[RVRC] W2FLA repeater

[Marvin Bronstein]

Pete, Marty,
Yes, the weather conditions have enhanced the 'path propagation' and from the location and HAAT of W2FLA we have a very strong signal.  The real problem is two-fold, first it was the failure of the coordinating body (UNYREPCO) to examine the technical aspects of the coordination request and determine the coverage of the station design and second, the coordinator failed to follow their own guidelines of 100 mile separation from existing stations.
There IS a caveat, however, and that is the failure of MetroCor to discover the potential of interference to W2QW's coordinated repeater on that frequency.  It is understandable, though, that MetroCor would not 'see' this obscured problem because it would have required an extensive 'study' of their technical parameters and it is within MetroCor's design parameters to coordinate repeaters on a 70 mile separation requirement OF A TYPICAL DESIGN.
Given the mountainous terrain between W2FLA and W2QW, no one foresaw the problem in thinking that there would be no conflict!

NOTE: I was not on the Board of Directors yet at MetroCor when W2FLA was coordinated

So, the 'fix' for our problem is to either get W2FLA to reduce power by some workable amount (in an equitable agreement) OR increase our ERP to capture our repeater signal over theirs.

I, for one, don't believe we will get any voluntary agreement from the owner of W2FLA repeater because of his personality and I don't believe we can increase our repeater power enough to overcome the 'occasional' interference due to propagation enhancement without causing similar interference with repeaters in southern NJ and North- Eastern Pennsylvania.

What I DO believe we can secure is cooperation from W2FLA or KQ2H to eliminate the incessant key-ups from the other linked repeaters.  These 'key-ups' are our main problem and are, by definition in FCC rules, inconsistent with those FCC rules.  

73,
Marv
K2VHW
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Hi Pete,
What you are hearing is the result of propagation enhancement. The other
repeater is strong as a result of the weather conditions associated with a
cold front approaching our region. As far as another station keying it up,
that is not exactly the case either. The repeater is being keyed up on its
link to 10 meters. As that band is also open the noise level is breaking the
squelch on the 10 meter link. This is what prompted our letters to the
repeater owner. These band conditions usually last a few hours and can recur
frequently in summer.
73, Marty WB2BEW