Rockton Mountain Repeaters
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If you attended Radio Night last evening you already know there was a discussion about repeaters?at the top of Rockton Mountain.? The conversation started with an extension of the discussion about a back-up frequency for our nets.? But the bigger question was what's there and who's is it.??
So following that discussion?I reached out to a friend who put me in touch with Jeff DePolo WN3A.? Jeff owns the tower site that hosts many of the amateur radio repeaters on Rockton Mountain.? So here's the straight scoop on what's what up there: - 147.390. The repeater carries the call sign KE3DR which has expired and Paul has passed away.? Jim N5NWC owned the repeater hardware. Jim has also passed away.? The repeater operated under the auspices of the "39 Repeater Club" from a tower site adjacent to where it is now.? For a variety of reasons some years ago the 39 repeater was moved to the site it is at now and the old 39 tower was dismantled.? Kevin W3KKC was the backup trustee for the repeater, but before Jim passed away, he made Kevin the primary trustee and Jeff WN3A the backup trustee for all of his coordinations.? The 39 repeater isn't in the best?technical?condition, so Jeff's plan is this summer to replace it with new hardware.? 39 was previously connected to the WAN system via an RF link which no longer exists.? No other clubs have any association or involvement with the .39 repeater.? Once rebuilt the 39 will operate as a standalone machine with no link.
- 145.270, which has the W3WAN callsign on it, was, and still is, slated to be connected to WAN via microwave.? Jeff said that due primarily to his lack of free time that project has been pushed off several times over the course of several years, but he hopes to get to it this summer.? The plan is to make 145.270 the WAN repeater and allow 39 to operate standalone.
- Jim's N5NWC also operated a 6m repeater on Rockton and it is expected to remain off the air. On the off chance that it does return, it?will be on a different frequency.? This is yet to be determined.
- The 441.700 N3KZ repeater is operational and currently not linked.? The plan is to build out a relay site which will link into the N3KZ system.? So look for a link on this repeater in the future.
- The DMR repeaters (443.000 and 147.165) are both operational and are connected to the Interstate c-Bridges.??
- And I?should mention that the?Quad County ARC repeaters?147.315 and 442.950 are both off the air.? My understanding is that Quad County is planning to vacate the tower site they?have been using.??
So with that said, Jeff said that "by default all of my repeaters are available without question and without prior permission for emergency use - that goes without saying.? As far as use for other scheduled or recurring functions including nets, drills, etc., that CCARC might have in mind unless Kevin objects, I'd say that the 147.390 repeater would be a good place for that, with the caveat that it's (the .39 repeater) not in good health at this point in time, But will be before long.? In the interim, the 145.270 repeater is available, as is 441.700."
I responded to Jeff thanking him and told him that we would designate the 145.270 repeater as our back-up frequency.? We can use that repeater until the 147.390 repeater is rebuilt and we will switch to the 39 at that time.??
Hope that clears everything up for everyone.? And we also now have a back-up frequency as well!
Thank you.
John N3SPW
-- Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649
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