[OZAPRS] VK3 APRS RF VHF Network Status....

[Richard Hoskin (VK3JFK)]

Hi All,



Here is the current status of the VK3 APRS RF Network.



*       The Digipeater VK2RO-1 is currently off air with a blown PSU.

*       A new digipeater VK3EGV-1 is being tested at Hopetoun.

*       VK3RGI-1 (Carrajung) has been repaired and is currently under test
at Glen Maggie.

*       Two new Digipeaters are planning to be installed in the near
future, one at Mt Nowa Nowa on 144.900Mhz and another at Ouyen on
145.175Mhz.





The RF network traffic (packet data) levels are slowly increasing around
the network with the introduction of new stations, both mobile and home.
To keep the networks current functionality and increase the networks
ability to handle the new stations would Mobile stations set there path to
RELAY,WIDE



Using RELAY,WIDE will not effect your ability to access the IGates as the
VK3 APRS network is designed so that you are only ever 2 hops
(digipeaters) away from an IGate. Mobile stations are required to have a
beacon rate of not less than 2 minutes.



VOICE ALERT is gaining popularity in VK3 with many reports from mobile
stations of it’s usefulness.

For those of you that do not know Voice Alert simply means that you do not
turn the audio down on 144.9/145.175, but instead leave it at high volume
and then simply set CTCSS tone 123 to mute the speaker. This way, you
don’t hear any packets, but ANYONE can call you with VOICE on
144.9/145.175 to alert you by using PL 123. You will rarely use this, and
only use it to tell someone to QSY to another voice channel, or read their
status text on your Kenwood Radio and QSY to the repeater they advertise
they listen too, but it is one way of assuring that ANYONE running APRS in
simplex range of you can be contacted with a voice call...

You won’t hear any packets except maybe one or two when another VOICE-
ALERT mobile is in range (about 8Km or so). But even then, he is only
beaconing once every 2 minutes (This is the recommended rate for VK3) and
so it is not bothersome at all.. In fact, it is nice to hear when someone
is nearby!

Note: This is NOT for QSO on 144.39.  Only as a calling means. then QSY...

Cheers

Richard VK3JFK









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