Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club
WAARC/K4RC146.760 -offset (transmits 118.8 tone)
The antenna for this unit resides 400ft up on a tower in the area of Monticello Rd, and Rt. 199. The location provides a wide coverage area (basically, from Richmond to the ocean). This is an open repeater with backup emergency power and autopatch. The repeater broadcasts local weather warnings, and is a primary Skywarn communication node for Wakefield (NOAA) National Weather Service office.
If you are a local user and want to learn how to use the autopatch, please contact Chris Courson (KC4CMR - maintainer) or Jim Bailey (KB4ZIN - owner). If you are visiting the area and need to place a call, ask for help on the repeater. Local users are listening, and more than willing to lend a hand. This repeater does not require tones on the input, but the 118.8 tone will be implemented on the input as needed when conditions cause propagation to go long, and result in overlap of repeater coverage. As a result, it is worthwhile for the user to go ahead and provision the tone (so that their rig is transmitting the tone all the time) to minimize confusion when the tone is implemented.
The tone is always present on the output of the repeater. This is useful for combating interference by using the "tone squelch" capabilities of modern rigs. When "tone squelch" is employed, only signals containing the provisioned "sub-audible" tone will be passed to the receiver.
147.105 +offset IRLP node 4943
This is a much more local machine, and used primarily as a backup to the 146.76 machine. It has autopatch capabilities and a smaller foot print. Now with IRLP capability. It is used when the 146.76 machine is involved in emergency communications. The node number is 4943.
444.100 + offset
The local 440 machine is quite handy. Less traffic since not everyone has 440 capabilty, it is a handy machine to use when 76 is busy.
A note about Jim Baily, Chris Courson and John Magda
Jim Bailey (KB4ZIN) the owner of these repeaters. Jim is a passionate home brewer and a lover of solder fumes. Jim built the first controller for the 146.76 repeater and he enjoys hearing the various repeaters being used, and will often join in conversations.
If you would like to spend an extended period of time talking with Jim, just bring up the latest home brew project you are working on, and you will have a lively conversation and you will likely learn something interesting.
Jim at the repeater site, click for larger image.
Jim gave the Williamsburg area repeaters life, Chris Courson (KC4CMR) is the one that ensures they have a nice home, he maintains them, and keeps them on the air. John Magda (KB4YFK) is the node sponsor for the IRLP link. He provides space for the computer, an internet connection, and maintains the Linux OS for the IRLP node.
Many thanks go out to this team that provides such great systems and support to the amateur users in the local and regional area!
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