Surecom SR-629 Duplex Repeater Controller

Works Quite Well... ...Cable Quality Issue, Though

This repeater functions very well. It keys the sending radio quickly, and the audio quality seems pretty good. I think it is a great value.

I will say though that I had an issue at first. There appears to be some variation in the relative depth of the two pins on the connectors for the radios. One cable was causing the opposing radio to key continuously, unless I pressed on the top of it. This was in Baofeng radios, and the problem stayed with the cable, not the radio.

I was able to remedy it by putting a rubber band around the radio, as shown. One of the two cables received with the radio needed this, the other one didn't. I contacted the manufacturer, and they sent me two new cables. Again, one of those exhibited this problem, and the other one didn't. I do believe it is a depth issue, see the attached photos showing the relative angles between a bad and a good cable. I think if they improve the fixturing for this cable they can remedy this.

Those of you saying this thing is no good for same-band repeating: That's on the radios, not on the repeater. Having two $20 walkie talkies side-by-side and expecting them to do well even if they are 5MHz apart is a pretty big ask.

It does work quite well cross-band, though.

Edited, doesnt work. Dont buy

It does what it needs to do. Just not super well. It performs very well for its price point with some minor modifications. Lined the inside and seams (removed board, very easy) with copper rf tape. Also installed rf clip on inhibitors on both ends of the feed cables.

I also bought an extension cable for the 2 pin cables in order to move radios farther apart. Distance is your friend here

After all that

Boom.

An inexpensive ghetto repeater

**

Edit after doing field testing

Junk dont buy.

Was 4 stars. Now 1

It works when setting up at home. Go more than one mile away it stops working. Regular simplex literally works better. There is 0 reason to purchase this.

Edit 2

Bought a duplexer as I was dedicated to making this work. Still no improvement.

Go with a basic simplex repeater unless you are going to spend a few grand