Questions and Answers

The best way of explaining how the system operates is a Question and Answer format.  

First the pictures.

CALL, FREQUENCIES  & VOICE RF PATHS

CALL, FREQUENCIES  & APRS FUNCTION

CALL  & POWER SOURCE

CALL & ANTENNAE TYPE

Now the words.

Q.    What frequency is the Echo Bay Repeater using?

A.    Frequency is 444.475 + with 100.0 PL tone required.

Q.    Is this repeater connected to any other frequencies?

A.    Yes, it is connected to other transceivers on the following frequencies: 223.500, and 147.450. When the Link is activated this repeater is connected to all calls as well.

Q.    What is the output power and what type of radio is being used for VHF at the gateway site in the Sault?

A.    The main transceiver and back up transceiver are both made by Motorola. Power output is approx twenty watts into a three element beam antenna located twenty feet above ground. The frequency is 147.450 simplex.

Q.    What equipment is being used for SNT site?

A.    Transceivers are operated on 2m, 70cm and 1.25 m.

Q.    What VOIP network is the cluster connected to?

A.    Most of the time the cluster is connected to the EchoLink network, but can be connected to other networks, all Voip  programs can be bridged together.

Q.    How many call signs are being used on this cluster?

A.    Four, all of which can easily be heard using voice. Three call signs were obtained as discussions were underway to obtain access to multiple sites, however one site did not become available. Later, in August 2008, a fourth site became available and this cluster purchased a working two metre repeater.

Q.    If I transmit on the UHF repeater of 444.450 will I be heard on the six meter repeater?

A.    Yes, UHF users do not need to purchase a 6 metre radio.

Q.    If I transmit on the six metre repeater will I be heard on the UHF repeater?

A.    Yes, on 444.450 and 444.475.

Q.    If I transmit on 147.480 simplex will I be heard on the UHF repeaters and six meter repeater?

A.    Yes, you will also be heard on the Heyden Repeater and 147.450 if the link is on.

Q.   How can I access the Heyden Repeater?

A.   To access the transmitter at the Heyden repeater on 145.470 any of the following input frequencies can be used:

Option # 1 Transmit on 144.870 with a PL of 100.0 ( the repeater input )

Option # 2 Transmit on 147.480 with a PL of 100.0

Option # 3 Transmit on 052.450 with a PL of 100.0 ( input of six metre repeater )

Option # 4 Transmit on 223.500 with a PL of 100.0 ( Link )

Option # 5 Transmit on 449.450 with a PL of 100.0 ( input of 70 cm repeater)  

Option # 6 Transmit on 449.475 with a PL of 100.0 ( input of 70 cm repeater )

Option # 7 Transmit on 147.450 with a PL of 100.0 ( if SNT is linked )

Many different combinations are possible for each transceiver, use your imagination and choose the best site and combination based on location and propagation.

Q.  What is the anti-kerchunker circuit?

A.  This circuit introduces a timer on the received signal, if the signal is present after X milliseconds the signal is deemed to be legitimate and therefore allowed to pass. The purpose of this circuit is to prevent noise from being repeated through the system. To access any receiver hold down your key, wait a second or two, then start talking.

Q.   How many repeaters are being used in this cluster?

A.   Two UHF, one VHF, one low band, and two digital, but this does not include all the possibilities of; in site, cross site, in band and cross band repeating.

Q.   Why do I hear a lot of CWID's from this cluster?

A.   The CW ID can easily be mixed with transmitted audio during a conversation, and most of the I.D's will originate from SNE.

Q.  Are local conversations encouraged?

A.  This is, and always has been, the only system that is more concerned with connections from this area to amateurs in other parts of the world, then with connecting local users to local users. A lot of local repeaters are available for that function, this is the only system that is continuously connected to world wide stations. Local hams  can use the network to make contact with each other utilizing the cross band and cross site connections but they must keep in mind that distant users have priority. The whole point of this cluster is to bring more traffic into this area, so local users can easily make distant contacts. Other groups concentrate on connecting local users, that is not the goal of this network. Bringing traffic in from other areas, and directing traffic to those areas, promote long distance communications using VHF and UHF radios.

Q.   What happens during an AC power failure?

A.   Immediate DC power backup occurs, with zero switching time. With large battery banks at every site, no difference will be noticed for many hours, after a very long outage, the high power amplifiers will automatically drop from the system to conserve battery life. During the city wide power outage June seventh 2011 which left thirty thousand people without power, and all the city repeaters off the air, this system was still operating on high power.

Q.   What is the output power of the six meter repeater?

A.   About five watts, into a folded dipole antenna.

Q.   Does this cluster sponsor any events?

A.   Yes, special event stations are created to encourage activity through the network. QSL cards are awarded upon completion of requirements. Two special event stations were operated in 2007, with most of the cards being awarded to stations in the United Kingdom.

Q.    What is the frequency of the UHF repeaters?

A.    444.450 and  444.475 + with a PL tone of 100.0

Q.   How many weather forecasts and sources are available from the cluster?

A.   There are two different voice weather announcements; S.A.M.E alerts and warnings. There is one digital source on the Aprs network and the findu network. Weather data is gathered from two weather stations at the sites, from the  NOAA weather office and from the KANJ weather site. All weather transmissions are preceded with signaling tones or voice warnings. July of 2008 brought another major addition to the weather information available from these sites, which is; regular announcements of weather conditions in the form of beacons and weather on demand. All sites now have weather data available in the form of voice and digital information.

