[SMCARA] Tone Access (156.7 Hz) now required for 147.42 Echolink node use

[petebutt at comfac.com]

Forwarding stuck message in SMCARA mail relay system... de WA3UMY


---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Tone Access for 147.42 Echolink (156.7)
From:    "Sam Leach" <sam at teamsupportatlantic.com>
Date:    Mon, March 19, 2012 8:29 pm
To:      smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net
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Hello All,

The 147.42 simplex Echolink node uses a preamplifier up at the antenna feed
point and, as such, is a fairly sensitive 2 meter station.  At all times of
the year it's likely to produce squelch noise on signals as far away as
southern NJ and south east PA (given just a touch of propagation).  With
the advent of spring, that has gotten worse.  In most cases, the
interfering signals are weak enough that they don't really impact us and
we aren't impacting their local QSO (aside from maybe breaking their
squelches and they can fix that by turning on CTCSS).  Echolink includes a
feature that keeps the node from being keyed (from the internet side) as
long as the receiver's squelch is open.  It doesn't matter if it is being
opened by a full bars local signal or an S1 and unintelligible signal from
out near the horizon.  As a result, a computer based station is not able
to key the node until the squelch closes.  To reduce the impact of weak,
out of area signals, I have put a PL of 156.7 on the node.  To come in
from the radio side, just set up the PL like you do for .64 and .35.

Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to visit / monitor .42. 
There are instructions on the club web site (find a link at the bottom of
the repeater page).  It's a good way to welcome out of town hams who take
a peek into St. Marty's county via this path.   Also, if you want to use
the simplex capability to talk someone into your house, or whatever other
purpose, connect up and go for it; it has decent coverage. Same goes for
working a ham friend in some other state or some other country.  Have him
poke his head in through the internet and work him with your 2 meter radio.
If you're coming from the internet side, there is no connection time limit.

73

Sam Leach

K3KLC

301-994-9732

Or call me on .42