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Tidewater
Wireless W4VB News November
2009 Website: http://www.w4vb.org Welcome to all of
the new hams, and many thanks to all users of the W4VB repeater systems!
As the holiday season approaches, visitors from out of town can be
expected to be looking for an active repeater to make contacts and obtain local
information. Please try to be on the
W4VB repeaters as much as possible, and assist any visitors or calls for
assistance.
W4VB On the Air Tidewater Wireless W4VB operates the following systems: 145.330 Repeater in Norfolk (-600 kHz input, CTCSS 131.8, autopatch capable) 147.375 Repeater in Norfolk (+600 kHz input, CTCSS 131.8, autopatch capable) 224.400 Repeater in Norfolk (-1.6 MHz input, CTCSS 131.8, autopatch capable) 442.950 Repeater in Norfolk (+5 MHz input, CTCSS 131.8, autopatch capable) 444.475 Repeater in Norfolk (+5 MHz input, CTCSS 127.3, autopatch capable) 145.170 Repeater (operated as WA4ZUA)(-600 kHz input, CTCSS 131.8) The 145.33, 442.95, and 224.400 repeaters are normally all linked together. The 147.375 and 444.475 repeaters are often linked with each other. The 224.400 repeater has been experiencing some problems with its transmitter module, but will hopefully be resolved soon.
The W4VB EchoLink node is normally linked to the 145.33/442.95/224.400
system. Look for W4VB-R or W4VB-L.
EchoLink connections are made with hams on the Internet running the
EchoLink software as well as from hams on their radios communicating through
another repeater or simplex system connected to the EchoLink on the W4VB
repeater. Amateurs from around the
world may connect to us through this node and call out through the repeater.
All amateurs on the repeater are invited to communicate with stations
connected via EchoLink. Users of the W4VB repeater system desiring the ability
to connect to a specific EchoLink station “on demand” from over the air
may contact W4NMH in order to make arrangements for a special code.
Additional EchoLink information is available at http://www.echolink.org. Thanks to KN4IJ for retuning the duplexers on the 147.375 repeater. If you desire an autodial slot for the
145.33/442.95/224.400/147.375/444.475 repeaters please contact K4DA with your
request. Repeater supporters receive
an unlimited number of autodials. Tidewater Wireless repeaters normally require the CTCSS tone indicated above for access. W4VB repeaters transmit the same tone for the benefit of users with the ability to limit interference through the use of the Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) on their radio receiver.
The following nets are conducted on the W4VB repeaters: Monday-Wednesday 7:30 pm on 145.33/442.95/224.400: Radio Amateur Society of Norfolk (RASON) Information Net - Everyone is welcome and encouraged to check in. Thursday 7:30 pm on 145.33/442.95/224.400: Norfolk Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) Net- Everyone is welcome and encouraged to check in.
As Needed: Norfolk Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Tactical, Operations, and Administrative Nets – Any/All of the W4VB repeaters may be used as determined by the Emergency Coordinator (EC) or Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC). Repeater Operating Modes Tidewater Wireless repeaters have several different
operating modes, often identifiable by a different courtesy tone.
The most easily recognized are the Normal Mode (M1), Rush Hour Mode (M2),
and Net Mode (M5).
Here are some of the characteristics of the different modes: Normal Mode (M1): Used on all of
our repeaters when other modes are not scheduled or activated.
Has a 3-tone burst for the courtesy tone.
Rotates between several different IDs.
Tail Messages may be activated by a control operator when desired. Rush Hour Mode (M2): This mode is
set on weekdays 5:30 am-9:00 am and 3:30 pm-6:30 pm.
It uses a distinctive courtesy tone and has a Tail Message announcing the
time. Other Tail Messages may or may
not be activated by a control operator. This
mode is designed to remind users of the potential for an influx of mobile
stations on the repeater while traveling the area roads and highways. Net Mode (M5): This mode is used
7:20 pm-8:15 pm on the 145.33/442.95/224.400 repeater system to facilitate the
RASON Net Monday-Wednesday and the Norfolk ARES Net on Thursday.
A single-tone burst is used for the courtesy tone, however, a different
tone is used depending on whether the user is transmitting on 2 meters, 220, or
440. Once you recognize the three
sounds you will be able to tell which repeater the person is using during the
net. A single tone courtesy tone on
any of the Tidewater Wireless repeaters may indicate a net in progress.
Control operators have the capability of activating the Net Mode whenever
needed. All Tail Messages are
normally off while in Net Mode and most IDs will be in CW. Email Listserver The W4VB email listserver provides a method for updated news and information to be exchanged between all members of the list. Email can only be sent to the list by members of the list. To be added to the list, or to make a change to your email address used by the listserver, please contact K4DA. Norfolk ARES
The Norfolk Amateur Radio Emergency Service (Norfolk ARES) uses Tidewater
Wireless repeaters to support its mission. The
Norfolk ARES website is available at http://www.norfolk-ares.org
and they also have a listserver for members.
