Monday 18 July 2011

GB7HU Joins the Worldwide D-Star Network! 


After working into the small hours, Darren Storer (G7LWT) of the UK Interconnect Team has installed the Icom Gateway Software onto our Gateway PC. The system has been approved by the Trust Server Team in the US and our D-Star Repeater GB7HU has joined the Worldwide D-Star Network. The D-Plus system which allows the system to link into other D-Star Repeaters and Reflectors worldwide is currently being installed, and should be operational by the time you read this thread...

I will be creating the training material and the .ICF files for the Icom IC-E92D handheld and Icom IC-E2820 mobile over the next few days to enable everyone use the system to its full potential. 

Thanks go to Darren G7LWT for configuring the system in record time, and to Clive G3GJA for putting the wireless infrastructure in place to allow GB7HU to use his Internet connection from Anlaby at no additional cost to the group - something which is becoming an issue to the many D-Star repeaters around the UK.

73 de Andy

Thursday 12 May 2011

New Digital Radio System for East Yorkshire


Media Release - New Digital Radio System for East Yorkshire

A group of amateur radio enthusiasts have installed a digital radio system in East Yorkshire to provide a communications network for volunteer groups in times of emergency.

Following their experiences in the flooding of 2007, the East Yorkshire Repeater Group realised that their repeater systems that allow fellow amateur radio operators to communicate over a county-wide area could be extremely valuable to others in times of need. And, when approached by the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 4x4 Response Group, agreed to provide radio communications training resulting in several new radio operators who have since used their radio skills in transporting critical staff and patients for the Hull and East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust during the recent bad weather.

The East Yorkshire Repeater Group have since been successful in applying for a lottery grant from the Awards for All Big Lottery Fund for £9,446 to fund a digital repeater system, equipment and training for emergency communications. Project Manager Andy Russell, a Chartered Engineer working for BAE Systems said “As part of our pledge, we have provided demonstrations and training to local youth groups, encouraging them to take an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and as result of this have been approached by several Town and Parish Councils in relation to their emergency plans”

The hub of the repeater system is located on a remote farm in the Yorkshire Wolds (from where it can see the whole of Holderness, the City of Hull and the Humber Estuary) and is capable of carrying digital voice, together with GPS tracking and low speed data to anywhere in the world using the Internet. The group is presently working on getting a broadband connection to the site enabling them to link up with similar systems across Yorkshire.

Several members of the East Yorkshire Repeater Group also belong to East Yorkshire Raynet (Radio Amateurs Emergency Network) who will be providing the backup communications network for the forthcoming Jane Tomlinson’s Hull 10K Run and Dove House sponsored walk charity events, which are used as training exercises for future emergencies.

The Groups are planning to run a combined self training exercise utilising the digital repeater system and radio equipment with members of the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 4x4 Response and to provide further training for other volunteer groups. The outcome of project being trained people with the resources to help themselves in times of emergency.

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Saturday 30 April 2011

GB7HU Gateway PC


Work is underway configuring the Gateway PC for GB7HU and providing the vital Internet link to the site.

The Gateway PC is based on a Jetway JNC92-330 dual core Intel Atom Mini-ITX motherboard, fitted with 2GB of memory and a 640GB server-grade Western Digital "Caviar Black" hard drive, this is mounted in a 1U rackmount case. The system requires approximately 25W of power - vital when the system is running 24/7 and the electricity bill is paid by your subscriptions!




The PC runs CentOS 5.2 Linux (a variant of RedHat Linux) and is currently being configured so that it can be installed at our Weedley Site and remotely administered by the group from the comfort of our own shacks via the Internet using a secure (SSH) login.




The XYL will be pleased when this PC and the associated clutter leave our dining table!

73 de Andy

Sunday 10 April 2011

GB7HU Switch On


The East Yorkshire Repeater Group (EYRG) is pleased to announce that a new 70cms. D-STAR repeater, GB7HU has been commissioned in East Yorkshire.

The new service is the culmination of several years of planning by their committee, along with a successful grant of £9,466 received from the National Lottery (Big Lottery fund). The group has also purchased several D-STAR transceivers, a high quality generator for use with emergency communications in East Yorkshire. 

The new Repeater GB7HU was switched on by the RSGB DRM for East Yorkshire, Mario Brashill G2DPA. The first contact was made by the NOV holder, Andy Russell G0VRM, with Clive Reynolds G3GJA, and Lyndon Reynolds M0LDR. An official opening ceremony with members present will take place soon.




Many other items have also been purchased by the EYRG for their continued RCF training programme.

73 de Andy