This probably sounds strange to you, but it is really cool and kind of a turn on that you are Irish!
------ Original Message ------ Received: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:22:56 PM PST From: "Mike Besemer \(WM4B\)" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Amateur Radio Repeater Usage > 3 of the 7 coordinated 2-meter repeaters in my area are quite active. 6 are > actually on-the-air. One of the active repeaters is currently getting a > facelift which should increase its activity even more. > > > > One of the machines I maintain currently runs Echolink and is linked with a > WX-200 weather station to provide real-time weather information. We also > run an APRS WX Station from the same site. The repeater is used weekly for > the clubs VHF net and also to provide communications for the Christmas > Parade and our Santa Patrol. We are also beginning to get a group that is > interested in storm spotting, so expect we'll have a good spotters net next > year. This machine will soon be linked to our other machine, about 25 miles > away, providing us with some wider-area coverage and allowing our ARES > organizations from several counties to team up. I'd also like to have a > 2-meter remote base for the WX Spotters so they can link to cooperating (but > not member) systems in the outlying areas to help fill in some holes. > > > > Generally, there is somebody listening 24-7. Obviously drive-time is the > busiest, but there is activity all day from about 0600 - 2300 or so. I've > been using my computer to record repeater traffic for the past several > weeks, and I have good evidence to show that we have good activity for the > majority of the day. > > > > We do have several advantages. We're close to I-75 and we run no PL tone, > so it's easy for passers-by to access us. We also are host to Robins Air > Force Base, the single largest employer in the State of Georgia, so even > through we're a small town, we get a lot of visitors and newcomers. > > > > Yes. there are some inactive systems here, but everybody cooperates and if > we have an outage of one of the main systems, the backups fill in the gaps. > > > > 73, > > > > Mike > > WM4B > > > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tony L. > Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:45 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Amateur Radio Repeater Usage > > > > We're continuing to experience a significant drop off in usage of ham > repeaters (all bands) in the Northern NJ area. > > It is not uncommon to find a repeater that has been dormant for months. > > What's it like in your part of the country? > > > >
