RE: [Repeater-Builder] DB212-3
In a previous life I managed the communications for a state police agency. We used 45 MHz for our main system and had forty some odd tower sites, almost all running DB212-3 antennas. Two of the sites were on 1000+ towers and used a single DB-212 element due to the large tower face and the great height. One was a repeater using a receive antenna at 1450' and a transmit antenna at 1350'. The other was a remote base station with the single loop at about 850'. As we were an investigative agency, almost all of the mobiles were using AM/FM disguise antennas. (Yeah, I know, but we were stuck with the band that the State Division of Communications had dictated...) Despite the radiating dummy load antennas, we had excellent mobile coverage in virtually all of the state. A consideration for DB212 antennas is that lining them up on one leg can make them pretty directional. For towers that were very close to the coast, I would put all three elements on a single leg, but skew them so that only one was pointed directly off of the leg. This seemed to give me a somewhat cardioid pattern, but with a little better pattern to the back than if all three elements were in line. Another consideration is that they were designed to be used on Rohn 45/55/65 sized tower. If you put them all on one leg, a larger tower face doesn't matter much except that the rearward pattern will likely have a larger null. Mounting them on all three legs of a larger face tower will result in reduced gain and a pretty messed up pattern. I don't know if I'd worry a whole lot about adding a fourth element- the three element antenna will deliver excellent results. Doug K4AC (Running for ARRL Southeastern Division Director- please check out my website at www.k4ac.com)
RE: [Repeater-Builder] DB212-3
Unfortunately it’s been so many years since I handled one that I’m pretty foggy on the phasing harness. The manual on Repeater Builder http://www.repeater-builder.com/db/pdfs/db-212-assembly-and-mounting-instructions-(andrew).pdf shows the feeds from all three elements coming together, but doesn’t give a hint as to the length or impedance of each leg. If the original harness was retained, he should be able to reverse engineer it or shorten it if it’s still in good shape. I’ve got a DB212-1 sitting beside the house now to use on our clubhouse tower for a 6m PropNet beacon antenna. Too many projects… Doug K4AC (Running for ARRL Southeastern Division Director- please check out my website at www.k4ac.com) From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 2:35 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] DB212-3 Doug - Do you know how the phasing harness was constructed for the three-element version? I don't, and that's why I suggested to Norm that he go with four - the phasing harness is easy. Or, he could use two elements for transmit and one for receive. I don't know how much isolation he'll need, but he might just get away without a duplexer if there's enough tower. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Doug Rehman d...@k4ac.com mailto:doug%40k4ac.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 2:28 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] DB212-3 In a previous life I managed the communications for a state police agency. We used 45 MHz for our main system and had forty some odd tower sites, almost all running DB212-3 antennas. Two of the sites were on 1000+ towers and used a single DB-212 element due to the large tower face and the great height. One was a repeater using a receive antenna at 1450' and a transmit antenna at 1350'. The other was a remote base station with the single loop at about 850'. As we were an investigative agency, almost all of the mobiles were using AM/FM disguise antennas. (Yeah, I know, but we were stuck with the band that the State Division of Communications had dictated...) Despite the radiating dummy load antennas, we had excellent mobile coverage in virtually all of the state. A consideration for DB212 antennas is that lining them up on one leg can make them pretty directional. For towers that were very close to the coast, I would put all three elements on a single leg, but skew them so that only one was pointed directly off of the leg. This seemed to give me a somewhat cardioid pattern, but with a little better pattern to the back than if all three elements were in line. Another consideration is that they were designed to be used on Rohn 45/55/65 sized tower. If you put them all on one leg, a larger tower face doesn't matter much except that the rearward pattern will likely have a larger null. Mounting them on all three legs of a larger face tower will result in reduced gain and a pretty messed up pattern. I don't know if I'd worry a whole lot about adding a fourth element- the three element antenna will deliver excellent results. Doug K4AC (Running for ARRL Southeastern Division Director- please check out my website at www.k4ac.com)
RE: [Repeater-Builder] DB212-3
When I first started, the existing radios were GE Mastr II’s. They actually had two receiver decks to cover the 800 KHz or so of our channel spread. When the system was finally phased out, we were using Motorola Maratracs with the handheld controllers. I had mine programmed with six meter channels as well; it was around 1 uV or so in the ham band as I recall. I was very impressed with the performance we got out of the Maratracs. With the exception of the repeater at 1400’ which was a Mastr III, all of the stations were Mastr II’s. Doug From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 3:08 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] DB212-3 Doug, what were the State Police using for mobile radios back when you were involved? I'm finding that the newer, wider front end, radios don't hear as well as the old 0.5-1 MHz wide receivers did. I can hit my 6-meter repeater full quieting, yet sometimes can hardly hear it due to mobile environment noise that you can't avoid driving past (computers, LAN equipment, etc., etc.) Chuck WB2EDV attachment: winmail.dat
RE: [Repeater-Builder] if you have a commercial licenses check it on the fcc site
My GROL is in the database, although the grant date is incorrect. The database shows a grant date in 1988, but it was either 1983 or 1984 when I actually received it. I wonder if it varies depending on the office of issue? I took the test in Tampa. Doug K4AC
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Space-saving 6m repeater antenna?
