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Norbert VK5MQ visited The Bluff UHF repeater on Sunday to do some final installation work.

Here is the information he sent me the next day:

“The rack was slightly rearranged to accommodate the extra power supply.

The two x 6V 200Ah batteries, although outside the rack, don’t seem to get in the way when working at the back. Probably because the adjacent rack is deeper.

I did notice that the newly installed power supply has a dodgy mains power switch, so I used the power point switch to turn it on and off once this was noticed. I’ll try and source a replacement switch.

The C4FM repeater coaxial cable to the cavity was replaced with RG-214, found the perfect length cable at home.

Repeater tail final setting ended up at 500mS (I think) and of course 91.5Hz tone on repeater transmission.”

There were two important software changes.
(1) a tail of 500ms is now on the repeater when it is operated using FM. This helps non digital users know when they have accessed the repeater.
(2) a CTCSS of 91.5Hz has been put on the transmitter. This means that if you don’t want to hear the hiss of digital noise on your analogue radio just set your receiver to require a CTCSS tone. You’ll see your S meter increase when digital signals are on but won’t be bothered by the noise.

Some of our members may not have a digital radio and like to monitor for Echolink on the UHF repeater. Norbert was on site today and he has set the new repeater to put out 91.5 when transmitting FM.

Here’s how to fix the problem with digital noise on your standard FM receiver.

All you need do is adjust your radio so that it uses Tone Squelch of 91.5 which means your radio only opens its mute if it hears 91.5Hz.
This is the opposite of putting tone on the transmitter. So no more noisy signals, Your radio will be nice and silent when the digital signals are on because there is no tone being put out by the repeater. You’ll need to make sure your radio behaves differently on UHF, otherwise you won’t hear the 2M repeater.

If there is an FM signal through the UHF repeater it inserts the 91.5HZ onto its transmission and your mute opens. Nifty heh!

You as a FM user won’t be able to talk until there is a gap in the repeater of course. But that’s no different from what normally happens. You’ll know when there’s a digital signal because your S meter will be hard over with no sound.

Sunday the 10th of October 2021 the new DR-2X System Fusion Digital and Analogue repeater was installed by local fellow amateurs on a cold blistering windy day up at the local bluff repeater site attended by Peter VK5BE, John VK5DJ, Norbert VK5MQ, Tom VK5NFT and Hans VK5PHS.

Testing with local amateurs away from the site was performed thanks to Col VK5DK, Robin VK5TN and John VK5JOB.

DR2-X System Fusion Digital / Analogue Repeater

The repeater can be accessed on the following frequency, Receive 439.825MHz and Transmit on 434.825MHz with -5MHz offset.

Some photos of the team on the day

Please note that the existing Echolink can still be accessed via this new Fusion System Repeater as before.

Cheers and 73

Tom VK5NFT

The following information was sent to President Peter by Peter VK5JP. It’s shown below for members information. It is a copy of an email following a query from WICEN SA Coordinator.

Quote:

Since we last spoke there has been a rapid development of the Adelaide-10-G room 69159. Previously we had only a small amount of Wires-X capable repeaters connected to Lower Hermitage, those being: –

1)     VK5RCT Copper Triangle; located in Moonta; Frequency 438.325MHz Minus 5.00MHz offset; AMS “On” Analogue and Digital

2)     VK5RBV 70CM Barossa Valley ; located in the Barossa, frequency on  439.800MHz Minus 5.OOMHz offset; AMS “On” Analogue and Digital

3)     VK5RBV 2M Barossa Valley ; located in the Barossa, frequency on  146.825MHz Minus .6OOMHz offset; AMS “On” Analogue and Digital

4)     VK5RSC 70CM South Coast; currently located at Willunga Hill on 438.825MHz Minus 5.00MHz offset; AMS “On” Analogue and Digital

5)     VK5RDF 2M Crafers located in the Adelaide Hills on 147.2625Mhz minus 1.600MHz offset;Digital Only

6)     VK5RKW 70CM Upper Hermitage; Adelaide Hills on 438.875MHz minus 7.00MHz offset. This site has now become the primary repeater site for “Wires-X connections: Digital Only

7)     VK5RLH 2M in the Southern Hummocks on 146.975MHz Minus .600MHz offset is a C4FM repeater which is occasionally linked to Wires-X Runs both Analogue and Digital

8)     VK5RDF 70CM Crafers on 438.1125MHz Minus 7.00MHZ offset is stand alone C4FM repeater but can be remotely connected to Wires-X; Digital Only

9)     VK5SCR 2M on York Peninsula located at York town on 144.837 Simplex is a Wires-X Node run by Scruff and provides coverage around the York Town Area

Recently Added Repeaters: –

VK5RWR 70CM Waikerie located in the Riverland on 438.750MHZ minus 7.00MHz. the site is still under construction but repeater is operational and has excellent coverage. AMS “On” Analogue and Digital

VK3RPT is a Wires-X link from Victoria to Adelaide-10-G and is part of the Australia Repeater network which currently incorporates various areas of Victoria, New south Wales, Queensland, Alice Springs Northern Territory. The current plan which is underway is to build this Network to cover all of Australia and its Capital Territories…this link has provided additional connections to interstate repeaters and their respective networks… (Ref: Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY)

Soon to be added is VK5ROH 70CM Blue Lake; Mt Gambier in the South East. Frequency is 439.825MHZ with Minus 5.00MHz This is a new DR2X repeater replacing the existing 70CM Analogue unit. The repeater is currently under test and will join Adelaide -10-G. The AMS will be active allowing for connection via Analogue or Digital

There is also plans to install additional C4FM repeaters in each State but these will be connected to a specific Room ………

Yaesu C4FM and Wires-X has been widely accepted in Australia and overseas as the Digital System specifically designed for Amateur use.

