Middlesboro -
443.950 is off the air until I can replace the antenna. It appears to have slowly degraded over the past 2 years. The desense issue has now been eliminated up to the jumper or the repeater antenna. Info gleaned from the web would indicate that the Diamond 718 antennas can't handle the mountaintop locations for - of all reasons - heavy moisture condensation at altitude. Go figure.
Caryville -
I have decided to go ahead and coordinate the 444.675 (+ offset, 100.0 Tone) Seems like much ado over nothing considering it's low profile and lack of coverage, but I might as well.
It is IRLP connected and is parked on the East Coast Reflector 9050 mostly during the day. At night, it may end up on either the 9109 Alaska Channel or 9070 Alaska Reflector. Or on 9050. Feel free to use it.
73 disconnects while simply inputting the IRLP node or reflector number will connect.
Just be sure to wait 30=45 seconds before transmitting when you first arrive so as not to inadvertently interrupt a QSO. If you connect up with something just disconnect after you are through.
Allstar Node 41538 is running on 146.460 (100.0 Tone.) I am planning to mount the antenna about 20 feet higher and go with a higher gain antenna - but not too high a gain - we are in the mountains, after all. This node may or may not be connected to an IRLP bridge, another Allstar or Echolink node, or simply idle. *70 will give you the node status. If it is in repeat mode, you're set. If not, *73 will disconnect all. *3XXXX (xxxx=allstar node number) will connect you to the node number you input. If you want to use Echolink, shoot me an email. It's a bit more tricky.
Future plans -
Once 950 is back on and working, I will connect it to the Allstar Linking Network. Why...? Because we can!!!
Steve
W4HKL
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Duplexer Info for the 03/24/2014 East Coast Repeater Net
This is supplementary info for the East Coast Repeater Net on 03/24/2015.
Steve Smith, W4HKL
Topic: Duplexers
Steve Smith, W4HKL
Topic: Duplexers
Below are some pictures of duplexers.
VHF?
UHF? 900 Mhz?
A set of low power duplexers.
Homebrew duplexers made from old fire extinguishers!
Links
Wikipedia : Duplexer
Repeater Builder: Antenna Systems
Repeater Builder - Desense Testing using an Iso-Tee
(Detailed interior diagram of a duplexer)
PDFs
(Includes diagram of duplexer interior)
Youtube
I hope this collection on information assists anyone looking to further their understanding of duplexers.
Steve, W4HKL
(The links, photos, and information used above represents the hard work and dedication of many individuals. I make no claim of ownership or creation of those links, files, or information. This information is presented purely for the advancement of the Amateur Radio Hobby. If any of the authors has issues with this information being used here without claim of authorship by myself only for the advancement of the hobby, then contact me and I will immediately remove the offending item.)
Saturday, January 10, 2015
TACN
Tennessee Consolidated Network for Emergency Communications and Technology.
Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask, lol.
THP : https://www.tn.gov/safety/tacn.html
Radioreference Forum for TACN
More info from Radioreference
Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask, lol.
THP : https://www.tn.gov/safety/tacn.html
Radioreference Forum for TACN
More info from Radioreference
Sunday, October 12, 2014
SDR HF - VHF - UHF
This is a listing of the websites where I am gathering preliminary info.
A complete write-up is forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Steve, W4HKL
http://blog.y3xz.com/blog/2012/12/02/a-primer-on-cheap-software-defined-radios
http://www.unitrunker.com/
http://lna4all.blogspot.com/
http://blog.kf7lze.net/2012/09/14/round-up-of-rtlsdr-upconverter-choices/
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171470842034 RTL with high stability TCXO
https://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/32599-rtl-sdr-tutorial-following-trunked-radio-with-unitrunker/
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-following-trunked-radio-unitrunker/
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/integrated-rtl-sdr-hf-upconverter/
http://www.nooelec.com/store/nesdr-mini-plus.html RTL with high stability TCXO
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Digital_Speech_Decoder_(software_package)
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Digital_Speech_Decoder_(software_package)#Known_Working_Hardware_Setups
A complete write-up is forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Steve, W4HKL
http://blog.y3xz.com/blog/2012/12/02/a-primer-on-cheap-software-defined-radios
http://www.unitrunker.com/
http://lna4all.blogspot.com/
http://blog.kf7lze.net/2012/09/14/round-up-of-rtlsdr-upconverter-choices/
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171470842034 RTL with high stability TCXO
https://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/32599-rtl-sdr-tutorial-following-trunked-radio-with-unitrunker/
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-following-trunked-radio-unitrunker/
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/integrated-rtl-sdr-hf-upconverter/
http://www.nooelec.com/store/nesdr-mini-plus.html RTL with high stability TCXO
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Digital_Speech_Decoder_(software_package)
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Digital_Speech_Decoder_(software_package)#Known_Working_Hardware_Setups
Sunday, August 17, 2014
443.950 Will Be Back On The Air Soon
443.950 (T100) Has been off the air for a month or so undergoing renovations courtesy of Henry, WB4IVB. The GE Mastr Exec II reciever has been replaced with an actual GE Master II repeater - along with other improvements and additions.
