[OZAPRS] Ballina area pretty dead for APRS

Mon Nov 8 12:25:14 EST 2010

Ray,
I have a couple (4) of FM828's
These were given to me by VK3YHT to use in APRS service.

I had one working as a fill in repeater here for a while.

The major problem with it was I used a Fox Digi as the TNC.
I soon realized the limitations of that.

In the meantime I came into a few Tait trunking radios.
These are running VK2RAP-3 and VK3ANR-1as well as the current VK4ZF-1

So if the FM828 are any use they are yours. Only condition is they 
must be used for APRS (the condition they were given to me)

David

At 11:09 AM 8/11/2010, you wrote:
>Dave/All,
>
>First a question, just which Novocastrian Dave am I talking to? I 
>know it's not David Russell because he's SK.
>
>A wish list? My supply of A band FM828's is dwindling. TNC2 
>compatible TNC's are always handy for UIDigi and power supplies 
>never go astray - you always need n+1 but the number on hand is always n-1.
>
>Since this morning I've done some plots at sites in Nambucca Heads 
>and, quite frankly, the additional coverage on the highway isn't 
>worth the trouble of making a phone call. I have re-plotted Mt 
>Yarrahapinni and it would serve as a large(ish) area digi, something 
>I've long known, having installed the first 2m voice repeater there 
>yonks ago. A voice repeater still operates from the site so some 
>desense would be unavoidable, but probably acceptable given the low 
>level of activity. I would need to talk with the voice repeater 
>operators. I already have authority to locate a translator there for 
>the community radio station so there's another "in" that I can follow up.
>
>Regarding the guy in Grafton, it's Bob, vk2yrg. He didn't answer his 
>phone this morning but I'll try again later to see if I can stir up 
>some interest.
>
>I see there is a digi, vk2jub-1, 16km north of Grafton that gets to 
>the IS via vk2rpl-3 and then vk4. If I remember correctly, the 
>packet digi operated by vk2yrg was on a hill to the south of Grafton 
>so there's probably a chance that site would also get in via 
>vk2rpl-3. I remember Greg vk2pyu accessing the Grafton site for mail 
>forwarding so there is some coverage down towards Coffs Harbour.
>
>Stay tuned for more.
>
>Ray vk2tv
>
>
>On 08/11/10 11:24, dave at hunterlink.net.au wrote:
>>Ray/all
>>
>>High from a lurker/shirker.
>>
>>I've been in Cairns for  8 months following 15 in Wooli (near Grafton).
>>Since these were only 'temporary moves' as part of a 'Work around Aus'
>>plan, and I had to take enough work tools and personal stuff to overfill
>>the 4WD and Camper Trailer, I haven't carried any Amateur gear with me
>>(not that I've ever been very 'active'). My gear is still in Newcastle,
>>and I'd gladly donate anything that could be useful.
>>
>>Ray, it's good to have an update every now and then. And thanks for your
>>efforts over many years!
>>
>>Anyone contemplating digi's or gates, put your 'wish list' out there, we
>>may be able to help.
>>
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hi Shaun/All,
>>>
>>>It was the loss of the major packet hub on Mt Sugarloaf (Newcastle) that
>>>started the demise of the packet network for northern NSW. The rent
>>>jumped to $5000 per year, from memory, when the government decided the
>>>user must pay.
>>>
>>>Home based digis are not without problems either, but are still a
>>>possibility in some cases. A couple of issues to face up here would be;
>>>1. finding an amateur living in a suitably high location who is able to;
>>>       a) access the nearest digi (vk2rmc-1 around these parts) or,
>>>       b) has decent internet access to be able to provide a gateway
>>>(broadband is not universally available),
>>>       c) is prepared to run the equipment 24/7 and,
>>>       d) suffer desense to other 2m equipment (if they use 2m).
>>>
>>>Just thinking about some "local" towns ...
>>>Macksville - poor coverage due to low elevation but could access
