Central Pennsylvania Repeater Association Inc.
W3ND January 2009
NOTICE: the next general meeting will be at 7:00 PM Thursday,
January 15th, 2009 at Tyco, 100 Amp Drive, Harrisburg.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT: From WA3CPO, Gary
Blacksmith, MD
Blue Mountain Repeater upgrade progress:
145.47 excellent coverage, Pl on input
Rec & Xmt coverage excellent, scratchy audio with
Ice on antenna, Rare carrier drop
Pending Controller update may improve operation
444.45 functions well, coax 1-5/8”, coverage to East
Reduced due to tower shading of pattern
Future antenna change to upper West UHF Collinear
10.369 Beacon driver failure, sent back to factory
145.29 IRLP operational, coverage excellent
internet installed, 1500/1500
2nd Wireless internet to be relayed from PEMA
3480 ATV 7/8” coax installed , 10 GHz link needs video adj
NASA dish needs relocated, camera not installed
Xmtr in Beacon mode as needed
6 meter needs antennas installed on roof: rec & uhf xmtr
144.97 Packet out of service
APRS to stay at Reeser’s Summit
N3TWT APRS to be tested on VHF upper West ant
146.94 repeater off line during construction, looking for a
New home: downtown vs Reeser’s Summit
Antenna Progress: Six antennas on WITF Standby Tower
1.
4-Bay VHF high on East side, Operational
7/8” Commscope continuous run
2.
4-Bay VHF Mid on East side, Operational
New ½” Andrew with 50’ extension
3.
Collinear UHF Mid on West side, Operational
1-5/8” Andrew continuous
4. ATV 3.4 GHz collinear, Operational, 7/8” Andrew, spliced
5.
4-Bay VHF high on West side
Needs splice 7/8” to 1-5/8”
6.
Collinear UHF high on West side, Needs splice 7/8” to 1-5/8”
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K & C has started to Complete coax installation of VHF & UHF antennas
High on the West side.
Terry Phillips, KA3AAA, will be removing an unused coax from under the ice bridge
and inspect the rubber roof as needed
Paul Coleman, KB3NFZ will be adding strut on the west side of the Building for a
satellite antenna.
Rooftop Antennas
1.
2.
3.
4.
10 GHz Beacon, sent out for repair
10.4 GHz receive dish from White Rock, Operational
NASA receive dish from Dish Network, relocation
UHF omni for control receiver, Operational
Generator Status- None
Dauphin County has been approached about a 5 KW Propane generator that will be
taken out of service. Our demand is less than 1000 watts. A separate room is
available for this purpose.
Other Repeater Sites:
APRS Reeser’s Summit: Operational
146.94 Repeater Downtown: down due to relocation
145.11 & 448.075 repeaters at Ellendale: Operational
Misc. Topics and Information:
Has anyone seen the six meter Ringo antenna that was behind our new Shelter?
We would like to use it on the roof of the shelter for the six meter receive antenna.
PEMA has agreed to host the wireless internet antenna. That would give us access
to this donated source for the internet. We tried to receive it from the top of our new
shelter but could not. Obstructions prevented us from receiving the signal from TV27s tower. PEMA would then have an alternate access to the internet. They also
gave permission to install a 5.8 GHz Ethernet bridge from PEMA to our shelter on
Blue Mountain. This 48 Mbps or higher would allow the internet to be relayed up to
the mountain. It would also serve as a data connection from PEMA to an expanded
eight county network. We could send the internet that is hard wired at our shelter
down to PEMA over this link. That would give PEMA two additional sources to
connect to the internet that are not on their fiber cable. I believe both ISPs are
connected via T1s through Verizon in Summerdale and Myerstown. Installation of
this link should occur over the next few weeks. The old Motorola Micor UHF
repeater may be relocated after testing and refurbishment to Lam’s Gap. The SMRA
UHF repeater failed and replacing it was not justified based on the usage.
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An antenna, coax, and duplexer are still on site. The Lam’s Gap UHF repeater
would be tied full time once equipment is available to the 444.45 MHz repeater at
Blue Mountain. That would give portable coverage on the East shore and West
Shore. The plan is to add a third UHF repeater at Reeser’s Summit and tie that full
time into the other two repeaters. That would add portable coverage to South
Harrisburg, TMI, and MDT. The Eight County exercise Wide Vigilance II
demonstrated the lack of portable coverage at TMI and MDT.
The recent high winds caused damage to the support for the West side upper
antennas. The mount rotated in toward the tower. The above photo is not a current
view. The support to the 4-bay antenna in the lower right of the picture is just fine.
The meeting this month will be held on Thursday, January 15th at 7:00 PM
at M/A-Com (Tyco) 100 Amp drive, Harrisburg. John Jaminet, W3HMS will be
speaking about his new moon bounce gear. The moon bounce hams even have
their own DX cluster. This is a first for Cumberland County.
