ARCC
NEWSLETTER
November 1999
Published By: ARCC, INC., P.O. Box 244, Plumsteadville, PA 18949
ARCC HAS NEW VIDEO!
ARCC has a new video that has been produced for the purpose of demonstrating
the organization’s function as a regional frequency coordinator. The nine minute video
was produced by David Laustsen, N3LHY, ARCC President, at no cost to the organization.
It has been used by various ARCC Board members to explain the process of frequency
coordination to the amateur community at large. Thanks to Gene Pressler, Jeff DePolo, and
a cast of thousands from the WRC ARC in Doylestown for agreeing to “star” in the video.
If your club or organization would like to have an ARCC video presentation by one
of our Board Members, just write or email Gene Pressler, Vice President of Administration,
at P.O. Box 244, Plumsteadville, PA 18949
Volunteers are Needed
ARCC is interested in your expertise, both technical and otherwise. If you are
interested in becoming an ARCC volunteer, coordinator, or board member, please contact us at our mailing address above.
Build the Cactus VHF-UHF Antenna
Another construction project for our members. Send us a picture of your completed antenna and we’ll publish it.
By Gary - KGØZP
Here are plans for building the Copper Cactus J-Pole antenna!
I hope you are already familiar with the construction of the standard J-Pole antenna, so I
won't go into any unnecessary detail. The antenna may be built as a MonoBander,
DuoBander, TriBander, QuadBander or whatever with great success. You can either feed it
with separate coax's for each band or a single coax, however, separate coax's make it much
easier to tune.
There's no trick to building them, just remember the overall length is for the lowest
frequency of operation. In other words, a MonoBander, DualBander and TriBander are all
exactly the same length overall 58.09" on 2mtrs.
Feed the coax up the center of the pipes. Use T-Fittings at the proper distance below
the top of the antenna for the desired frequency. The only problem is that the more bands
you try to incorporate into the antenna, the harder it is to get the SWR flat on all bands.
Here are the numbers you are looking for:
Frequency 52MHz 146MHz 223.5MHz 435MHz 912MHz 1265MHZ
Pipe Dia. 1" 3/4" 1/2" 1/2" 3/8" 3/8"
Stub 54.70" 19.36" 12.65" 6.46" 3.02" 2.16"
Overall Length 163.92" 58.09" 37.94" 19.39" 9.07" 6.49"
Separation 5" 2" 1-1/4" 3/4" 1/2" 1/4"
Connect at 6" 2-1/4" 1-1/2" 1" 3/4" 1/2"
For best results, build the highest band first, for eg. the 435MHz antenna, If you
really want it to look neat, use 3/8" copper for the vertical and 1/4" copper for the
transformer section (stub). Naturally the finished product will be in the shape of a "J".
Now build the next band, for eg. the 223.5MHz antenna, by adding pipe to the T-
connector that is the base (mast mount) of the 435MHz antenna, I use 1/2" for the vertical
and 3/8" for the stub of this section.
Now build the 146MHz antenna, don't forget the overall length of the antenna is the
lowest frequency you will be using. I use 3/4" for the vertical and 1/2 for the stub. The stub
must be parallel to the vertical, however you can point the base of each stub in any direction
you like. I prefer 3 equIdistant points, but you can make them all on the same side if you
wish. I feel the three points make it look like a cactus. My measurements on overall length,
and stub length are from the centerline of the separation pipe (horizontal) to the top of the
antenna. The Separation distance is technically from centerline to centerline, but inside
measurements are fine and visually look better. Some of the measurements are less than
physically possible, in this case just push the T-fitting and elbow as close together as you
can get them, no need to trim the fittings. The Connect at measurement is from the top of the
horizontal member to the point of connection.
Final Note: If you use 1/2" pipe for all the construction, on the 2-meter stub, add
1/4" to its length, or use pipe-caps and adjust them up or down to get the 1/4" additional
length.
The antenna should be in perfect tune, SWR less than 1.2 - 1 on all bands, using
separate coax for each band. Solder all the joints before installing the coax, any pipe you
have left over can be used as the mast.
To install the coax, drill a 1/4" hole in the top of the horizontal part of each T-fitting
closest to the vertical, then tilt the drill at an angle,
so that the drill bit is sorta heading down the vertical.
Enjoy Building: If you have any questions just ask, or further instructions, just send
me a message and I will promptly respond.
PS Until you are familiar with the construction techniques of the J-Pole, I wouldn't
attempt any more than three bands the first time out. In fact, A dual-bander, using the above
dimensions will be perfect every time.
