maratrac wouldn't be recommended. I tried both the RICK and a standard controller, didn't like the rick unit for the interface or the audio. My preference is a small controller like the RC1000 by MCC. The Maratrac is easy to interface as a repeater transmitter if you have the A7 control head. Travis AA9NV --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Mike Morris WA6ILQ <wa6...@...> wrote: > > At 03:11 PM 06/19/09, you wrote: > > I have a VHF Moto Maratrac and was thinking about using it for a > > mobile repeater since it is programable. Can I change the relayed > > SO-239 to a regular SO-239 for recieve and add another SO-239 in > > the side for Transmit and it work like that. If this will work I am > > looking at purching several more VHF and UHF Maratrac for a EMCOMM Trailer. > > > >Thanks, > >Grady Evans > > When you get down to the basics a Maratrac is a Maxtrac > with a power amp and a fancy control head. > As such it is a single synthesizer radio and will never duplex. > It is also a limited duty cycle radio - the heat sink is too small > for continuous duty. > > I suggest you review the basic Maratrac info at > <http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/maratrac/maratrac.html> > and then (since the receiver and exciter in a Maratrac is a Maxtrac) > look at the Maxtrac info at > <http://www.repeater-builder.com/maxtrac/maxtrac-index.html> > > The Maratrac will function as a repeater transmitter but only in a > LOW duty cycle environment (in fact, the manual for the RICK > repeater controller box specifically mentions that - but as the > "M400", which is a Maratrac in Radius drag). > > Mike WA6ILQ >