The next meeting in 2009 will be Thursday, February 19th at M/A-com (Tyco).
We will discuss the growth of the high speed data link from CPRA, Inc. Likely links
include: Cornwall, Dauphin Co RACES room, Reeser’s Summit, Cumberland Co
RACES room. Cornwall could then build a link to the Lebanon Co RACES room and
to Lancaster Co Emergency Management. The link at Reeser’s Summit can be
connected to the W3HZU club house. From W3HZU the York Co RACES room and
the Adams Co RACES room can be added to the network. Outside funding has not
been requested yet. The links are rather inexpensive and could be funded by
amateurs in each county. The initial link from PEMA to the CPRA location on Blue
Mountain needs to be evaluated and the concept proven. On paper it looks very
good.
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ARES AND RACES:
From Your Editor, Roger, W3HUP
PEMA NETS AND FREQUENCIES:
Central Area meets on 3993.5 kHz every Sunday at 8:30 AM Local
Eastern Area meets on 3987.5 kHz every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM Local
Western Area meets on 3990.5 every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM Local
Our PA State Net meets the FIRST SUNDAY of every month on 3993.5 kHz at
8:00 AM Local. This net is usually called by John Kruk, K3KR, Lock Haven; at
which time he calls Eastern, Central and Western Area Stations in that order.
The New York State net usually meets on 3993.5 kHz at 9:00 AM right after our
Central Area net.....
Central Area PEMA frequencies are:
3993.5 kHz
3984.5 kHz
3999.5 kHz
7248.5 kHz
7250.5 kHz
-
Primary
Alternate
Alternate
Alternate
Alternate
ON-LINE OPERATOR TRAINING COURSE AVAILABILITY:
You need the content of both FEMA and ARRL training courses. Follow the link
below to get to the FEMA training web site for all the FEMA stuff you might be
interested in…PEMA also offers many of the same courses. The Emergency
Management Institute (EMI) offers a broad range of NIMS related training.
www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp
Minimum training requirements are the ICS 100 and 700 certifications which can be
completed in a day or two each on-line at your own pace. They are needed for both
ARES and RACES operators; we are all one pool of operators. These classes cover
what you will need in emergency situations to work with any agency. They cover the
National Incident Management System (how emergency management is organized
and how volunteers such as us fit in to the process). You will also need the Amateur
Radio Emergency Communications Course Level 1 (preferably Level 2 as well),
available from the ARRL, which cover Amateur Radio emergency operating
procedures. And…listen to how the nets operate! While you don’t have to get all
this stuff at once, you should be working on it now so you will have it by April in time
for the TMI Drill.
PINNACLE HEALTH SYSTEM ID CARDS: Your Editor, Roger, W3HUP
Repeat announcement: Here is your opportunity to help out with emergency
communications during the time of need. All the hospitals now have amateur radio
equipment installed in them. Most hospitals will need operators as well.
If you want to help out at Pinnacle Health System, you will need one of their ID cards
to access their ham radio equipment. If you are interested please contact Ms. Patte
Shambaugh at 717-782-3347 to make an appointment for your ID Card.
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Photos can be taken daily from 7:30 until 4:00. Pinnacle Health will require you to fill
out some paperwork for the hospital system. If you get an ID card for Pinnacle,
please let your VP know, Terry Phillips, KA3AAA so he can put you down as an
operator for the hospitals in the Harrisburg area. But don’t forget the need for
ARES and RACES operator training as discussed above
AMATEUR RADIO WORK GROUP (ARWG) INFO: From
WA3CPO, Gary Blacksmith, MD
January Technical Committee Meeting Agenda :
ARWG Meeting On Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 6:30 PM
1. Call to order by Gary Blacksmith, WA3CPO at Carlisle Country Club
Please do not wear jeans in the club, Bring cash to pay for food & drink
2. Introductions
3. Review of Minutes sent by email, secretary needed
4. Repeater Grant Progress: all installed except
Franklin: equipment received, may seek a new VHF freq
PEMA: equipment received, to be completed by Feb 1, 2009
5. Status of installation of radios in hospitals
Cumberland: Holy Spirit
Dauphin County:
6. Amateur repeaters list and radio programming results
Rodney Gallagher, KB3OTY in process
7. Recommendation to ARWG needed to improve coverage of 145.47
HEARS Repeater in Franklin County
Milt Engle, N3LTQ:
8. Digital Update
Hospital FRED system backup needed?
