RV63 - Out 145.7875 MHz - In 145.1875 MHz - 103.5 Hz ctcss (G).

GB3JB is funded solely by donations from its' users and supporters. There is no club or group to join and no annual membership fee. We rely totally on your good will.

The system is located in South Wiltshire, in IO81vc, and provides coverage across South Wiltshire, South Somerset and North Dorset, with specific areas such as the City of Salisbury, Salisbury Plain, the Blackmore Vale and Cranborne Chase being well within its range. Coverage also extends, for fixed stations, across most of central and parts of North Wiltshire, Southern Dorset and West Hampshire, plus parts of North and West Somerset. See coverage map.

GB3JB is an analogue voice repeater, with no internet linking, simple intuitive logic and no bells or whistles. The beacon sends callsign and locator. The invitation to transmit is a single dit.

To access the repeater, users must continually transmit a 103.5 Hz ctcss tone. There is NO 1750 hz tone burst capability.

The system timeout has been reduced to 3 minutes, so please set your rigs' TOT accordingly.

The simple rules for using GB3JB ....

(1) GB3JB is available for ALL Licensed Radio Amateurs to use, be they 'newly licensed' or an 'old timer'.

(2) All users of GB3JB are expected to operate their station within the terms of their specific licence conditions and restrictions.

(3) When in QSO, please wait for the invitation to transmit (a single dit), and always leave a pause between overs' - always give others a chance to call-in.

(4) Please use good operating practices and procedures. Mobiles have priority. Remember, if a station calls in, during the gap between overs', always acknowledge them and please DON'T leave them sitting on the side, while everyone else has an over.

(5) Only use the minimum power necessary - remember there are other repeaters on the same channel. The repeater only transmits with 25 watts ERP, so if its' 5/9 with you, you don't need to use 50 watts to a high gain vertical, when 5 or 10 watts will do. If you use 25 watts ERP, then the signals strengths should be reasonably reciprocal.

(6) If, under lift conditions, you wish to use another repeater on RV63, please turn off the 103.5 Hz ctcss tone, otherwise you will still access GB3JB.

(7) Remember that you are Radio Amateurs, using an Amateur Radio facility, so please use the appropriate operating practices and procedures.

Since you have taken the trouble to get an Amateur Licence, surely it's not to much to expect of you, that you use Amateur Radio abbreviation and accepted terminology, such as the Q-codes. We do not have a '20', we have a 'location' or 'QTH'. We do not have a 'personal', we have a 'name', etc., etc., If you still use CB, that's fine, no problem, BUT please leave the CB lingo for CB, and not when you use GB3JB or any other Amateur Radio facility or the Amateur bands.

and finally .....

(8) Ignore any idots - If you don't hear a callsign, do NOT respond - EVER !

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Update - Current Situation ...

Hi All,

If you are having withdraw symptoms, from JB, I'm very sorry. However, things are moving forward.

There has been much discussion (exchange of e-mails, re ideas, etc.,) amongst the technical team, and Andy, G0JLX, has been putting in lots of time and effort, in coming up with the design for a NEW, as it was described to me, "solid state" dump load. I believe that this is now starting to take on some form of physical as well as theoretical, shape.

But, don't get too excited, there is still significant work to be done in this area, and the new system will of course need rigorous testing, before installation. As Andy put it, "I hope to be able to design and build a very robust solution that will provide JB with a really first class solution for the long term."

With regard to the batteries and the antenna/mast. This is all in hand. Replacements are available.

Thank you to all who have kindly offered / provided support, both in terms of replacement hardware and financially. It is very much appreciated.

Thanks to all those of you who have contacted us, with suggestions and offers of support. As far as I am aware, either I or Jan have responded directly to you.

We'll attempt to keep you all up to date with developments, as best we can.

Cheers & 73

Dave, G3ZXX - GB3JB Team

You can make a SECURE online DONATION via PAYPAL.

The email for donations, via PAYPAL, is: gb3jb.repeater@googlemail.com

You can make a payment from your bank account, debit card, credit card or if you already have a PAYPAL account, from your PAYPAL account balance.

Please ensure that you indicate that you PAYPAL payment is NOT for the purchase of goods.

If you would like to make a regular annual or quarterly donation, then we can provide you with a Standing Order form. Please e-mail us and our Treasurer will forward you a SO form.

Please include your Callsign (if applicable), Full Name, Address and Postcode, in your e-mail request.

If you would prefer to donate via the more traditional methods, such as a CHEQUE or a POSTAL ORDER, then these should be sent directly to:

GB3JB Repeater, c/o “Cariad”, Yarnbarton, Templecombe, Somerset, BA8 0JH.

Please ensure that ALL cheques and postal orders are made payable to “GB3JB Repeater”. Please also ensure that your Name and Callsign are clearly printed on the reverse. If you have email, please include this and then we can confirm receipt of your donation.

Please do NOT send cash under any circumstances.