Essex Repeater Group - News in Brief
Jan-2025


Happy New Year / Birthday !

ERG conveys its best wishes for the new year. 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of ERG, which was founded in January-1975


Canvey Rally: Feb-2025
ERG had planned to be at the 38th Canvey Rally, but the event has been cancelled. Please do contact us directly to join/renew, or enquire about surplus equipment we had intended to sell at the event.


GB3CMS - 10GHz Beacon - On Test

After a long wait for site access GB3CMS is now back on air after a comprehensive rebuild by Andy G1GKN.

It has a new GPS-locked signal source on 10368.960 MHz and new radome for its antenna. Signal reports are welcomed via the beaconspot.uk website


MB7IDA - 2m Echolink - On Test - Subject to Site Move

MB7IDA is back on online and under test from an interim location. A new longer term site for it is being investigated. A new MS-Windows Gateway controller was installed in March 2021. New Echolink v2.3 software was installed in June 2021 inc a new CQ feature. Further upgrades are under consideration.

Frequency: 145.3375 MHz NBFM, 110.9 Hz CTCSS, Node 265297


2024 ERG AGM Outcome

The 2024 Essex Repeater Group AGM was held at Danbury Village Hall, near Chelmsford on Thursday evening Oct-31.


GB7ZP - On Air - New Gateway attached

GB7ZP our UHF D-Star repeater is on air following major changes, with its new gateway now attached. Coverage and sensitivity tests are currently underway.

Thanks to generous support from Icom-UK, GB7ZP is now using a new Icom ID-RP4010V repeater unit and has been re-engineered to fit a new 19" rack. This also necessitated its filtering to be re-packaged into a new-format 1U Duplexer unit as well.

Previously the original ID-RP4000V unit (which had the duplexer internal, but separate ID-RP2C Controller) had another power output fault.

Gateway: As the CentOS-7 Linux OS was also obsolete, a completely new gateway unit with Icom-G3.2 and Alma Linux-9 (a RedHat variant) has been built and configured - one the first in the UK. The DStar developer community has updated its own utilities, so we have incorporated their latest Dplus Reflector Scheduling, Dashboards and a novel cross-network link to XRF/DCS reflectors. Links for these are on the Updated GB7ZP webpage

Following careful development, the new gateway was attached on Sep-21st. We are confident re Icom Dplus reflector functions, and are now evaluating new scheduling and XRF/DCS features. Feel free to connect to either RF or Internet ports to check access and the newer facilties.

Note - we are open to suggestions on Dplus reflector scheduling (or quiet periods for your own/club DIY links). Tests and reports to repeater keeper Joel G0URK.


GB3ER - Upgraded

Following the upgrade of GB3DA in Dec-2019, a similar Yaesu Fusion repeater was installed for GB3ER on 7-Jul-2021. Unlike GB3DA, we have set GB3ER to use Automatic Mode Selection (AMS). So whilst FM inputs continue to give FM outputs, any Digital-C4FM inputs will give Digital Outputs. Analogue users are thus reminded that 110.9Hz Tone Squelch must be set on their receivers for them to ignore digital outputs. Do not over deviate - as NBFM is in use.

We are grateful to Lamco for responding to our enquiries for the system and optional modules required.

Such investment would not be possible without members support and subs - which will be appreciated if we are ever to cover the cost of a future internet link on site.


ERG Systems and Special Events

ERG systems can host local nets, especially on GB3DA.

More info: See here for details

Clubs should conract ERG about scheduling these; and consider donations if they are regular.

Note: ERG also encourages use of GB3ER and our other systems for such. If any group requires an extra net, please coordinate with ERG first!


GB3DB - 6m - On Air

GB3DB is on air after undergoing Transmitter/PA maintenance following its antenna replacement on Sun 30-Aug-2020. ERG were pleased to acquire the latest version of a Diamond CP62 antenna at short notice.


GB3DA - Upgrade

On Sunday 8-Dec-2019, DA-2 was changed over to our new Yaesu DR-2XE (now termed DA-4), following a few days of intermittent power settings on DA-2. This necessitated a number of rapid onsite modifications to accomodate it. It is configured to accept either FM or C4FM Fusion inputs, whilst always giving out NBFM as usual.

Note thats it internal controller is quite different to the G8CUL logic that has been in use - it has a different style of ident, but unfortunately no 'K'. Our thanks to Moonraker for their help in supplying the kit.

The system will continue to run in standalone mode as there is currently no onsite internet available. If resolved, future plans are to use the new IMRS standard (whereas Wires-X may be used separately by our simplex gateways). Capability has also been retained to fall back to DA-1/2 (though now unlikely).


ERG Subs/Donations - via Paypal

ERG accepts PayPal for online subs and donations (as well as old fashioned cash):-

  • Click here for our Online Payments page

    Paypal also accepts most well known bank cards if you do not have a PayPal account. New members should ensure that they separately send full details of their address/contact information using the membership form Please avoid paying by cheque which is harder to handle nowadays.


    Click here if you do not see the main menu bar on the left

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