FRED system network needs defined
PEMA wireless link and 48 Mbs link to Blue Mountain: Bullet5
Start of High speed Backbone by Technical Committee
Location and frequency of nodes
Primary purpose to link RACES rooms in each EOC with E-Mail
Via router and access point
Digital Committee to work on last mile for mobile use
Data plan recommendation needed to forward to ARWG
9. Linking between counties: Tactical system needed for mobile
and portable coverage in key areas such as TMI, MDT
Harrisburg to have three full time linked UHF repeaters for
Portable coverage, then expand to other counties
10. Go-Kits: KO1D to provide direction
11. Funding requests for next year:
12. ARWG meeting:
13. Next Technical Committee meeting:
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November Technical Committee Meeting Minutes:
ARWG Meeting On Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 6:30 PM
1.
2.
3.
4.
Call to order by Gary Blacksmith, WA3CPO at Carlisle Country Club
Attendance: WA3CPO, N3LTQ, WA3USG, KB3OTY, KO1D, K3SRZ
Review of Minutes: No additions or corrections
Repeater Grant Progress: all installed except
Franklin: equipment received, may seek a new VHF freq
PEMA: equipment received, waiting for climbers
5. Status of installation of radios in hospitals
Cumberland: Holy Spirit internal cabling 90% done
Dauphin County: No report
6. Amateur repeaters list and radio programming results
Rodney Gallagher, KB3OTY in process
7. Recommendation to ARWG needed to improve coverage of 145.47
HEARS Repeater in Franklin County
Milt Engle, N3LTQ: Further study needed
8. Digital Update
Hospital FRED system backup needed
FRED system network needs defined
PEMA wireless link and 48 Mbs link to Blue Mountain
Start of High speed Backbone by Technical Committee
Digital Committee to work on last mile
9. Linking between counties: Tactical system needed for mobile
coverage and portable coverage in key areas such as TMI, MDT
Harrisburg to have three full time linked UHF repeaters for
Portable coverage, then expand to other counties
10. Go-Kits: KO1D to provide direction
11. Funding requests for next year: none at this time
12. ARWG meeting Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Tyco (M/A-Com), 100 Amp Drive, Harrisburg, Pa
13. Next Technical Committee meeting Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at
6:30 PM, Carlisle Country Club
ATV REPORT:
From WA3CPO, Gary Blacksmith, MD
Winter time has made antenna improvements difficult. Interest is starting to be
shown by the group at SPARC in Lancaster County.
SPARC has a 3480 MHz receive dish on their tower. It has been operational now
for several years. They have had no activity with their 900 MHz ATV beacon. They
are trying to decide how to proceed. Contact W3FEY for more info.
White Rock has switched back to the on-site camera between NASA shuttle
missions. The transmitter output is nominal.
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The WITF ATV transmitter is in the Beacon mode with a test pattern as needed.
The NASA satellite dish is being relocated on the building.
York will be installing a new 3480 MHz omni antenna once they finish with other
projects.
If you are interested in any of the ATV projects come to a meeting to discuss it
further.
TREASURER’S REPORT: By Dave Hoffman, N3PRO
IRLP:
IRLP is back. Just a few comments and reminders.

You are using VOIP, even though it may not seem like it there is a delay in
the conversion of the analog to digital, out through the internet then back from
digital to analog. All that means is key your mic and pause before you begin
speaking or the recipient will loose your first few syllables.

You do not need to call CQ 5 times and identify 5 times when trying to make a
connection! Different modes require different operating practices. This
technique is used on HF to allow people to tune there receivers into your
transmit frequency. There is no tuning on IRLP or repeaters so your call sign
and “looking for contact” or “is there anyone around for a qso” is fine.

Wait about three seconds between transmissions to allow someone else to
join in. This applies whether IRLP, repeaters or simplex. GIVE OTHERS A
CHANCE!
ELECTIONS:
It is that time again, if you are interested in running for a position on the board
please let me n3pro@yahoo.com or Gary gblacksmith@comcast.net. Dues are due
in April.
BABBLE:
Thank you again to K3JJK, K3SZH, and K3DRE who continue to help many people
in the area. These guys are a great example of what Amateur Radio truly is.
Whether programming a radio, installing and antenna, or giving an antenna to a new
HAM – THIS IS WHAT THE HOBBY IS ABOUT! Action speaks louder then words.
As I work part time for the Patriot-News who is making big cuts and just heard today
that Detroit Free Press is going to a 3-day a week printed paper this might be the
last year we can afford to send out the ballot and renewals at a price of $85.00.
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GBPPR Tech Bulletin #1 - Waterproofing RF
Connectors Forwarded by WA3CPO, Gary Blacksmith, MD
Waterproofing RF connectors is a concept amateur radio operators fail to
recognize. When you're dealing with weak signals or a repeater system with a
dynamic range of 140 dB, that Radio Shack education just doesn't cut it.
There are a lot of different ways to protect and waterproof your RF connections,
some actually work!
Just because you've been doing something wrong for 30 years doesn't mean
it's right!
All GBPPR members are required to follow this bulletin. If you put CoaxSeal directly
on a RF connector, I will hunt you down and shoot you.
