Repeaters and Linking Presented by Rob Ewert VE1KS Repeaters and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Repeaters and Linking Presented by Rob Ewert VE1KS Repeaters and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mar 19, 2024 389 likes •832 views

Repeaters and Linking Presented by Rob Ewert VE1KS Repeaters and Linking \ Introduction / My Background Repeaters What are they? Why do we need them? How do they work? How are they controlled What kinds are

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Repeaters and Linking

Presented by Rob Ewert VE1KS

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Repeaters and Linking

 My Background  Repeaters

  • What are they?
  • Why do we need them?
  • How do they work?
  • How are they controlled
  • What kinds are there?
  • Where are they?
  • What do I need to know to use them
  • Digital Voice Modes

 Linking Repeaters

  • Why do we do it?
  • How do we link repeaters?
  • How are links controlled
  • Linking in NS (MAVCOM, IRLP, Echolink)

 Operating Etiquette

  • Repeater usage etiquette
  • Linking etiquette

\ Introduction /

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Repeaters and Linking

 What are they?

  • They re-transmit, in real time, any signal received
  • Antenna, duplexer, receiver, transmitter & controller
  • Some times multiplexers are used instead of duplexers
  • Coverage is usually circular in pattern
  • Range can be 250 Km or more, station to station
  • Repeater transmit power is typically 20W to 100W
  • 28, 50, 220, 146, 440, 1200 Mhz or cross-band
  • Can be open or closed

\ Repeaters /

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Repeaters and Linking

This is VE1PAR in the Parrsboro area

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Repeaters and Linking

 Why do we need them?

  • Mobile radio range is 20 Km to 40 Km
  • HT range is 2 Km to 5 Km
  • Repeaters extend the usable range of our mobiles, HT’s
  • They can be a common gathering place for hams that

are spread out, geographically

  • They can provide important club announcements
  • They can provide time, date, weather info
  • They can provide reliable emergency communications

\ Repeaters /

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Repeaters and Linking

 How do they work?

  • A signal, on Freq A, is received in the repeater antenna
  • The signal goes down the feed line to the receive port
  • f the duplexer
  • From the receive port of the duplexer, the signal feeds

the receiver radio tuned to Freq A

  • Freq A is demodulated and the audio is fed to a

repeater controller on Port 1 interface card

  • The audio is routed back out Port 1 to a transmit radio

where it is modulated and transmitted on Freq B.

  • The transmitted RF is sent to the transmit port of the

duplexer where it is combined with the receive signal and fed on to the repeater antenna

  • Both receiving Freq A and transmitting Freq B, usually

use the same antenna

\ Repeaters /

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Repeaters and Linking

Receiver Transmitter Controller Port 1

RX COS RX Audio TX PTT TX Audio

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Repeaters and Linking

 How are they controlled?

  • A repeater controller device is used
  • Consists of micro-processor board and interface cards
  • DTMF tones allow users to control certain functions
  • RS-232 port allows for programming
  • Inserts ID’s, hangtimes, decode/encode CTCSS tones,

announcements on top of repeated audio

  • They route the control signals required to key and

unkey the transmitter

  • They time and time limit the received and re-

transmitted signals.

  • They interconnect audio and control signals between

I/F cards for the purposes of linking

  • They can read external sensors like temp and door

alarms

  • They can interface with the phone system

\ Repeaters /

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Repeaters and Linking

\ Repeaters /

 How are they powered?

  • AC (Hydro/Utility)
  • AC (Utility w/ backup generator and/or UPS)
  • Solar powered with 12V battery banks
  • Wind turbine powered with 12V battery banks

 What kinds are there?

  • Commercially built (Motorola, GE, Yaesu)
  • Mixture of components (Motorola, GE, Link)
  • Homebrew (power supply and controller)
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Repeaters and Linking

\ Repeaters /

 Where are they located?

