The Walker Top 442.300 repeater is still online, but will be off the link system due to an issue with the link radio. As soon as we can get it working again, we'll add it back to the system and update here.
Each weekend from 5 PM Friday until about 9:15 PM Sunday several repeaters of NC HEARS, SC HEART and the VA 3 Dog Repeater Group are linked together to provide coverage across parts of 3 states.
Here is a map showing the repeater locations and frequency / PL info. If there are any additions or corrections, please let me know.
At 5 PM today NC HEARS will be connected to both the 3 Dog Repeater Group in VA and SC HEART. Feel free to make contacts across SC, Metro Charlotte and the Roanoke Valley in VA.
If you sign on to the system, consider giving your call sign and location so those listening will know the reach of the system.
The link to SC HEART will terminate at 9:15 PM Sunday night as usual.
We have an RFI issue with the Mooresville 443.825 repeater. It will be off the link until we can resolve the issue. We know the cause (unintentional RFI) but will need a day or two to determine the best plan of action.
"National Preparedness Month" Net w/ Carolina 440 group tonight
We will connect with Carolina 440 Repeater Group at 7:25 PM tonight and join their weekly 7:30 PM net. See the message below from Ron Casey, K4JDR about the "National Preparedness Month" emphasis of the net. Net Control should call for NC HEARS stations separately, so please listen for the cue.
National Preparness Month Net Monday September 14 Posted by: "k4jdr" K4JDR@juno.com k4jdr Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:23 pm (PDT)
The National Preparedness Month Net is scheduled for Monday, September 14 at the usual Carolina 440 Ragchew Net, 7:30 PM time.
Basically the Net can proceed just as usual, but with emphasis on it being NPM 2009 and a short program on the recommended items in an Emergency Supply Kit. This is all that is needed for us to have qualified with the Homeland Security/Ad Council NPM requirements as an Amateur Radio Organization.
Also if anyone can advertise the net with local and regional Ham Clubs, CERT Teams, etc. so that we may get added participation on the Net, that would be great.
We hope that other IRLP systems in NC, SC and VA will connect to Reflector 9210 for the net.
EchoLink Connections can be made on Node# 42704
Information on NPM 2009 can be viewed on the web at: www.ready.gov
At 5 PM Friday NC HEARS will link with the UHF repeaters of SC HEART. This link will stay active until 7:45 PM Sunday evening. Below is a list of the SC HEART UHF repeaters on the link.
We will hold our regular net at 9:30 PM Friday and Saturday night. We will call for NC HEARS and SC HEART stations separately, hopefully to reduce the number of stations "doubling". Stations are also called according to the suffix of their call-sign. The suffix is the part AFTER the numeric. Therefore station KA4RGF would be "R" and fall in the N-Z category.
We will also take part in the SC ARES Net again Sunday evening. Please listen for direction from Net Control; they will call for check-ins from stations using NC HEARS. I'm not sure if they will call near the middle of the Net or closer to the end. If I find out, I'll post an update. The link with SC HEART VHF & UHF for their net will automatically terminate at 9:15 PM Sunday.
Just as an item of interest, I have uploaded a graph showing the usage of the system since July 1, 2009. For those interested, the minor bumps you see from 9/4 to 9/7 are the period when we were linked to SCHEART and also the weekend of the Shelby Hamfest.
Going to work tonight I was able to hear all the repeaters (except for Concord which is down) and signal strength was good.
North of Harris Blvd Charlotte, Mooresville, Dallas and Mint hill were all full strength. A little further up the road the signal strength on all the repeaters was down to S3 but still receivable. Then just before the Giliad Rd exit 23 signal strength was full again on Charlotte, Mooresville and Dallas.
Inside the Huntersville business park all 3 repeaters could be heard but Dallas was stronger than the rest.
The Mooresville 443.825 repeater was installed Saturday evening and seems to be working well. Please submit any coverage reports or concerns using the "Submit News" link under the main menu.
NC HEARS will be linked to SC HEART for the SC State ARES Net Sunday evening at 8 PM. In view of this we are canceling the regularly scheduled Net at 9:30. The 9:30 net will resume Monday evening.
NC HEARS is scheduled to remain linked to SC HEART for the remainder of the holiday weekend; until 11:59 PM Monday night.
The Dallas 444.225 repeater is also back on the link system.
Hope all who made it to the Shelby Hamfest @ Dallas had an enjoyable day!
