Repeater info for popular trails?

[calvarez]

I figured you could jump on a repeater, call out your sign and see if someone responds.

You can. "<Call sign> on repeater <identify repeater> listening." That invites convo if nothing else. You can also say "<Call sign> on repeater <identify repeater> testing range." I got *****ed at when I did three tests in about 45 minutes, as I drove up a trail.

"<Call sign> using autopatch" is how you should start a phone call. On most repeaters then you press *<number* to start, and # to hang up.

Also the <identify repeater> is not REQUIRED, but since a lot of people listen to a bunch of repeaters, you're more likely to get an answer if you say that.

[teddyearp]

I suppose the answer is obvious, but let me ask anyways. Is 'kerchunking' keying up on a repeater's frequency to see if you get any response from said repeater?

[calvarez]

Yeah, keying and dropping without saying anything. Older repeaters with relays would produce an audible relay clunk sound, like old phone systems.

[roger]

I used to have a booklet that showed repeaters on a map. If nothing else, it would point you to a set of repeaters you might have the best chance of hitting based on your location. That, coupled with having all of the repeaters programmed into your radio, would lend itself to improved communications in emergency situations. Taking it a step further and knowing which repeaters have been reached from different trails regardless of equipment used or of location on the trails would be better yet.

I think knowing which repeaters supported APRS would also be useful.

-Roger
KC7ZDW

[calvarez]

I used to have a booklet that showed repeaters on a map.

Repeaterbook. That's still available at HRO, but the app pretty well replaces it. I just fired it up with my phone in airplane mode, and it worked fine. So it will work with no service. You *might* need to run it and let it update once before leaving service, not sure.

[Will E]

I have a bit of computer knowledge, mostly infrastructure. But I could probably put some kind of helpful page together.

How cool would it be for us to have a map we can download before heading out on the trail. The map would show GPS points where a repeater was available to one or more members. It would include the repeater name and the connection information. In an emergency it would be great to know the closest spot someone successfully hit a repeater.

If you guys want to start posting up in the ham thread any trail runs you will try to transmit on I will actively listen and respond when I can. I seem to have access at home to:
wb7tjd repeater out here in mesa. (147.120) - Actually chatted on
KC7WYD repeater in usary pass (145.49) - I think the repeater responded to me with a couple of beeps. I can hear the CW.
w7ara repeater in usary pass (146.86) - I was able to communicate clearly but had to be outside of the house.

I will keep trying to hit some of the others close by. Or if some of you are out in this area maybe we can try one night to see what works at home for each of us?

[calvarez]

I bet there's an app for that already. In fact, possibly built into Google maps. I'll see if I have some time to poke at things this weekend.

I'm also in networking and VoIP development, but I'm no programmer at all. Still this seems like a mapping function that should already exist.

[Will E]

I have found repeater maps but not anything that indicates how well an area is covered.

[Lunatic_Fridge]

For repeaters on the trails, program all of the higher profile ones. An easy way to identify these would be by checking the emergency communications group webpages for their repeaters used for SkyWarn nets. They will usually be ones with the best coverage for a given area. Sometimes not the best but close to it. Second would be looking at the wide area linked systems.

A big part of antenna choice is mounting location. That on a mobile installation will effect your range as much or more than actual antenna gain will. So start there and find the best compromise for ground plane and protection from trail damage and then pick the antenna that fits that compromise. Like on my JKU, not a lot of places other than the hood to have an ideal antenna location which is in the middle of the largest highest flat metal panel on the top of the vehicle. So mine is on my tire carrier which I have grounded to the frame with a heavy braided ground strap. Which brings up another point of mobile radio installations. RF energy doesn't like normal wire grounds for efficiency. When grounding for antenna mounts and even some higher powered radios you need to use a braided ground strap not just a 12 GA stranded wire. OK I am starting to get out in the realm of theory. If you want to get together and talk radio and installations shoot me a pm. Been a ham for almost 22 years and in the RF Communications industry for 21 years.

Lunatic Fridge

Sent from the Frankenheep

[teddyearp]

"You must spread some reputation around before giving it to Lunatic_Fringe again"

[bmlbytes]

So, I'll start this comment by saying, I am not a licensed Ham, yet. I signed up for the Scottsdale Amateur Radio club's class on it, but haven't attended it yet or taken my test.

However, I've been researching using the amateur radio to bring with us on the trail. It sounds like it would be a good way to communicate in an emergency where cell phones wont work.

I found this website, with a map and a list of all of the known repeaters in the state.
Map: https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeate...eatures=&use=%
List: https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeate...%&call=%&use=%

It doesn't show the range of each repeater, but it does show where each one is located. Clicking on a few of the more popular ones, and it will show more details, including the range. For example, here is the Mt. Ord repeater.