Q.    What is S.A.M.E broadcasts and what does it have to do with this cluster?

A.    Specific Area Message Encoding, the purpose of which is to program a weather radio to activate when a weather alert for a specific area occurs. The weather receiver will automatically take control of the link system and retransmit the weather alert for the length of that bulletin. At the end of the bulletin the link will be returned to normal operation. Severe Weather warnings and watches take priority over all transmissions, it is possible that conversations will be interrupted for the duration of the weather announcement. The SAME decoder can be disabled during nets.

Q.    What coverage will the S.A.M.E weather broadcast have?

A.    The S.A.M.E. weather bulletins are transmitted from SNT, all transmitters connected to SNT will repeat the message with the exception of SNE. (If SNE repeated the message it would be sent to the VoiP server, and they are not interested in our local weather.) Chippewa county is the area of most concern as their weather broadcasts are more accurate then the local forecasting system.

Q.   What is multicasting?

A.   This is a condition that occurs when multiple sites are transmitting the same audio feed and have multiple paths for receiving signals. More geographical coverage and more choices of frequencies are available when this condition exists. The purpose is to encourage low power transmitters and activity on bands that are not commonly used in the area.

Q.   Is there a list of frequencies that are being used by this cluster?

A.   Here is a quick summary;

052.450, 053.450, 444.475, 449.475, 444.450, 449.450, 147.450, 147.480, 144.390, 223.500, 145.470,144.870.

Q.  When listening to 147.450, I know a local station is in conversation with someone on the Internet but I cannot hear the local station, why not?

A.  Because the local station's signal is not being repeated back to you, this is simplex communications, obviously you are not in simplex range of HIS transmitter. If you wish to listen to a local station that is out of range for you, tune to the output of another transmitter from this site or another site, as his audio may be repeated to another band.

Q.   How can the link radio be on two different VHF frequencies?

A.   All transceivers are frequency agile, Tx and Rx frequencies can be changed to eliminate interference or to stand in for another site during a failure.

Q.  Tell me about the weather station, how does it work?

A.   A  hobby weather station is set up to collect data concerning weather conditions in Echo Bay The data is sent via the Aprs network using RF. 

Q.   Besides the outside weather conditions, what else can I learn from the weather stations?

A.   You can click on the daily weather tab on the top left and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the data page where you will find "Today's data file", which is the data from the sensors starting at 12:00am. If you wish to know what the temperature is at the repeater shack look for the "Temp In" heading.

Q.   What happens in an emergency if the Internet connection fails?

A.   This cluster uses three different Internet Service Providers, it is unlikely all would fail at the same time and remain off line, however the RF network does not require the Internet for linking.

Q.   Where is the SNS transmitter and what frequencies are being used?

A.   The SNS transmitter is a duplex repeater operating on a Tx frequency of 145.470 and a receive frequency of 144.870 with a  PL tone of 100.0 Hertz. This repeater is located in the town of Heyden, and was the first wind and solar powered site of this group, the other wind and solar site, in this area, is also maintained by this cluster.

Q.   I've heard a changing pitch audio sound from the Heyden repeater, what is that?

A.   The "audio whine" is the generator charging, a good indication of strong winds!

Q.   Why set up a "new" repeater when the existing repeaters are under utilized?

A.   There is a major misunderstanding about this repeater, it is not a "new" repeater, it has been in operation ten years before this group took ownership, it is in fact an "old" repeater. After hearing that the site was for sale, we visited the facility and thought it would be disappointing to see such a good location lost because of lack of usage. An offer was made to the existing club, and it was accepted immediately, we considered ourselves lucky to have such a vantage point north of the city with a power supply separate from all other repeaters. No other repeater is just outside the city limits, has excellent coverage in the city and north of the city, is wind and solar powered, and is connected to a world wide network. This cluster is not duplicating any service already provided by any existing group. This group has made, and is making, more effort to bring traffic to the local community then any other group. We would like to thank the HBM Repeater Club for all the work they did at this site.

Q.   I've noticed there are two different versions of the cluster patch, why is that?

A.   Colour symbolizes rank.

Q.   Is there a list of other local repeaters in the area that I can access?

A.   Yes, the largest member radio club has a web page here.

Q.   I've gave my call on the 147.450 frequency but heard no reply from the repeater, but a few minutes later, others seemed to have no problems with access, did I use the wrong ctcss?

A.   147.450,147.480 and 223.500 are simplex frequencies, you will not hear a courtesy tone or a squelch tail because they are not repeaters. These are simplex links to repeaters and VOIP conference servers. If you use the correct ctcss tone, then access is granted.

Q.   Why does the 444.450 repeater not respond?

A.   It does respond to a voice transmissions, wait a few seconds then say your call sign, there is a short delay to enable all the links to pick up, if you are fast to transmit, part of our first word will be not heard.

Q.  When is the network the busiest?

A.  During net times of course, listen at these times, and support ham radio by using your mike!

Monday to Friday : 07:00 am to 11:00 am for the breakfast club

Monday to Friday : 12:00 am to 01:00 pm for the courage net

Monday to Friday : 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm various times various nets

Saturday morning: 08:00 am to 01:00 pm Scars

Saturday evening: 09:00 pm to 10:30 am Newsline

Sunday morning : 10:00 am to 11:30 am Scars

Sunday evening : 08:00 pm to 09:00 pm Michigan

There are some night owls on 147.450 in the wee hours!