Repeaters and rumours of repeaters

I'm just going to summarise some of the rumours that I've heard recently about the local repeater scene, and also add some status reminders.

    220 MHz

W1SBD (Sam) tells of a new 1.25M machine that will be operational at some point in Maple Grove. He's been working on it for three years and is currently doing site testing to determine if any interference will be produced at the site by full power operation. Not sure if it's co-ordinated yet, though there are literally dozens of empty slots to be had on the band.

The word on the street is that KG0BP (Chris) has a lot of obligations in his life at the moment, and the Arden Hills 224.940 machine might have to wait until spring before the link is restored. This would involve climbing on to his snowy roof and mounting a beam for 1.25M.

N2PSR (Matt) mentioned the new Paynesville 224.800 repeater, but I've not been able to reach it. KA0KMJ (John) also gave me a second-hand report, saying that someone told him the repeater was operational.

N0FKM (Dan) is aware of the issues involving the crippled cross-band machine at 224.500, as well as the completely dead 224.660 repeater. No promises or target dates for restoration, and I'm unwilling to prod anyone - especially with this weather.

N0BZZ (Randy) reports that the Duluth 223.940 machine is "kind of on", and potentially a power-house, but that he is unaware of any local demand for 1.25M coverage. He confirmed that it is part of the linked LSAC network, though my impression is that it's not ready for "prime time" just yet.

  440 MHz

KA0KMJ (John) also confirmed that the Avon UHF machine (443.650) is operational, which is part of the linked network that includes the 220 MHz Paynesville repeater.

KG0BP (Chris) will probably wait until Spring to restore the UHF .850 HandiHam repeater, though he has interesting ideas to improve its coverage when it does return.

I have yet to hear the Ham Lake UHF .075 machine, which is supposed to be in testing.

The Becker UHF (KD0ILL) machine hasn't been linked to the Central MN network for months now, but I can still "ker-chunk" it. This is the closest link in the chain to the metro, and it's operating on a standalone basis. Also no word on if the Little Falls UHF link in that chain is operational and/or linked to the network.

  2 metres

N0YNT (Matt) has dangled the possibility of a cross-band VHF machine tied into the Gopher 444.425 UHF repeater. Details were sketchy, and there may be significant obstacles, but there seems to be a desire for a central cross-band capability. HandiHam's cross-band system is spread between two sites: the West Bank and Minnetonka. Absolutely no word on machine power or antenna height for the new VHF machine, but it's realistic to think that it will have EchoLink access.

What's going on with the Becker VHF machine on the central MN network? Rumours said that it would be fixed in early July 2012. I can't hit it, but N0BJN is fairly gushing over it.

The 145.470 machine is Maple Lake is on-air and linked to the HandiHam network. I can barely hear it in Plymouth, and KA0PQW has told me that the antenna for the machine is marginal. Still, I would imagine that Annandale could access it to reach the metro -- or to take advantage of the EchoLink capabilities.

W0EF VHF .760 has now gone six months without the EchoLink node logged in. Sadly, that isn't even a record for the TCFMC. When the EchoLink node is down more often that it's up, maybe it's time to drop the pretence and just admit that the club is hopelessly mired in the 1980's. And, hey, don't tell me it's about 'money'. EchoLink can run on ancient machines you can get for free, and the problem is that **THE NODE ISN'T LOGGED IN**, not that it isn't working. How much money does it cost to log in, eh?