ITS ON ITS WAY!

The new 146.94 repeater antenna is on its way!!

 

I am thrilled to report that I have ordered the new repeater antenna for the 146.940 repeater. I’m not sure as to exact arrival date just yet, as they are made to order.  How cool is that? I can tell you it will be a four element open dipole design, very similar to the antenna that is up there now.  I will keep everyone posted here as progress is made toward its installation.

 

I want to say a HUGE “THANK YOU” to the METERS group (of which I am proud to be a member) for their recent contributions to the “repeater fund.”  I didn’t have any idea that they were even considering this action until I received the email in which they had already voted to do so.  To say I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of support would be an understatement.  Thanks to them, the antenna installation at the 146.94 site is paid.

 

Have you noticed how quiet the 145.47 repeater is lately? No, I don’t mean activity…it has plenty of that! I mean the lack of the howling interference that was the result of the interference “mix” from the adjacent TV station.  I am planning a trip to re-install the receiver preamp now that it’s possible to have it online again!

 

Lastly, I’m sure that most of you are already aware of the situation involving the WA4BVW repeaters in North Carolina. I have met Ken several years ago and admire what he has done for VHF repeater users in his area.  His 145.190 repeater has to be the widest area coverage repeater in service in the Eastern US.  I am very pleased that the powers-that-be have agreed to allow him to keep this valuable resource to Amateur radio at its present site for at least another year. I am VERY fortunate that my employer humors my hobby and allows me to keep my repeaters at their tower sites. I also know that from the sites I don’t own or control that I am just one bad impression away from losing site location privileges at those sites.  Let us all remember to be mindful of who is listening when we are on the air. Leave the scanner listener or non-ham with a good and favorable impression of our hobby and its vast capabilities.  The next repeater site to be lost could hit much closer  to home.

 

I  hope everyone plans to participate in Field Day at some point this weekend!  And please keep the SCERS (Sevier County Emergency Radio Service) group in your thoughts…they had to abruptly cancel their field day due to some bad circumstances beyond their control.

 

I’ll see you on the air! And on an improved 146.94 repeater soon!

 

73 de Tim WB4GBI

 

Tim Berry WB4GBI  (check out my website at www.wb4gbi.com)

Chief Engineer

Citadel Broadcasting of Knoxville, TN

WIVK-FM/HD1    WNOX-FM   WNML AM/FM  WNRX-FM  WOKI-FM

 

Chief Engineer

Vol Radio Network

IMG College Sports

University of Tennessee

 

"Do you really want to know what's wrong...or do you just want me to fix it?