  • Spread out geographically
  • Often located on high ground
  • Often located at commercial sites with other radio

systems

  • Can be found on Repeater lists, MAVCOM codes, etc
  • ARRL Repeater Handbook
  • URL: ve1cra.net (under repeater linking)
  • Google maps
  • Ask local hams
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Maritime VHF Repeaters

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Maritime UHF Repeaters

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Repeaters and Linking

\ Repeaters /

 What do I need to know to use them?

  • What is the rough coverage area of the repeater
  • What is the frequency I should listen on
  • What is the offset frequency between RX and TX
  • What are Sub-audible tones
  • CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System)
  • Superimposes a sub-audible freq on the signal
  • DCS (Digital Coded Squelch)
  • Superimposes a continuous stream of FSK digital data,

at about 131 baud, on the TX signal

  • 1750 Hz tone burst (European, but being phased out)
  • Identifiers (CW, Artificial Voice or DVR)
  • Different courtesy tones used depending on status
  • DTMF user codes (Dual Tone Multi Frequency)
  • DTMF muting and falsing
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Repeaters and Linking

\ Repeaters /

 Digital Voice Modes

  • DMR (Digital Mobile Radio Standard)

– Mototrbo (Motorola) (Springhill)

  • D-Star (Icom) (Church Lake & Antigonish)
  • Wires/Fusion (Yaesu) (Southampton, Truro, Antigonish

and Yarmouth)

  • Proprietary in nature
  • Many systems can autosense and operate in both FM

analog and digital modes

  • Encodes and decodes audio as a digital bit stream
  • http://www.maritimeamateur.ca/digitalradio.htm
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Repeaters and Linking

 Why do we link repeaters?

  • To increase the geographical range of repeaters
  • To be able to communicate to others in other

provinces and countries

  • To be able to pass emergency or relevant

communications between regions

  • To link together hams with common interests

\ Linking Repeaters /

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Repeaters and Linking

 How do we link repeaters?

  • Terrestrial RF (MAVCOM)
  • Microwave RF (NB IRG System)
  • Telephone company leased circuits (TMRS)
  • Internet (IRLP or Echolink)

\ Linking Repeaters /

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Repeaters and Linking

\ Linking Repeaters /

 How are links controlled?

  • Repeater controllers control the link radios
  • Linking uses DTMF on and off codes
  • 3 or 4 digit codes with an asterisk or pound
  • Some systems use just numbers
  • Off codes can sometimes be one unique code (73) or a

regular link code

  • Repeater controllers are programmed to respond to

DTMF commands that connect or disconnect that repeater to the link system

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Repeaters and Linking

\ Linking Repeaters /

 What do I need to know to use the linking system?

  • Where are you right now?
  • Where do I want to link to?
  • What are the DTMF codes that are needed to link?
  • Entering DTMF codes, listening for the right audio

responses

  • Timeout timers on links to be aware of
  • Network propagation delays
  • OCTD (One Code To Destination)
  • DTMF regeneration over links
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Repeaters and Linking

\ Linking Repeaters /

 MAVCOM

  • Maritime Amateur Voice Communications System
  • Terrestrial Repeater RF linking over UHF frequencies
  • Consists of UHF hubs and UHF trunked sites
  • Link sites are rarely over 60 miles apart
  • 60% of MAVCOM is half duplex, 40% is full duplex
  • Uses 4 digit DTMF on and off codes
  • Link codes are executed when you unkey (Enter)
  • Audio, voice or CW link status messages are sent to

indicate link status

  • Different courtesy tones can be used when linked
  • Link inactivity timer is generally 5 minutes
  • Link activity timer is generally 3 minutes
  • More than one repeater can be linked at a time
  • New links always being added (Work in progress)
  • Link codes follow the Coordinated Dialing Plan (106*
  • n, 107* off)
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Repeaters and Linking

Controller Controller Port 1 Port 2 Port 1 Port 2

Basic Link Between 2 Repeaters VE1HNS VE1PSR

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Repeaters and Linking

MAVCOM UHF BACKBONE

Port 2 Port 3 Port 1 Controller

VE1HNS VE1MHR VE1PSR TRUNK LINK SITE

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Repeaters and Linking

Controller

VE1KEJ VE1VO VE1LCA HUB HUB LINK SITE

Port 1 Port 2

MAVCOM UHF BACKBONE VE1BO VE1LCA RPTR

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Repeaters and Linking

\ Linking Repeaters /

 IRLP (www.irlp.net)

