EchoLink Now Connected to Irish DMR Network

The Irish digital radio community continues to grow with more stations registering for DMR numbers every month. New digital repeaters and gateways have been established around Ireland to allow various users talk to each other.

One of the latest improvements to be made to the DMR network has been the establishment of a link to the Echolink network by John Anderson MI0AAZ.

Anyone connecting to MI0AAZ-L under LINKS on the Echolink network will now connect to Talk Group 2724 on the Irish DMR network.

More Information - http://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2018/10/echolink-now-connected-to-irish-dmr.html

2200m VK Beacon On Air

The Caboolture Radio Club is proud to announce the commencement of operation of a new Beacon Station on the 2200m band.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has granted permission for continuous operation of a Beacon on 137.444 kHz

2200m VK Beacon Details

Callsign: VK4RBC
Location: Caboolture, Queensland, Australia
Maidenhead: QG62lw
Frequency: 137.444 kHz
Mode: WSPR2 (6H00F1D) plus CW Ident
Power: 1 Watt EIRP
Antenna: 500m Long Wire, 40m max height
TX %: 50 %
Status: On Air

In the gaps between transmission, the station will report all WSPR decodes to Link

There are many beacons on 2200m operated by individuals like WH2XND. This beacon is a little different. It is an official beacon specifically licensed as such by the Australian Government. The first to be granted permission to operate below 28MHz. It has been given the frequency 137.444 only. It can not change frequency. It can not make QSOs.

It operates 24/7 and must be reliable, so that anyone can check their station at any time. It also receives, which is unusual for a beacon. Last night it got its first decodes of WH2XND, so its receiver is working well using that great long wire as the antenna for Tx and Rx. With WH2XND also reliable, we will now see exactly how good the path from USA to VK really is on 2200m.

Irish DMR Gateway Test

The committee for the IECRO Radio Club would like to invite any amateur radio operators living within the Midlands region of Ireland to participate in the testing phases of their new analogue and DMR gateways.

Volunteers over the coming weeks are being sought from as many towns and villages around the midlands to see how far each system is reaching coverage wise.

For more information and to take part in this final testing stage, please make contact with the club secretary before the 10th October using email “info.iecro@gmail.com”