Wot no pip!!

Seems that the pip has gone missing from UB. I don't think it's been stolen as there are only a couple of keys and at the end of the day there are far more valuable items to steal than a pip.It does seem to reappear from time to time so perhaps someone is playing a game. So in the meantime or at least until I can make a site visit lets all play along and pretend it's there and maybe the person will but it back.
Anyway it's Christmas eve and may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas ans a Happy New Year.

Pirate Activity

It appears that there is at least one unlicensed station operating through UB. May I remind you all that it is against the terms of you license to communicate with such a station. If  you know someone is operating who does not hold a current license perhaps it would be good to suggest they join one of the excellent courses run the Bath so they can operate legally.I will be monitoring the repeater as much as I can and if the situation continues I, as the repeater keeper will have no option but to contact Ofcom on Wednesday. I very much hope it does not come to this as it has the potential to open a can of worms.

Back on

Both repeaters came back on at 0021 today, so I assume this was caused by routine maintenance on site.

GB3UB and MB7UB off air

Just up in the shack and noticed MB7UB not showing on map. Check on GB3UB and that appears to be off air. Seems they both went off at about 0900 today so suspect a power outage on site. Not much I can do at present but will check tomorrow and if necessary try and make a site visit ASAP.

Local Rally

G3VRE Local Mini Rally

will take place on

Sunday 19th October 2014

and take place at

The Neston Memorial Hall, Pool Green, Neston, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9SN.

Tables booked so far include…

GB3JB repeater; Brian G4UJL; Gary M0OTL >mounts & fabrications; GB3BS Repeater; Luke Kelly >vintage radio; Trowbridge & DARC; Micheal Roberts >electronic component; Derek Thom G3NKS; Paul Hughes G4VQI; K&M Kelly; Tracy> G7KVO SK sale; BYLARA; G0WFQ> Radio Communications Equipment; G3KYG> Valve Radios and Spares; GB7JB DMR Repeater plus G3VRE … & more…

Raffle prize

Prize draw to win a Baofeng UV5R 2m/70cm handheld and accessories, speaker mike and dual band extension antenna

at £1 per ticket.

See Jon G0IUE for tickets OR ON THE DAY…

Doors open at 10am, £1.50 entry. Under 16′s free.

Limited parking at the Hall, please use Leafield Trading Estate just a short walk away.

Sellers from 8.15am £5.00 per table in advance, £6.00 on the day. N.B. All hall tables now allocated but space is not a problem so please bring your own table if you have not already booked.

For more information contact Jon G0IUE

A Map For Neston Village Hall

 

Digital Upgrade?

Being looking at the various Digital repeaters that have sprung up over the last few months. I have to say I am a little uneasy about the current situation. We seem to be in a VHS/Betamax situation, but with potential last cost implications. What I mean is that at present we have DMR, Analogue, Dstar and some others with means gone are the days of taking the handy on holiday and having a nice QSO. You now have to check what type of repeater is running in that area. Danger of course is we end up with different groups using different standards, and that only ends one way, and that is that ALL the systems close due to lack of support.
So what is happening to GB3UB? Well nothing. Unless you have £2000 and I will happily install the Fusion system which on the outside seems a good system though of course never tried it.

OK until 2017

As you may know all repeater NOV's were up this month. I had to make some admin changes and add some close down operators, but UB is now all legal until 2017.

MB7UB Off Air

Just to let you know it seems MB7UB went off about 1700 last night. Hopefully it will be back on soon.

GB3JB CTCSS Tone change

Repeated here for information.

 

Hi All,

As some of you may be aware there have been QRM issues with the Eastbourne repeater, GB3EB and GB3JB.

These issues result from the the fact that it has been licensed on RV63 and with an 88.5 Hz CTCSS tone, as per GB3JB.

Following communications between myself, the GB3EB keeper, and ETCC, it has been agreed that GB3JB will change its ctcss tone, to help alleviate the issue.

It has been decided to change from the current 88.5 Hz to 103.5 Hz.

This change will take affect at approx., 3 pm local time, on Sunday 16th March 2014.

Please change your equipment's ctcss encode and decode frequency, with respect to GB3JB.

Cheers & 73's

Dave, G3ZXX.

Noise logging

Should have added that it would be helpful if you hear this noise you could note the following -

1. Date and time
2. frequencies heard (check input etc)
3. Location
4. Strength (strong weak etc).

If you could send this to g4kvi@yahoo.co.uk I can then forward it on and we can get a report to Ofcom

Noise Update

As you may know if you listen regularly there is a pulse noise which appears on the repeater, generally in the mornings. I assumed this was local to UB and was properly a car key fob. However, over the weekend I have been made aware that it is very widespread, affecting at least two other repeaters GB3TD and GB3VS. So the question is, where do we go from here. There have been attempts at DFing it, but given how widespread it is the likely that it has more than one source. As users of UB you can help by listening on the input and making a note of location and strength of the interference. I can pass this on and hopefully enough evidence can be obtained to pass on to Ofcomm.

Repeater keeper

Had the scanner on as I do when I am up in the shack and it stopped on a conversation. The conversation was about the abuse the repeater was suffering from. One of the operators was complaining that the keeper should do more and why were they not listening and tracking these people down. I have to say I had to refrain from calling him and telling him what I thought!! Most keepers have full time jobs and run the repeater as a hobby and not a job. They can put a lot of time ensuring the repeaters run within the terms of the licence and sorting out site problems and other issues that most users are not aware of. I am very lucky that UB, apart from the odd key fob keeping the box open, doesn't suffer many problems. So, rant over please continue to user the box and if you have a problem, let me know and together we will try to sort it.

Noise

Sitting in the shack rebuilding my laptop after a hard drive failure, I noticed the repeater is being held open by a pulse noise. It does not block any audio but is very annoying and is not that great for the repeater to be kept open for long periods. I am guessing it may be a car key fob on site but may of cause be something the primary user is generating. Too help me if you could listen on the input (434.7) and let me know if and where you can hear it.

Echolink. Use but please don't abuse

As you know UB is linked to the Internet via Echolink enabling users in poor locations to achieve world wide communications. However, like all systems it must be used with some consideration.

Below is a list of what happened to GB3FH/GB3UB a few nights ago. I have spoken on air to the gent and can see their reasoning behind it. That is to increase traffic, however I have pointed out the problems this can cause to other users with regard to indents etc.To prevent a similar thing happening there is now a 5minute time-out on inactive links. So morn over, please continue to use and enjoy the repeaters that are provided by individuals/groups out of their own pockets for your use, and if you use one on a regular bases consider a contribution. Information on repeaters can be found at http://www.ukrepeater.net/index.html