NEW ENGLAND Ham repeater

[Thorndike113]

Here is are a couple questions I have regarding repeaters all over but specifically in Northern New England.

1. - Why do owners of repeaters not submit their repeaters into databases?
2. - Why do database owners not keep their databases up to date?

Recently I had a friend of mine who is blind and is a ham operator of 40 years come up to the New Hampshire area. He was up for a non ham radio related meeting but he decided to take his ham radio with him to see if him and I could make contact over repeaters. He said he wasnt able to raise some of the machines I gave him that I could hit that were wide area coverage. He said he was able to access a repeater that had a full quieting signal on 145.23 with a tone of 67.0hz. I looked, I searched, I scoured every database I could find and NOTHING!! Well, thats typical of repeaters up this way. I personally know of some that are not listed anywhere and they are up and running. Here is the real kicker. He calls...................and calls............................No response! He calls for information about where the repeater is located etc. Even the crickets are dead. I have noticed this same issue with many repeaters around. Last I checked, repeaters are not cheap. Maintenance needs to be done and when parts are replaced, thats not cheap. To have these repeaters just sitting there doing nothing and then to top that all off, some are not even listed anywhere is pretty irritating. Not trying to bash anyone but these repeaters are what could be used in emergencies. These repeaters could be the ones that a ham calls over if they are stuck hiking in our wonderful forests up here. If you cant find a local repeater because its not listed or the local repeater you get on has no one on it, how can hams make the argument that they are "Emergency communicators"? Could you imagine calling 911 and no one answers? Could you imagine calling 911 andd the dispatcher puts the call out, but no one hears it? or responds? This lack of keeping a complete database on many sites I use has caused me to create a map on Google Drive so I can keep my own database of actual working repeaters. Ham radio is not all about HF and contesting. It seems that most hams ive come in contact with base most of their activity on the less than 4mhz of space in the HF bands and abandoned the over 1ghz worth of space where these repeaters are located. Take pride in ALL the bands and modes. Use it before the FCC causes hams to lose it.

 

[ecps92]

If it is not in a DB then it may likely be ROGUE and Not even Coordinated, hence not wanting to be submitted

New England Repeater Directory

www.nerepeaters.com

About the Directory: New England Repeater Directory (NERD) is the most accurate and up to date amateur radio repeater database available in our region. The listings are a reflection of each system's true status, regardless of their coordination*. Maintained by local volunteers of the amateur radio community, our data entry team instantly enters all changes and additions directly into the master database. This website and the CSV file automatically refreshes nightly from the master database, ensuring that all data is always up to date.

Not all repeater have someone listening 24/7
Curious where in NH he was, mabye someone local will make a submission to either NE Repeater or even Repeater Book

Here is are a couple questions I have regarding repeaters all over but specifically in Northern New England.

1. - Why do owners of repeaters not submit their repeaters into databases?
2. - Why do database owners not keep their databases up to date?

Recently I had a friend of mine who is blind and is a ham operator of 40 years come up to the New Hampshire area. He was up for a non ham radio related meeting but he decided to take his ham radio with him to see if him and I could make contact over repeaters. He said he wasnt able to raise some of the machines I gave him that I could hit that were wide area coverage. He said he was able to access a repeater that had a full quieting signal on 145.23 with a tone of 67.0hz. I looked, I searched, I scoured every database I could find and NOTHING!! Well, thats typical of repeaters up this way. I personally know of some that are not listed anywhere and they are up and running. Here is the real kicker. He calls...................and calls............................No response! He calls for information about where the repeater is located etc. Even the crickets are dead. I have noticed this same issue with many repeaters around. Last I checked, repeaters are not cheap. Maintenance needs to be done and when parts are replaced, thats not cheap. To have these repeaters just sitting there doing nothing and then to top that all off, some are not even listed anywhere is pretty irritating. Not trying to bash anyone but these repeaters are what could be used in emergencies. These repeaters could be the ones that a ham calls over if they are stuck hiking in our wonderful forests up here. If you cant find a local repeater because its not listed or the local repeater you get on has no one on it, how can hams make the argument that they are "Emergency communicators"? Could you imagine calling 911 and no one answers? Could you imagine calling 911 andd the dispatcher puts the call out, but no one hears it? or responds? This lack of keeping a complete database on many sites I use has caused me to create a map on Google Drive so I can keep my own database of actual working repeaters. Ham radio is not all about HF and contesting. It seems that most hams ive come in contact with base most of their activity on the less than 4mhz of space in the HF bands and abandoned the over 1ghz worth of space where these repeaters are located. Take pride in ALL the bands and modes. Use it before the FCC causes hams to lose it.

 

[Thorndike113]

Well concerning the repeater he was on, I am not sure if it was rogue or not. He was in Seabrook, NH at the rest area on the highway when he tried it and he said it was very close. No static hiss on the signal and he said he thought it sounded like it was linked due to the 2 courtesy tones and the click that you get when machines are linked together sometimes. He has been operating repeaters for all of the 40 years he's been a ham and has been on many different types of systems from Connecticut to California so I don't doubt what he told me.

