[OZAPRS] VK3 APRS Network News (including Frequency Change Projectinformation)......

[Richard Hoskin]

Gday Everyone!

Here's what has happened and what will be happening over the next few
weeks
in APRS for Victoria.

VK3REB-1 Digipeater:
The digi is back up on air after we sorted out the problems at the site.
The
APRS digi is now running on a temporary 3dbd co-linear antenna about
30mtrs
below the original antenna. This may reduce the digis coverage area
somewhat. A new antenna has to be organized at some point in the future.
Thanks to the local Gippsland Amateurs for your help.

VK3RPG-2 & Western Vic Frequency Change results:
The changes to VK3RPG-2 on the 20th of March were a great success. 
The RF path between VK3RPG-2 & VK5JFK-1, and VK3RPG-2 & VK3III-1 is now
close to 100% reliable. With the old configuration the path to these two
digi's became unreliable from late morning to early evening.
Also mobiles in Horsham are now heard reliably by VK3RPG-2. This was not
possible in the past. 

The following work we performed on the APRS digipeater;
. Installation of a 4dBd antenna & new LDF 4/50 coax. (previous antenna
was
0dBd gain antenna)
. Antenna was installed on a new tower at 24mtrs above the ground. (21
mtrs
higher than the previous antenna)
. Antenna was installed on the West side of the tower to favor areas such
as
Horsham, Warrnambool etc.
. Changed Digipeater's frequency to 145.175Mhz.
. Installed a Cavity on the digipeater to reduce onsite interference.

We also installed a new 70cm repeater antenna & new LDF 4/50 coax at 24mts
on North side of tower for the Voice repeater.
This greatly increased the coverage of VK3RWU the Mt William UHF repeater.

Equipment for Mt William was funded by Amateur Radio Victoria.

VK2RO-1 Status & Frequency Change:
VK2RO-1 (Tocumwal) stopped transmitting on the 30th of March for unknown
reasons. We plan to visit the site on Monday the 9th of April to fix the
digipeater and change the digi's frequency to 145.175MHz (Stage Four of
the
Frequency Change Project). We will also be installing a SiteAlert monitor
to
gather more information on the digipeaters performance. As part of the
maintenance etc. the digipeater will have a change callsign to VK2RBY.

Note: After the Frequency change VK2RBY-1 may not have access to an IGate
and APRS-IS ('the internet') until VK3RAW-1's frequency is changed.

VK3RMK-1 Frequency Change:
I'm planning on implementing the change in frequency of VK3RMK-1
(Wedderburn) on the 13th of April.
This is be Stage Five of the Frequency Change Project. 

North East Victoria Frequency Change:
Stage Six of the Frequency Change Project begins the week of the 16th of
March. During this week we are planning on changing the frequency of
Digipeaters VK3RAW-1, VK3HJQ-1 and IGate VK3KAW. If time permits
Digipeaters
VK3RGR-1 and VK3XJB will also be changed. I'll announce more details
closer
to the date and indicate if the latter two digis are in or out of scope
for
this stage.

New Digipeater for VK3:
A new test digipeater is to be installed on Mt Moliagul later next week.
This test digipeater will operate as a 'Fill-In' (Relay Only) Digipeater
for
the Maryborough, Avoca & St Arnaud areas.
Thanks to the Midland Amateur Radio Club for supplying the equipment for
this digipeater.

That's about it for this edition of VK3 APRS News.
I wish you all a Happy and Safe Easter Break!

Cheers
Richard
VK3JFK







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