The New Ham’s Guide to Repeaters – A Refresher for EVERYONE else!

The New Ham’s Guide to Repeaters – A Refresher

for EVERYONE else!

The Question On several Club members minds,

What’s the status of the449.600 Repeater?

The 449.600- (100.0 pl) repeater has been undergoing some upgrades!!

It now has a working 100.0hz PL access tone requirement.

It now has a working 100.0hz PL tone on the transmitter

Brian has been out of town twice for major work projects during thisUpgrade period each lasting at least a week at a time.

We hope to re-install the 449.600 within the next couple of weeks.

We have also been measuring the frequency drift on the 147.120VHF repeater system

While this frequency drift is minor, it is an indicator that the life span ofthe VHF repeater is drawing to and end.

There is a VHF repeater which matches the UHF repeater in audioquality. This is a VHF Mastr-II repeater, which would need ICOMsfor the frequency pair on VHF and it could be up and running.

What Is A Repeater?

What Is A Repeater? A repeater is a device which will

receive a signal on one frequency and simultaneously transmit it on another frequency.

What Is A Repeater? Or to put it in simpler terms; A

Repeater is a range extender for your base, mobile, or handheld radio.

All Repeaters Are not Voice Repeaters

Types of Repeaters

Types of Repeaters• FM Voice – Very common.


• ATV – Amateur Television.



• AM and SSB - Not very common.



• AM and SSB - Not very common.

• Digipeaters – Primarily used for packet communications.

Types of Repeaters• FM Voice – Very common.• ATV – Amateur Television.• AM and SSB - Not very common.• Digipeaters – Primarily used for packet

communications.• Multi-channel (wideband) – Amateur

satellites.

• Most hams are familiar with FM voice repeaters.

• They are the most popular repeater used in Amateur Radio.

• These repeaters are commonly found on 29, 144, 222 or 440 MHz bands.

• Though not as popular, there are FM repeaters on the 6m amateur band.

When we use the term repeater we are almost always talking about transmitters and receivers on VHF or higher bands, where radio-wave propagation is normally line of sight.

Why Do We Use Repeaters?

Greater Range A repeater’s expanded coverage

greatly enhances the ability to communicate with base stations, mobile stations and hams using hand held transceivers.

Links and Remote Base

• To increase the coverage area even more some systems utilize linked repeaters.

• These linked repeaters are generally located on the fringe area of the main repeaters coverage.

• There are several methods in which these repeaters can be linked together.

• Let’s look at a some of these linking methods.


• Simplex Linking – Uses a dedicated simplex radio at each end of the link. This radio transmits and receives on the same frequency, and therefore needs a small amount of time to switch between the transmit and receive modes each time it reverses directions.

• Half-Duplex Linking – Uses a dedicated duplex radio at each end of the link. This radio is the same as the one above with one exception; it uses two frequencies, one for transmit and one for receive. But this requires the use of an additional frequency to be coordinated.


• Full-Duplex Linking – Uses two dedicated radios at each end of the link. This setup allows for simultaneous transmit and receive all the time. However this setup also requires more equipment (an extra radio, an extra antenna, and of course an extra run of coax to connect the extra radio to the extra antenna - at each end).


• Other linking methods• Microwave link (MUX) – used primarily by entities that can

afford the costs of these units and which require the additional benefits of the microwave link. These links combine multiple radio, telephone, control, etc. signals into a single signal to be transmitted via a microwave transmitter to a microwave receiver. This microwave receiver then reverses the process and splits the multiple signals back and sends them out to their respective paths.

• Dry Pair – uses leased telephone lines that are dedicated to the owner of the lease. These phone line pairs can carry any signal which will legally fit into the authorized bandwidth of the telephone line carrier. A full duplex voice signal, like that of a telephone conversation is easily accomplished within this bandwidth.


• To increase the coverage area even more without adding another repeater, some systems use remote bases.

• These remote bases can be configured in many different ways.

