RECOVERY!
Things have moved on since this information was originally posted
but it is retained in order to provide as complete a record as possible.
Geoff, G0EVW - December 2001
(Most of this material is pre the meeting of 10/07/01 click here for details )
A new repeater was installed on 12/11/00 and at first seemed to be working well. The logic includes CTCSS so as well as the usual 1750Hz tone burst you can alternatively use a continuous sub audio tone of 71.9Hz. It is understood that thanks are due to Alec, G8GON who did much of the work of converting and aligning the unit.
The receive performance of 'SD has been well below par for some time. This is thought to be largely due to the 'temporary' aerial that has been in use and a degree of misalignment of the receiver. There have also been a number of 'outages' caused my the mains supply to the site tripping out.
GB3SD was switched off by the Repeater Keeper John, G8IKP when he discovered it was not licenced!
A second 'Notice of Variation' (NOV) was issued in May of this year that effectively withdrew John, G8IKP's licence to operate GB3SD. It should have been QRT since then. It cannot be switched on again until a new NOV is issued.
At the request of other SDRG members Geoff, G0EVW has said that he is prepared to provisionally take over as Repeater Keeper again and the RSGB (who issue NOV's on behalf of the RA) have agreed that they would support an application although in the end it will be up to the RA. Accordingly a letter was sent to the RSGB (see copy below) on Wednesday 4 July.
To the Radio Society of Great Britain (Amateur Radio Department)
Re: Amateur Voice Repeater GB3SD
Further to our telephone conversation of the 28/06/01 and the issue of a Second Notice of Variation (NoV) to Mr. J S Grandshaw, G8IKP the effect of which was to necessitate the closedown of GB3SD.
The South Dorset Repeater Group (SDRG) apologises for what would appear to be a breakdown in communication between the RSGB, Mr. Grandshaw (who was the Repeater Keeper) and the SDRG and is anxious to restore GB3SD to normal service as soon as possible. To that effect the SDRG would like to appoint a new Repeater Keeper and has agreed that I, the previous keeper should once again take up that post. I am of course fully aware of the duties and responsibilities of the appointment and will do my best to ensure that in future they are carried out correctly.
Geoffrey R Watts, G0EVW
Countersigned for the South Dorset Repeater Group (2000)
Secretary; Emma Illsley, M1CCJ
Treasurer; Jon Illsley, M0BQQ
We now have to wait for a response from the RSGB and RA and it is likely to take some time to resolve this issue.
Meanwhile, at the site, the mast is now in a very poor state and unlikely to survive another winter intact. John, G0PGT has done some preparatory groundwork towards its replacement. The equipment cabinet is also in need of some basic maintenance. On the assumption that the Group wants the repeater to survive it is therefore essential that the remedial work at the site is carried out during the next few weeks. It is hoped that something positive will emerge from the meeting on 10/07/01.
RECOVERY There was a meeting of the SDRG held on 10/07/01 that restored 'SD! click here for details
GB3SD BACK ON The repeater was returned to service at 1415 GMT on 13/07/01. The receive performance is still below it's past best but hopefully over the next few weeks things should improve. Thanks are due to everyone who has helped restore 'SD, in particular the RSGB who acted with speed and efficiency to get the licence re-issued. The Repeater Keeper is now Geoff, G0EVW to whom any reports should be sent.