70cm Repeater Is Back On The Air

...and we're back !

MAARC Technical Committee members Gary, KB9ZUV and Bill, N9RI visited the repeater site recently to connect our 70cm antenna and get the repeater back on the air.  Robert, KB7ZGB tagged along for logistical support and to poke holes in small metal objects.


After some unexpected delays caused by mismatched parts, the crew was able to get everything hooked up and tested.  Our 70cm repeater-- 444.375(+) with no tones-- is now operational.  Give it a try !

Gary, KB9ZUV and Bill, N9RI running hardline to connect the antenna to the 70cm repeater

The WB9HXG Repeaters. 2m & 1.25m Right, 70cm Left.

Coverage is pretty limited since we're only running on the exciter's output, but with a reasonable outdoor antenna the repeater should pick up most of Muncie without trouble.  Unfortunately HT users will have a rough time unless they are near Ball State.  We're actively looking into how we can address this and improve the coverage area.


If you're interested in building a quick yet effective base antenna for either monoband 70cm or dual band 2m/70cm, get in touch with us.  We have simple, proven plans available for cheap antennas you can build in under two hours.  Email or give us a call, we'll send you a copy.

That goes for scanner monitor listeners too-- these antennas work great for VHF/UHF receive only !

Delaware County SKYWARN May Need Our 2m Repeater Today

We are expecting severe weather in the area today including strong storms, damaging winds and a tornado watch.  Delaware County Skywarn has asked for our assistance.

The primary Skywarn repeater-- 441.825+ (PL 110.9)-- is currently experiencing degraded performance with substantially reduced coverage area.  This will clearly be a problem if threatening weather enters the area and a directed Skywarn net is called into operation.  MAARC stands ready to assist.

The WB9HXG 2m repeater on 146.730- (PL 127.3) will be available throughout the day and evening to support all Skywarn net operations and Amateur spotters in the field as needed.


If Delaware County Skywarn opens a spotter net, please keep the frequency clear for those operations unless you have emergency or priority traffic.  For routine and casual traffic, please consider using 146.565 simplex in the Muncie area.

Thanks to all for your cooperation and understanding !

Primary service is RESTORED to our 2m and 1.25m repeaters

Good news everyone !

The WB9HXG 2m and 1.25m repeaters are back on the air from our primary site at Ball State University.  Service was restored this afternoon and repeater operations should be back to normal on these machines going forward.  Ongoing construction at the site is still keeping our 70cm repeater down, but we expect to have it back soon.

If you hear anything odd with the repeaters or experience difficulty using the system this week-- in particular with the 220 machine-- please let us know (link).


We truly appreciate the patience and support we've received from all our friends in the area-- local amateurs and our scanner monitors alike-- through this construction and technical adventure.  Thank You !  There's more to come as we prepare for the return of the 440 machine... and maybe a few surprise upgrades.  Stay tuned here and on the air for updates.

We would also like to thank Ball State University for their continuing support and graciously hosting our repeaters, and of course our technical committee for all the time and skill they volunteer in keeping our machines on the air.

So... jump on and see who's around: the machines are back !

2m: 146.730(-), PL 127.3  •  1.25m: 223.920(-)

The 2m Repeater is Down Once Again

We are sad to report that the WB9HXG backup 2-Meter machine on 146.730 MHz is off the air as of Friday 14Jun13.  We have no definite estimate as to when service will be restored, but we have work sessions planned for this weekend.  With skill and luck, we hope to be back on the air in time for the club's regularly scheduled Sunday night net on Father's Day.

The backup repeater's transmitter was not operating as expected and needs some diagnostic time on the bench.  Consequently we are suspending service immediately until the problem can be addressed and corrected.

Although a bit frustrating, we're looking forward to getting these issues ironed out and learning in the process.  We appreciate your continuing patience and support.

In the meantime, 146.730 MHz simplex will be monitored by MAARC members and local amateurs throughout the area.

Stay tuned for more updates.

WB9HXG 2m Backup Repeater is Up

...and we're back !  Well, almost.

With help from Bill, N9RI, Gary, KB9ZUV and Robert, KB7ZGB the club's backup 2m repeater equipment went live this afternoon and is on the air.

Service has been restored on 146.730(-) MHz (PL 127.3) with our spare 2m repeater operating from a temporary location approximately 5 miles Southeast of Downtown Muncie.  Site elevation is approximately 949' MSL with an antenna height of about 60' AGL.  Expect a smaller coverage area due to lower antenna height and gain at the temporary site, but most stations should have no problem getting into the machine.  HTs and distant mobile stations will of course be the folks most affected.

Building renovations at our Ball State repeater site are still underway and may keep our primary repeaters off the air until mid-summer.  We will bring those machines back up as soon as the construction schedule allows.

In the meantime, jump on the "new" .73 machine and see who's around !


Thanks for your patience everyone, we look forward to hearing you on East-Central Indiana's most popular repeater soon !

Sunday Night Net

The repeaters might be down, but the Sunday Night Net shall prevail !

MAARC will continue to run our normal Sunday Night net every week on 146.730 Simplex until we're able to get our club repeaters back on the air.

Check in every Sunday at 9pm Local Time for the Muncie Area Amateur Radio Club net and the latest edition of Newsline.  While we wait for Ball State to finish renovations at the repeater site, test your equipment and have some simplex fun with the rest of the gang.  See you there !

WB9HXG 2m Repeater is DOWN

 

Due to ongoing construction at the repeater site, our 2m machine is currently off the air.  MAARC received no advisories that our equipment would be powered down and physically moved, the technical committee was as surprised as everyone else when the repeater dropped off the air.

We are in contact with Ball State and are working on getting everything back up as soon as possible.  Unfortunately at the moment, we have no word on when that will be.

We will post more information as it becomes available here.  In the meantime, 146.730 MHz Simplex is being monitored by many folks in town,   Hop on and see who's around !  While everyone looks forward to hearing our repeaters back up, it might be fun for a few days working local friends on good 'ol simplex.

Stay tuned folks !

Tones are now active on the 2 Meter Repeater

Effective 2000 Wednesday October 3, 2012 the WB9HXG 2 Meter repeater on 146.730(-) MHz has tone squelch active with a PL of 127.3.

In order to use the repeater, you must set your radio to send a PL tone of 127.3 on transmit.  For more information CLICK HERE.

Please report any problems you experience with the repeater system to wb9hxg@gmail.com.  We appreciate your continuing support in making this the best, most popular machine in East Central Indiana !

Tone squelch coming soon to the WB9HXG 2 Meter Repeater

On Monday evening 24Sep12, the MAARC Technical Committee swapped repeater cores on the 146.730 machine.  With the new core installation, we now have full CTCSS (PL) tone squelch capability on our most popular repeater.

Over the past several months, we have observed an increased frequency of unintentional DX interference on the 2 Meter machine coming from distant repeaters in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.  When the band opens up-- typically when we have storms in the area-- our far off neighbors might as well be sitting in downtown Muncie.  It's annoying, it interferes with local communications and traffic... and we can prevent it.

It's time to correct this problem.  The solution is to start using PL tones.

Tone Squelch is in final testing and will be activated soon.