July 27, 2018

Hospital repeater to change frequency

The W5ETX repeater located on the UT Health Henderson (formerly ETMC) hospital is changing frequency. According to an email from John Newman (N9JN), an officer with the East Texas Emergency Communications Service (ETECS) in Tyler, the group is shifting the frequency in order to bring a new repeater into the linked system.

John explained, "ETECS purchased the 147.04 MHz repeater in Rusk. Our intent is to include that repeater into the ETECS (W5ETX) system. We wanted to use the 136.5 Hz tone on all of the ETECS repeaters."

"We found that there is another repeater in Livingston at 440 feet also on 147.04 MHz and using a 136.5 Hz tone. When Mike Miles in Lufkin keys up our Rusk repeater, he also bring up Livingston and vise versa."

"So, we have coordinated moving the 147.04 MHz frequency to Henderson and moving the 146.92 MHz frequency to Rusk. Both to have the 136.5 tone. There shouldn’t be an issue with 147.04 MHz and 136.5 tone from Henderson since the antenna is just above the hospital."

"Thomas Moss is programming the Rusk repeater and another set of cans to 146.92 MHz and we will try to get installed in the next week or so. After it is in place, the Henderson repeater will be programmed to 147.04 MHz."

"Additionally, we have discussed ad hoc, on frequency, link to 147.14 MHz in Palestine from Rusk. Moving Rusk to 146.92 allows for additional margin for that link."