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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 14 January 2014

GB3JB BACK ON AIR

Hi All,

The subject says it all.

I switched it back on at approx., 2:00 pm local time today, 14th January 2014.

It is also now running at it's full 14 dBw (25 watts) ERP.  Be interesting to see how the batteries hold up.

It would appear that the +/- 24 volt dc output wires from the PCB had been wired to two of the three ac input terminals, and the other two ac input wires had been connected to the +/- 24 volt dc output terminals !!!!!!!

Obviously NO inspection or testing done at that manufacturing plant !!!!!

No wonder I was getting a big spark, and a lot of current flowing, I was basically putting two of the three turbine winding's directly across a 24 volt 250 AH supply.

I have corrected the wiring, and installed the unit.

However, having spoken to the Turkish manufacturers this morning, (the German distributor having handed me directly on to them), I am awaiting confirmation from them as to the implications for the reliability of the turbine as a result of the incorrectly wired controller, and a delivery confirmation with regard to a replacement controller.

I had previously advised the German distributor, that I expected both items to be replaced without charge.

We'll see what happens ...

There is still a way to go, we only have the turbine available for charging at this time, although it is anticipated that the solar panels will be installed fairly shortly.

Not sure if the controller is actually working, as there was no wind on the site today ... Someone's LAW !!!!

I'm going back to the site tomorrow morning to check the batteries, and hopefully there will be some wind to get the turbine going, so that I can check out the re-wired regulator / controller.

Anyway, depending upon the battery state tomorrow morning, we'll know if it's been charging or not over night.  Although, the Met Office web site indicates that after a quiet day and first part of the night, the winds will pick up again early tomorrow morning.

Cheers & 73's
Dave, G3ZXX.