• IRLP, echolink, simplex, frequency agile HF, tied to distant repeater


• Remember there may be more than one repeater linked together. Pause to allow all links and audio paths to reset / drop out completely while using a linked system. This will avoid cut off transmissions, as well as give an operator on the linked repeater a chance to join in.

• Remote base operation is not always full time. Please be aware of FCC rules related to remote base operations.

Stone Castle

Transmit147.720

Receive147.720

Receive147.120

Transmit147.120

Transmit147.120

__________ Receive147.720

Transmit147.720

Receive147.120

Repeater

Typical 2-m repeater, showing mobile-to-mobile communication through a repeater station. Usually locatedon a hill or tall building, the repeater amplifies and retransmits the received signal on a different frequency.

What does our Repeater Look Like?

Let’s see…

This is the STONE CASTLE!

A view inside the Stone CastleThis picture is OLD notice the date.

We have made several improvementsin the past few months.

Some of these improvements include:Cleaning the floor, installing a ventfan, cleaning up the rats nest of wires,Improving the electrical service, sealing the door at the bottom, etc..

What do we have planned for the future of the Stone Castle?

Both minor and major upgrades are being planned by the technical committee. When we finalize the plans, we will bring them forward tothe board for approval and fundingif needed.

What is all of this stuff anyway33cm Simplex Link Radio.33cm Receiver (902.7125)Power StripControllerVHF (147.720) ReceiverVHF (147.120) TransmitterVHF (147.120) Power AmplifierUHF (449.600 / 444.600) RepeaterOn bottom of Rack Power Suppliesfor both repeaters (one each)Behind rack unit (as pictured)– VHFduplexer set.To the left of rack unit (as pictured)UHF duplexer set.Hanging on back wall – UHF control link antenna (not currently in use!!)On floor in back corner – a HomerBucket of stuff (every repeater site needs at least one of these).

What is all of this stuff anyway

INSERT AN UPDATED PHOTOOF THE STONE CASTLE HEREAND DESCRIBE THE UPGRADES?

How does all that stuff work?


MAGIC?

• No it’s not magic, it works through a lot of electronic circuitry and cabling.

• The controller is the heart of the system.

• All of the radios connect to the controller.

• The controller operates from a script file.

• The script file tells the controller what to do.

• So what does our controller do?


So what does our controller do?• First let’s look at the ports on the controller.

There are seven ports on our controller.Port one is the VHF repeater port.Port two is the UHF repeater port.Port three is the 33cm link to the airport repeater

port.Port four is the 10M remote base port.Port five was the 33cm receiver port.Port six is currently un-used.Port seven is the autopatch which is currently un-used.

• The script file defines what each of these ports are, such as which ID’s to send on which port, courtesy tones for each receiver port, timers for each port, and much more.

• Our controller is configurable in many, many different ways!• How does all of this work together?

How does all of this work together?

• The way our controller is configured (normally).• Port one (VHF), port two (UHF), and port three (33cm

link) are all “smart connected”.• This allows users on any of THREE repeaters to talk to

each other.• Since we use a simplex link to the airport repeater

system, we must let the repeaters completely drop out so that a user on the airport repeater has a chance to join in on the conversation, net, round table discussion, what ever.

• Port four can also be linked to this “smart connection” only by qualified club members since this is a HF frequency in the General portion of the 10M band, 29.650 FM Simplex .

How does all of this work together?

147.720Receiver

Port 1

147.120Transmitter

Port 1

444.600Receiver

Port 2

449.600Transmitter

Port 2

VHF/UHFDiplexerVHF

DuplexerUHF

Duplexer

Dual BandAntenna

902.7125Receiver

Port 5

26.650Remote Base

Port 4

33cmLink Radio

Port 3

Controller

Loop YagiAntenna toAirport LinkRadio

900MhzAntenna

Antron-99With Ground

Plane kit

Location, Location, Location

Repeaters are often located on high ground or tall towers that offer greater coverage than that offered by simplex operation.

Using A Repeater

Using a repeater is not much different than making any other two way contact.

