This morning I heard that the GB3YT ATV repeater is to permanently close this summer as the owners are getting older and can't climb ladders. How many will follow? I can imagine quite a few repeaters going with a combination of high site costs, old age and low usage. Many repeaters are totally quiet for hours on end.
Showing posts with label repeaters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repeaters. Show all posts
13 Apr 2023
16 Apr 2020
GB3PX 6m repeater
I am not a great repeater user.
Last night, on the CDARC net, someone mentioned the 6m FM repeater GB3PX at Barkway, near Cambridge.
Today, I gave it a try. It is on 50.780MHz with a 500kHz shift and 77Hz tone access. After a few false starts when I found out how to select the right repeater shift, I managed to access it. It was very quiet. I called several times but no-one was on.
Later, I may see which other 6m repeaters I can access. Somewhere I shall have to find a list with tone access frequencies.
UPDATE 1925z: Although I can access GB3PX very well, every time I called no-one responded. I can just (sometimes) access the Bury-St-Edmunds 6m repeater as well, but no others. A useful resource for a list of 6m repeaters in the UK is https://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaterlist1.htm?filter1=6M
Last night, on the CDARC net, someone mentioned the 6m FM repeater GB3PX at Barkway, near Cambridge.
Today, I gave it a try. It is on 50.780MHz with a 500kHz shift and 77Hz tone access. After a few false starts when I found out how to select the right repeater shift, I managed to access it. It was very quiet. I called several times but no-one was on.
Later, I may see which other 6m repeaters I can access. Somewhere I shall have to find a list with tone access frequencies.
UPDATE 1925z: Although I can access GB3PX very well, every time I called no-one responded. I can just (sometimes) access the Bury-St-Edmunds 6m repeater as well, but no others. A useful resource for a list of 6m repeaters in the UK is https://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaterlist1.htm?filter1=6M
15 Oct 2018
Repeater Activity
Some while ago, I bought a network radio, which means I can access lots of repeaters via Echolink.
Now, I am not a great repeater user, but it is noticeable how quiet these are compared with 20-30 years ago. This seems to be worldwide issue.
I guess these days there are other ways to communicate if at home and there are fewer amateurs driving to work than 30 odd years ago. I also think roads are busier, so people have to concentrate on the traffic more.
Now, I am not a great repeater user, but it is noticeable how quiet these are compared with 20-30 years ago. This seems to be worldwide issue.
I guess these days there are other ways to communicate if at home and there are fewer amateurs driving to work than 30 odd years ago. I also think roads are busier, so people have to concentrate on the traffic more.
18 Dec 2017
Bath repeaters to lose university site
Southgate News reports that the Bath repeaters are being evicted from their university site next month. I do not know if there are plans to re-site them.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/bath-repeaters-lose-university-site.htm#.Wjgqr0x2vIU .
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/bath-repeaters-lose-university-site.htm#.Wjgqr0x2vIU .
8 Feb 2015
Digital repeaters
As I have mentioned before, I am a rare repeater user, partly because my voice is so poor currently and I don't find operating through repeaters that satisfying. Each to his/her own and if this helps you enjoy the hobby go ahead!
At the moment it is far from clear which form of digital repeater will win: there are several competing digital standards and all have their advocates. For now I shall sit back and wait. A bit like the video standards war in the 1980s, the best system may not win. Let's see. Up to now I have only used FM repeaters.
When I do use voice I use SSB, FM and AM. All modes have their places on our bands. SSB is good on the crowded HF bands, FM useful for nets on VHF, and AM rigs simple to build and there is space on all bands from 10m upwards for all analogue voice modes. A well designed AM rig should occupy less than 6kHz, far less most FM transmissions on our bands. 10m AM, just above 29MHz, is a great mode. I have worked quite a few stateside stations on 10m AM. And I have only used QRP AM. Let no-one tell you AM is a dead mode!
At the moment it is far from clear which form of digital repeater will win: there are several competing digital standards and all have their advocates. For now I shall sit back and wait. A bit like the video standards war in the 1980s, the best system may not win. Let's see. Up to now I have only used FM repeaters.
When I do use voice I use SSB, FM and AM. All modes have their places on our bands. SSB is good on the crowded HF bands, FM useful for nets on VHF, and AM rigs simple to build and there is space on all bands from 10m upwards for all analogue voice modes. A well designed AM rig should occupy less than 6kHz, far less most FM transmissions on our bands. 10m AM, just above 29MHz, is a great mode. I have worked quite a few stateside stations on 10m AM. And I have only used QRP AM. Let no-one tell you AM is a dead mode!
12 Feb 2009
New Zealand repeaters
Just arrived in ZL-land and tried listening to the UHF repeaters in Auckland, North Island. Although hearing stations on the linked national network of repeaters on 439.875MHz in Auckland, I have been unable to access it. This may be because my VX2 signal is just too weak or I may need a CTCSS code or DCS code I don't know.Anyway, the scenery here up on the Bay of Islands at Russell is just breathtaking so who needs ham radio right now....
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