23 August 2008

I received an e-mail from Duane WB9RER this evening, announcing the return to air of the K6ARN repeater on Santiago Peak on 52.700 MHz. Sure enough, this repeater smokes my Yaesu FT-847 receiver here in Buena Park, my LCD receive power meter lights all segments right now when that transmitter comes up, and that's at least 60dB over S9. The repeater hears me noisily with 5 watts into a Comet tri-bander (G-15?) on my garage roof, and at 15 watts I'm full quieting.

Duane would appreciate any signal reports or conversations in the next few days as they try to "dial in" everything, so if you can get in touch with him or one of his crew with a location and some information about how you hear the repeater and what power you are running, they would gladly converse with you for a bit. The system already employs a bandpass / bandreject duplexer with a preamp inboard of the duplexer, as well as a ten pole DCI filter, but is still experiencing some minor noise problems. Knowing Santiago as I do, this isn't surprising, and it didn't surprise Duane either, so he and his crew are looking into the possibility of an intermodulation panel for the system, if one can be found.

The directory has not been updated to reflect this current data, as I maintain a one year "window" for just these types of protracted "maintenance events." {smiles} Welcome back, guys!

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18 August 2008

I was working on Pleasant Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains today, and before heading for home I tuned around the band to see if any new or misplaced six meter repeaters could be found. Nothing astounding to report for the update. I guess I was too far east or too close to the site to hear Santa Barbara or Vandenburg or Tranquillon, but I did hear Palomar, which I found surprising.

I will be on Oat Mountain again before too much time goes by, and perhaps Saddle Peak as well. I will make checks from both of those locations in the hopes that I can hear some of the central coast repeaters and confirm their operability. Some time next month I will be out in the desert for a bit, I'll hunt around out there as well to see if I can find anything interesting.

If any of you learn more about the new Santa Barbara repeater, please let me know.

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2 August 2008

No update to the directory, but I made an observation a couple of days ago that might interest some of you. It seems the Santa Barbara repeater (52.920 MHz, CTCSS 82.5 Hz) may be back on the air. I heard it a few times while scanning at the Yorba Linda site the other day. Unfortunately I was working, and didn't have the time to get on the air and call to see who might tell me about it, and all I heard was key-ups, no ID. I was able to access it from Yorba Linda, and did hear a courtesy beep in reply. If any of you have any information about this repeater, please drop me a line.

Steve, are you listening? <smiles>

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24 July 2008

I'm a little behind this month, but not much. Just a few days.

It's been quiet across the southland, at least in terms of new and different things happening in six FM. There is no word from K6RIX about the 51.740 MHz N6ME system, and I still can't find it when I look for it. Likewise I haven't heard much about the KPARN repeater on 52.700 MHz. I'm assuming that they are waiting for parts to be supplied for the final installation, as I likewise cannot find it either.

I wish Cliff or someone would drop me a line about the Westchester repeater on 51.880 MHz. It's been a year since I last heard this system. I wonder what happened to it?

I haven't been to Saddle Peak lately, the last place I was able to hear the W6KGB repeater on 51.900 MHz about a year ago. I've hunted for it a couple times recently from Oat Mountain, but didn't catch it. I'll have to drop an e-mail the trustee's way to see what's up.

I have been chatting with John K6XI down San Diego way. His remote on 52.525 MHz is operational but still needs some tweaking to be performing to his satisfaction. I hear he has another radio in his possession now, perhaps to be used in a similar manner in a more northerly location. Stay tuned, as I find out more about this I'll be passing the word.

I'm involved in the design and construction of a new trunked UHF system for my employer, and have also been spending a lot of time on site working with their low band dispatch system. I'm on the road a lot, which offers me more opportunity to hunt for the elusive repeaters farther away from my OC home, and also affords me more time to be monitoring the six meter FM band as I motor along. Perhaps I will have occasion to meet some of you on the air.

73 for now!

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9 June 2008

Wow. Sorry I haven't posted an update for a while. I've been busy on the mountain tops. But no excuses here, lets get to what's happening on six FM in soCal.

My sleuth Steve WD6CGF reported in mid-May that the CARS Lompoc repeater (otherwise known as the "Tranquillon" repeater, K6FCF on 52.940 MHz) was still operational. I haven't been able to find it for quite some time now, and Steve did say that the transmitter signal strength was down compared to what he remembered while motoring in the central coast. I sent the trustee an e-mail offering help, but heard nothing back. Of course, I was changing servers at that time, so maybe his reply got lost in the cutover.

