Contacting Through Keller Pk [Archive]

Roger

02-15-10, 08:42 AM

For my birthday I got a new high gain dual band antenna for my Jeep. (Don't ever - ever - ever waste money on a glass mount antenna). It is waaaayy better. I'm getting some of the repeaters full signal in areas where before I could hardly hear them.

So Scott -OU812 & John - Nipple Twister Let's try communicating again. I'll be monitoring the Keller Peak repeater -146.385MHz+ Pl 146.2Hz - between 6:15 - 7:00 AM and 5:00 - 5:45 PM M-Th. Starting tomorrow morning

Next we should try the Big Bear Machine.

Any other MJR Hams interested, just jump in and let's try it.

Roger - N6UJM

OU812

02-15-10, 09:45 AM

Awesome Roger. I am on my drive home at 5:00pm. Ill call out from you tomorrow evening.

Roger

02-15-10, 09:43 PM

Oceanside to Victorville via Keller Peak. That's a pretty good shot!

Russ Chung

02-15-10, 10:22 PM

I don't think you can reach Keller Peak from Oceanside; there are too many mountains in the way. If you have UHF, we can use the Winsystem linked repeaters:
http://www.winsystem.org
Victorville 448.900 (-) 162.2
Santiago Peak 448.060 (-) 100.0
Sunset Ridge (north of Pomona) 449.160 (-) 100.0
Loop Canyon (San Fernando Valley) 448.900 (-) 100.0
Vista 448.800 (-) 100.0

I can't reach Keller Peak from the San Fernando Valley, but I can get it via Echolink. I'll try to contact you in the morning.

Roger

02-15-10, 10:35 PM

OU812

02-15-10, 11:40 PM

In Oceanside and Escondido and Carlsbad I am rarely in a place I can not get into Keller peak repeater. I get Catalina repeater well too of course.

Roger

02-16-10, 05:30 AM

Scott - I'll be listening for you at 5:00 PM or as soon as I can get out to my Jeep from my office!

Russ - I won't be able to add the WIN repeaters to my radio until this weekend. I'll let you know when I get it done.

Old Fart

02-16-10, 08:23 AM

Okay Russ!! I'll be listening. Scott says he has no problem getting into Keller Pk from Oceanside. I don't see how it's possible. But on the other hand, I can sometimes access Catalina Island repeater from Lucerne Valley, How is that possilbe!!??

Roger N6UJM

Roger, the AOR on the Catalina repeater is pretty severe - you'd be amazed at some of the places it covers. Just don't try hitting it from a sailboat at the Isthmus (BTDT):(

Russ Chung

02-16-10, 09:38 AM

Roger, the AOR on the Catalina repeater is pretty severe - you'd be amazed at some of the places it covers. Just don't try hitting it from a sailboat at the Isthmus (BTDT):(

I believe that the Catalina repeater is at the airport. It has great coverage along the coastline from San Diego to Ventura and quite a bit inland; I've been able to receive it from the San Fernando Valley, BUT I was talking to a guy on Catalina Island and he said that you can't reach it from Avalon because the hills are in the way! I believe that the Red Cross and the CERT on the island use a repeater on the mainland.

Old Fart

02-16-10, 09:45 AM

IIRC it's on Blackjack Peak, that's the primary transmitter site for Catalina. I know all the LA County stuff is there (climbed that tower many times back in the late 80's)

The antenna for 147.090 has a very high Angle of Radiation to assure hitting the meaty part of LA and Orange County. If memory serves me right (happens less and less these days) the Trustee lived in Orange.

Roger

02-16-10, 08:59 PM

Made contact with Russ this morning! He connected to the Keller Peak repeater through a system called Echo Link. He used his cell phone out in SFV to talk to me in the high desert through the Keller Peak repeater! Cool technology: http://www.echolink.org/

I didn't make contact with OU812 this afternoon. There was someone keying up the repeater but no audio. Scott if that was you, your signal wasn't enough to make it. Let me know!

Russ Chung

02-16-10, 10:50 PM

This afternoon I was in Santa Clarita. I didn't have internet access, so I couldn't use Echolink. The San Gabriel Mountains were between me and the repeater. Using my mobile transceiver, I could hear the Keller Peak repeater identify itself occasionally, but the signal was weak and it was very noisy. My transmitter was not strong enough to reach the repeater. I have a meeting in Big Bear in the morning, so I will be able to talk on the Keller Peak repeater on my way up the mountain.