While I don't have a whole lot of 6m repeater experience, I've got 10 years of public safety 45 MHz experience. About 20 years ago, I had a 45 MHz public safety system on a platform at 1450'. The person who originally installed it used a DB Products vertical mounted to the platform rail- the performance was abysmal. I replaced the vertical with a single DB-212 loop mounted about 50' above the platform and the station came alive. Eventually we added a second DB-212 loop 50' below the platform and made the station a repeater; it covered a significant portion of Central Florida even though the mobiles were running Stico disguised antennas. BTW, the DB-212 needs to be mounted to a tower leg so that there is a solid mast behind it; that is how it is designed. Mounting it on a platform rail will likely result in reduced performance. Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of cruizzer77 Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:35 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Space-saving 6m repeater antenna? You're right, the mounting location is on the lowest platform of this particular mast at a height of about 15m. The antenna is to be mounted sideways to the rail of the platform. Probably it would be possible to mount 2 antennas on the opposite sides of the platform, but this is not clear yet (was a question for the DB212 also). Is there somebody on this list who has built a shortened (i.e. base loaded) 6m antenna, probably for mobile use? I'd be interested in the design and the experiences with it. Not much is to be found on the net regarding 6m designs in particular. 73 Martin attachment: winmail.dat
[Repeater-Builder] Icom FR3000 Sensitivity Problem
I have an Icom FR3000-2 VHF repeater that was shipped to me some time ago. It was working fine before it was shipped. When I hooked it up, the display was not working. I opened the case and found that two of the flex cables between the logic board and the front display had come loose. There is a ferrite oval on the two and it appears that it had enough weight to cause the cables to come loose when jarred in shipping. After re-inserting the two flex cables, all functions of the repeater work perfectly. In doing a quick performance check, I found the receiver sensitivity is around 1uV. I checked the patch cable from the rear panel to the receiver board- it looks fine and DC resistance checks were good. Not having another cable with the same little connector as on the receiver board, I can't substitute it. I did try a patch cable with a bare end that I could insert into the receiver; the results were a touch worse than the factory cable (as I expected), so I think the cable is fine. I tried doing the alignment procedure in the service manual, but the sensitivity didn't improve. (I did check the service monitor with a known good receiver and its output was correct.) Before I remove the receiver board to try resoldering it, does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks, Doug K4AC
[Repeater-Builder] P25 Repeaters in Georgia
Can anyone advise if there are any 2 meter P25 repeaters in Georgia? Thanks, Doug K4AC
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Lightning Rod (Bolt)?
