UPDATED 8-12-08

Main Repeater Online

The main repeater that quit on Monday Dec 18th 2007. Has now been put back into operation, There was a problem in the pre-amp and also a receiver board IC chip was bad. These problems have been repaired, and the repeater is hearing stations about 70 miles away.

I am building two new repeaters at this time, and will be making a changeout to the new system later this summer.

I am also changing my callsign and the repeaters ID will soon be changing.

The new repeater will not be in operation until late summer 2008.

Thanks and 73'sss Mike N6WZZ

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW REPEATER AND IT'S CURRENT STATUS

 

Repeater Site Audio Weather Station

SORRY DUE TO A COMPUTER CRASH THE

WEATHER STATION IS DOWN FOR REPAIR...

A Davis Weather Monitor II weather station is now linked to the repeater using a dedicated computer and modified audio interface card.

The system is installed at the repeater site here in Twin Peaks, CA.

San Bernardino Mountains (Elevation 5,715ft)

To use the repeaters weather station function

1. Check that the frequency is clear.

2. Give your callsign.

3. Enter DTMF code sequence 120

4. After weather report ends, sign clear with your callsign.

 

Please do not abuse the weather station function as other hams monitor the channel.

If you are not in range of the repeater you may view weather information from my repeater site by clicking the internet link at the bottom of this page

220 MHZ... USE IT OR LOOSE IT!

Attention Ham Radio Operators

If you live in or around the San Bernardino Mountains, and have 220 mhz capibility you will remember the 224.56 repeater which was once located in Running Springs, California.

The radio system is now located in Twin Peaks, California about 7 miles west from it's old location. The repeater, antenna, controller etc are of a new design and have nothing to do with the old Running Springs repeater.

The current coverage of the system is not near what it was when the system was in Running Springs due to the fact that the town of Twin Peaks and the repeater sit back about a mile from the mountain top, This is why radio operators in the High Desert have good results using the system, while people in San Bernardino find areas of good and bad coverage. With the high cost of mountain top rental space for repeaters there is no chance at present of re-locating the system.

The repeater is still under development and there are many changes to made to the system in the future to increase it's coverage, but this will only take place as time and money allow.

You will need a few extra watts to get into the repeater, if you only have ht capability you will need to be fairly close to the system or have something better for an antenna other than the standard junk rubber duck or tuned dummy load.

I have replaced my old Comet Super 22 that had 6.6db gain with a new Comet CX-333 that has 7.8db gain also new LMR400DB coax was installed during the antenna upgrade.

I am still looking for a Station Master 220 repeater antenna, but for now I will be using the Comet CX-333.

I would like to point out that the 220 MHZ band may be taken away from the amateur radio community if we do not use the frequencies yes I said frequencies. Get off that 220 repeater you use day after day and try others, if not you can kiss 220 mhz goodbye....The FCC is just looking for a reason to take it from us.

There are users on the system from Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, San Bernardino, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Riverside, Hemet, Ontario, Pomona, Signal Hill, and many parts of the High Desert, like Victorville, Adelanto, Baldy Mesa, Pinion Hills, Lake LA, and Palmdale using the repeater with great results.

The great thing about the repeater is that it uses Solar and Wind power to charge the 4 deep cycle batteries used to power repeater, this enables the repeater to run at 15 watts un-assisted by ac power.

If the repeater amplifier is in operation and the ac power used to power the amplifier fails, the repeater will automatically switch to it's normal low power solar configuration which is 15 watts.

The repeater can run off solar power 24 / 7 with limited usage even during cloudy conditions, and winter rain / snow storms.

This repeater will be one of only a few solar powered systems in Southern California that will be up and running in the event of a local emergency.

Thanks & 73'sss ....Mike N6WZZ