The Norfolk ARES
Emergency Coordinator (EC) is Rich Davis (W4NMH).
For additional
information regarding Norfolk ARES, or to schedule training, please contact the
Emergency Coordinator, Rich W4NMH. User Codes
Tidewater Wireless repeaters
have many functions available to serve its users.
Please be sure to ID prior to activating any of these functions.
Codes should not be given over the air or given to others by any means
other than off-air through a W4VB control operator.
Providing assistance to visitors to the area is encouraged, however, the
authorized user must dial the codes for the visitor.
If you do not have the codes or have questions please contact K4DA. Member Profiles
During the course of each week many different voices are heard over the
W4VB systems. This section provides
an introduction or update from some. From: Harley Huntemann – W7HJ I have a
new (2800W) generator at the Appomattox QTH now. Tower hole is dug.
It's about 75 yards from the house, completely out in the woods ! Hope to
pour the concrete this coming 3-day weekend, weather permitting, of course. Will be
putting up a 40' Universal Aluminum tower that folds down at the base, so I'll
NEVER have to climb it. It's just like the one I had when I was in college
out in Bremerton and that one really worked swell. Even with the
tribander and rotator on the top section, two people can hoist the whole thing
into the sky, no sweat. The tower only weighs 78 lbs and the beam, rotator
and mast add about 30 lbs. Assuming the two people start to raise the
tower from the 20 foot level, about half the tower weight is already against the
hinged base, and only a fraction of the weight of the antenna, mast
and rotator are what the two people have to actually lift up, and the more
vertical the tower gets, the more the weight shifts to the tower base.
Once it's vertical, two long bolts are put into the hinges to hold the
tower in place whilst all else is tightened for the vertical position.
No guy wires needed due to the HUGE chunk of concrete and rocks in the
base. The hole is 3' x 3' wide x 4' deep. It's rated to handle
in excess of 80MPH winds, so that tower isn't going anywhere! I'll
take pix of the progress and send to you so you can "sense the
triumph" of W7HJ finally getting a tower and beam up into the sky !!! I
probably won't be operating remotely from out there anytime soon. No
Internet, except for Satellite, and that costs at least $100/month. Maybe
someday, but not right away, hi. My
flagpole here at the beach QTH finally bit the dust, literally. Over
the years, the RF caused some heavy arcing amongst the joints of the pole
(every 5 feet), even though I was using stainless steel clamps at each
intersection, they still arced! Eventually, the aluminum melted in rings
around the joints and the structural integrity became a factor...so I took
it all down. I
replaced the flagpole with a DX Engineering 65' aluminum vertical that I
normally keep nested at 23' with Ol' Glory proudly flying at the top (during the
day). After dark, I can use the tilt-over base to lower the pole,
then extend it all the way out to 65' to run a full quarter wave on
80M, and get this, I can also run it on 160M by attaching a 65' piece of wire
to the top and running the wire off to the wisteria to form an
inverted L configuration, or a full quarter wave on 160M. It's going to be
FUN this winter! Even
with the pole nested at 23', using the antenna tuner I can put out enough of a
signal to work just about anyone I can hear....I worked the guys in Luxembourg
the other night on 40M and then worked them on 80M, all with the 23' vertical
with the tuner. The 23' height was chosen because it's a full quarter wave
on 30M, which lately has been my favorite DX band, and I can tune the ATU to 40M
or 80M and switch to bypass and have the 30M antenna there for me. Its SWR
is about 1.2:1, so I can't complain. I have
not been very active on VHF/UHF lately, but hope to get something back into the
car in a couple of weeks. I had a lot of trouble with RF burning out my
fuel pump module so I still have to isolate that problem before I can run more
than a couple of watts. With all the repeaters we have, I probably won't
need more than 5 or 10 watts, though. From: Dave Hamm – WA4WX WA4WX (Dave Hamm) is alive and well…listening more than I will let on to, transmitting occasionally when I hear a net in progress. I am currently working with the Advanced Capabilities Group at Northrop Grumman Ship Building in Newport News, working on some spooky stuff. Nothing further on work. “Nuff “ said. At night, I’m working on a second Degree, A Bachelors in Business Administration…still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Master’s Degree to follow immediately afterwards. I’ve not given up hope for locating WA4ZUA in Downtown Hampton, but time has me squeezed tight. Wife is retired from 35 years in Govt . Service. Good for her! All of my radios are alive and well, including mobile and marine mobile. Some Websites of
Interest to W4VB Repeater Users Tidewater
Wireless: http://www.w4vb.org Norfolk
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES): http://www.norfolk-ares.org Radio
Amateur Society of Norfolk (RASON): http://www.rasonva.com EchoLink:
http://www.echolink.org |