The boys at KPARN are having trouble with their 52.700 MHz repeater on Santiago Peak. E-mail from the tech tells me that they are trying to resolve a problem with the final amplifier loading into their antenna system following a system overhaul. I will keep everyone posted as they work through the problem and get the K6ARN repeater back on the air.

Meanwhile Dino K6RIX checked in with me last week to update me on the N6ME repeater on 51.740 MHz in Fullerton. The six meter receiver has been off line, but he tells me the transmitter has been fully operational. They are working on the receiver now, and hope to have it interfaced to the controller within thirty days. Other upgrades will be made across the system (N6ME also has repeaters on 145.400 MHz and 224.180 MHz), and that all repeaters will eventually be linked together.

And for you simplex FM fans there is a new remote on 52.525 MHz down on Otay Mesa belonging to John K6XI. It is connected to a UHF repeater on 446.720 MHz, but I'm not sure whether this is an open repeater or not, so check with John on 52.525 for system status. He tells me that he has plans for another remote on 525 in a more northerly location. Stay tuned for more info about that.

That's it for now. Thank you very much to the trustees and users that are helping me keep this list updated. I sincerely appreciate your help. 73 for now!

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29 April 2008

A new six meter repeater is on the air here in soCal. Complimenting his repeater at the top of the band on 53.760 MHz, K6LRB has a new machine somewhere on the Palos Verdes peninsula on 51.700 MHz. This repeater is split site and encodes and encodes CTCSS 82.5 Hz. It favors the north and west at the expense of the south and east. I am told that the repeater will eventually relocate to a higher site at some time in the future. The trustee would like signal reports from any user of this open system. I hear this system noisily from my home in Buena Park in Orange County, but could not hear it from Oat Mountain today.

I continue to hear that the 52.940 MHz K6FCF repeater on Tranquillon Peak near Lompoc is back on the air, but I can't find it. I was up on Oat Mountain yesterday and today, and could not hear it from there. I hear there are on-going issues with antenna systems at hand, and that coverage is not what it used to be.

I also hear that the old 52.820 MHz repeater up near Fresno may be back on the air, and I'm trying to get more information. When I know more, you'll see it here.

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15 March 2008

Update! Steve and I were partially correct about the 52.780 W6LIE repeater. It is indeed back on the air, but has been relocated to Grapevine Peak, which overlooks I-5 between Lebec and Grapevine. For more information about this repeater, and the Kern County - Central Valley Amateur Radio Club (KCCVARC) which supports it, see the KVCCARC web site. Thanks to Dan N6BKL for pointing this out to me!

Meanwhile I was on Johnstone Peak last Thursday, working on a company low-band repeater up there. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that not one but both of the new antennas we had on the tower were defective! We were able to cobb together something to get the system operational in a limited capacity, but will need at least one more visit with replacement antennas before we are done.

While I was there I hunted for some elusive repeaters, and found the KA6GBJ repeater on 51.840 MHz in Pinyon Pines. I hadn't heard this since I was last on Detention Peak near Banning Pass, so I was glad to find it was still on the air.

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10 March 2008

Back in January I received an e-mail from the trustee of the CERT repeater (51.820 MHz, WR6VHF) that used to be on Santa Ynez Peak in the central coast country. It has been removed from service, the reason given was "very little activity." I was saddened. Although I only spoke to one or two hams on that repeater, I called into it often as that part of the central coast is a favorite hangout of mine.

The W6LIE repeater on McKittrick Peak is back! 52.780 MHz went operational 8 March while my "roving sleuth" Steve WD6CGF happened to be in the San Joaquin. Apparently he was one of the first hams to use it. Thanks for the tip, Steve!

Also some rumor flying about the future of the K6FCF repeater on Tranquilloin Peak. Nothing is certain, so I won't propagate anything, but we'll be watching to see what develops.

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20 February 2008

Not much to report in terms of new systems or major changes to existing systems since last month. I've been continuing my e-mail conversation with the K6ARN technical representative about their plans. That will be a system to watch!