OU812

02-17-10, 08:28 AM

Roger I am so bummed. I heard you calling out but I wasn't making it into the repeater. Yesterday I found a steal of a deal on a tent cot so I drove out to San Marcos on the way home. I guess although I can hear from there I didn't have enough power to open up the repeater. I know I have it programmed in correctly because I check into the Safety Net on Tuesday and the OAUSA net on Thursday. Usually I am in Oceanside where I know I can make it into the repeater.

Roger

02-17-10, 12:28 PM

Scott - I am pretty sure you were opening the repeater but just barely. Are you sure your radio is set to high power for that repeater?

I talked to a guy this morning who was located in Carlsbad. He was hitting the repeater with no problem. I also caught Russ again this morning.

OU812

02-17-10, 12:34 PM

I was set to high power. I made a contact thru the Keller Peak repeater on hwy 78 on the way out to San Marcos before I heard your call. He said I was quiet but readable.

Roger

02-17-10, 10:42 PM

Scott - You want to try it again in the morning??

Old Fart

02-18-10, 08:20 AM

You pups are just gonna make me stick a rig in my truck, aren't you...

OU812

02-18-10, 08:26 AM

Roger Ill call out for you on the way home today. Im still eating breakfast for your morning drive.

Roger

02-18-10, 10:25 AM

You pups are just gonna make me stick a rig in my truck, aren't you...

Only if you want to hang out with cool dudes :D

Old Fart

02-18-10, 11:19 AM

LOL, there is that.

I still remember Keller when it was 146.985 :)

Nipple Twister

02-19-10, 11:40 PM

Roger

02-21-10, 09:01 AM

....I just now read this. Roger, I removed one of my radios from the motorcycle and now have it in the house as a base station, Kenwood TM-742 Tri-Band. I am already at work by 5AM so I will try and catch you and the others in the evening around 5PM.
I will monitor Keller and Catalina and during days of inclement weather I drive the Jeep and I will try various times then too......
We should work out and MJR Net...possibly a Sat or Sun.....?:thumbs_up

I'll be listening at 5:00 PM for you and the others.

Why don't you start a new thread with the idea of a MJR radio net. There would be a lot to discuss like best time & day, what frequency etc. otaining permission from a repeater owner to conduct a net, to name a few.

Deepwater

02-22-10, 08:49 AM

Roger

02-22-10, 09:54 PM

Hi Roger,

Just dropped down into this topic and found this thread. Out of curiosity which antenna did you get?

I was on the Veterans day run that you lead and after talking to Russ I went out and got my license and a rig for my Jeep. Been doing a lot of listening but not much talking.

I'll see if I can get contact with you all here in Santa Ana. It would be great to talk to MJR folks.

Mike

Mike,

It's a dual band Comet, SBB-5 2m-440Mhz with a PL-259 mount. This antenna may get a bad rap by some but it's pretty durable. It's working great for me. Here's more info on it and this is where I bought it:
http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1603

Whatever you do, don't ever buy a glass mount antenna!

Congratulations on getting your license! What's your call sign?

Roger

02-23-10, 05:05 AM

Russ,

I'm going to be on the WIN System this morning and on Keller on my way home. If for some reason I can't access the WIN System, I'll be on Keller Pk.
WIN: 6:15 - 6:50 AM
Keller: 5:00 - 5:45 PM

Deepwater

02-23-10, 09:51 AM

Mike,

Congratulations on getting your license! What's your call sign?

Roger,

Call sign is KR6ROK,

Nice antenna, I ended up with the Diamond version of that one.

I'm finding that at home I am shaded from Keller by the local hills. I can get decent reception near work in Santa Ana. But my schedule puts me at the wrong end of your guys contact schedule. I'll try staying later at work and hitting the 5-5:45 time slot.

Mike

OU812

02-23-10, 10:04 AM

Cool callsign. Your call sign ROKs

Deepwater

02-23-10, 06:34 PM

Cool callsign. Your call sign ROKs

Thanks! I needed something that I could remember easily.

Monitored 5-5:30 today but there were a lot of guys on from Upland and San Bernadino and they had the repeater tied up pretty tight. Got good reception in Santa Ana at work if I got between buildings. Pretty amazing I think.

Mike

Roger

02-23-10, 08:48 PM

Thanks! I needed something that I could remember easily.

