When I was on the HandiHam net last night, I asked about the mysterious 10 meter FM repeater.
Someone named Don (no callsign given) came back and told everyone that the repeater is pretty much ready to go. It sounds like "Don" is one of the big guys in town handling repeaters, and it was clear from his response that he was the one who had put the 10 meter repeater together. So this is coming first-hand.
The receive site is already established at the site of the VHF .450 HandiHam machine, and is linked to the .450 itself. It turned out that the same site wouldn't work for a transmitter, because it causes interference with the ethernet that the EchoLink hub operates on. So Don is looking for a transmitter site, and made an appeal for help in finding one. That's the final barrier to getting 10 meter FM in town. As Don said, all he has to do is "plug it in". He also mentioned "ten and six" when describing the project, leading me to believe that there may also be a six meter FM repeater in the works! I wasn't able to ask further questions, as I had already had my "turn" by asking about the 10 meter repeater. It seemed that KC0DGY (Kent) was also unaware of this development.
I had broached the topic of legality in my question. As is usual in the nets, this provoked more confusion than illumination. It is legal for a Technician Class ham to operate on 10 meter FM if they go through a repeater link that they are authorised to use, or access it through EchoLink.
This was from AR Newsline late last month:
So that seems pretty clear. Yet Kent wrapped up discussion on this by advising me to "study up" and get my General licence, which may lead some to believe that Techs won't be able to access this new repeater. Kent recalled the same story that I posted above, but somehow came away with the idea that Technicians can't use 10 meter FM if they go through a 2 meter machine or EchoLink.But in its October 17th decision denying the rules change request the FCC said that the Toledo Mobile Radio Association had not presented any new evidence to warrant the Commission revisiting the question of Technician class licensees operating privileges. The regulatory agency went on to note that Technicians can already transmit through repeaters licensed to a General class or higher licensee that have an output channel in the 29.52 to 29.7 MHz segment. The caveat is that the input of the repeater must have an input on 2 meters or above and be under the control of a higher class licensee. In other words, a cross-band linked system or remote-base rather than a conventional 10 meter in-band repeater. Also that contrary to Toledo Mobile Radio Association assertion, the FCC says that its rules do not prevent Technician Class licensees from taking advantage of such technological developments as IRLP or Echolink. Nor does it prevent them from exchanging voice communications with other stations in the 29.52 to 29.7 MHz segment of the 10 meter band but again as long as the Technician operator is using spectrum allowed to that license class. You can read the entire FCC decision in this matter on the web at tinyurl.com/no-new-tech-frequencies. (FCC)
From what Don said, it was obvious that the 10 meter machine was set up as "a cross-band linked" repeater, and that it would be connected to EchoLink. This appears to the exact case that the FCC laid out in its decision. This isn't speculation; it's what the FCC itself has recently said on the matter. There's no doubt whatsoever that Technician Class licensees will be able to access this new repeater, either through their two meter HT or through EchoLink. In fact, since the entire HandiHam network is cross-band linked, the 10 meter repeater could also be legally accessed through UHF. When the 220 MHz link is restored, there will be three bands that Techs can legally use to get into the 10 meter FM spectrum.
This is potentially very big. Depending on the quality of the transmit site and the power of the transmitter, a radius of at least 75 miles is possible. I wouldn't dismiss the potential of 120 miles. And this doesn't include the possibility of much, much further distances when propagation is favourable. In that case, a Tech with their 4-watt HT could reach nationwide, into Canada or the Caribbean, or possibly across the Atlantic.
Even under normal propagation, it would allow General Class hams with 10 meter FM rigs in rural areas to talk to Techs in the Twin Cities. I don't think it's unrealistic that people in Little Falls, Mille Lacs Lake, Albert Lea, Eau Claire, Rochester, Sandstone, Willmar, and New Ulm could access the repeater. They certainly could access the machine through EchoLink if they have a Technician Class licence. Of course, they always could have accessed the current network through EchoLink. It's just that, now, the network will be able to reach them through RF.
This could also be very helpful in making 10 meter FM itself relevant again. Aside from simplex, which is better done through SSB anyway, there hasn't been anyone to talk to on FM. Sure, under great band conditions, you can reach long distances on 10 meter FM. But the same can be said for SSB in that case. This would be the only (functioning) 10 meter FM repeater in the entire State. Cheap 10 meter FM rigs are available. The issue has always been that there hasn't been much that you could do with one here.
