[MCARC] Seneca 715 Repeater

[Nate Bargmann]

* On 2021 19 Oct 19:46 -0500, Michael Philbrick wrote:
> Hello Fellow Hams,
> 
> I just wanted to give an update after today's tinkering. The past couple of
> days and I'm going to use the wrong terminology, but the repeater had
> pretty much a constant hiccup from stray or distance RF (probably Papillon,
> NE) and most times would not cause the id to happen. This was causing
> concern because the last time this was occurring, the repeater was lost as
> the finals were ruined. So, the squelch pot in the controlling interconnect
> was slightly adjusted to require a stronger signal for activation. We are
> not sure what the range will be after this tinkering. Testing was done with
> HT inside Seneca city limits and the repeater was still able to be keyed on
> 5W. It would be interesting to know if those of you who tested when the
> machine first went back into service can still connect. Of course, if you
> didn't earlier and choose to now, that would also be great. The repeater
> continues to be an open repeater and does not need a tone at this time. For
> those who want to try something different, the repeater is now also
> accessible via EchoLink as KB0DEU-R on your phone, tablet or computer.

Even though I don't think you meant it this way, Mike, I will offer a
clarification of "open" and "closed" repeaters and the use of subaudible
tone, CTCSS on FM repeaters.

These days the rule is that a repeater is "open" or "closed" as a matter
of policy as set by its owner/trustee.  Per our service rules, once an
operator is informed that a repeater is "closed", i.e. limited to
certain stations, that becomes a binding policy of the repeater.  To use
the repeater contrary to that policy is also a Part 97 rules violation.

There is no technical measure that must be implemented to create a
"closed" repeater.  It is a matter of policy only.

Conversely, the use of technical measures to mitigate interference from
users of another repeater is encouraged and by themselves do not make a
repeater "closed".  That said, the use of such measures does have an
impact.  There may still be old FM gear in use that does not have CTCSS
capability.  Then it is up to all involved to decide how best to handle
the situation.

When the 147.285 repeater goes back on the air (I did some trouble
shooting on it last week and will revisit it after harvest) it will
require an 88.5 Hz tone for access.  The reason being that it doesn't
take much tropo enhancement for users of the Russell 147.285 repeater to
also bring up this one.  As the Russell repeater is part of K-Link it
also requires a tone for access.  Per policy our repeater is "open" as
is the 444.350 repeater.

73, Nate

-- 
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds.  The pessimist fears this is true."
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