The Telewave catalog does a poor job of describing the antenna; take a look on the write up on page 5 of this PDF: http://www.talleycom.com/PDF/%20TSQ2_09.pdf The picture there shows that it is indeed a folded dipole. Unfortunately the antenna is too heavy for my application- 7 pounds for 6dB and 11 pounds for 9dB. The pricing looks to be about $100/dB. Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:21 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Lightning Rod (Bolt)? I didn't see any mention of it being a folded dipole. The picture certainly doesn't look like it is. No mention that it is even DC-grounded. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: larynl2 lar...@hotmail.com mailto:larynl%40hotmail.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 11:43 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Lightning Rod (Bolt)? I agree about the survivability of folded dipole arrays, but they don't seem to be an option at 900 MHz- at least I don't see them in commercial catalogs and have never encountered an 800 or 900 MHz. Telewave makes them... http://www.telewave.com/pdf/TWDS-7019.pdf Laryn K8TVZ
[Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)?
Looking at some DB Products fiberglass radome antennas, they all have a metal protrusion on the top cap; it looks like bronze perhaps. I presume that it is some form of lightning mitigation device. Is this just a piece of metal in the cap, unattached to the internal antenna element? I'm curious as I need to mount a Maxrad 900 MHz antenna on top of a long mast on the top of a tower. The tower takes a lightning hit about once a year. The Maxrad is in PVC tubing and it'd probably be simple to add a stainless bolt to the top of the antenna if it would do any good. The previous 3 antennas on top were Comet GP-15's. They have a thin metal cap on the top of the radome. The first one took a pretty significant hit, melting part of the cap and making a mess out of the antenna. The second one took a lesser hit, heating the element enough that it burned thru the radome. The third strike was even less, just discoloring the fiberglass on the top 8 of the radome. I know that I'd be better off with a DB Products antenna, but their weight likely well exceeds the mast capability for a top antenna (where it needs to be). Thoughts??? Thanks, DOUG K4AC
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)?
I was told by someone that took an antenna out of the radome that there did not appear to be any connection to the conductor on the cap. The antenna slid right out of the bottom of the radome. I agree about the survivability of folded dipole arrays, but they don't seem to be an option at 900 MHz- at least I don't see them in commercial catalogs and have never encountered an 800 or 900 MHz. Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 6:43 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)? Although I've never had one apart, I believe the cap is attached to the radiating element. Also, I have never seen any fiberglass collinear antenna survive a direct hit. I have, however, seen folded dipole arrays survive a lightning strike. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Doug Rehman d...@k4ac.com mailto:doug%40k4ac.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 5:45 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)? Looking at some DB Products fiberglass radome antennas, they all have a metal protrusion on the top cap; it looks like bronze perhaps. I presume that it is some form of lightning mitigation device. Is this just a piece of metal in the cap, unattached to the internal antenna element? I'm curious as I need to mount a Maxrad 900 MHz antenna on top of a long mast on the top of a tower. The tower takes a lightning hit about once a year. The Maxrad is in PVC tubing and it'd probably be simple to add a stainless bolt to the top of the antenna if it would do any good. The previous 3 antennas on top were Comet GP-15's. They have a thin metal cap on the top of the radome. The first one took a pretty significant hit, melting part of the cap and making a mess out of the antenna. The second one took a lesser hit, heating the element enough that it burned thru the radome. The third strike was even less, just discoloring the fiberglass on the top 8 of the radome. I know that I'd be better off with a DB Products antenna, but their weight likely well exceeds the mast capability for a top antenna (where it needs to be). Thoughts??? Thanks, DOUG K4AC Yahoo! Groups Links
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)?
