Welcome to W4AES the AES Orlando Employees Radio Club & Repeater web site.
444.125 Mhz (103.5 PL) IRLP node 4904, EchoLink node 38985.This page is designed to provide info on the W4AES repeater, Echolink and IRLP Internet linking software packages that provide the repeater with extended coverage via the Internet.
The repeater is located in Orlando Florida at the Amateur Electronic Supply store on 621 Commonwealth ave. Grid Square EL98HN. See Picture page for details on installtion, etc.
The 444.125 Mhz repeater is a VXR5000 manufactured by Vertex Standard/Yaesu.
Duplexer on the 444.125 repeater is also Vertex Standard/Yaesu.
The dual bandpass filters and PHEMT (GaAs FET) Preamplifier are made by Angle Linear.
Antenna is a Antenex FG4405 5 db omni 440-450 Mhz antenna.
Times Microwave LMR400DB cable.
Antenna height is approximately 40 feet.
Power output is approximately 25 watts.
Tone Squelch is used - 103.5hz encode / decode.
Controller is a NHRC Bridging Repeater Controller model NHRC-7, (see pic's) on the 444.125 repeater.
Astron RS-20M 20 amp 13.8vdc power supply.
IRLP ver.3.0 Interface board for IRLP and Echolink.
West Mountain RIGrunner power strip.
Polyphaser IS50NXC2 and PLDO-120US15A AC lightning protection, all equipment mounted to a Polyphaser groundplane as can be seen in the photos.
Misc cooling fans/blowers.
One note about the repeater and internet setup before going into the operation of each system. As of 11-28-06 EchoIRLP is now operational. This allows for one computer and radio and no cross linking worries between IRLP and Echolink. The EchoIRLP system is on a different frequency than the repeater users and will not hear any courtesy tones, squelch tails and hang time and is controlled via the NHRC-7 repeater controller. WiRES-II is no longer in use due to lack of activity. Callsigns of the internet nodes have all been changed to reflect my call sign (WD4HIM IRLP node 4904), EchoLink (WD4HIM-L node 38985) and are located at my QTH on a 10 Mbit broadband connection.
We recently (2-15-07) replaced the Diamond F718A 7.8db antenna with an Antenex FG4405 5db and surprisingly it made a very noticable improvement even though lower gain, especially for HT users. This was before the Angle Linear pre-amp was added on 4-21-07. It is a shorter antenna too. Don't let the gain figures fool you. Get a quality antenna and do it right, it is well worth the price difference which isn't really that much. We are getting coverage we never had before, I am very impressed with these antennas. Always use a good commercial grade antenna when installing a repeater. The cheaper imports are good but not the best suited for performance and durability. Read up on the specs and design on Antenex's web site.
For NORMAL repeater use I usually leave the repeater in setup code 332 (monitor mode), which provides no courtesy tone and and no carrier hang time. DTMF 332 is a monitor only mode so local traffic does not go out over the internet but allows internet traffic to be heard on the repeater. DTMF 331 will allow conversation with EchoIRLP users. Use of a 103.5 hz tone is required to access the repeater. Tone decode can be used on your end as the repeater also transmits a 103.5 hz tone for those of you that can use CTCSS on your own radios it will alleviate some of the squelch noise.
To use IRLP go the IRLP info page
To use Echolink go to the Echolink info page
For info on how to use WiRES-II go to the WiRES-II info page
Also I have created a page of various useful links I have found that may save you some time searching for D-STAR info, not much out there yet but I predict it will be the hot item for the year and years to come. It reminds me of the early days of Packet radio when everyone thought it was just a fad. That was what kept Ham Radio alive through the 80's and early 90's until the internet hit. D-STAR will bring some exciting things to Ham Radio.
As of 5-1-08 there is a D-STAR repeater system on 442.025 (temporary frequency), the 2 meter and 1.2 repeaters are not active yet but will be soon. Internet gateway will be active any day also. When it is I will make the info available. The callsign is K4OSC and is temporarily hosted by the W4AES Club. When they have a solid lead on a site it will be moved. For now enjoy the UHF machine and test your D-STAR gear. Time will tell how D-Star works out....
Here are some D-STAR links
Visit the status links below if you would like to see who is active and their node numbers on either IRLP, Echolink or WiRES II.
W4AES Repeater Pictures page.
NHRC Repeater Controllers
IRLP Internet Radio Linking Project.
IRLP Node Status - Check the GOOGLE Earth info!
IRLP Network Summary
Echolink Active Links and Repeaters list.
Echolink Active Logins - All.
Echolink Map of Echolink stations.
WiRes-II Active Stations List.
WiRES-II Main web site.
UCF Wiki on Echolink.
Test your Voip quality at TestYourVoip.com.
Misc Links:
Repeater Builder's Technical Info page.
WB2JPQ Western New York Inter-Link System.
WB2HWW Repeater System New York.
Cables pre-made for IRLP.
KC6HUR IRLP Scripts.
AG0N's IRLP NodeOp Help Page.
N2HLT repeater system (13 linked repeaters).
WA6TWF Super System.
WA6TWF Super System. - NHRC repeater controler Users Group page
FRC - Florida Repeater Council.
Enjoy the repeater changes that have been made so far, hopefully more to come.
...73 Bruce WD4HIM.
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