I have ongoing projects at various sites around southern California that will keep me busy as we move through spring into summer. As I visit these sites I will keep hunting for more distant repeaters. Also my roving sleuth Steve, WD6CGF, will be on the road up in the northern part of the state doing the same thing, so my northern California list may get some badly needed updates as well.

I hope you all find the changes to the format of this page useful. Please share your thoughts and comments with me. Thanks, and 73 de MIP.

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20 January 2008

I've traded some e-mails with the trustee of the W6KGB repeater in the Oxnard area. This repeater, on 51.900 MHz, is at low level while some system repairs and upgrades are being made, and will eventually deploy to a better site. While it is affiliated with the GRONK Radio Network, the trustee assures me that the six meter repeater will be an open system.

More distressing news about the CERT system. It seems that the Santa Ynez outlet (51.820 MHz, CTCSS 127.3 Hz) is down. I have e-mailed the trustee offering my assistance, but received no reply. The Arvin and Fresno CERT repeaters are down as well, and have been for some time.

Meanwhile I heard from a repeater I haven't heard from in ages, the WA6BFH repeater on 51.760 MHz. I'm not sure where this is located. It's supposed to be in Sky Forest, but I would be able to hear it from the repeater site in Yorba Linda if that were the case. (I can hear Strawberry Peak, Mount R, Crestline, and Keller Peak from Yorba Linda.) Yet the other day while I was out at the Box Springs repeater site I heard WA6BFH/R clearly identify itself in voice in response to my call. So it's back on the list as a known working system, at least for now.

I also managed to hear the Pinyon Pines repeater on 51.840 MHz from Johnstone Peak recently. Nobody answered my call, but I caught the system ID in CW.

Finally, I traded an e-mail with the technical contact for the K6ARN repeater on 52.700 MHz recently. He informed me that their system is temporarily off line pending what sounds like a complete system rebuild including a "new repeater, amplifier, antenna, [and] controller." From his descriptions it's going to be quite the "Sherwin Williams" system. (covering the world... the paint manufacturer's old byline. Get it?) I'll be keeping in touch with them to keep up to date on what's happening and will post updates as I get them.

Meanwhile, the month's observations have been incorporated into the list here.

73,

MIP

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27 December 2007

Apologies for the long delay in updates. It's been quite busy the past three months. I've been on a few mountain tops in the interim, and managed to come by some interesting information about a few repeaters along the way.

Last month I traded e-mails with the trustee of the WA6VPL repeater on 52.880 MHz up near Lompoc. Jim has had some access problems with his new site, and has also had other issues keeping him away from working with the system as much as he'd like to. But he assures us that "We're down, but not out!  I'm sure we'll be back on Sudden [Peak] someday soon and working better than before." I will of course monitor this situation for changes and update the list as soon as they happen.

I've also heard about the Tranquillon repeater on 52.940 MHz in the same general area of soCal. It seems that Eric WB6FLY has had some troubles with the controller for his repeater. The latest information I had, also about a month old, was that the repeater was still off the air. I wasn't able to raise it from Santiago Peak last week.

While at Santiago Peak I did reacquaint myself with a couple of systems which I hadn't myself heard in a while. One was W6NWG repeater on 52.680 MHz on Palomar Mountain. Another was the 51.840 MHz KA6GBJ Pinyon Pines repeater. I am normally not able to access these repeaters from Yorba Linda or metro Orange County.

Another catch, more elusive, was the N6CRF repeater on 52.820 MHz. As this repeater is located at Santiago Peak, I should be able to hear it everywhere, but I hadn't heard from this repeater in many months. I suspect there may be a transmitter issue at work, as very soon after leaving Santiago Peak I was no longer able to hear the repeater signal. I will attempt to get in touch with the trustee to see what's up.

Finally, I traded e-mails with the trustee of the 52.580 MHz repeater, which used to be up on Silver Peak east of Bishop. W6IY tells me that the repeater was removed a while back due to insurmountable noise issues at the site, and is stored fully serviceable in his garage. He is mildly entertaining the idea of redeploying the repeater at another site, but has made no decisions. I know that Silver Peak is not in the SCRRBA coordination area, but even so W6IY/R was a system I used with regularity as I am a repeating visitor to that area on a regular basis. So expect me to publish information about it here, even though it doesn't appear in the list. More info as news comes to me.

I hope 2008 is for each of you everything you hope and dream it can be. Happy New Year!