New M5 +2letter Callsigns

Ofcom issue M5 + two letter callsign

The UK communications regulator Ofcom has issued what is believed to be the very first M5 + 2 letter callsign – M5ET

John Gascoigne recently passed his Advanced exam and he now has the distinctive callsign M5ET.

https://twitter.com/DJ_Unreal/status/1051567149075042309

Congratulations John

(Text copied from Southgate Amateur Radio News)

We would also like to congratulate John for his successful passing of his Advanced Examination.  John is also Manager of the National Amateur Radio Scout Active Support Unit based at Gilwell Park (Uk Scout HQ) John’s call is also now registered for use on Dplus (Dstar) so keep an ear out for him on the air soon.

Server Restored

Following what appeared to be a fairly complex internet outage across parts of the US yesterday which caused an interruption in access for all the UStrust repeaters worldwide to the US Trust Servers, Yesterday evening (UK Time) Server access was restored.

GB7ES is now reporting successfully with the USTrust Server, so ‘normal operation’ has now been restored.  Have fun and enjoy the repeater 🙂

US Trust Server Offline?

As of sometime earlier today, it would appear that the US Trust Server is currently offline as no repeaters across the world are able to report.

This unfortunately means that all gateway traffic is unavailable at this time.  Once the server is back online, then ‘normal’ service should be resumed. This doesn’t mean that the repeater is unavailable, as the gateway does not affect operation of the repeater for local traffic.

Hopefully, this won’t take long, for things to return to ‘normal’

Happy New Year 2016

Now that Christmas is over and the New Year is here, the team at RILGES and I would like to extend our New Year Wishes to all of our friends, followers and likers, as well as those who will be added to that list in the coming year.

Many Thanks for all your support over the last few years. I happy that so many are finding the blog useful  🙂

Season’s Greetings

Wishing Seasons Greetings to all our D-Star friends wherever they maybe.

The power of radio enabling us all to keep in-touch, whichever radio, reflector, or repeater we may use.

GB7ES has arrived

The day has finally arrived that brings GB7ES, East Sussex’s first D*Star repeater, to full operation.

After a couple of days of reconfiguring the gateway computer, which provides the facility to route call signs and to be able to connect the repeater to others around the world. We were finally accepted onto the USTrust network, this morning (6/11/15).

The repeater has been operating as a ‘standalone’ DV repeater since the beginning of September without the gateway available, which has been really useful in actually finding out what the real life coverage of the repeater is. Only this morning did I receive a call from Chris M0NAY/m located at Toy Hill near Sevenoaks, Kent. Although well outside the normal coverage area of the repeater the location is listed on the SOTA website as 245mASL height really can make the difference.

Approximated coverage map supplied by UKRepeaters.net

So come and make yourself known. If you’re local and have an older radio make sure you have your R1 and R2 setting set correctly and if you’re using DR mode that your set your To box for CQCQCQ (use reflector) if you’re further afield, link to us via G2 with GB7ES  BL in your YR command.  If you need an update for your radio just goto the ICOMUK page listed in an earlier post for the latest repeater list available.

If you’re new to DStar you may need to have your callsign registered on the system too. There is a page dedicated to this,  CLICK HERE and fill out the form and our Admin will  contact you once your registration is complete. If you’ve had you callsign registered through another repeater you won’t need to have it done again to use GB7ES.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Just a few words of thanks to those who have helped make it possible,

RILGES our repeater group for its continued support as well as the local amateur radio community across the county for joining the D*Star community.

ICOMUK for their ongoing support for this project in bringing D*Star to East Sussex.

Don Turner G4TKR for his help and assistance getting the repeater together, and

Paul Middlehurst G1DVA for his continued knowledge and help with the configuration of the Gateway

Darren, Jim,and Brian of the USTrust admin team for their help in getting us registered.

 

 

D*Star Downloads

Have you been looking for the latest official Icom repeater downloads for your new radio, well IcomUK have the perfect place.

Don Turner (G4TKR) with data from ukrepeaters.net has put together a central webpage with all the latest repeater lists for your radio. With full UK lists with over 700 repeaters and nodes from all over the UK it’s the first place to look whether you’re looking for an updated list for your ID-51 or your new 7100 the lists are here.

It’s not just D*Star lists there are also lists for analouge repeaters and simplex gateways for 2m, 70cms, 4m, 6m and even 10m bands

The lists are in simple to use csv format to just import into the software and in turn into the radio, and they work if your using the software on a PC or updating your radio via an sd card. There’s even a pdf file with instructions if your not sure.

There are even sample ICF files to use with the software on your PC to adapt and make your own custom repeater lists too.

Have you tried Icom Android app yet?  Click here to go straight to the play store and download it now.  The app will not only control your 5100 but it will also be able to connect to Icoms other D*Star radios using the relevant data lead and your android phone or tablet to send pictures and text messages to your friends via D*Star.  The website also has the latest csv file for the app too, with a fully updated repeater list.

Don Turner doesn’t stop there, if your wanted a video to show you through a specific function of the App or your 5100 then there’s a link you their YouTube channel as well as the link to download that Icom manual you can’t find.

‘OK, OK, So where is this webpage then’ I hear you shout.  Well it’s right here at http://downloads.d-staruk.co.uk/

MB6EB Blog gets a makeover :)

You will have noticed by now that not only has MB6EB had a bit of a makeover with a reformatted design, but also our name has changed too.

With the introduction on GB7ES B into the area, we are now called GB7ES Repeater / MB6EB Gateway.

With GB7ES B now running on-site over the last 8 weeks, and hopefully with the imminent connection of the repeater to the USTrust network, the repeater with it’s improved coverage across East Sussex, is an important addition to the D*Star network.

GB7ES located on-site in Stone Cross, just north of Eastbourne

GB7ES Ready to go, (Almost)

With the actual repeater being in place now for about 7 weeks, we’ve had some time to do some proper ‘real life’ testing.  Operating coverage of the repeater is a little better than expected, even taking into account the relatively low ERP level allowed.

Over the last week or two we’ve installed the gateway computer for the repeater, which will permit linking and routing capabilities through the DStar network to other repeaters and reflectors (conferences) around the world.

With the help and assistance of Paul (G1DVA) who has helped with the configuration of the Linux system, Thanks again Paul.

We are now just waiting to confirm the installation with the G2 USTrust network and GB7ES will be fully operational, hopefully in a few days time.

http://www.ukrepeater.net/my_repeater.php?callsign=GB7ES

MB6EB (2m Node) continues to operate on 144.825 Simplex

http://www.ukrepeater.net/my_repeater.php?callsign=mb6eb

MB6EB is back online

After a day of testing, faultfinding including compete removal of antenna for examination, the fault has now been rectified.

After an evening of testing both on DV and FM MB6EB is now back to full strength.