GB7FK The UK's Second DSTAR Repeater on the Air in Kent

MB6EB

2012-02-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

Been a while since I posted here.

well done to Paul M0LRE for setting up a hotspot in Eastbourne

http://www.mb6eb.co.uk

Antennas and things!

2011-04-10T07:52:00.001-07:00

Hi All, well the repeater is now moved in the building to its new location. The antenna has also changed. on 2m the coverage seems to be very good, 70cms is not so good. 70cms has never worked that well at its present location, 2m from there provides very good mobile coverage. reports welcome as always, especailly on 2m. 73 Matt

New Antenna

2011-03-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

New antenna + maintenance will take place Saturday 26th March

Reports from Midday welcome on GB7FK C

The repeater will be off for a short time Sat morning

73 Matt

Power and Move

2011-01-07T08:07:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

There maybe some power outages to the repeater over the next week or so, this is due to a faulty boiler on site!
The repeater has battery backup, and so does the gateway server, but the servers power only lasts for around 40mins.

The repeater will also be moving to a different room over the next couple of months. more info soon. Its likely to be off air for a few hours.

73 Matt

All well!

2010-09-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

A long time since a post. Everything continues to work well.
The antenna is slightly bent over, which will need to be looked at sometime soon. The coverage still seems to be ok. Thanks to those that have offered Help with maintenance.

The server was off for a day due to EDF work in the area. The repeaters however continued to work well on battery backup, a good chance to test the backup system. The site suffers from quite a few power outages in the winter, so the backup power is definatally needed.

GB7FK was well used for Lighthouse / Lightships on the air weekend, great to have so many contacts.

We will be hosting a School to school linkup again sometime in December with our friends from the Temple amateur radio club.

more news soon.
73 Matt

First post of 2010!

2010-02-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

This is the first post here for a long time. A few updates:-

The gateway experienced issues towards the end of 2009. This was a problem with the internet provider. It took a while to sort, but is now working as normal.
The Repeaters will be moving during this year to another part of the site. the new network cabling and power supply needs to be installed before the move can take place, as well as antenna coax runs being re-routed.

If anyone has a spare DSTAR Controller, please get in touch !

thats it for now
Matt

School DSTAR Contact

2009-10-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

On the 5th October pupils at St Marys Catholic School in Deal had a contact via DSTAR with St Marys Catholic School in Temple Texas.

The children prepared questions to ask each other, which included sports, television, class subjects and culture.

The children had presentations at both schools before the contact to learn more about amateur radio. They were very excited, and enjoyed the project.

Thanks must go to Brian G8ZYZ for helping putting together the presentation, to Catherine M1CVF for her presentation, and to Steve NU5D and all at the Temple Amateur Radio club for making this contact possible.

looking forward to the next one

Matt M1CMN
GB7FK DSTAR Repeater,
Folkestone, Kent.

No post here for ages!

2009-08-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

well there have been no posts here for ages! - the repeater continues to work well, with no problems reported.
We have recently played with some ID1 Radios, with great results. I hope we can play with high speed digital data again sometime in the future.

Upcoming projects - will probably be to find a new gateway PC. something that takes less energy to run. At the moment, we have a great rackmount server, but my electicity bill is sky high, and there isnt much else on in the house!!

more updates soon
73 Matt

Battery Backup

2009-02-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

GB7FK and GB7DX both have backup power supplies for the repeaters now.

the repeaters will last for many hours during a power fail, and the gateway servers and routers will last around 90mins.

thanks to Declan for his hard work setting up and playing with this kit.

73 Matt

GB7FK New PSU, and New Server

2009-02-08T09:03:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

over Christmas and January we installed a new rackmount power supply for the repeater, and added a rackmount server.

the next project will be when the weather gets better, we will experement with some different antennas on the 2m module.

Kent-Net - DSTAR Weekly Net

2008-12-27T01:53:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Thanks to all those that joined the Boxing Day net this evening. It was a real success. Thanks also to Declan for being net controller, it worked very well.We plan to follow the same format on a regular basis.

The net will be every Tuesday evening at 8pm.

The repeaters will be connected to Reflector 13a from 8pm.
GB7DX B, GB7FK C, and GB7IC B
A reminder to all users to ensure they have there RPT2 set to GB7XX G if not you will not be heard by everyone on the net.

GB7FK users ensure you are using the memory labled GB7FK CG
GB7DX users ensure you are using the memory labled GB7DX BG

Hope to hear you on the Tuesday evening "Kent-Net"

73 Matt M1CMN
Declan M0TMX

Welcome to all new users..

