THE MORECAMBE BAY REPEATERS

 

As well as the GB7MBC DX cluster (a subject of another post I am sure!), I run 2 repeaters here in Morecambe.  Both are on 70cm.

GB7MB

This repeater is a DR-1X connected to North West Fusion Group.  It is on a 9 MHz split with the TX on 439.700 MHz and the RX on 430.700 MHz.  I choose not to have it movable, just like the other core repeaters in North West Fusion Group.

It has pretty good coverage considering my house is at sea level.  Yaesu System Fusion is, in my opinion, the simplest and best of the digital voice modes so far.

If you have not tried Fusion, I can recommend it.  I know a lot of people decry digital voice as not real radio but they could not be further from the truth.  I have done many videos for North West Fusion Group on YouTube and one of the ones that gets the most hits is about exactly that!

North West Fusion Group actually started as a simplex net and then got its first repeater.  The ability to link repeaters together just enables a larger footprint as hilltop sites are at a premium these days!

GB3MO

This repeater is a new addition.  It runs on a separate aerial to GB7MB and is on reverse frequencies on a 7.6 MHz split.  The TX is on 438.3875 MHz and the RX is on 430.7875 MHz.  As this is an analogue repeater, it has a CTCSS of 110.9 Hz.

GB3MO is an AllStar repeater, based on two Motorola GM360's.  The logic is all held on a Raspberry Pi, along with the HamVoIP software.  One of the great things about AllStar repeater is that it is full duplex.  This means other people can call in over the network or over the radio and still be heard, even if someone doesn't leave a courtesy gap.

This repeater is connected to North West Allstar Group, a sister group to NWFG.  Both groups cover a large area of the North West of England as well as some additional gateways and repeaters in other parts of the UK.

The reason for the reverse frequencies is that both repeaters TX at the same end of the band.  This makes filtering so much easier.  Both repeaters use a Procom duplexer and as belt and braces, I use a notch filter on both transmitters, each notching out the receive of the other repeater.

If you are ever up around The Morecambe Bay area, or maybe have a Fusion on AllStar node, it would be great to hear you :)

73 Ian