Overview
These are transmitter repeaters that can be added to LRS pager systems to increase their signal range or coverage. Order this as part of a custom system or to expand your existing system.
You can call us at 805-375-7000 to ask questions or place your order, or you can order your system components using the Add to Cart button above.
Use repeaters to:
- Expand coverage between buildings and across campuses.
- Create wireless connections to rooftop antennas.
- Greatly increase the range of single or multiple small push-for-service transmitters.
- Overcome coverage problems which may be present in large, very solidly constructed buildings such as hospitals or high-rise office buildings.
The larger LRS pager transmitters (models T7470, MT and EZ) have ranges up to 3/4 mile in open air and do not require repeaters in normal use.
However, repeaters are often used to reinforce signals from small LRS push-for-service transmitters such as the Butler XP and PRONTO models. These have ranges of a few hundred feet on their own, but that can be greatly increased with repeaters. When repeaters receive low-power signals from small transmitters, they repeat the signals with many times more power than the original signal. One repeater can service as many transmitters as it can "hear".
How Repeaters Work
LRS repeaters simply repeat any LRS transmitter signals they receive. When repeaters are placed near the maximum range of original signals, they repeat the weak, distant signals with new, full-strength signals, thereby extending the range of the original signals.
The original signal can be from any LRS transmitter or even another repeater. You can spread out repeaters in such a way as to send signals over a network of repeaters to eventually cover very large areas.
A Typical Hospital Scenario
A large hospital built of heavy concrete and steel, with six floors above ground and three below and covering most of a block, has a clinic on the ground floor. The clinic needs to page patients anywhere in the building and throughout the grounds. Two repeaters are placed on middle floors at the ends of the building to provide coverage within the building. A third repeater is placed on the top floor with a connection to a large antenna on the roof to provide coverage for the hospital's upper floors, grounds and beyond.
LRS transmitters normally use a 3-inch antenna mounted on the transmitter itself. There is an optional seven-foot antenna which can double the range of the 3-inch. The larger antenna includes a 25-foot cable. Cable lengths beyond 25 feet reduce the range, which is one of the reasons a repeater is connection to the roof antenna instead of running cable all the way from the ground floor.
Repeater Transmitter Installation Requirements
Repeaters are usually just placed in utility closets and plugged into wall power, need no special setup or ongoing attention from users, and it's usually just that simple.
Locating the repeater is the key to optimal performance. Ideally, repeaters should be located at the sweet spot where source signals are as weak or distant as can be yet still received reliably. The only way to know where this is is by trying different locations.
As is true for all radio equipment, keep the following in mind to optimize performance. Note that the following applies to the location of the antenna rather than the electronics box itself. The antenna can be separated from the box with a cable so the box can be in a convenient location while the antenna can be elsewhere where it works best.
- Radio signals love height; higher is always better. The roof is ideal but upper floors near windows are good or near the ceiling is OK if that's all you have to work with.
- Radio signals do OK with windows, light construction and empty space. In a standard low-rise building of wooden or cinderblock construction with lots of windows and open spaces, radio does fine.
- Radio signals do not like metal. Keep antennas as far away from metal as possible, especially sheet metal. Do not locate antennas in places surrounded by metal or on top of metal surfaces such as steel desks or cabinets. If your building has sheet metal walls, locate antennas so they can "see" out windows or better yet, mount antennas outside of the building.
- Radio signals do not like heavy concrete-and-steel construction such as used in large hospitals. Signals that can go a mile in open air may only go a hundred feet in very solid buildings, so we "pepper" hospitals with networks of repeaters to achieve even coverage. (Why don't we use more powerful transmitters? Because more power creates interference that medical devices may not tolerate. LRS transmitters are widely used in hospitals because their power levels are safe for use with hospital equipment.)
Product Features and Benefits:
- Increases signal range
- Eliminates non-coverage areas ("dead spots")
- Works with all LRS pagers and transmitters
- No monthly charges
- UHF frequency (467.75 MHz)
- Does not interfere with hospital equipment
- Synthesized frequency and modulation
- Operates on 110V or 220V
- Overall size: 4" x 8" x 1" thick
- Increases range indefinitely
- Small and lightweight for easy mounting
- TX and RX LED's allow for easy testing/debugging
Related Products
Compatible Transmitters
Range Extending Antennas and Cables
Service- One-year warranty
- Immediate transmitter replacement (often overnight, with free shipping)
- Seven-day extended hours technical support
PoliciesDelivery Time: Normal delivery with UPS Ground takes three to seven business days, depending on your location. Rush Orders: If your order is urgent and you want assurance of immediate shipping, you must call us at 805-375-7000. Note that UPS only guarantees delivery dates for its overnight services. Overnight Shipping: Overnight shipping is available for this item to most US locations. Friday overnight shipments are normally delivered on Monday unless Saturday delivery is requested by phone. Saturday Delivery, where available, is 50% more than regular overnight. Returns: LRS Products are returnable within 14 days of delivery. Refunds are less shipping, 15% restock fee and charge card merchant fees (if applied). US Delivery Only: Radio equipment regulations apply to pager systems and are such that we can only deliver LRS products to US addresses.
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