Intellirepeaters?

[ka3jjz]

Hi; I travel to NJ during the holidays from my home in Md. I use a 396T with FreeScan, and use an Austin Spectra while mobile, which usually works pretty well.

With the new configuration, I've had to pretty much toss out my NJ files and start new. A couple of questions come to mind with the intelli repeaters. I usually stick to the main roads (GSP, NJTP) until I get close to Hawthorne, where my brother lives. Which of the IRs - if any - would enhance coverage on the major highways going in that direction? I usually don't take the Atlantic City expressway for most any reason...

Anyway, would setting up ICall be any advantage? And what about using End Codes - does the NJSP use them?

73 and thanks for all the help...Mike

[W2SJW]

End-codes - most definitely yes (they cause the scanner to close-off the audio stream faster, so you don't hear the 'chikct' at the end of a transmission).

None of the IR sites will really help you if you are on the main highways - they have tower sites close to them that are part of the main simulcast sites to increase coverage to those users (you should be fine).

NJSP has I-call functionality, but I have never heard them since the OmniLink update...

[ka3jjz]

Thanks muchly Scott. I'll adjust my programming accordingly 73 Mike

[NESN]

Originally Posted by W2SJW

End-codes - most definitely yes (they cause the scanner to close-off the audio stream faster, so you don't hear the 'chikct' at the end of a transmission).

None of the IR sites will really help you if you are on the main highways - they have tower sites close to them that are part of the main simulcast sites to increase coverage to those users (you should be fine).

NJSP has I-call functionality, but I have never heard them since the OmniLink update...

When was the update? The only I-Calls I hear are REMU techs or 3 NJNG supervisors during exercises at Dix ranges/Lakehurst this summer but nothing for a while now.

[W2SJW]

The upgrade from the three separate SmartZones (with many patches between them) to the SmartZone OmniLink took place over a long period of time stretching from 2007 into 2008. The state performed a major overhaul to the microwave backbone of the system, and upgraded the repeaters to the current mix-mode capable Quantars.

The one thing I will miss was the old SpectraTac receiver's 'chirp' at the end of everyone's transmissions...

[mshumeyk]

Actually there is one place on the Garden State Parkway where the NJSP are best heard on an intellipeater. If you happen to be on the Parkway in Cape May County Mile markers 0 up to 8 or 10 the Wildwood Intellipeater signal is much stronger than the standard south system. Probably not important if you are cruising up the GSP at 70 but if you are sitting in Saturday summer traffic the better signal can help you figure out if the delay is just volume or whether there is a MVA ahead.

Mark S