Simplex and Duplex When two stations contact each other

using the same frequency for both transmit and receive, they are said to be operating simplex.

Simplex and Duplex Duplex operation is where one station

transmits on frequency A and receives on frequency B and the other station transmits on frequency B and receives on frequency A.

Simplex and Duplex• Full duplex is when both stations can

transmit and receive signals simultaneously.

• A repeater operates in full duplex mode.

Simplex and Duplex• Because users of a repeater cannot

transmit and receive simultaneously, the stations are actually operating in half duplex mode.

When making a contact through a repeater it is important to make sure that you are on the correct pair of frequencies.

Input and Output• The frequency that a repeater receives

is the input frequency.

• This is the frequency that your station will be transmitting on.

Input and Output• The frequency that a repeater transmits

on is the output frequency.

• This is the frequency that your station will be receiving.

Input and Output

• Repeaters are commonly referred to by their transmit frequency. This is the receive frequency displayed on your radio.

Input and Output• Your radio should display your receive

frequency (the repeater’s transmit frequency) when monitoring the repeater.

Offset The difference between the repeater’s

output frequency and input frequency is known as the offset.

Offset

Most repeaters use a standard offset.

Standard Frequency Offsets for Repeaters

Band Offset 29 MHz 100 kHz

52 MHz 1MHZ\500khz local choice 144 MHz 600 kHz 222 MHz 1.6 MHz

440 MHz 5 MHz 902 MHz 25 MHz*

1240 MHz 12 MHz*12 MHz in other areas of the country

Plus or Minus• The offset frequency can either be

above or below the repeater’s transmit frequency.

• The band plan has taken the guess work out of +/-.

10 Meter Band Plan

• 28.000-28.070 CW• 28.070-28.120 Digitial• 28.120-28.189 Packet, etc.• 28.190-28.225 Beacons• 28.300-29.300 Phone(Mixed Mode)• 28.680 SSTV• 29.000-29.200 AM• 29.300-29.510 Satellite Downlinks• 29.520-29.590 FM Repeater Inputs• 29.600-National FM Simplex• 29.610-29.680 FM Repeater Outputs

6 METER

Band Plan

50.0-50.1 CW, beacons

50.060-50.080 beacon subband

50.1-50.3 SSB, CW

50.10-50.125 DX window

50.125 SSB calling

50.3-50.6 All modes

50.6-50.8 Nonvoice communications

50.62 Digital (packet) calling

50.8-51.0 Radio remote control (20-kHz channels)

51.0-51.1 Pacific DX window

51.12-51.48 Repeater inputs (19 channels)

51.12-51.18 Digital repeater inputs

51.62-51.98 Repeater outputs (19 channels)

51.62-51.68 Digital repeater outputs

52.0-52.48 Repeater inputs (except as noted; 23 channels)

52.02, 52.04 FM simplex

52.2 TEST PAIR (input)

52.5-52.98 Repeater output (except as noted; 23 channels)

52.525 Primary National FM simplex

52.54 Secondary National FM simplex

52.7 TEST PAIR (output)

53.0-53.48 Repeater inputs (except as noted; 19 channels)

53.0 Remote base FM simplex

53.02 Simplex

53.1, 53.2, 53.3, 53.4 Radio remote control

53.5-53.98Repeater outputs (except as noted; 19 channels)

53.5, 53.6, 53.7, 53.8 Radio remote control

53.52, 53.9 Simplex

• 144.00-144.05 EME (CW) • 144.05-144.10 General CW and weak signals• 144.10-144.20 EME and weak-signal SSB • 144.200 National calling frequency• 144.200-144.275 General SSB operation • 144.275-144.300 Propagation beacons• 144.30-144.50 New OSCAR subband• 144.50-144.60 Linear translator inputs • 144.60-144.90 FM repeater inputs • 144.90-145.10 Weak signal and FM simplex • (145.01,03,05,07,09 are widely used for packet) • 145.10-145.20 Linear translator outputs• 145.20-145.50 FM repeater outputs • 145.50-145.80 Miscellaneous and experimental modes• 145.80-146.00 OSCAR subband • 146.01-146.37 Repeater inputs• 146.40-146.58 Simplex • 146.52 National Simplex Calling Frequency • 146.61-146.97 Repeater outputs• 147.00-147.39 Repeater outputs • 147.42-147.57 Simplex • 147.60-147.99 Repeater inputs