>>>vk2tmc-1 from many locations.
>>>Nambucca Heads - the town proper would provide good fill-in but most
>>>residences are not on the ridge where the town is located (mobiles
>>>easily access vk2rmc-1 from the town area).
>>>Urunga - the water reservoir is a reasonable site but it's owned by
>>>local government (enough said) (could probably access vk2rmc-1 from
>>>water tower).
>>>Coffs Harbour  - mostly in a hole, being that it's surrounded on three
>>>sides by The Great Dividing Range (no access to vk2rmc-1).
>>>
>>>I wouldn't consider looking further north due to distance from here
>>>(Coffs is 120km away). I can't for the life of me remember the name or
>>>callsign of the  guy who installed a packet digi south of Graftion some
>>>years back. Bob, I think, but that's the extent of my memory.
>>>
>>>Nambucca Heads has a couple of potentially interesting sites in the town
>>>that I "might" be able to gain access to that I'll plot for coverage.
>>>
>>>Steve vk2sl is going to install a digi at his place behind Telegraph
>>>Point. We've plotted and surveyed the site which will cover Port
>>>Macquarie and fill in the Pacific Highway down to about Kew, leaving a
>>>small gap from there to Coopernook. Some Wauchope coverage as well.  The
>>>site can access vk2rmc-1 easily and, probably also vk2uni-1. Steve runs
>>>a couple of properties that normally keep him busy enough but, recently,
>>>he took on a beast and lost, leaving himself badly injured. We'll have
>>>to await Steve's recovery before that project can continue.
>>>
>>>Ray vk2tv
>>>
>>>
>>>On 08/11/10 06:49, Shaun wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi Ray,
>>>>
>>>>Ahhh yes, the good old cost of the site.  We went through the same thing
>>>>in
>>>>Sydney re a repeater site that just became to expensive.
>>>>
>>>>I had assumed Digis would be run from the home QTH, which could be an
>>>>option
>>>>however would need close coordination and obviously would be sub
>>>>optimum.
>>>>
>>>>In any case you are still welcome to my junk box.  I will probably be
>>>>passing
>>>>in early Jan for the Coffs field day.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>73 Shaun VK2XPP
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On Sun, 7 Nov 2010 18:11:07 Ray Wells wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Shaun,
>>>>>
>>>>>It takes a lot more than some bits from junk boxes to get a reliable
>>>>>digi to air.
>>>>>
>>>>>If it only required some hardware - radio, TNC, antenna, coax and power
>>>>>supply - there'd be lots more digis. Hardware is the easy part.
>>>>>
>>>>>The difficult part about getting a digi to air is finding a site that
>>>>>has;
>>>>>1. affordable rent at a respectable location
>>>>>2. decent access to that location, both in terms of vehicular access
>>>>>and
>>>>>no time restrictions.
>>>>>3. security of installed equipment
>>>>>4. power
>>>>>5. building or other suitable housing
>>>>>
>>>>>Garry, vk2uni, has access to a commercial site at the "right" price and
>>>>>I'm fortunate to have vk2rmc-1 installed on private property that meets
>>>>>conditions 1 to 5 above. The rent is free, the licence is not at $63
>>>>>(from memory) per year. A pair of crystals for an FM828 is about $60
>>>>>(for reliable crystals - read Hy-Q).
>>>>>
>>>>>I look at an aprs map every day that is set to show from Forster to
>>>>>Grafton and out to Gunnedah. I'm probably more aware than anybody else
>>>>>on this list about the gaps in coverage and, there's hardly a day goes
>>>>>by that I don't ponder over how I can fill them, or at least some of
>>>>>them. One day, Shaun, one day.
>>>>>
>>>>>Ray vk2tv
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>
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>
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David G. Hopkins (VK4ZF)
CAPALABA QLD
AUSTRALIA
27.32.38S 153.12.03E
QG62OL
Skype :- davhop 