Crossband into Dot325

The only way I can make the haul lengthwise over the Powell Valley (TN) ridgeline running between Cumberland Gap, TN and Caryville, TN is to use a beam and 35 watts.  Below is the antenna setup.

The 2 meter quarterwave vertical and the DB Products yagi are the antennas I’m using.

The diplexer lets me use only one coax run.  The crossband rig is a Kenwood TN 731. 

The view towards White Oak…

The Kenwood is a little older, but I honestly enjoy using it as much or more than the newer rigs I have.  I use a simplex freq on 2 meters that SERA recommends and the output is set for the Mboro 440 machine.  When funds allow, I’ll replace this with 2 Alinco monobanders running thru an NHRC6 or NHRC7 controller…  one of the few controllers that can handle 2 monobanders.  This will allow IDing on both bands…  as well as being able to remotely enable and disable the repeater, etc.

The “Tank…” a Kenwood TM 731

443.950 Final Build

The 443.950 has been installed inside the Motorola cabinet provided by WB4IVB.  Air flow throughout the cabinet is good and, more importantly, the rear cabinet door now closes after moving the rails all the way to the front.  I don’t want this to become a playground for mice in the winter months!

The receiver/exciter/amplifier consists of a GE Mastr II Exec conversion done by WB4IVB.  The sensitivity on receive is very good and the amp is pushing 30 Watts into the duplexers.  The duplexers are 250 watt capable DB Products surplus and the controller is a CAT 700.  The 3 remote bases consist of 3 Kenwood monobanders of late 80’s vintage driven by a Doug Hall Remote Base Interface.

My goal is to find a decent site with a secure building to house the repeater.

It takes good ears to hear the weak ones!

W4HKL

443.950 Overview

“Basically…”

Remote Base Operation

“Basically…” Part II, Electric Boogaloo