1.25 Meter Band

(222mhz)

• 222.0-222.150 Weak-signal modes• 222.0-222.025 EME• 222.05-222.06 Propagation beacons• 222.1 SSB & CW calling frequency• 222.10-222.15 Weak-signal CW & SSB• 222.15-222.25 Local coordinator's option; weak signal, ACSB,

repeater inputs, control• 222.25-223.38 FM repeater inputs only• 223.40-223.52 FM simplex• 223.52-223.64 Digital, packet• 223.64-223.70 Links, control• 223.71-223.85 Local coordinator's option; FM simplex, packet,

repeater outputs• 223.85-224.98 Repeater outputs only

• 440.000 Mhz - 449.975 Mhz• LOCAL OPTION• 440.000 Thru 449.975 Repeater Inputs and Outputs +/- 5 Mhz offset• Spaced every 25 Khz except as noted below• 440.400 Thru 440.475 (+) inclusive, paired # Backyard/Portable/VOIP• 440.500 / 445.500 Test Pair (445.500 input) Contact coordinator• 440.725 Thru 440.900 (+) inclusive, paired * Narrow band• 440.925 - *** Packet• 440.950 Thru 440.975 (+) inclusive, paired * Narrow band• 441.000 - ** Repeater Control Links• 441.025 - Simplex• 441.500 - ** Repeater Control Links• 445.550 / 440.550 Test Pair (440.550 input) Contact coordinator• 445.725 Thru 445.900 (-) inclusive, paired * Narrow band• 445.925 - ***APRS / Packet• 445.950 Thru 445.975 (-) inclusive, paired * Narrow band• 446.000 - Simplex• 446.025 - Simplex• 446.050 - Simplex• 446.500 - Simplex• 446.525 Thru 446.600 (-) inclusive, paired # Backyard/Portable/VOIP

Test pairs are just that. For testing only. You do not need permission to use test pairs. Just

notify the coordinator for his records

* Analog or digital, 12.5 khz bandwidth or less

** Shared frequencies for intermittent control of repeater or remote base.

*** Contact Packet coordinator

ARIZONA 70cm Band

Plan

Arizona 33cm Band Plan

(900MHz)

902

903

904

909

915

918

924

926

927

928

Repeater Inputs

Link Channels

Mixed modesWeak Signal

SatellitesSimplexOther?

5MHz Wide

Amateur Television6MHz Wide

Digital3MHzWide

Amateur Television6MHz Wide

Digital2MHzWide

Link Channels

Repeater Outputs

Link Channels 23MHz Spacing between TX / RX

Repeater Pairs 25MHz Spacing Between TX / RXMost Repeaters Receive LOW and Transmit HIGH

23cm Band Plan

1240-1246 ATV #1

1246-1248Narrow-bandwidth FM point-to-point links and digital, duplex with 1258-1260.

1248-1258 Digital Communications

1252-1258 ATV #2

1258-1260Narrow-bandwidth FM point-to-point links digital, duplexed with 1246-1252

1260-1270 Satellite uplinks, reference WARC '79

1260-1270Wide-bandwidth experimental, simplex ATV

1270-1276Repeater inputs, FM and linear, paired with 1282-1288, 239 pairs every 25 kHz, e.g. 1270.025, .050, etc.