Anytone makes the AT-5555 for a bit over $200 (including shipping). On FM, it offers 40W, and 30W on SSB. That's probably the best deal. Alinco's DR-03T is $240, FM-only, and only 10W. The Galaxy DX-55HP can be found all over for under $200. It's a 10W AM/FM/SSB radio sold by CB radio outlets, though it doesn't operate on CB. Again, these radios require a General Class ham radio licence for FM. They would allow direct access to the 10 meter repeater, rather than using the cross-band function. 10 watts is certainly adequate for metro-area use with even a marginal antenna. While a Technician can use the SSB/CW modes on 10 meters, this wouldn't get them into the FM repeater, which is on a higher frequency than the Technician Class privileges allow.
I don't want to discount the importance of a six meter FM repeater here, either. The TCRC's six meter repeater in Burnsville has been down for months. Even when it was working, it was never used. But the wonders of cross-band linking can change that. Just as 70cm and 220 MHz aren't very compelling by themselves, cross-band linking opens up these under-utilised bands to the 'crowds' (relatively speaking) on two meters. Suddenly, your 220 MHz HT is a virtual two meter radio that also reaches people on 440 MHz. Likewise, people with six meter rigs will now be able to talk to people on two meters, and vice versa. This fragmentation into different, incompatible bands hobbles the growth of the hobby.
Six meters has languished for a long time. The little activity that has sprung up during this solar cycle has been entirely on SSB, and it hasn't been very strong. Activity draws activity, and inactivity creates inactivity. Nobody goes to six meters because nobody is there, which makes is less likely to find someone to talk to. Having a cross-band 6 meter FM repeater available creates a 'destination', and encourages activity there.
Unlike the restrictions with the 10 meter FM repeater, six meter FM is unquestionably open to Technicians. The characteristics of the band create a much more solid coverage area than even two meters, and a greater range is possible. Again, depending on the power and site of the new repeater, a coverage radius of fifty miles is certainly possible. There's little doubt in my mind that places like Buffalo, Lakeville, Elk River, Forest Lake, Hastings, Hudson, St. Francis, and Jordan would be solid on a decent mobile rig. These areas are currently on the fringe of VHF, and not available with HT power levels.
Six meter equipment is a bit scarcer than 10 meter FM. There isn't the six meter equivalent of a BaoFeng out there, for example. Six meters is included in many HF rigs, but that has a higher price tag. Yaesu makes the FT-8900R, which covers 2, 6, 10, and 70cm (440 MHz) at 50 watts, and is FM-only. Still, that's around $500. The best deal is probably the Alinco DR-06T, at $270. This is a 50 watt, FM monoband (i.e. 6 meters only) rig. Ranger makes the RCI-5054DX-100, for a bit more ($350). Still, that includes AM/FM/SSB/CW and is 100 watts. Remember, for base station use you will need to buy a power supply, too. These are all mobile radios that you can't just plug into a wall or charge a battery pack to use.
Chinese manufacturers such as Anytone and TYT have made 220 MHz and 10 meter radios recently. It may be possible that six meter rigs could be offered in the next couple of years, at a sub-$200 price range. However, due to the relative unpopularity of six meters worldwide, and 6 meter FM in particular, I doubt that we will see any rigs for around $100 ever.
Combined with the higher price tag and the much bigger antenna that six meters requires, the new 6 meter FM repeater probably won't make as big of an impact locally as the 10 meter FM repeater. If you are only going to have one mobile radio in your car, it just makes more sense to have a two meter rig that will allow you to access other repeaters beyond the HandiHam network. It's possible that people on the fringes of the metro VHF coverage could see six meters as attractive, since there's not much local activity.
By this time next next year, we could have a radically different ham radio infrastructure. Aside from the 10/6 meter FM possibilities, K0LAV is working on a link to Pequot Lakes, and LSAC could very well be accessible from the Isanti UHF .325 machine. Large areas of the State could suddenly open up to Technician Class hams, including the 900 MHz LSAC repeaters. And, as the LSAC system slowly gets restored, six meter cross-band repeaters in the northern reaches of Minnesota could enable any ham in these remote areas to reach the Twin Cities.
The remaining challenge is going to be the inclusion of the SW, western, and NW areas in some kind of link. I haven't heard anyone addressing this. LSAC doesn't have any plans to go west of Brainerd, and the ten meter FM option is a long-shot (at best) for these areas under normal band conditions.
Alternatively, perhaps a couple of SW or western MN VHF machines could be linked to South Dakota's nifty SDLINK network.
I'd like to stress that all of this improvement happens on the backs of a handful of people voluntarily climbing towers, repairing old machines, and maintaining UHF links and internet links. There's precious little recognition for their work, nor are their names universally known. Even though I donate a fair amount of cash ($80) every month to various amateur groups, money doesn't get the actual work done. And its unclear where the next generation of this handful will come from.
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