Area Repeater Coordination Council
The following speech was delivered by ARCC VP, Gene Pressler W3ZXV, at the
Bloomsburg Hamfest on June 13, 1999.
State of the Union
This is a brief report on what's been happening with the Area Repeater Coordination
Council during the past year. We sometimes
feel like we are the "Mission Impossible" organization in amateur radio in that the job we
have is a lot bigger and more complex than most people can imagine.
First of all, ARCC is responsible for repeater coordination across eastern
Pennsylvania (roughly from Harrisburg and York east) and
in southern New Jersey (roughly from Trenton south). This is one of the most heavily-populated and one of the most heavily-"radioed" areas in the country.
There are (again roughly) over 500 active repeaters and auxiliary links in the area
and these include operations on 10 and 6 Metersthrough UHF and they include FM
repeaters, links and ATV systems.
Two Meters continues to be the most heavily used repeater band but there are only
about 60 specific repeater pairs available to accommodate all the activity there and our job is
to try to keep people in the repeater community from stepping on each other.
There are only so many ways to divide the available pie. Actually, it's more like the
"loaves and fishes" miracle in the Bible, except that we don't have anywhere near that much
influence with the powers above.
We wish more people would get the message that 2 Meters is just "tapped out" but
we still keep getting new applications from people who would like to operate a repeater
there. As an aside, I have a message for them: think about 900 mHz or the 1.2 gHz bands.
There's plenty of room there and, especially on 900 mHz, surplus commercial equipment is
showing up in increasing quantities in the market at very affordable prices.
During the past year, we have handled somewhere around a hundred applications
from people who would like to operate in this severely overcrowded arena. In addition, we
also try to recertify the coordinations of about a third of the active repeaters in our area each
year so that we can stay current with any changes that may be occurring with repeaters that
are already on the air.
In many of the new applications we receive, we need to coordinate the decisions we
make with repeater coordinators operating in adjacent areas; T-MARC to the south,
WPARC to the west, and UNYREPCO to the north. We also need to deal with the
complications caused by the fact that there is no active repeater coordinator in northern New
Jersey. A state of chaos has existed there for a number of years now and that causes another
unique set of problems for us to deal with.
We also need to deal with a small number of uncoordinated repeaters that are out
there and which cause another degree of complication. Although we are not directly involved
in digital coordination, we do maintain an active and constructive interface with the digital
community.
During the past year, several disputes have erupted which made enormous demands
on our time. These have involved legal and FCC actions and they required considerable
research and negotiation times on our part to resolve the issues involved.
We also have the responsibility of maintaining an extensive and accurate database
and compiling and submitting on time the data that appears in the ARRL Repeater Directory
each year.
Jeff DePolo, WN3A, is listed as our "database manager" but he's much more than that. He
keeps our very comprehensive database but he probably knows more about what's going on
out there, and has more knowledge about repeater operations than anyone we
know and he's an important resource, both to ARCC and to the repeater community in
Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.
We maintain an Internet Web site that makes a version of this database available on-line,
along with information on ARCC's services and the forms needed for repeater coordination
and membership in the organization.
We also publish a periodic newsletter in an effort to keep repeater operators and users
aware of what's happening in the field and, of course, we have just finished producing an
ARCC video tape program which may be the very first of its kind anywhere in the country.
ARCC is, of course, an organization operated by a handful of very dedicated volunteers,
most of whom have families and jobs that also make demands on their time. Fortunately,
these people are committed to the work we do. Actually, considering the environment in
which we have to do our job I sometimes think we all should be committed.
Everyone who submits an application to us thinks that theirs is the only - or at least it's the
most important - matter we have on our plate at any one time. They also seem to think we
have some sort of magic wand we can wave in the direction of every problem and that the
problem with simply go away.
Unfortunately, we have no magic wand and sometimes things will get lost in the cracks but
we believe the small number of complaints we get says that we are doing a good job.
Repeater coordination in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey is alive and well.
I'd like you to be aware of the people in ARCC who are responsible for the work we do and
here they are:
Dave Laustsen, N3LHY, is ARCC President. He's an attorney practicing in Doylestown and
a former Pennsylvania state legislator. I'm Gene Pressler, W3ZXV, a retired banker and
Vice President of Administration. Ron Raymond, K3LPR, is an engineer and a resident of
Bethlehem. Vince Bardsley, KB3OM, is a retired teacher and Treasurer of ARCC and
Bob Agans, WA3EPA, our Secretary, is a manufacturers' representative and resident of
Doylestown.