1. Wrap the entire connection once (or twice) with 3M Scotch Super 88 or
88T PVC electrical tape. Super 88 is recommended over Super 33 or
the other crap because of its ideal temperature characteristics and the
fact it's 20% thicker. Be sure to allow a significant overlap of each
turn. It's also to best to wrap the tape up to connector, or the opposite
way of intended water flow. This is done to prevent the electrical tape
from wicking water in. You'll want to do this for each tape layer, if
possible. Also, on the last turn, don't pull the tape hard, just leave it
loose and press it down. This will help prevent it from unwrapping.
2. Make sure there are no air cavities or openings in the tape! Where
there is air, there will be water.
3. Next, wrap the entire connection once (or twice) with 3M Scotch 2242
rubber electrical tape. Pull the tape so hard that it turns from black to
gray, and wrap it tightly around the entire area previously covered with
Super 88 electrical tape.
4. Wrap the the entire connection once (or twice) again with a layer of
Super 88 electrical tape, just like in step one.
5. That's it! A fully waterproof seal, with the ability to remove the tape
layers using nothing but a utility knife.
6. If you put CoaxSeal directly on a RF connector, I will hunt you down
and shoot you.
7. If you put CoaxSeal directly on a RF connector, I will hunt you down
and shoot you.
8. If you put CoaxSeal directly on a RF connector, I will hunt you down
and shoot you.
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“BOILER PLATE”: From your editor, W3HUP
Officers, Board, and Committee Members
President:
V. President
Secretary
Treasurer:
Past President:
Trustee: W3ND
Member at large:
Member at large:
Member at large:
Alternates:
Web Master
IRLP Committee
RACES team
Public Relations
Recruitment
News Letter Editor
WA3CPO Gary Blacksmith, MD
KA3AAA Terry Phillips
N3NZI Marty Ginter
N3PRO Dave Hoffman
K3SZX Alan Abt
KA3AAA Terry Phillips
WA3MMD Bob Kurtinecz
N3JQM Neil Shatto
AA3T Nick Rylatt
KA0JQO Kevin Maglouglin
N3FUD Chip Kroh
WB3DRT Lee Schwan
WA3HDP Ken Sutton
WB3CKW Gerard Whisler
WA3MMD Bob Kurtinecz
WB3BKN Terry Snyder, RACES R/O
K3JJK Lee Ash, and N3JQM Neil Shatto
W3KB Keith Beebe
KZ3J Curtis Zell
W3HUP Roger Urban
Facilities with the CPRA club call sign W3ND:
144.39
144.97
145.11145.29145.47146.94444.45+
448.07553.01-
APRS node from Reeser’s Summit.
NetRom Node Digipeater
Dauphin County RACES repeater, CTCSS 123.0 Hz
IRLP node 7060 Blue Mtn. IRLP CTCSS 88.5Hz
Med coverage, Blue Mtn, auto patch ** ##, CTCSS 123.0Hz
In-town/in-building coverage.
Medium coverage from Blue Mountain
Dauphin County RACES repeater. CTCSS 123.0 Hz
On the air with some RX sensitivity problems.
Monthly Ham Radio Lunch: at the Old Country Buffet in
east Harrisburg the last Thursday of each month at noon unless it
is a major holiday. This restaurant is located on route 22 in
Colonial Park in the vicinity of Value City Furniture, K-Mart and
Home Depot. Good way to meet some new people!
Club Web Site:
http://cpra.home.att.net
Pay it a visit…we have links to various services, general information and the
current and back issues of the Newsletter. Also, note there are some changes
on the Board of Directors this year!
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Dues: are $20/yr for a single membership and $35/yr for a family membership,
which includes all licensed amateurs living in one household.
USE THE REVISED MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION BELOW.
Thanks! Please make your check payable to:
Central Pennsylvania Repeater Association, Inc.
2130 Cedar Lane, Enola, PA 17025-3319
DO NOT SEND CASH!
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN CPRA
□ New member □ Renewal □ Family □ Updating Information
Donation ______________ □ Other ______________________
□
Total amount enclosed $ ____________
Prorated April to April payment schedule, please follow below.
April – October
$ 20.00 Family $ 35.00
November – March $ 10.00 Family $ 15.00
Name:___________________________________ Call(s)_________________
Address: ______________________________ City: ______________________
State: ________ Zip code __________ License class: ___________________
Email address for newsletters: ________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Are you an ARRL member?
Are you a member of WITF
□ Yes
□ Yes
□ Listed
□ No
□ No
□ Unlisted
EMERENCY RACES VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
This information will only be used in the event of an emergency. This
information will only be given to the emergency RACES coordinator and will
not be distributed for general information in any form!
Work number including extension: _______________________________
Cell Phone: _________________________________________________
Email address: ______________________________________________
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