I really love to use my HT, and crossband helps me do that.
If you have a mobile radio with Dual Receive, such as FT-8800/8900, TM-V71A, or IC-2820 chances are, you can crossband. Be sure to check your owners manual for proper setup and procedure. The Kenwood V71 can actually be controlled by DTMF from your HT and become a Frequency Agile Remote Base. It can also be used on echolink with the right cable.
Normal Crossband
Normally you just set one side of your radio to a VHF or UHF simplex frequency that is on the opposite band of the repeater your trying to use. If both are simplex frequencies, you would have a faster return time. But if it is a repeater, you have to wait for the repeater to drop before you can return.
Smart Crossband
Some repeater owners frown on crossband use on their systems, but with a little help, you can operate crossband without any trouble to you, the users, or the repeater system owner. On your simplex frequency you are using, it is a good idea to set both your HT and mobile radio to Encode/Decode. Meaning both radios require the same tone to pass audio, like a repeater. And if your lucky enough that the repeater Encodes a tone, your even more golden. You set the repeater side of your radio to Encode/Decode as well. Your return time will be dependant on how long the Tone is encoded on the repeater.
Crossband Boost
If your HT has no problem hearing the output of the repeater, and just has trouble getting in full quieting, then Crossband Boost is for you. It will even make your return time to almost instant. You adjust your mobile to the input of the repeater, and
make sure you take off the split, or you’ll transmit on the output of the repeater. Encode/Decode your simplex side of the mobile and you can just Encode on your HT. Here’s the tricky part, you need to find out how to setup your HT to make a weird split. My yaesu FT-60 can do it. You want it to recieve on the repeaters output, say VHF, and transmit on your simplex frequency, UHF. Once you get that, your ready to roll.
A good rule of thumb, is to contact the repeater owner, tell them what you plan to do, and see if it is alright.
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