Coordinator John Sichert, KA3LAO, hails from Gettysburg and Coordinator Dick Tyler,
WA2EHL, from Burlington, New Jersey. Pete Rossi, WA3NNA, is our Web master and
he's from Newtown Square.
In the field, ARCC is ably represented by a group of Regional Representatives: in the NW
section of Eastern Pennsylvania is Bill Barnes, N3JIX; SW is John Shaffer, W3SST; NE
is Don Curtis,
W3LR; and in the SE section we have Dick Stewart, K3ITH.
They all work long and hard for you and they deserve your support.
ARCC to Consider Changes in Band Plan
Your Comments are Solicited. The ARCC has received numerous comments and
proposals regarding the Amateur TV portion of the bandplan. One such proposal was
propounded by the Central Atlantic Amateur Television Network. ARCC will be holding a
meeting after the first of the year to take your written and oral comments on proposals to
change the existing band plan. The date and location of the meeting will be announced on
the web page at www.arcc-inc.org. Written comments regarding your proposal to change
the band plan with regard to th ATV portion of the 440 band, or any other changes you feel
are necessary should be addressed to David Laustsen, President, ARCC, P.O. Box 244,
Plumsteadville, PA 18949. For reference, the CAATN proposal follows.. There are others.
Your input is solicited. A Special Meeting will be held on the subject of band plan changes
on January 9, 2000 at the Roasted Pepper Restaurant in Doylestown, PA. 145.35/R for talk
in (131.8pl).
420 to 426 Mhz ATV Repeater output only
426 to 432 Mhz ATV Repeater input and Simplex.
438 to 444 Mhz ATV Repeater output and Simplex.
AM Modulation only
904 to 916 Mhz ATV use local option in or out, Simplex
916 to 928 MHZ ATV use local option in or out, Simplex
FM 12 Mhz Bandwidth
AM 2 channels of 6 Mhz bandwidth in each segment
1240 to 1252 Mhz ATV use local option in or out, Simplex
1260 to 1270 Mhz ATV, Simplex
1280 to 1292 Mhz ATV use Local option in or out, Simplex.
2 12 Mhz ATV FM channels
4 6 Mhz ATV repeater am channels
Any signals in the bandpass of an amateur television receiver causes severe
problems for reception of signals especially in a repeater system since everyone is affected.
Already a large portion of the ATV community are receiving interference from FM
repeaters and Packet Backbone systems transmitting in the bandpass of the long time
recognized ATV frequency of 439.25 mhz.
In the above suggestions Local and pre-existing assignments would be the
exception, with new planning taking advantage of a new band plan.
We must keep in mind that digital and compression techniques coming in the future
will allow us to co-exist with other services with less bandwidth required for all.
EPA / SNJ Band Plan
28.000-28.070 CW
28.070-28.300 Digital, CW, beacons
28.300-29.300 Phone, CW, SSTV
29.300-29.510 Satellite
29.520-29.580 FM Repeater inputs (20 kHz spacing)
29.600 FM Simplex
29.620-29.680 FM Repeater outputs (20 kHz spacing)
50.000-50.300 CW, SSB, DX
50.300-50.600 All modes
50.600-50.800 Non-voice
50.800-51.000 Radio Remote Control (20 kHz)
51.000-51.100 Pacific DX window
51.100-51.980 Digital and mixed modes
52.010-52.490 FM Repeater Inputs (20 kHz)
52.510-52.590 FM Simplex (15 kHz)
52.610-52.990 FM Repeater Inputs (20 kHz)
53.000-53.990 FM Repeater Outputs
144.000-144.010 CW Only
144.100-144.275 Weak Signal (CW, SSB, EME)
144.275-144.300 Beacons
144.300-144.500 Future satellite subband
144.510-144.890 FM Repeater Inputs (20 kHz spacing)
144.910-145.090 Digital (20 kHz spacing)
145.110-145.490 FM Repeater Outputs (20 kHz spacing)
145.510-145.790 Digital and Miscellaneous
145.800-146.000 Satellite Only
146.010-146.385 FM Repeater Inputs (15 kHz spacing)
146.400-146.595 FM Simplex (15 kHz spacing)
146.610-147.390 FM Repeater Outputs (15 kHz spacing)
147.410-147.585 FM Simplex (15 kHz spacing)
147.600-147.990 FM Repeater Inputs (15 kHz spacing)
222.000-222.150 Weak Signal (CW, SSB, EME)