1271-1283 Non-coordinated test pair

1276-1282 ATV #3

1282-1288 Repeater outputs, paired with 1270-1276

1288-1294Wide-bandwidth experimental, simplex ATV

1294-1295Narrow-bandwidth FM simplex services, 25-kHz channels

1294.5 National FM simplex calling frequency

1295-1297Narrow bandwidth weak-signal communications (no FM)

1295.0-1295.8 SSTV, FAX, ACSSB, experimental

1295.8-1296.0 Reserved for EME, CW expansion

1296.00-1296.05 EME-exclusive

1296.07-1296.08 CW beacons

1296.1 CW, SSB calling frequency

1296.4-1296.6 Crossband linear translator input

1296.6-1296.8 Crossband linear translator output

1296.8-1297.0 Experimental beacons (exclusive)

1297-1300 Digital Communications

Making Contact• Listen first.

• Then listen again!

• If the repeater is not busy then make your call.

Making Contact• If you want to call a particular station

then press your mic button and say the station’s call and then your call

“W1ABC this is K2XYZ”

Making Contact• When you release your mic button you

should hear the repeater signal for a second or two often followed by a tone or beep.

• This is called the “squelch tail”, “courtesy tone” and “hang time.”

Making Contact• The courtesy tone tells you that the

repeater has reset its Time-Out-Timer and it is ok to transmit.

• If you do not let the Time-Out-Timer reset before you start talking, you have less time to talk before you are timed-out.

Making Contact• If you want put out a general call to

any station then press your mic button and announce your call.

“This is W1ABC listening.”or

“This is W1ABC monitoring.”

Making Contact• If you want to enter a conversation in

progress do so when one station ends transmission and before the other station begins transmitting.

• Therefore the operators should give a reasonable pause in there conversations so that a person will have the chance to join in.

Making Contact• Simply key your mic and announce

your call during the pause in the ongoing conversation.

Making Contact

Do not use the word BREAK

This is usually reserved for emergencies.

Making Contact It is proper etiquette to only enter a

conversation if you have something constructive to add.

Making Contact(Or Not)

If the other operators do not recognize your call or if people are not responding to you make sure that all of your settings are correct.


Especially check your offset and PL tones.


Before making a rash assumption that the other operators are rude and are ignoring you, have someone else go over your settings with you.

If this still does not solve the problem, check your antenna system or have someone check it for you.

Etiquette

Listen, Listen, Listen,

and then

Listen some more.

EtiquetteDo not KERCHUNK the repeater

• This is simply keying the repeater and not saying anything.

• Not only is it annoying but it puts undue wear and tear on the equipment.

Etiquette

If you do want to test your equipment and see if all of your settings are correct and you are “getting into the machine” …

Etiquette

… Then give your call and say “testing”

It is good practice not to make a habit of this.

EtiquetteDon’t time it out

• Keep your transmissions brief.

• Most repeaters have a 3 minute timer to prevent long winded transmissions and to protect the equipment.

EtiquetteDon’t time it out

• Wait for the courtesy tone before transmitting. This tells you that the timer has reset itself.

• You don’t have to wait for the repeater to “drop” after the courtesy tone except on linked systems

EtiquetteJargon

• Speak normally when using a repeater.• As with any voice mode it is not proper to

use Q signals or lingo.

It is concidered bad practice to use NON-STANDARD phonetics.

Have Fun• Repeaters are a great way to stay in

touch with local hams and club members.

The Serious Side• Repeaters play a big role during

emergencies.

• When used for emergencies keep the repeater open for priority communications.

The Serious Side• Repeaters are also used for public

service events that you may wish to volunteer to help with.

The Serious Side• Make sure that you have registered

with the event coordinator before joining in any type of net or organized communications for an event.

Support• Repeaters are built and maintained at

the expense of a club, an individual or a small group of hams.

Support• While not required, it is a nice gesture

to support the sponsor of a repeater that you frequently use by joining the club or making a donation.

ContactBrian Romine, KC5CAY

Dan Nicholson, NØFPE

Byron Cress, KD7TLH

SARC Technical Committee

The New Ham’s Guide to Repeaters – A Refresher for EVERYONE else!

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Transcript of The New Ham’s Guide to Repeaters – A Refresher for EVERYONE else!