SVEN and WINFRED ARES Nets Moving to the K4USS Repeater Until Further Notice

SVEN and WINFRED ARES Nets Moving to the K4USS Repeater Until Further Notice

If you attempted to join into the SVEN on 3/31 at 7 PM, you probably shared in the experience that resulted in Net Control (and Net Manager Tony, KM4HUE) moving the net to the K4USS Repeater (145.39 MHz) mid-stream. The noise levels at the W4RKC 146.82 MHz repeater receiver when the squelch was open were not able to be overcome with sufficient signal strength to create high enough signal-to-noise ratio to facilitate even minimally-intelligible voice communication at that time. Tony’s quick thinking moved the net to the idle K4USS repeater at 145.39 MHz (minus offset direction, CTCSS tone 146.2 Hz), and several of those attempting to participate in the net followed suit.

Following the net, I discussed the issue with Tony, and then had a conversation with Royce. The consensus is to that until further notice, the SVEN will continue to meet as normal, but with one change – the net will be conducted on the K4USS repeater. The day of the week remains Tuesday, and the time remains 7:00 PM local time. This is expected to be temporary until the W4RKC club repeater can be troubleshot and remediated of whatever ailments it is found to be suffering. The K4USS repeater sits about 3/4 of a mile southwest (down the same ridge) of the W4RKC repeaters on North Mountain, and should have similar coverage characteristics.

Similarly, Dave, KG4BIR, the ARES Emergency Coordinator for Winchester and Frederick County (Virginia) has also opted to move the Sunday night 8:30 PM ET nets to the K4USS Repeater in similar fashion as the SVEN. One thing to remember about the ARES net is that it is on the repeater with one caveat – on the last Sunday of the month, the net is held on a simplex frequency  (147.510 MHz) in lieu of using repeaters.

If you require assistance configuring your personal equipment to access the K4USS repeater, please reach out to me or others in the club so that you might be assisted via e-mail, over the air, or over the telephone. In honoring the idea of not contributing to the risks of the current pandemic, I will politely decline invites to meet in person until such is deemed no longer a high risk activity, and would encourage others to do the same.

Thank you for your participation in this net, and if you are not a net participant, please consider joining us on Tuesday evenings!

73,

Mike – KG4Y (kg4y at arrl dot net)