Long planned VK5RSB 2m repeater now on air 147.175 +600 (91.5)

[VK5GR]

Folks,

AREG is pleased to announce that after a long time in planning, we have started testing our new 2m repeater at VK5RSB Summertown.

Currently it is running on a temporary antenna which appears to have some issues. A new replacement antenna will be installed, and will be raised to the top of the tower when the weather is better.

The repeater operates standalone currently on 147.175 MHz (+600 kHz offset) with a 91.5 Hz CTCSS tone.

Reports are welcome (noting that we are aware of some intermittent uplink noise due to the current antenna).

Regards,
Grant VK5GR
on behalf of the AREG repeater sub-committee

[VK5TRM]

Im hearing it here in Loxton in the Riverland on a good day

Rob VK5TRM

[VK5KKS]

Great signals at Brahma Lodge, Muno Para, North Haven, Northfield.

Kevin

[VK5GR]

News update: AREG tonight voted to approve a request they had received to move the repeater network hub from VK5RAD 70cm on 439.925 to VK5RSB on 439.900. The request, from the repeater network managers, was made in order to support the continued operation of the linked repeater network. The members present voted unanimously to support the proposal.

This will however see the IRLP node on 439.900 temporarily close, while it is rebuilt for operation via the VK5RSB 2m port on 147.175.

It is worth noting that one of the linked repeaters (VK5RVH Victor Harbor) might require some additional work to support the new connection as now Mt Lofty is blocking the path, otherwise it should be a simple matter to retune the hub from 439.925 to 439.900 for the remaining 5 network links.

The club also confirmed it can offer a home to the VK5RAD APRS repeater on 145.175 once the VHF combining equipment is updated at Summertown.

[VK5GR]

VK5RSB 2m update

The antenna work at VK5RSB was completed Friday and signal reports so far have been excellent, with handheld access from Aldinga, reports of S7-8 in Murray Bridge, low power (1W) access possible from Hillbank and people accessing the system from Port Lincoln similar to what they could do for VK5RAD.

Also, yes we know that the CW Ident is a bit "odd" - please standby that is very temporary. Work is being done to switch controllers.

VK5RSB 70cm network update

The 70cm repeater is also having a fair amount of work done behind the scenes to ready the system for connection  to the link network. A new multi-port controller is underway, multicoupling has been built and a new way of interconnecting the repeaters is being planned. Cut-over is still a few months away but should be complete before the VK5RAD 70cm repeater goes QRT. A huge thanks to VK5HQ, VK5BX, VK5ZBR and VK5NRV for their efforts there.

VK5RSB APRS 2m digi

The club has also approved adding an APRS repeater to the VK5RSB site. The repeater will be multi-coupled onto the VHF 2m repeater antenna and so should have excellent coverage of the region. This will make up for the loss of the VK5RAD APRS repeater which is also going QRT when that site closes in August. More news on this as the work is completed to integrate the APRS into the system.

VK5RSB 6m repeater

Finally, the 6m repeater antenna is still planned for replacement, although an alternative approach has now been investigated by the committee. We hope to get that sorted soon now, which should improve the noise issues on that system. We also found some loose brackets up on the tower, and those are potentially contributing to the problem. One was removed on Friday but the other needs to be cut away with the right tools. We will take care of that at the next opportunity.

Conclusion

If you would like to support the work AREG is doing in providing the VK5RSB 6/2/70/23/APRS repeater system for the Amateur Radio community in the Adelaide region, why not consider becoming a member of AREG. Head over to the AREG website for details. Also dont forget that AREG also supports the DMR and DSTAR repeater system at VK5RWN and the VK5RSA 70cm repeater atop the Adelaide CBD.