GB3OA

Scheduled Connections – Update

Thanks all for your patience! We’re pleased to report some progress on the previously reported issue on scheduled connections. Some changes have been made, not sure which one did the trick, or maybe it’s a combination, but scheduled connections are now available again.

An updated version of the software became available so that’s been installed, plus we’ve switched VPN providers and also implemented a VLAN at the site of the repeater.

In addition, we’ve resurrected the GB3OA room and bridged it to the YSF reflector 11704 (GB-SW-LANCS)

So, here’s the current connections schedule:

  • From 7am until 9am every day, GB3OA will be connected to the North West Fusion Group room, 44422 to cover the Squirrel net.
  • At all other times, it will be connected to its own room, now called GB-SW-LANCS (05239). This Wires-X room is also RF bridged to the YSF reflector (also called GB-SW-LANCS), the number of which is 11704.

Please note – The repeater can be disconnected at any time and connected to wherever you like. After thirty minutes of inactivity, the repeater will reconnect to either NWFG or GB-SW-LANCS depending on the time of day.

The operating pages on this website will be updated accordingly in due course.

The GB3OA team.

Scheduled Connections – Update Read More »

Some technical issues – Removal of scheduled connections.

For the latest update on this issue, click here.

Maybe it’s the PC we run Wires-X on, maybe it’s Wires-X itself. Possibly it’s the auto-connect scheduler that runs in the background.

Either way, over recent weeks we’ve seen multiple hiccups in the way Wires-X performs (or rather doesn’t), specifically that it keeps crashing taking the PC with it. The scheduler is only installed to facilitate the connection to NWFG a couple of times a day. The logs also show, that while the repeater is connected to NWFG, there is little to no local activity on GB3OA

As a result, and in an effort to try and get to the bottom of the problem, the scheduler has been un-installed meaning that there will no longer be any automatic connections made.

So, we’re back to *very* basic operation! Wires-X of course remains enabled.

Regards, the GB3OA team.

Some technical issues – Removal of scheduled connections. Read More »

Back to basics…..

After several months of operation, looking at the logs it’s clear to see the repeater is getting very little use. Maybe with all the additional ways of linking that were provided, it’s all got a little too complicated. So….

Changes have been made with the result that GB3OA is now a simple FM / C4FM repeater with no additional ways of linking (Wires-X of course still exists). It’s not normally connected anywhere, but does have its own room (Southport-UK). So, feel free to use it to suit your own needs. Hopefully this way we may get a little more activity!

The SW-LANCS YSF Reflector and XLX704 XLX reflector are no more.

73, The GB3OA team.

Back to basics….. Read More »

Linking

Everything is to some extent, still being developed. But we thought it may help to give an overview of what linking is available, both in terms of using the repeater and seeing what you can link too, plus how to connect to the repeater if you’re outside of its coverage area.

As a ‘starter for ten’ a new page has been added to the website to give an overview. Please see the link below.

Linking from / to GB3OA

We hope it helps!

Linking Read More »

Yaesu DR-2XE now on air.

Out with the old…..

And in with the new….


We’re pleased to report that as planned, a Yaesu DR-2XE has now replaced the old Tait hardware at GB3OA.

As previously mentioned, the Yaesu DR-2XE offers both standard analogue FM and C4FM. Whatever the receiver hears will be the mode that’s used. Analogue in, analogue out. C4FM in, C4FM out. It’s one or the other, but not both together. Please note the that the standard logic of the repeater will no longer give a K (when using analogue), there is however a squelch tail of 2.5 seconds so you know whether you’re getting in or not. Currently the CW ID is set to go off every 10 minutes (assuming analogue is being used).

Due to a battle with Wires-X networking we’ve had to change the set-up slightly. The room number of SW-LANCS is now 05324, other than that the following sill applies. The repeater will normally be connected to Wires-X room 05234, SW-LANCS. If you wish to disconnect it and connect up somewhere else, that’s perfectly fine. After a period of local inactivity the repeater will automatically re-join SW-LANCS. Please be aware that the connection to SW-LANCS only works if you’re using C4FM.

Yaesu do not allow any none native connection to Wires-X. For those that do not have direct access to a node or repeater that’s connected to Wires-X, the only option to connect somewhere remote is via some form of Hotspot. We have therefore created a YSF Reflector, also called SW-LANCS. Its number is 01704, you should be able to find it on a Pi-Star dashboard. Using a DVMEGA and another Wires-X node (both on dummy loads), these two networks are now bridged together. It shouldn’t matter which SW-LANCS you connect to, you will be heard on both networks. While the hotspot supports both Voice Wide (VW) and Digital Narrow (DN) meaning both will work just fine, please note that if you wish to connect up using your DMR radio and a hotspot running DMR2YSF, then only Digital Narrow (DN) will work.

The GB3OA team.

Yaesu DR-2XE now on air. Read More »