16 Mar 2010

GB3GJ REPEATER TO RISE AGAIN!

March 16th and the Jersey Amateur Radio Repeater Group have some good news relating to the new repeater. Peter GJ8PVL and Rob MJ0RZD met with the Jersey Electricity Company to discuss the way forward and all of this could, with luck, see the repeater on air by the end of May 2010.

The original site at Westmount fell through late in 2009 when the provider indicated the costs that the repeater group would be expected to meet in terms of obtaining loading calculations for the mast, agreeing a lease and other associated matters. Thanks to Mike GJ0PDJ providing some much needed assistance a new site at Queens Road was secured on the Jersey Electricity Companies building.

It has been agreed that they will provide a power connection and a position on the existing mast for the antenna as well as a location at roof level for the equipment free of charge as the repeater group is now a registered charity. Whilst the repeater will not have security of tenure (in other words if someone else needs the space they will get preference) the repeater will have a site for the foreseeable future. So once again the group are into scrounging whatever they can to get things underway so anyone who can lend us their time and assistance this will be gratefully received. The group have already ‘scrounged’ the power supply (see above), the feeder (promised by Airtel) and the cable tray we will need (promised by Aston Services) and will need to chase up one or two other items. If you think you can help please talk to any of the repeater group committee (GJ8PVL, MJ0RZD, MJ1CYD, GJ7DNI, 2J0SZI, MJ0SIT, MJ0JER) or email at [email protected] .

In the meantime Phil MJ0JER has taken delivery of and set up the repeater unit, the cavities have been ordered from Finland and the antenna and lightning protection from Radio Structures in the UK.