[OZAPRS] Frequency change......

[Richard Hoskin (VK3JFK)]

Hi All,



There has been a unanimous response in favor of moving the APRS network to
the National frequency. It’s great to see. Thanks for your input.



We’ll move the southern VK3 frequency to the national APRS frequency of
145.175 if we can get the funding and there are no major hurdles from the
OZAPRS list.



Now the Planning fun starts.



Shopping list;



I’d suggest that we need xtals for the following sites



VK3KAW

VK3SB

VK3JFK-1

VK3RMK

VK3RPG

VK3SSS

VK3RBU

VK3RGR

VK2RO-1

VK3RAW

VK3RLE

VK3RMG

VK3RMD

VK3RGI

VK3REB

VK3RBH

New Colac Digi

New Digi Site (TBA)

2 Spare sets for testing/Tuning



Total 20 Xtal sets.



New EPROMs required for;

VK3ZV

VK3CV



Cavity / Notch Filters;

These are required to reduce the potential interference between the digi’s
and co-sited voice repeaters that are in the 146Mhz voice allocation.



VK3REB

VK3RMK



These may not have to be purchased if thinks work out well.






Recommended implementation plan;



I recommend a staggered cut-over to the new frequency based on IGate
Zones. This will allow ongoing use of the APRS network while the cut-over
is continuing. In most instances it will be possible for us as a group to
do the changes to a Zone over a weekend. This means we can stagger the
cutover over several months at one weekend per month.



There will be some interruptions to IGate traffic from VK3SB while the
change is taking place but it will only reduce RF RX posit coverage. There
should be no major disruption to the RF TX coverage or TX/RX messaging.



The IGate Zones and associated digipeaters are as follows;




IGate Zone

IGate Callsign

Designation

RX Coverage Area

APRS Digipeaters Covering Area


1

VK3SB

TX/RX

Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong

VK3CV-1, VK3RMD-1, VK3RBU-1


2

VK3JTM

RX Only

Western Victoria, South Eastern South Australia,

VK3RPG-2, VK3SSS-1, VK3RMK-1


3

VK3JFK

RX Only

(Backup TX)

North Central Victoria, North East Victoria, Southern NSW

VK3RMG-1, VK3RBH-1,VK3JFK-1,VK3RLE-1


4

VK3HAP-1

RX Only

Gippsland

VK3ZV-1, VK3RGI-1,VK3REB-1


5

VK3KAW

RV Only

North East Victoria

VK3RGR-1, VK3RAW-1,VK2RO-1





It would probably work best if the zones were changed over in the
following order;

4, 1, 2, 3, 5



The timing to change would be based on one zone per month unless we get
enough capable volunteers to do it quicker. I’m guessing it will take a
weekend per zone. We could also make a list of any maintenance that needs
to be done at the sites so it can be done when the site is changed.



If you have any ideas or can see a better way of doing this please let me
know.



Finance;



Now the challenge is rising the $$$. If we don’t need the cavities and the
xtals cost $35 a set we will require $700 to complete the project. If we
do need a cavity it will add an extra $450 to the price. I’m working on
the idea that we will not have to purchase one, if we do one of the sites
may be off for some time, until the money can be found or a second hand
one is donated.



We have currently have one donation of $100. I’ll write a letter to
RadioVic in the next week asking for there assistance. After that the rest
will be up to others to contribute. If you can assist in motivating people
to donations please do so. It would be great to see a few of the APRS
users donating some money to the network.



Cheers

Richard

VK3JFK





Cheers,

Richard

VK3JFK



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