2008-12-23T03:26:00.000-08:00

Well there have been many new users recently, welcome to some of the new users -

Peter G0NQZ in Eastbourne who can access GB7FK on ports B and C

Paul M0LRE who has been on DSTAR for a while but can now get into GB7FK C from Eastbourne

Barry G7MSC from Ripple near Deal in Kent

Paul 2E0AYY who has borrowed a radio, and Don 2E0DJF who has recently purchased a E92.

Welcome to everyone, hope you have fun!
73 Matt

Boxing Day DSTAR Net for Kent

2008-12-23T03:23:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
We have arranged for a Local DSTAR Net on Boxing Day for all those that would like to join in.
The net will be at 8pm on Boxing Day night on reflector 5C
We will link GB7DX B, GB7FK C, and GB7IC B to the reflector.

Declan M0TMX will be net controller and will call out at 8pm and ask for call ins
To prevent doubling with each other, and to make sure everyone can have an opportunity to participate in the Net we are proposing to have a controlled net, where everyone gets an over and then hands back to Net Control, Net Control will then pass it onto the next station in the list.

In addition we thought that a good way to check into the net would be to do what they do in the US, as Net Control calls for Checkins, any stations wishing to take part can just key up for a second to send their callsign and Net Control can register it and call stations in one at a time.
Look forward to catching you on Boxing Day
73
Matt M1CMN Declan M0TMX

GB7FK B / C

2008-12-19T03:58:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

GB7FK port C is now active. its on 145.7875

Reports so far are excellent, and coverage is far better than expected.

Merry Christmas

73 Matt

GB7FK Port B and C in the Rack!

2008-12-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

Pictured to the left is GB7FK. Cabinet is now installed with Ports B and C. at the top you can see the cavity filters for the 2m port.
The band pass and duplexer are installed inside the cabinet.

The repeater now has a Battery backup system which will power the modules and keep things running in a power cut. (Thanks to Declan M0TMX for helping me with this) The UPS powers the gateway server and router for around 90mins during a power cut.

The system is setup for single antenna working.

Freq change on 70cms

2008-09-20T02:53:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Its been a while since i have posted here, mainly because things have been working well.

GB7FK is to change its 70cms Port B Freq today.

439.7375 (output)
430.7375 (Input)

This is with request of the primary user of the band.

If you need your radio re-programmed then please contact me, I am happy to help.

73 Matt

2 New users to GB7FK...Welcome!

2008-05-29T00:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Rob G4FXE from Dover, and Tony M3VYW in Folkestone.

Great to have some more new users.

Listen out for them on GB7FK B

73 Matt

UK Reflector

2008-05-28T01:12:00.001-07:00

Hi all,
Well its a been a while since i posted any information here.

The UK Reflector is now operational. Declan, M0TMX and Darren G7LWT have been busy updating the dplus Reflector User Guide; version 1.1 can be downloaded here:

http://www.ukit.org.uk/documents/UKIT_dplus_Reflector_User_Guide_V1_1.pdf

We are still raising funds for the GB7FK 2m Port.
73 Matt

GB7FK and GB7DX Last Heard List

2008-04-13T08:44:00.001-07:00

Who was least Heard on GB7FK and GB7DX??

This list will show local activity in both repeaters + Gateway activity

Click here to view the last heard list.

Thanks to Ben M0TUX for his continued hard work

73 Matt

70cms Port on GB7FK + Welcome to GB7DX

2008-04-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Excellent reports with the 70cms coverage, everyone that uses the repeater regular can get into the repeater with 5w, excellent stuff. its definatally working the best it has ever done.

thanks to everyone that has given reports.

Welcome to GB7DX in Ashford, now on the air and working well. Declan M0TMX is running the repeater, which appears to have very good coverage.

73 Matt

G2 Gateway Software Change

2008-04-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Change to the Gateway software at GB7FK and GB7IC
Over the last few weeks considerable work has been carried out on the installation and testing of the G2 D-Star gateway software in the UK.