222.160-223.380 FM Repeater Inputs (20 kHz spacing))
223.400-223.480 Digital (20 kHz spacing)
223.500-223.540 FM Simplex (20 kHz spacing)
223.560-223.600 FM Auxiliary Links (20 kHz spacing)
223.620-223.720 Digital (100 kHz bandwidth channel on 223.670)
223.740 Miscellaneous
223.760-224.980 FM Repeater Outputs (20 kHz)
420.000-426.000 ATV Channel 1
426.000-432.000 ATV Channel 2; wideband digital
431.025 Digital (25 kHz bandwith)
432.000-433.000 Weak Signal (CW, SSB, EME, beacons)
433.025-434.975 FM Repeater Links
435.000-438.000 Satellite Only
438.000-444.000 ATV Channel 3 (shared)
440.000-440.950 FM Auxiliary Links (25 kHz spacing)
440.975-441.075 Digital (25 kHz spacing)
441.100-442.000 FM Auxiliary Links (25 kHz spacing)
442.000-444.975 FM Repeater Inputs/Outputs (25 kHz spacing)
445.000-445.975 FM Auxiliary Links (25 kHz spacing)
446.000-446.275 FM Simplex (25 kHz spacing)
446.975 FM Auxiliary Links (25 kHz spacing)
447.000-449.975 FM Repeater Inputs/Outputs (25 kHzspacing)
902.000-903.000 Weak Signal (CW, SSB, EME, beacons)
903.025-905.975 Digital (25 and 100 kHz bandwidth channels)
906.000-908.975 FM Repeater Inputs (25 kHz spacing)
909.000-915.000 ATV Channel 1
915.000-917.975 Digital (25 and 100 kHz bandwidth channels)
918.000-920.975 FM Repeater Outputs (25 kHz spacing)
921.000-927.000 ATV Channel 2
927.025-927.975 FM Simplex and Auxiliary Links (25 kHz spacing)
1240.000-1246.000 ATV Channel 1
1246.000-1247.975 FM Auxiliary Links (25 kHz spacing)
1248.000-1251.975 Digital (25 and 100 kHz bandwidth channels)
1252.000-1258.000 ATV Channel 2
1258.000-1259.975 FM Auxiliary Links (25 kHz spacing)
1260.000-1270.000 Satellite and Experimental
1270.025-1275.975 FM Repeater Inputs (25 kHzspacin)
1276.000-1282.000 ATV Channel 3
1282.025-1287.975 FM Repeater Outputs (25 kHz spacing)
1288.000-1294.000 ATV Channel 4 (simplex), wideband experimental
1294.000-1294.975 FM simplex (25 kHz spacing)
1295.000-1297.000 Weak Signal (CW, SSB, EME, beacons)
1297.000-1300.000 Digital
Recent Coordinations from Jeff DePolo
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued: N3ZAU 444.250+ Oxford, PA
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued: K3HR 147.195+ Newtown Square, PA
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued: N3BUB 448.275- Long Pond, PA
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued: N3TXG 53.950- Bangor, PA
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued: N3KZ 442.900+ Sylvania, PA
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued:
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued:
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued:
New FM Repeater Coordination Issued:
New ATV Repeater Coordination Issued: K3IR 923.250 out/910.250 in Columbia, PA
Modified FM Repeater Coordination: W2RAP 146.955- Lakewood, NJ
Modified FM Repeater Coordination: K3SSC 147.165+ Horsham, PA
Modified FM Repeater Coordination: N3GZW 146.625- Wellsboro, PA
Secretary’s Report
Hi gang! Its time to send in your dues. Dues $10 year for individual owners or operators
of repeaters or their supporting members. $25 per year for group members and $50 for
large group members. Contributions are welcome. Stay tuned to the web page for
announcements concerning future meetings. We’ll have a Special Meeting regarding the
ATV portion of the band plan and any other suggestions on the band plan on January 8,
2000 at the Meadow Hill Family Restaurant in York at 1:00 PM. Lunch can be ordered.
Bring written comments and we will have open discussion. Board Meeting is the next day
on January 9 at the Cross Keys Diner in Doylestown at 1:00 pm.
ARCC annual election ballots and dues envelopes are enclosed. Mail your ballots and
dues envelopes to the post office box below. If you write someone in, please get your
"victim's" permission. Remember, we need volunteers. Contact us on the web site if you
are interested in volunteering as a board member or an appointed official of ARCC.