Additional we have developed here in South Australia software for the Pi4 to enable the WIA Broadcast to be broadcasted on C4FM and Wires-“X” every Sunday at 09:00Hrs and again at 19:00Hrs Adelaide Central time. Credit goes to Steve VK5ST for the software development, his tireless effort in developing the software over the last 8 months has given us a fully automated system which allows for the broadcast of the WIA National News Segment, Local News Segment and Chris K1KC Tech corner. Other features now allow for repeater switching in event of Link failure with the primary repeater, the ability to record overseas tech broadcasts and other features…

Due to heavy demand on network services Phil Kern from Kern Wifi has upgrades the fibre optic links at the Upper Hermitage site. Currently there are 2 Optic Fibre links to Sydney; 100g and 10G:  recently added a Fibre Link running to Melbourne…… Phil has been instrumental in giving the Adelaide-10-G room the best stable available internet service with a large bandwidth to allow for a large number of connections to room 69159. He himself is a amateur and is a keen supporter of the Yaesu System fusion C4FM and Wires-“X” here in Adelaide

I hope the above information will help you and WICEN group into the research of Yaesu C4FM repeaters and their coverage in South Australia and Interstate…..

Moving forward to a Digital Future with C4FM……VK5 Digital Fusion Group

Cheers
Pete
VK5JP

The new 70cm C4FM repeater is on its way from Strictly Ham. Upon arrival this week, John VK5DJ will complete all the config settings, then hopefully it will be commissioned at The Bluff this coming week-end (9-10 October 2021). Those with C4FM capability, should set their radios to 439.825Mhz, with a -5Mhz off-set.

In the meantime the SERG clubroom end will be worked on. This will create access to the wider world as soon as practical. Initially VK5ROH will be a repeater only and can be used in either analogue as usual (with Echolink facility) or in digital.

At the next activity night we will be assisting people to set up their radios.

Yaesu Digital / Analog Radios Compatible with C4FM Fusion

Please be aware that the hand helds use down towards Millicent area may have difficulty getting into the repeater due to the current mounting of the antennas at the Bluff.

The Australian version of transceivers are noted with DR and no different to those shown in the videos that may have only D.

The video reviews attached are just to give you a insight to the radios and there probably better reviews if you wish to follow up yourselves.

HAND HELDS

Want More info then click onto the links below for this Yaesu FT-3DR

Strictly Ham FT-3DR, C4FM

Yaesu FT-3DR, C4FM Handheld Review

Want More info then click onto the links below for this Yaesu FT-70DR

Strictly Ham FT-70DR, C4FM

Yaesu FT-70D, C4FM Hand Held Features and Review

Want More info then click onto the links below for this Yaesu FT-5DR

Strictly Ham FT-5DR, C4FM

Yaesu FT-5DR, C4FM Hand Held Features and Review

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TRANSCEIVERS

Want More info then click onto the links below for this Yaesu FTM-300DR

Strictly Ham FTM-300DR, C4FM

Yaesu FTM-300DR, C4FM Transceiver Features and Review

Want More info then click onto the links below for this Yaesu FTM-300DR

Want More info then click onto the links below for this Yaesu FTM-400XDR

Strictly Ham FTM-400XDR, C4FM

Yaesu FTM-400XDR, C4FM Transceiver Features and Review

Want More info then click onto the links below for this Yaesu FT-991A

Strictly Ham FT-991A, C4FM

Yaesu FT-991A, C4FM Transceiver Features and Review

The club is about to buy and install a Yaesu DR-2X repeater in place of the current UHF repeater.

The device itself is very clever. If you have an analogue radio you can still use it as a repeater and others can still hear you etc etc. But it won’t work with other digital systems e.g. D-Star. The repeater can be used either 2m or 70cm but we will use it on UHF. Our normal linked 2M system won’t be touched by this project. We will replace the current UHF repeater which is rarely used.

Users of the Repeater will just need a suitable radio to use digital, no other hardware. See Tom’s post above for possible radios. They must be C4FM models.

Here are two links to give you an idea of what is involved. The first is a video showing the features of the repeater while the second is a link to Ross’s shop showing the interface card needed to allow connection to the internet.

http://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/

https://www.strictlyham.com.au/yaesu-lan-01a

At the 2021 Annual General Meeting President Peter, VK5BE, had great pleasure in awarding the Presidents Trophy to Tom, VK5EE, for his outstanding contribution to the Club by being there for every Sunday morning Broadcast for the year, including also the Friday Night sessions during which he has presented the A.R.R.L. Podcasts.Working in a cramped shack with no heating Tom has been on time for every broadcast and has proved to be as reliable as a Swiss Watch.Well done and a big “Thank you” Tom.

It was a cold but dry day for the people in the field. There was great camaraderie among SERG and SEAC members. At Hans and my site we were treated to all kinds of goodies including chicken wings from Mark and coffee and hamburgers from Hans. We hope that everyone had a great day.

The South East Radio Group has rescheduled the SERG Australian Fox Hunting Championship and Convention to 18/19 September 2021.

We have checked that there are no other major events in Mount Gambier that weekend, Andrew our Fox hunting organiser is available, Ross is coming from Strictly Ham, the Council has been notified and the scout clubrooms are available.

The program will need to be modified as it’s not a long weekend and we know some will not be able to stay Sunday night, so we’re examining all the combinations for the program.

Check the Convention 2021 page. It will be kept up to date.

Tim VK5AV and John VK5DJ: convention organisers