| Notes: |
9-17-23 Update:
THIS REPEATER IS CURRENTLY OFFLINE! The only reason it is listed as "Online" is to promote the project. Please read further for more details.... I am introducing the CHAR 650 GMRS repeater to the Charleroi area, located in Washington County Pennsylvania! This repeater project is still in production and will be considered "Offline" until the launch date. You may hear the repeater on the air during the testing phase. However, the repeater will be programmed with an alternate tone Until the project is finalized. Once the repeater is officially on the air it will hold the listed DPL tone. The launch date is scheduled for October 20th, 2023! I am very excited to present this project to the Charleroi area, I hope you are as well!
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10-5-23 Update:
The project is going great! Coming together faster than I expected. I'm currently conducting testing to get a clear picture of the range of the repeater, which should only take another 5 days. Therefore I'm happy to announce that I will be moving the launch date up 10 days. The new launch date will be October 10th, 2023!
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10-9-23 Update:
THE REPEATER IS NOW ONLINE! As proven through testing, the repeater has excellent coverage of Charleroi, North Charleroi, Upper and Lower Speers, Dunlevy, and Twilight. This includes Spears Community Park, North Charleroi Recreational Park, Dunlevy Recreational Center, and Woodland Ave Park. Coverage is spotty in Allenport, North Belle Vernon, Monessen, Wickerham Manor-Fisher, and Long Branch. Interstate 70 coverage is still unknown.
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1-28-24 Update:
A new coverage area has been explored! The repeater has good coverage into Lynnwood and Fairhope. The signal starts to taper off in Fayette City near Rickers Market.
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6-22-24 Update:
I'm happy to announce that the Char 650 now has battery backup! With inclement weather becoming more frequent, power outages are as well. The plan has always been to have this repeater on battery backup. However, we have experienced 2 power outages within 2 months in the Charleroi area. Therefore, I moved the timescale for the battery project closer. The repeater now has an 80-amp hour (Ah) lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFeP04) connected. The power supply has the capability of working as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS); so as soon as mains power is lost, the power supply will automatically kick over to the battery. Once mains power has been restored, the power supply will recharge the battery. In testing, the repeater was able to remain on battery power for four consecutive days. In most cases the power is never out over 12 hours, this capacity should be more than enough to run the repeater even with heavy use.
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9-20-24 Update:
It has occurred to me that I have the repeater listed as having a DPL of 155 which is the Motorola way of referring to a digital coded squelch. However, that is not the standard for expressing DCS. Therefore, it may not translate to most GMRS radios. Other common ways of displaying DPL 155 would be DCS 155 or even DCS D155N. I hope this clarifies things, allowing people to program the radios more easily. |
On-Air