When It comes to people being on the air, I understand that not all repeaters have people on them. Todays world is a busy one and I know that first hand. This ham and I come from a time period where a lot of hams had ham repeaters in their scanner or had radios monitoring them in case of emergencies or for whatever reason. Even currently, I keep 2 local ham repeaters in addition to 4 commonly used simplex frequencies in my scanner with everything else and as of lately, its dead. Sorta sad. I keep them there though, just in case. I dont have permanent radios on the air but I keep a portable in the shack to use if someone does have an emergency. Times have changed in the past 25 years though.

 

[ko6jw_2]

One of the problems with finding repeaters is that they are not licensed the same way as commercial or public safety. Yes, we do or should use coordinators, but ham licenses are for the operator or club, but not for a specific frequency.

Here in Santa Barbara County CA there is not a single listing for a ham repeater in the RR database. None. Many if not most are in the Repeater Book database and ARRL. The other option is to look at local club web sites. They usually list all their repeaters and nearby repeaters as well.

Why don't we submit them? They are in ham databases but not RR in some cases. Not submitting them does not mean they are rogue. Every repeater in this area is in coordination but none are in RR. Sorry. You can find us if you look.

 

[vagrant]

Contacting the respective amateur radio coordinating body for a particular region would probably be the best bet for a "more accurate" list. Some of them provide those lists online. Also know that a list will never be accurate as there are paper repeaters, some down for "actual repair" and other uncoordinated ones that may not be known to the coordinating body.

Amateur radio is amateur radio. I do not equate it to professional emergency services. Myself and those in my sphere of influence are better off that I know the difference.

 

[ecps92]

The only thing heard on 145.2300 is the Boston 100.0 output PL Repeater

Also tried to key up using 67.0 and got nothing.

Here is are a couple questions I have regarding repeaters all over but specifically in Northern New England.

1. - Why do owners of repeaters not submit their repeaters into databases?
2. - Why do database owners not keep their databases up to date?

Recently I had a friend of mine who is blind and is a ham operator of 40 years come up to the New Hampshire area. He was up for a non ham radio related meeting but he decided to take his ham radio with him to see if him and I could make contact over repeaters. He said he wasnt able to raise some of the machines I gave him that I could hit that were wide area coverage. He said he was able to access a repeater that had a full quieting signal on 145.23 with a tone of 67.0hz. I looked, I searched, I scoured every database I could find and NOTHING!! Well, thats typical of repeaters up this way. I personally know of some that are not listed anywhere and they are up and running. Here is the real kicker. He calls...................and calls............................No response! He calls for information about where the repeater is located etc. Even the crickets are dead. I have noticed this same issue with many repeaters around. Last I checked, repeaters are not cheap. Maintenance needs to be done and when parts are replaced, thats not cheap. To have these repeaters just sitting there doing nothing and then to top that all off, some are not even listed anywhere is pretty irritating. Not trying to bash anyone but these repeaters are what could be used in emergencies. These repeaters could be the ones that a ham calls over if they are stuck hiking in our wonderful forests up here. If you cant find a local repeater because its not listed or the local repeater you get on has no one on it, how can hams make the argument that they are "Emergency communicators"? Could you imagine calling 911 and no one answers? Could you imagine calling 911 andd the dispatcher puts the call out, but no one hears it? or responds? This lack of keeping a complete database on many sites I use has caused me to create a map on Google Drive so I can keep my own database of actual working repeaters. Ham radio is not all about HF and contesting. It seems that most hams ive come in contact with base most of their activity on the less than 4mhz of space in the HF bands and abandoned the over 1ghz worth of space where these repeaters are located. Take pride in ALL the bands and modes. Use it before the FCC causes hams to lose it.

 

[Thorndike113]

The only thing heard on 145.2300 is the Boston 100.0 output PL Repeater

Also tried to key up using 67.0 and got nothing.

I wonder if it happened to be someone who had a repeater temporarily set up at the time. I know that happened back in the late 90's where I used to live. Someone near me had set up a repeater. Nice and quiet with just a quick simple CW ID, no voice announcements, very strong signal. When I asked several hams in the area about it, they knew nothing about it and one day, as quickly as it was on the air, it was off and I never heard it again.

 

[ecps92]

Yup, happens frequently with remote Bases etc

I wonder if it happened to be someone who had a repeater temporarily set up at the time. I know that happened back in the late 90's where I used to live. Someone near me had set up a repeater. Nice and quiet with just a quick simple CW ID, no voice announcements, very strong signal. When I asked several hams in the area about it, they knew nothing about it and one day, as quickly as it was on the air, it was off and I never heard it again.

 

[deanq]

FYI, there is no such thing as a rogue repeater. There is no requirement for a repeater (ham) to to be coordinated. If there is an issue with interference, then the coordinated repeater has (legal) priority.

 

[Thorndike113]

FYI, there is no such thing as a rogue repeater. There is no requirement for a repeater (ham) to to be coordinated. If there is an issue with interference, then the coordinated repeater has (legal) priority.

As true as this is, its pretty sad. I can understand having smaller stations operating with no coordination, but full fledged repeaters covering large areas? Nothing operates well when there is an anything goes policy.