The CAT 700 Controller has been replaced with an Arcom 210. This will run 443.950 in addition to a new 900 Mhz linking repeater. This repeater is not intended for end users but simply as a means to connect 443.950 to the Lynch KY (Black Mountain) 442.350 (T100) and the Corbin KY 444.900 (T100) UHF repeaters full time. The 900 Mhz repeater will have limited range for distant vehicular use but will be more than enough for site-to-site linking. Everything it hears will be re-transmitted on 443.950 which has a much larger coverage area and much better saturation.
As you can see, 440 works better in the mountains than 900 Mhz, although from my use of the KE4KEV and WB4GBI 900 Mhz repeaters in Knoxville and Seymore, the coverage map is probably shortchanging the actual usable mobile coverage by a bit.
Below are some pics of the actual repeater configuration. Thanks to WB4IVB for the long hours he put into this project and to AJ4G for space at the site and help with the set up and tower work.
When completed, this will link Middlesboro, Harlan, and Corbin Kentucky almost full-time. Counties covered to various degrees in Southeastern Kentucky are Bell, Whitley, Laurel, Harlan, and Knox. In N. E. Tennessee Claiborne, Campbell, Knox, Union, Hawkins, and Grainger counties... In S.W. Virginia Lee, Scott, Wise counties...
The links can be taken down (or brought up) for various reasons, including remote base operation for additional linking and IRLP connection.
Any repeater that wishes to link in through the 900 Mhz hub or through other means should contact w4hkl@live.com or wb4ivb@hotmail.com for more info. We love to talk amateur radio.
So when you also consider the well-maintained Wide Area Network stretching from Louisville Ky. down to Knoxville Tn., a UHF user in Eastern Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee has quite a bit of coverage to play with.
Steve, W4HKL
The CAT 700 Controller has been replaced with an Arcom 210. This will run 443.950 in addition to a new 900 Mhz linking repeater. This repeater is not intended for end users but simply as a means to connect 443.950 to the Lynch KY (Black Mountain) 442.350 (T100) and the Corbin KY 444.900 (T100) UHF repeaters full time. The 900 Mhz repeater will have limited range for distant vehicular use but will be more than enough for site-to-site linking. Everything it hears will be re-transmitted on 443.950 which has a much larger coverage area and much better saturation.
443.950 coverage
900 Mhz repeater coverage
As you can see, 440 works better in the mountains than 900 Mhz, although from my use of the KE4KEV and WB4GBI 900 Mhz repeaters in Knoxville and Seymore, the coverage map is probably shortchanging the actual usable mobile coverage by a bit.
Below are some pics of the actual repeater configuration. Thanks to WB4IVB for the long hours he put into this project and to AJ4G for space at the site and help with the set up and tower work.
At the top are the 900 Mhz radios, a Kenwood for Xmit and Motorola radius for receive. It sports a true duplexer and is controlled by the Arcom 210. The antenna is a Comet cfc7-71 with approximately 7 db gain and will be fed with hardline.
The two older Kenwood mobiles are a TM 241 and TM 341 with various display and memory issues. This makes them perfect for remote base use, however, and will allow for frequency agile 2 meter and 220 Mhz operation thru the use of the controller and an old Doug Hall Remote Base Interface.
Next is the GE Mastr II 440 repeater set at approx 50 watts. Signals will first hit the DCI bandpass filter before the decibel duplexers - including a 3 cavity filter centered on 449.950. 443.950 will have five cans on receive before hitting the ARR preamp... leaving two for transmit. The antenna is a Diamond 718 antenna side mounted on the tower at approx. 35 feet currently fed with LMR 600. Plans are to replace this before winter with hardline.
Cooling fans.
Close up of remote base fans.
Master II prep for heat sink fans.
Lowes... for all your repeater needs.
The thrd tap will be extended to the inside of the cabinet and a fan which will force air directly over the PA transistors and circuits.
Close up of remote base fans.
Master II prep for heat sink fans.
Lowes... for all your repeater needs.
The thrd tap will be extended to the inside of the cabinet and a fan which will force air directly over the PA transistors and circuits.
When completed, this will link Middlesboro, Harlan, and Corbin Kentucky almost full-time. Counties covered to various degrees in Southeastern Kentucky are Bell, Whitley, Laurel, Harlan, and Knox. In N. E. Tennessee Claiborne, Campbell, Knox, Union, Hawkins, and Grainger counties... In S.W. Virginia Lee, Scott, Wise counties...
The links can be taken down (or brought up) for various reasons, including remote base operation for additional linking and IRLP connection.
Any repeater that wishes to link in through the 900 Mhz hub or through other means should contact w4hkl@live.com or wb4ivb@hotmail.com for more info. We love to talk amateur radio.
So when you also consider the well-maintained Wide Area Network stretching from Louisville Ky. down to Knoxville Tn., a UHF user in Eastern Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee has quite a bit of coverage to play with.
Steve, W4HKL
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