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Aiken VHF DSTAR/FM Repeater Back Online

 

Thanks goes to to Aiken EM for providing a replacement Icom VHF repeater that was installed this morning and is functioning well.
?
It should be noted that BOTH?the UHF and VHF are DUAL MODE repeaters. They operate BOTH as DSTAR as well as FM repeaters. This is important since both have backup prime power and transmit 25 watts with high gain antennas at 325' on the tower. Thus, they can be heard all over the CSRA.
?
Obviously, If you are DSTAR capable you probably already have used these repeaters. The UHF repeater is normally connected to the 030C reflector and the VHF is normally connected to 001C. However, both repeaters can be unlinked and linked to other reflectors. For example, on Thursday mornings at 0830 AM one or both repeaters maybe linked to reflector 003A for the Georgia Coastal DSTAR net connecting hospitals in GA and SC.
?
So what's this about FM operation and how can you use it?
The VHF repeater operates at 145.160 MHz with minus 600kHz offset and an access tone of 88.5Hz? ?While monitoring this frequency in FM mode you should turn on Tone Squelch (88.5) for your radio this will prevent a DSTAR mode transmission from breaking your squelch and you hearing no signal!
The UHF repeater operates at 443.410 MHz with plus 5MHz offset and access tone of 88.5Hz. Similarly, you should turn on Tone Squelch (88.5) for your radio this frequency prevent a DSTAR mode transmission from breaking your squelch and you hearing no signal!
Like any repeater it is only available when nobody else is transmitting either DSTAR or FM. So program your radio with these channels,? certainly as emergency alternatives.
?
Perhaps during the weekly ARES 2meter net we can give the VHF DSTAR repeater in FM mode a try?
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
 

Thank you.




On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 3:46 PM, Dave Kjellquist, WB5NHL <dave@...> wrote:

Thanks goes to to Aiken EM for providing a replacement Icom VHF repeater that was installed this morning and is functioning well.
?
It should be noted that BOTH?the UHF and VHF are DUAL MODE repeaters. They operate BOTH as DSTAR as well as FM repeaters. This is important since both have backup prime power and transmit 25 watts with high gain antennas at 325' on the tower. Thus, they can be heard all over the CSRA.
?
Obviously, If you are DSTAR capable you probably already have used these repeaters. The UHF repeater is normally connected to the 030C reflector and the VHF is normally connected to 001C. However, both repeaters can be unlinked and linked to other reflectors. For example, on Thursday mornings at 0830 AM one or both repeaters maybe linked to reflector 003A for the Georgia Coastal DSTAR net connecting hospitals in GA and SC.
?
So what's this about FM operation and how can you use it?
The VHF repeater operates at 145.160 MHz with minus 600kHz offset and an access tone of 88.5Hz? ?While monitoring this frequency in FM mode you should turn on Tone Squelch (88.5) for your radio this will prevent a DSTAR mode transmission from breaking your squelch and you hearing no signal!
The UHF repeater operates at 443.410 MHz with plus 5MHz offset and access tone of 88.5Hz. Similarly, you should turn on Tone Squelch (88.5) for your radio this frequency prevent a DSTAR mode transmission from breaking your squelch and you hearing no signal!
Like any repeater it is only available when nobody else is transmitting either DSTAR or FM. So program your radio with these channels,? certainly as emergency alternatives.
?
Perhaps during the weekly ARES 2meter net we can give the VHF DSTAR repeater in FM mode a try?
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC

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