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QRZ
Newsletter – Fall 2006
In
This Issue
•
Technical Update
•
Autopatch and IRLP Codes
•
Holiday Dinner Announcement
•
A Look Back: The RMRL 20 Years Ago
Technical Update
Beginning in the mid 1980’s the RMRL began
upgrading all of the club’s repeaters and standardized on GE MASTR II radio
equipment, S-COM microprocessor based repeater controllers, and custom built
RMRL local control panels. Even the club’s 224.000 MHz repeater is converted GE
MASTR II equipment that was originally on the 150 MHz band. The club presently
operates ten fixed site repeaters and has one portable “special events”
repeater, all which are in a similar hardware configuration using this reliable
design. The GE MASTR II has proven to be a superior radio for mountain top
repeater operation. Although it originally went into production in the 1970’s,
and remained in production until the mid 1980’s, it continues to be a favorite
of many amateur radio organizations across country and around the world. Thanks
to the past efforts of several dedicated club volunteers, the RMRL now enjoys
the benefits of and continues to operate our repeaters with minimal problems and
down time.
In addition to normal repeater operation,
over the years the club has engaged in some associated and interesting
projects. For example, the RMRL was the first amateur radio organization in
Colorado to provide our membership with POCSAG alpha-numeric digital paging,
emergency locator transmitter (ELT) monitoring, IRLP internet linking, and
APCO-25 digital voice capability..
Nine years ago, we found that the real time
clocks in the S-COM repeater controllers would not keep very accurate time due
to the temperature fluctuations at most of our mountain top sites. To address
this issue, the RMRL interfaced a WWVB receiver and (you guessed it), a GE MASTR
II radio. Once every 24 hours this microprocessor controlled unit automatically
sets the clocks on all of the RMRL repeaters, allowing for scheduled events,
such as the club’s Monday night net, to begin exactly on time. The 146.940
repeater also transmits a “top of the hour” audible marker.
After nine years of consistent operation this
“set-time” unit became unreliable and recently had to be put on the bench. We
found that some components had changed in value due to aging, and the DTMF
encoder level had increased to the point that the tones were distorting. After
some readjustment of the DTMF levels, and a check of the subaudible tone levels
and RF frequencies, it is back in operation.
By the way, due to the Energy Policy Act
of 2005, Daylight
Saving Time, starting in 2007, will begin on the second Sunday in March and end
the first Sunday in November. Since the RMRL “set-time” radio gets its Daylight
Saving Time information from the WWVB radio transmission, the RMRL repeaters
should change time on the correct dates next year. Keep your fingers crossed!
(Editor’s note: the above article was contributed by Glenn, WNØEHE.
Thanks Glenn!)
Autopatch and IRLP Codes
Holiday Dinner Announcement
The annual RMRL holiday dinner will be held on Wednesday,
December 13, 2006 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The location is the Country Buffet
restaurant, 301 Englewood Parkway in Englewood. This is the same restaurant
where we have met for the past several years. It is northwest of the
intersection of Broadway and Hampden. The cost for all you can eat is $11.21
(including tax) for adults, $10.45 (including tax) for seniors 60 and older.
Kids 11 and under are 60 cents per year of age, plus tax. We will hear from the
officers about the state of the club, recognize this year’s volunteers, elect
officers for next year, and give away some early Christmas presents (door
prizes). Please plan to attend and enjoy some holiday cheer!
A Look Back: The RMRL 20
Years Ago
From the November 1986 issue of QRZ:
·
Club officers were Fred, NØFIK, President; Warren, NØFVG,
V.P.; Nancy, KAØNPG, Secretary; and Ken, WØPSM, Treasurer.
· Club
repeaters included 145.22, 145.43, 146.94, 223.94, and 449.45. Trustee of the
146.94 and 449.45 repeaters was Bill, WDØGQL.
· The
holiday dinner (a potluck) was planned in place of the regular December
meeting. Door prizes were to be an ARRL Repeater Directory, an FCC rules book,
a 70 cm mobile antenna, and a Bearcat scanner.
· A
new Aerotron repeater was on order to replace the existing 146.94 machine. “The
new Aerotron is much improved over the equipment that is now on Squaw.
Technology has changed since the old equipment was designed, and the new gear
includes all of this technology. It is much more sensitive on the receive side
and has a greater potential for power output. The existing 146.94 equipment on
Squaw will be refurbished and possibly installed at the 145.43 site for local
coverage. As you all know, the 145.43 repeater has been trouble ridden for
about two years now and off the air except for short periods of time.”
· The
KDK FM240 2M FM transceiver was reviewed by KMØQ. “The unit is a delight to
operate. It’s really a rig and VHF scanner combination. The broad frequency
coverage does make the radio more susceptible to intermod.” Price: $329.
· Advertisers
included Colorado Comm Center, Denver; Robin Hood Electronics, Denver;
and Electronic Bits ‘n Pieces, Aurora.
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