VK2RCB 146.750MHz Repeater (Requires 123Hz subtone to access)
Important announcement. VK2RCB has been relocated to a new site near Bonville. The repeater had to be moved away from Bruxner due to a desensing problem which was caused by high power broadcast stations which share the site. The Bruxner site may be used later, for projects on frequencies not effected by desensing.
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VK2RCB consists of a Vertex Standard VX9000V commercial 50 watt repeater unit.
The Repeater site is situated mid way between Coffs Harbour and Raleigh on the Mid North Coast of NSW. The Repeater provides mobile and base coverage for the Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Bonville, Urunga and Bellingen areas.Following extensive computer modeling by a number
of group members the following antenna installation took place.
The antennas are X50 Diamond style antennas and are
dual band in nature (2 and 70cm). The antennas are omni directional and are
mounted on a galvanized telescopic mast that is 9 Mtrs in height. The telescopic
mast is manufactured by Matchmaster Australia. The RX antenna is located at the
top of the photo with the TX antenna below it.
The telescopic mast is multi guyed with galvanized
multicore steel wire and fitted with cleats and turnbuckles to allow torque
adjustments during final assembly. The outrigger mast for the TX antenna is
secured with galvanized RFI Industries UNV-1, 180
degree clamps to resist corrosion and galvionic effect. The UNV-1 is
specially designed to resist twisting in high wind environments.
Fed lines to the two antennas is MIL spec RG213 fitted
with PL259 and "N" type connectors at the filter ends of the coax runs. All
coaxial cable is held in place with UV stabilized heavy duty industrial cable
ties to provide long life.
The mast is mounted on the roof of the building
housing the repeater. This provides a total height of 12.5 Mtrs from ground
level.
Installation time was 4.5 Hours using two men.
The system is fully operational providing both
analogue repeater function and IRLP functionality.
The site is inference free and not shared with
any other radio installations.
As with our 70 cm
repeater VK2RMG at Dorrigo, VK2RCB has battery back up with auto
change over. This is indicated by the letter "B" sent after the morse ID
beacon. The output power is then reduced to 10 watts to conserve
battery capacity. When mains power is restored the repeater reverts to 50
watts.
Lightning protection
is provided and the antennas are DC grounded to prevent static build-up. All
equipment is housed in a secure locked and security monitored location on
private property.