Radio Repeaters Repeat Signals
A radio repeater works to receive a radio signal then broadcast it at higher power to reach a broader range of radio enthusiasts. As the sender transmits, the sender's radio uses a microphone and basic circuitry to convert the sender's voice into radio waves. These waves are transmitted via the sender's antenna to the repeater, which, in turn, rebroadcasts the signal with considerably more power to the radio receivers within the repeater's reach.
Repeaters Use Offsets
Radio receivers within range of the original transmitter receive two transmissions (the original transmission and the repeater's transmission). To avoid this overlap, repeaters and two-meter radios use a function known as an "offset." In essence, the repeater's offset allows it to "listen" for incoming transmissions on one frequency and rebroadcast those transmissions on another, slightly different frequency. Other radio enthusiasts using the repeater set their radios to listen on the same frequency as the repeater broadcasts so that they do not receive another sender's original transmission.
Repeaters Can Provide Services
Some repeaters are configured by the repeater's owner to provide additional services to radio users. Depending on the repeater's configuration and capabilities, it may be able to provide Internet access (using radio packet relay), access telephone lines, allow users to make landline telephone calls or even access other repeaters so users can broadcast over even greater distances.
Tags: original transmission, radio enthusiasts, receivers within