As part of that implementation we would like to move both GB7FK and GB7IC into the testing environment. Our intention is to replace the current gateway software on Thursday evening with the G2 version. Once installed we will connect both gateways to the UK test network that currently consists of the following:-
GB7DG. GB7DS. GB7DX, GB7MI, GB7YD, GB7FK, GB7IC

Once IC and FK have moved it will be possible to call through any of the repeaters above. It is important to note that while they are in the new net it will not be possible to call any of the stations that are listed on the "Dstarrepeaters.net" website, as those will be in the old K5TIT network.
K5TIT are also doing the same testing and have a small network of gateways proving the software.
Once the proving stage is over it is our intention to join the K5TIT net and then all of their network will be available once again.
It is important to point out that from time to time the network may not be available as part of the proving may involve removing the trust server from service. We also need to prove the process of switching to a backup trust server while there are just a few gateways connected. Whenever possible we will post a message on the Yahoo forum. Should the trust server be down for a long period we will inform you by email.
We would ask you to make as many contacts as possible to help us prove the resilience of the system.

Freq Change and Antenna Sorted!

2008-03-16T11:20:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

well GB7FK is now using a V2000 antenna on the mast, and is performing well.
Thanks to Declan M0TMX and Brian G3OJZ for all the help and support with the antenna work.

73s Matt

Frequencys changed

2008-03-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Thanks to Don for his help tonight. we are now on the new Frequencys on 70cms.
We did a few tests tonight, and its miles better! no qrm, or any breakthru detected.

Just got to sort the antenna at the weekend weather permitting.
73

New Frequencys arrived

2008-03-09T01:48:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I now have the new NOV for the Frequency change.
repeater input - 430.600
repeater output - 439.600

I have listened on the channels and they are QRM free as far as i can see!

The change will hopefully take place in the next week.

73 Matt

2m Port applied for

2008-03-02T08:25:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

I have applied for a 2m port on the repeater here, the coverage on 2m looks amazing!
the application is now on the vetting site.

73s Matt

New Antenna for GB7FK

2008-02-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

The new antenna for GB7FK has been ordered. I have ordered a Diamond
X-510N. As soon as i get the antenna i shall install it on the tower and use is on GB7FK 70cms port.
We have found the coverage to be fairly good on the X50, it will be interesting to see what difference this will make.

73 Matt

Yahoo Group for Kent

2008-02-16T01:58:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

It appears a few people have had problems locating the Dstar Kent Yahoo group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dstar-kent/

Please feel free to join the group to exchange ideas and information.
There are also memory files available for the 2820 / E92

73 Matt

IC-E92 Handheld + lots of users!

2008-02-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

Well the ICOM E92 Handheld is now available at a very reasonable price.
The radio is better than the E91 with a improved battery life, a decent belt clip,
and lots of nice features, as well as waterproof.

We have quite a few users now on GB7FK, a few new ones too, welcome everyone!

M1CMN, M1CVF, G3OJZ, M0TMX, G0IMD, 2E1KAJ, M0TUX, M1BKI, 2E0KGS,
G1DST

Users and Improvements

2008-01-27T01:51:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

well we are seeing more use on GB7FK which is great news. I would like to see more users from GB7IC coming through the gateway to GB3FK, and the other way around too. this will create more activity, and at the end of the day, thats what the system is there for.

No more news on the freqeuency change, but i dont think it will be long now.

soon as the frequency change happens, we shall fit the new pre-amp on the repeater, and also look at possibly changing the antenna as well to see if that will help improve things.

We are also looking into the future and doing more tests with high speed data on 1.2gig.

more soon!
73 Matt

Many users worldwide on DSTAR

2008-01-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

Looking at the Dstar Users website I notice that there are 412 unique callsigns in a 24 hour period, thats alot of users!

I have noticed in the last few weeks a big increase in repeaters across the world. Its great to see DSTAR move forward and getting very popular.

Antenna

2007-12-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

The repeater is still running on a low antenna on the mast. This is due to the QRM we are still experiencing. 433.9125 is full of low power devices, hence QRM on the input of GB7FK.
There is nothing we can do about this except from a frequency change. This is being looked into at the moment. Hopefully the new year will bring a few frequency.

Once the new frequency is obtained we will hopefully be trouble free!

73 Matt

2007-12-29T07:42:00.000-08:00

Pictured to the left is GB7FK Dstar repeater. The Repeater controller is at the top, and the 70cms module.

The Linux server is on the next shelf, and then the power supply and UPS.

Enough room in the cabinet for future ports :)

GB7FK in its new location!

2007-12-29T02:29:00.000-08:00

GB7FK was moved into a new 19" rackmount yesterday which now has the repeater, PC, Power supplys and all other equipment in it. A much neater installation in the living room!!