I just looked at the TX/RX catalog - looks like you're referring to their CC Series antennas; the description indicate that the lightning spike (their term) is connected to a solid brass support pipe. They're not made for 900 MHz though, only UHF/700/800. Looks like the price for the 6dB gain version is around $2K. Their collinear description does not mention anything about a lightning spike, just internal DC grounding for lightning protection and reduction of precipitation noise. It also occurs to me that the lightning spikes I've seen on 900 MHz DB Products antennas are not in the center of the cap, but offset to one side. They appear to be molded into the cap, not just part of the antenna passing thru it. Well I guess worst case, the Maxrad 900 antennas can be had fairly cheaply on eBay. I picked up 3 of the 6dB models for around $80 shipped. Much cheaper to replace than the Comet GP-15's! (Plus I've got a three year supply at my current lightning strike rate.) Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 7:05 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)? I haven't seen any for that band either, but don't know what they utilize for the various panel antennas that are covered with a radome. TX/RX makes a vertical that has integral folded dipoles and an aluminum extrusion goes all the way to the tip of the antenna for lightning. I suspect it might survive a direct hit. To look at it, you'd think is was just one more fiberglass collinear. I'm pretty sure it's available in both 800 and 900, but it won't be cheap. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Doug Rehman mailto:d...@k4ac.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 6:59 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)? I was told by someone that took an antenna out of the radome that there did not appear to be any connection to the conductor on the cap. The antenna slid right out of the bottom of the radome. I agree about the survivability of folded dipole arrays, but they don't seem to be an option at 900 MHz- at least I don't see them in commercial catalogs and have never encountered an 800 or 900 MHz. Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 6:43 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)? Although I've never had one apart, I believe the cap is attached to the radiating element. Also, I have never seen any fiberglass collinear antenna survive a direct hit. I have, however, seen folded dipole arrays survive a lightning strike. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Doug Rehman d...@k4ac.com mailto:doug%40k4ac.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 5:45 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)? Looking at some DB Products fiberglass radome antennas, they all have a metal protrusion on the top cap; it looks like bronze perhaps. I presume that it is some form of lightning mitigation device. Is this just a piece of metal in the cap, unattached to the internal antenna element? I'm curious as I need to mount a Maxrad 900 MHz antenna on top of a long mast on the top of a tower. The tower takes a lightning hit about once a year. The Maxrad is in PVC tubing and it'd probably be simple to add a stainless bolt to the top of the antenna if it would do any good. The previous 3 antennas on top were Comet GP-15's. They have a thin metal cap on the top of the radome. The first one took a pretty significant hit, melting part of the cap and making a mess out of the antenna. The second one took a lesser hit, heating the element enough that it burned thru the radome. The third strike was even less, just discoloring the fiberglass on the top 8 of the radome. I know that I'd be better off with a DB Products antenna, but their weight likely well exceeds the mast capability for a top antenna (where it needs to be). Thoughts??? Thanks, DOUG K4AC Yahoo! Groups Links
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)?
Mark: I could probably come up with a used 9dB DB Products antenna, but for this application, weight is a MAJOR factor. A DB-809 is around 25 pounds and a DB-589 is still about 11 pounds. The 5dB gain Maxrad MFB9155 is less than 2 pounds. This is going on top of a 24' mast that is on top of a 54' tower. The mast already has multiple HF-1.2 GHz antennas, so loading is the major consideration. The DB-809 would equal about 600 pounds at the thrust bearing and the DB-859 would equal about 264 pounds- way more than the Maxrad. I'll eventually put up a second tower in the 100' range (I'm height limited due to a nearby 3800' grass strip airport) and will be able to go to something more substantial on it. For now, the Maxrad will have to suffice. This is for one of several 927 MHz repeaters that will be UHF linked. It doesn't need to have huge range, it is mainly to cover about a 10 mile radius. The other sites will be using DB Products antennas. Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mark Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 8:31 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Rod (Bolt)? Doug, Not sure how soon you need this antenna, but if you have time to wait - go to Dayton next year. There has been a guy there the past two years selling RFS/Cellwave Super Stationmaster antennas. DEFINITELY commercial-grade. I bought one 2 years ago from the guy (I wish I could remember his name) but it cost me something like $80. still in the original shipping tube! Rated at 12.14 dBi (10 dBd). About 13.5 ft tall. He's in the flea market, behind the Arena, maybe one or two rows out. Someone else my know who he is, but he had a number of them both years, and on different freqs, so make sure you get one for 900-935 range (Model 10017-8). This one had Motorola numbers on it as well; I'm sure it was made for Motorola. NICE antenna!! Sinclair makes enclosed folded dipole antennas, but they are not full omni antennas - I use one on my station at the home QTH. It's a SRL411C4N, designed for 851-960. center freq of 930.. Happy antenna hunting.
