New Worcester UHF repeater goes on-air

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The Worcester UHF (70cms) repeater, GB3WU, has received its NoV for operation from the Worcester Radio Amateur's Association (WRAA) club shack in Worcester.

GB3WU was installed by Mike G8TIC and Peter G0WXJ at midday on Sunday, 9th February and test transmissions were made between 12.06 and 12.20 UTC. The repeater became operational at 12.25 after installation was completed.

GB3WU is a "wide split" (7.6MHz) repeater that operates on channel RU66

(430.8250MHz output; 438.4250MHz input) and is accessed by CTCSS sub-tone freuqency 118.8Hz (tone code "J").

The repeater comprises a Tait TB7100 base-station with an NHRC-4 controller at this time. The controller may be upgraded at a later date to link it to the Allstar network in the Midlands and South West...

In order to access the repeater you must radiate the 118.8Hz subtone on your transmission on the input frequency. The repeater will return its callsign in Morse code on first access after being idle for an extended period and will return a 3-tone rising beep as the courtesy tone and drop carrier after approx 2 seconds.

The repeater runs approx 15W RF in to the combiner, splitter and coax to achieve 10W at the antenna which is a 4dBd gain WX1 VHF/UHF colinear and achieves the 25W ERP (14dBW) licensed power. The antenna is at approximately 8m AGL and the site is approximately 80m AGL.

Summary

  • Callsign: GB3WU
  • Location: 1Km NE Worcester City Centre, IO82VE
  • Channel: RU66
  • Output frequency: 430.8250MHz
  • Input frequency: 438.4250MHz
  • CTCSS tone: 118.8Hz
  • Toneburst access: No

New Medium Wave Beacon

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A radio propagation beacon on the new 630 Metre band has begun in Australia and it encourages reports of its reception.

The band 472 to 479 kHz was granted to VK radio amateurs on January 1 2013 after the World Radiocommunication Conference approved the 7 kHz wide secondary allocation.

It sits just below the AM broadcast band and is now available to radio amateurs in a number of countries.

The 473 kHz beacon is at Mildura in northwest VK3 on the cross-roads of Australian capital cities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. Strategically located it also aims to further stimulate activity on the band.

The project is the work of Noel Ferguson VK3FI who built it based on a circuit designed by fellow homebrewer Drew Diamond VK3XU, with changes made mainly for available components.

It identifies as VK3FI Mildura followed by 20 seconds of carrier, radiating from an L-antenna against a mast, plus seven radials and some 27 earth stakes.

The beacon is currently turned on at 1100 UTC part-time when VK3FI is present.

Reception reports are most welcome to vk3fi@wia.org.au

Bristol's Cabot Tower sends out Morse code

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The word “Bristol” is once again being spelt out in morse code from Bristol’s Cabot Tower, marking the full refurbishment of the historic monument

The old Morse code transmitter was switched off in 2001 after developing a fault and removed when Cabot Tower was closed to the public following the discovery of cracks in the structure six years later.

The tower on Brandon Hill was reopened in 2011 and the transmitter was reinstated in February, 2014.

A £420,000 refurbishment programme was undertaken to repair the cracks in the tower, built in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year and the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage of discovery to Newfoundland from Bristol in 1497.

On Signal Hill in Newfoundland overlooking St Johns is another Cabot Tower also built to commemorate Cabot’s achievement and to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Read the full story - http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-s-Cabot-Tower-send-Morse-code-message/story-20558003-detail/story.html

Cabot Tower - http://www.bristol-link.co.uk/history/cabot-tower.htm