VK2RHR 146.825 MHz High Range Repeater back on air

 VK2RHR 146.825 MHz High Range Repeater in southern Highlands  is back on air, it requires 91.5Hz CTCSS tone to access it.

It belongs to Goulburn and Southern Highlands  ARC. Plans to link it with Goulburn repeater and to Yass repeater

VK3GWY disappeared

 the VK3GWY gateway seems to have disappeared, I haven't heard the VK3 network activity on Brandmeister DMR, P25, NXDN and YSF networks, not hearing the daily and weekly nets held on the VK3 network.
I noticed it disappeared off the various dashboards and checking Brandmeister dashboard it looks to be 26 days ago, so that is around the 14th September.

DMR Stats and Dashboards

 here are the dashboards again plus Matt VK2FLY's Statistics pages for VK-DMR

IPSC2 Dashboard Index (vkdmr.com)  VK-DMR Repeater List

IPSC2 Dashboard Index (vkdmr.com)  VK-DMR Hotspots List

IPSC2 Dashboard Index (arec.info)  ZL DMR Repeaters and Hotspots List

VKDMR Information - From VK2FLY  VK-DMR Information page from VK2FLY

VKDMR Information - From VK2FLY weekly stats for VK-DMR  from VK2FLY

VHF and above portable site Cape Hawke, Forster, NSW, QF67gs

 

I recently visited Cape Hawke (QF67gs)  lookout near Forster on the NSW Mid Coast, I had not been out to the lookout on previous visits to Forster, but after visiting the lookout I realised it is a great spot for VHF,UHF and SHF portable DXing, you can drive most of the way to the lookout, it has a 15minute walk to reach the summit, it is a National Park, so it is covered in dense vegetation and trees, but there is a large 20metre high lookout tower, stairs and platform at top, solid structure with metal posts for temporary connecting antennas too. Ground level is dense bushland, you want to do microwave you have to go up the lookout tower. It is a triangular platform  approx 3m x 3m

this photo is looking north west towards Forster.

this photo looking south west towards Newcastle, Sydney etc, it just catches the tops of trees.

looking west

looking north east up the coast 

latest multimode transceivers for VHF and above

I can never remember the latest model numbers as they are similiar and easily confused

ICOM IC-905   144, 430, 1200, 2400, 5600 MHz +10 GHz   All Mode Transceiver approx $4k8

ICOM IC-705   HF, 50, 144, 430 MHz    All Mode Transceiver    approx $2k

ICOM IC-9700   144, 430, 1200 MHz   All Mode Transceiver   approx $2k5      -  replacement to IC-910

YAESU FT-991A    HF, 50, 144, 430 MHz  All Mode Transceiver    approx $2k1

Digital Multimode Reflectors

 I am more interested in the Reflectors for DMR & P25,  most are centered around D-Star, here are some :

XLX

XRF

P25ref by G4KLX

NXDNref by G4KLX

alternative P25ref by DG9VH

alternative P25ref by M0VUB

code bases are found on GitHub

P25 Activity as of August 2024

 here is a bit of a list of known and active P25 TalkGroups  primarily from a VK/ZL perspective, but includes the main Overseas TG's and their dashboards (where applicable)

TG4 - VK4TUX  is defunct, long gone.

TG445  SuperMag AU - p25.supermag.fishersaudio.com.au  - defunct, its gone

TG530  ZL (NZ)   - zldigitialreflectord.hopto.org  - defunct, its gone

TG5057  VK7HSE  45.248.50.37  XLX505  dashboard is there, but no P25 port anymore

TG5205 CCARC VK2RAG  5205.p25dvm.com  - not configured

TG10100 World Wide  - is active

TG10101 TAC1 - no activity seen

TG10102 TAC2 -no activity seen

TG10201 USA -is active, but not that busy

TG10202 USA - no activity seen

TG10400  VK - pacificp25.repeaters.info  -  is active

TG10401 VK WICEN - pacifictac1.repeaters.info  and p25wicen.repeaters.info  - activity is scarce

TG10403  Pacific TAC3  - China stations

TG10403  Pacific TAC4  - Taiwan

TG10700  AU - active, but dashboard has gone

TG10750  AU Secondary  - defunct, its gone.

TG50525  VK Bridge  50525.p25dvm.com and tg505.repeaters.info  - very active, linked to VK3network

TG50535  VK Multimode  Link    p25to50535.vkradio.com   -  defunct, its gone

TG50536 FreeStar VK  p25.tg5036.vkradio.com    defunct, its gone

TG53099  ZL Bridge  (NZ)  203.86.206.49  (XLX750)  operational, but no P25 port anymore

YJ0VK DXpedition to Vanuatu, South Pacific - August 2024

 

Dx-pedition to Vanuatu as YJ0VK this week, from 20th August 2024,

includes Patrick VK2PN and other team members.

YJ0VK – Vanuatu

Blue Mountains ARC (BMARC) Winter Hamfest (Trash & Treasure Day) Saturday 31st August 2024

 On Saturday 31st August the Blue Mountains Amateur radio Club is holding it's Annual Winter Hamfest.

The address is The Old Scout Hall,  4 Moore Street Glenbrook and the gates open at 0830am.

We are finalising arrangements to have a stall from Elite Communications, a supplier of communications equipment/radios, etc.

https://www.elitecommunications.com.au/

If you have any questions, contact the Secretary.

73

Irene van Ekris VK2VAN

Secretary & Public Officer

BLUE MOUNTAINS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC

secretary@bmarc.org

Mike VK2KBC - Silent Key - 2nd Nov 2016

 we were recently talking about going to Forster sometime, as last time I was last up there was probably on a houseboat on Myall Lakes, which triggered my memory, what ever happened to Mike VK2KBC, as last time I worked him on 2metres, was when I was up Forster. 

I used to speak to Mike a lot when I was on-the-road  for work, Mike was very active mobile in Sydney, always  willing to say hello to anyone calling,  (along with Chuck VK2SS) until Mike retired up to Myall Lakes, I cant remember when he went, but it was many years ago now.. 

I just did a search, found out Mike became silent key on 2nd November, 2016. Almost 8 years ago.

vale Mike VK2KBC (sk).