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Spinning disk wattmeter...
P3 Kill A Watt Electricity Load Meter and Monitor $19 from Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882715001 Free Shipping after Coupon Code: EMCLXNX64 (Exp 10/5). Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of WD7F - John in Tucson Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 10:52 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Spinning disk wattmeter... Go buy yourself a Kill-A-Watt...less than $30. Has several modes, e.g., voltage, frequency, average power, peak power,etc. and works great for the price. de WD7F John in Tucson
[Repeater-Builder] Vari-Notch Duplexer
We have an Icom repeater that we are going to install into our ARES comm. trailer. (I believe the output power of the repeater is around 25 watts.) In Florida, there's a 1 meg split emergency repeater pair that we plan to use. (Since the repeater will only be used on some occasional trailer deployments and the height to the tip of the antenna will only be around 40' max, we could use a non-standard pair with around a 3 meg split if necessary.) I've got a TX-RX 28-41-01 Vari-Notch duplexer that could be used if it will work. The info plate says that it is designed for 148-174 MHz and that it was set up for an approximately 3 meg 155/158 MHz. split. The tag shows 78dB TX and 74 dB Rx isolation. This is a four small, square cavity duplexer. Does anyone have any experience with this duplexer, especially as it pertains to use in the 2 meter band? Thanks, Doug K4AC
RE: [Repeater-Builder] 2M Vertical Dipoles
It was indeed the Telewave ANT-150D that I had seen; I just found the ad in the August QST. Unfortunately, the Telewave is out of the budget for this project though. Is anyone familiar with the Antenex YDA1364? (4 dipole array) http://www.ameradio.com/product/9449/description.html Has anyone done business with ameradio.com? Their price is $217; Hutton's is $309. I only need 2 dipoles, but it looks like the harness could be easily split for two sets of 2 dipoles. (They offer a 2 dipole array for the higher frequency range, but not for the range covering 2 meters.) Since I need omni coverage on a rotating mast, maybe putting two elements back to back would work (like the UHF DB antennas use for each bay)? Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Edmund F Leavitt Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 10:49 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] 2M Vertical Dipoles Do you recall if it was a dipole or folded dipole? Edmund Leavitt Ph: 253 582-5034 Ham / MARS / Federal K7EFL / AFA0AH / KPS654 Lakewood, WA USNG: 10TET36292223
[Repeater-Builder] 2M Vertical Dipoles
I remember seeing a vertical dipole from one on the amateur antenna manufacturers that was designed to bolt onto your mast or tower leg. I think it might have come in a kit of 2 or 4. I thought it was Cushcraft, but I couldn't find it. Does anyone have any idea what antenna I thought I saw? Thanks, Doug K4AC
RE: [Repeater-Builder] 2M Vertical Dipoles
Thanks for the info on Cushcraft, although I thought I'd run across the antenna I'm remembering within the last couple of months (current production). I'm looking for something that I can mount on the mast of my home tower, interwoven between other antennas on the mast. (Obviously with appropriate spacing from anything that would seriously interact. Not looking to spend either copious amounts of money buying a commercial antenna or copious amounts of time building something from scratch.) Doug K4AC
[Repeater-Builder] Selectone ST-815
I'm looking for any information on a Selectone ST-815 mobile DTMF decoder. It's a small box, 2.75x1.5x2, with a monitor/reset button and a horn button on the front. I don't see any info on the Selectone/Com-Spec website. I need to know what the pin out on the back is and how it is programmed. Thanks, Doug K4AC
[Repeater-Builder] Weight of MII
Does anyone have a relatively close (+/- 10%) estimate of the weight of a Mastr II repeater (the radio/control shelf/100 watt PA and the GE power supply only- no case/duplexer)? Thanks, Doug K4AC
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Noise on UHF
It sounds like the down looking radar that we have been commonly experiencing for decades in Florida. It is operated from an aircraft for spotting low flying aircraft that are below the beam of ground based radar. Down here, the primary target is smuggling aircraft and border security. Doug K4AC
[Repeater-Builder] /R was: 440 Repeater Project