  • Uses the Internet for linking repeater systems
  • Creates a secure, full duplex audio stream between

repeater systems using VOiP and PGP keys

  • The connection point between repeater and the

Internet is called a “Node”

  • Many nodes can be joined together on the internet

using a “Reflector” (party line)

  • There are 2900 nodes and 31 reflectors
  • Uses a 4 digit on code and a common off code (73)
  • Node software runs on the Linux operating system
  • Requires any old computer and the IRLP interface

board (installs inside computer)

  • Node 2050 (VE1NSG/VE1HNS) configuration
  • Node locations and status can be found online at:

http://status.irlp.net

  • You can add custom codes and features
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Repeaters and Linking

Controller Controller Port 1 Port 2 Port 1 Port 2

Halifax, Canada – VE1HNS Basel, Switzerland - HB9TVW Internet

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Repeaters and Linking

\ Linking Repeaters /

 Echolink

  • Uses the Internet for linking repeaters and PCs
  • Security is through a validation process and then

username/password

  • Windows based, but packages available on Linux and

MAC

  • Hard to get an exact number of nodes
  • Uses a 4, 5 or 6 digit on code and a common off code
  • Interface uses WB2REM, VA3TO or Rigblaster
  • EchoIRLP nodes (not able to cross-connect)
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Repeaters and Linking

\ Operating Etiquette /

 Repeaters

  • Listen, Listen, Listen!!!!
  • Regulations state that you must know what frequency

you are operating on, not just the callsign

  • Unsure the repeater is clear? Please ask on air.
  • Use callsigns only at the beginning and end of a
  • conversation. Only repeat every 20 minutes
  • Please wait for the courtesy tone or wait 2 seconds

before replying. A repeater drop is not needed.

  • VERY IMPORTANT When replying, press the PTT,

wait at least 2 seconds BEFORE speaking

  • Speak clearly and loudly, holding the mic 2-3 inches

from your mouth. Phonetics are not generally required unless noisy conditions prevail

  • Avoid using repeaters when you are in simplex range
  • Proper mobile/portable identification terms
  • Turn OFF any background audio sources
  • DO NOT Kerchunk repeaters without identifying
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Repeaters and Linking

\ Operating Etiquette /

 Repeaters (Group conversations)

  • If a group of people are talking, only jump in if the

conversation has become general in nature and you have something to add that is relevant

  • You acknowledge all others in the conversation
  • DO NOT change the current topic
  • DO NOT ignore others in the group
  • DO leave long pauses between transmissions, allowing
  • thers to join in or bow out
  • DO join the QSO by giving your callsign only
  • DO NOT join by saying “break” or “contact”
  • Give preference to mobiles or portables
  • Keep conversations to 15-20 minutes
  • Always turn the conversation over to someone specific

in the group

  • FM capture effect
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\ Operating Etiquette /

 MAVCOM

  • Be sure the repeater is clear and available. Get on the

radio and ask if necessary

  • Give your callsign and state your intentions. Then dial

the appropriate DTMF codes

  • If not using OCTD, pause after dialing the first on code

that puts you on the UHF backbone, wait for link on status message

  • If system is clear, announce your callsign, intentions

and dial your destination code. Listen for link status message before proceeding.

  • IMPORTANT

Leave several seconds between transmissions and when keying up to talk, wait at least two seconds BEFORE speaking

  • If you end up in a local repeater conversation, turn off

any links in use, first!

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Repeaters and Linking

\ Operating Etiquette /

 MAVCOM

  • To downlink, give your callsign, intentions and dial the

DTMF off code. Then announce locally that you are clear of the link system once you have heard the link status messages.

  • Link status messages. What should you hear?
  • If unsuccessful or in doubt try again
  • You can’t break the system
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Repeaters and Linking

\ The End /

Questions? Comments?