Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society (MKARS)

Transcription

1 Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society (MKARS) Foundation Licence Course Session 7 Repeaters (and Internet Linking) (NOT very detailed in the Foundation Licence syllabus) Notes on getting started as a radio amateur MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 1

2 Repeaters VHF / UHF is mainly line of sight Repeaters extend ranges across counties, over hills etc. Designed primarily for handheld and mobile users. The UK has over 300 Voice and 40 TV Repeaters. Voice operation on 10m, 6m, 2m, 70cms, 23cms. TV operation on 23cms, 13cms, 3cms. Repeaters automatically identify themselves in Morse Repeaters have specific frequencies on which they operate which are marked on the Bandplans All repeaters are run under special permits/novs from OfCom MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 2

3 Repeater Coverage Maps (from 6m coverage 2m coverage MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 3

4 How Repeaters work Repeaters receive and transmit on different frequencies They have an input frequency, on which you transmit Repeater (input and output) channels are identified on the band plan 2 metres They have an output frequency, on which you receive Set your transceiver to the output frequency (listening frequency) The difference between the input and output frequency of a repeater is known as the repeater shift In UK 2m Shift is 600kHz Transmit 600KHz lower than the receive frequency In UK 70cms Shift is 1.6MHz Transmit 1.6MHz higher than the receive frequency Modern transceivers will automatically set the shift 12.5 KHz spacing (channels) Input frequencies to Output frequencies to cms 25 KHz spacing (channels) Input frequencies to Output frequencies MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 4

5 Accessing Repeaters Repeaters use two different types of access (stops junk opening the repeater) 1750Hz Tone burst OR CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Signalling System) A low frequency tone is continuously transmitted as part of your audio (almost sounds like faint mains hum) A range of precise tone frequencies are defined and repeaters will only accept their official CTCSS tone Repeaters also put CTCSS on their outputs, so users own radios can ignore unwanted signals Good idea to set Local Repeaters up in Radio Memories (with access arrangements stored) MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 5

6 CTCSS Frequency Map Areas in the UK nominally have a CTCSS Tone allocated Usually adjacent county amalgamations Tone A = 67.0Hz Tone B = 71.9Hz Tone C = 77.0Hz (Bucks/Beds/Northants) Tone D = 82.5Hz Tone E = 88.5Hz Tone F = 94.8Hz Tone G = 103.5Hz Tone H = 110.9Hz Tone J = 118.8Hz Check Repeater Details on Repeater Management Committee website or RSGB Yearbook MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 6

7 Local Repeaters (not needed for Foundation exam) Location Band Call sign Channel CTCSS Northampton 10m GB3CJ In Out Amersham 6m GB3AM R50-13 C None Aylesbury 2m GB3VA R4 Do not use Bedford 2m GB3BF R2 C Leicester 2m GB3CF R0 C Lincoln 2m GB3LM R5 B Wolverhampton 2m GB3BX R3 A Location Band Call sign Channel CTCSS Ampthill 70cms GB3BD RB6 C Aylesbury 70cms GB3AV RB2 D Banbury 70cms GB3EH RB8 A Bedford 70cms GB3BL RB7 C Hemel H 70cms GB3BV RB1 D H Wycombe 70cms GB3HZ RB7 D MK 70cms GB3MK RB0 C Northampton 70cms GB3NH RB3 C Oxford 70cms GB3OX RB12 J MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 7

8 Using Repeaters good practice Remember that Repeaters were designed for mobile use Can be used by base stations But give priority to mobiles If you can hear the other station on the input frequency then move to a simplex channel Keep overs short ( timeouts of about 2 minutes) Give call sign on each over Allow people to break in to conversations (that is what the Morse K is for) Check to see if other users want to join in / use the Repeater during long periods of use MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 8

9 Internet Linking - IRLP (not needed for Foundation exam) Some repeaters are linked by internet Known as IRLP repeaters (IRLP Internet Repeater Linking Project) They can be used just as normal repeaters Using DTMF tones puts the repeater into IRLP mode Allows connection (via Internet) to repeaters all over the world so you can chat worldwide Transmit into local IRLP repeater VoIP - Internet Received at distant IRLP repeater MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 9

10 Internet Linking - EchoLink (not needed for Foundation exam) Radio / PC / Internet linking for radio amateurs Allows connections (via Internet) all over the world so you can chat worldwide Uses DTMF tones to select the output destination Operating Systems Windows IPhone / IPod Touch Android MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 10

11 EchoLink PC screen MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 11

12 D STAR (not needed for Foundation exam) D-STAR Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio funded by the Japanese government and administered by JARL Digital Voice and Digital Data systems Currently only on Icom equipment Requires D-STAR enabled equipment Uses D-STAR gateways to provide international, internet linked, communication Gateways are D-STAR enabled repeaters 39 currently in the UK MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 12

13 WIRES II WIRES II (not needed for Foundation exam) Wide-Coverage Internet Repeater Enhancement System System for linking repeaters and/or home stations together using Internet voice technology Manufactured by Vertex (Yaesu) Requires any Tx/Rx, Interface (HRI-100), PC and internet connection MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 13

14 So, now you ve got your Foundation Licence Notes on getting started MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 14

15 The starting point Interests Amateur radio is enormously diverse Try not to do everything at once there is plenty of time Try to decide where you interest lie (local VHF chat / long distance HF DX / Datamodes/ TV etc.) Budget You can do a great deal with simple, inexpensive equipment Try not to be beguiled by the glossy adverts! Second-hand usually works just as well as new, but be careful who you buy from Location Decide where you can locate your station It is surprising how a station can be fitted into a very small space Aerials postage stamp garden? HF can still work in small space. In a valley? VHF / UHF may not be a good idea MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 15

16 What equipment do I need? Power Supply (12v / 13.8v) Try to buy bigger than you need, for expansion Transceiver What bands do you want? Does it have an ATU? (extra cost) Base station or mobile? Power output (think about the future?) Complexity (will you need all the facilities?) How modern? (Obsolete / valve equipment can be difficult) Aerial(s) HF / VHF (Decide what fits your interests and space available). Try making yourself; new aerials can be expensive to buy Co-ax cable / connectors (Better quality, although more expensive, will serve you well) MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 16

17 Which piece of equipment / manufacturer? Talk to people BUT: Ask 10 radio amateurs and you will get 10 different answers! Decide what YOU are interested in Get started with something simple Read reviews (eham.net is excellent) Try the equipment out Radio amateur Retailer Club shack MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 17

18 Where to buy from Dealers New Used Club sales / other radio amateurs Rallies Ebay If not buying from new Inspect Try and test MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 18

19 Installing Station Ideally ground floor; near to ground Out of the way; not a trip / RF hazard Aerials Positioning / height (safety / neighbours) Install safely Waterproof connections Coax Drilling holes in masonry (be careful of hidden wires / pipes) MKARS Foundation Licence Course - 7 Repeaters & getting Started Andrew Thomas G8GNI/M5AEX V1-6 19