The Russian Federation is a member of CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations) which has reciprocal operating authority with the US. The CEPT document outlining operating (http://www.erodocdb.dk/docs/doc98/official/pdf/TR6101.PDF) shows that the call sign prefixes to be used when visiting Russia are: Russian Federation: R Moscow Other Regions: R3A St. Petersburg: R1A The document also states: “When transmitting in the visited country the licence holder must use his national call sign preceded by the call sign prefix of the visited country as indicated in Appendices II and IV. The call sign prefix and the national call sign must be separated by the character “/” (telegraphy) or the word “stroke” (telephony).” This manner of identification (location/home call sign)is also specified in the FCC’s rules: 97.119(g) When the station is transmitting under the authority of §97.107 of this part, an indicator consisting of the appropriate letter-numeral designating the station location must be included before the call sign that was issued to the station by the country granting the license. For an amateur service license granted by the Government of Canada, however, the indicator must be included after the call sign. At least once during each intercommunication, the identification announcement must include the geographical location as nearly as possible by city and state, commonwealth or possession (Note: 97.107 = Reciprocal operating authority.) So the net result of this is that if I went to Russia, I would ID as R/K4AC, R3A/K4AC, OR R1A/K4AC- NOT as K4AC/R. Likewise, the only possible suffixes that would conflict with the FCC rules are: KT For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice to Technician Class AG For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice, Technician or Technician Plus Class to General Class AE For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice, Technician, Technician Plus, General, or Advanced Class operator to Amateur Extra Class KP or KH and a number For a Canadian amateur in the US W and a number For a Canadian amateur in the US Since there are no conflicts with an “R” in the suffix, it would be perfectly legal to identify a repeater in the US as K4AC/R. On a side note, it is interesting how many Canadians don’t realize that they should be identifying with the W# after their call instead of before it. Doug K4AC
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeater Insurance?
www.hamradioinsurance.com After doing a little research on eHam reviews (and consulting with a good friend who is an independent insurance agent), the Lake Amateur Radio Association (www.k4fc.org) went with the $5K insurance plan. I also got the same plan personally. Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dan KC2BEZ Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 12:17 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeater Insurance? I see a good deal of complaining and anecdotes in this thread, but no solutions. Does anyone have a company/agent/plan that is good? 73 Dan -- Dan Simmons KC2BEZ President North Country Amateur Radio Club W2LCA http://www.geocities.com/w2lca
RE: [Repeater-Builder] 900MHZ MASTR II
Dan: I'm in the process of putting one of those on the air now. They were/are referred to as GE-Net 900 stations. As far as I'm aware, there are only a handful of the stations in amateur service. The GETC (General Electric Trunking Controller) is how the station's frequency is set (among other functions) and pretty much useless for amateur use. The transmit frequency is set in the GETC and it automatically sets the receive frequency 39 MHz lower. The GETC actually downloads the info to the station when it is turned on. KD8B has designed a substitute for this function of the GETC. (I see Doug beat me to a reply!) Equally as important as a way to set the rx/tx frequencies is the Master Oscillator. As these stations were usually installed in trunking systems with multiple stations at a location, the MO was designed to supply its high stability output (17.6125 MHz) to multiple stations- the individual stations typically did not have their own MO. The MO would be in its own rack mount case, about the same size as the GETC. The PA is 24 volts. From my research, it will run fine on 28 volts (in fact the LBI indicates that the 24 volt power supply will actually put out up to 28 volts depending on how heavily it is loaded). If you decide it isn't worth messing with, I'd be interested in a spare (and I see Doug would be interested in it too!). Doug K4AC From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dan Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 7:38 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] 900MHZ MASTR II Is there any good use for a 900MHZ MASTR II? I have one with the GETC controller attached. I have looked over all the info I can find and do not see a good way to make this thing work on the ham band. My question is, Is the repeater junk other than the PA? I have a MSF-5000 on 902 and that was a breeze. Just wondering before I start junking it out to make room in my garage for the other 4 MASTR II repeaters I picked up. They are all VHF and UHF. Thanks Dan