Monitored 5-5:30 today but there were a lot of guys on from Upland and San Bernadino and they had the repeater tied up pretty tight. Got good reception in Santa Ana at work if I got between buildings. Pretty amazing I think.

Mike

I heard them also and I didn't want to interupt them. Do you have 440Mhz capabilities? Go to post #4 by Russ in this thread and program Santiago Peak into your radio. It's linked to many other repeaters including one above Victorville. We should all try to meet there. It was very quiet this evening.

Roger - N6UJM

Deepwater

02-23-10, 09:04 PM

Roger,

Yes I do and I have good access to it from my house. I'll give it a listen tomorrow after work.

Mike

OU812

02-23-10, 11:24 PM

Thanks! I needed something that I could remember easily.
Mike

It helps to have somthing. Mine is KJ6COB. So that kinda makes me the corn COB. That's how my friend told me he would remember my call sign.

My station is 2m only so I won't be on the santiago 440 repeater. I need to register my callsign with Echolink. I downloaded the free Echolink app on my iPhone. I can wait to play with it. I'll be sure to call out for you guys on Keller Peak when I get it set up.

Russ Chung

02-24-10, 06:39 AM

Russ,

I'm going to be on the WIN System this morning and on Keller on my way home. If for some reason I can't access the WIN System, I'll be on Keller Pk.
WIN: 6:15 - 6:50 AM
Keller: 5:00 - 5:45 PM

I'm in the Death Valley this week and I won't be within range of ANY repeaters until Friday afternoon

Roger

02-24-10, 07:05 AM

Geeze there were a couple of retired guys that tied up Keller Pk for at leaset an hour this morning talking about nothing. I didn't bother even trying to get in.

I'm not doing that when I retire.... at least not during comuter hours.

Nipple Twister

02-24-10, 05:37 PM

....must have been the same two on this evening too. I got one chance to shout for ya but did not get a return......

Roger

02-25-10, 01:52 PM

John,

If you called me around 5:30, I ducked into Albertson's about that time. Sorry I missed you.

Do you want to try the WIN system tonight? You best access would be via Santiago Pk. 448.060+ PL 100.0

I need to run into Walmart around 5:30 but I won't be long.

sarah

02-25-10, 04:20 PM

This is so geeky!! I am counting the days til I get my license! (well, not exactly, you know how it goes)

Roger

02-25-10, 04:54 PM

Sarah -
Does that mean you & Rick passed the test??

OU812

02-25-10, 08:26 PM

Roger

02-26-10, 06:59 AM

Talk about Geeky, I made a contact in the United Kingdom from my desk at work. I installed the Echolink app on my iPhone. The guy I was talking to was blown away that I was using my iphone and I was in California.

That's interesting Scott, man has the technology changed in Ham Radio. It has always been on the forefront. If I remember correctly, it was hams who invented the repeater.

Do you have 440? I'd like to try the WIN system. Go to it's website and look up the repeater locations: http://www.winsystem.org/

It looks like there are at least three in SD County. Be sure to read the "Procedures" page because it's a little different talking through multiple linked repeaters.

I'm not working today but I'll try to see if I can get into the WIN system between 5:00 & 5:30 this evening

OU812

02-26-10, 07:40 AM

I have read about the WIN system. I guess the guy who owns it lives in Vista just a few miles from me. I have never used it because I dont have 440.. :(

sarah

02-26-10, 02:50 PM

*going to iTunes store*
Ooo! I'll get it set up when I get my callsign.

Our test is tomorrow. Wee! Hope I pass ;)

Nipple Twister

02-26-10, 04:10 PM

Roger

02-26-10, 10:33 PM

.......Roger...are you there?

I have 440 at the house (2m & 220 too), I have looked at the WIN System website and have plugged in the freq/PL and can hit the Santiago Pk repeater. I will try to be listening at 5 tonight.......

John,

I have Friday's off so I wasn't around at 5:00. I will be monitoring Monday at 5:00 PM. Catch you then.

FYI - There's a future link scheduled for Mt. Rodman. This is N/NE from my house. I up loaded the frequency in my radio today, but the repeater is still not in service yet. I'm trying to find out when it will be in service. That will give me coverage here at the house and in just about all of LV & JV.

Roger - N6UJM

Nipple Twister

02-27-10, 12:13 PM

I'm not working today but I'll try to see if I can get into the WIN system between 5:00 & 5:30 this evening

ok, no worries.......

Roger

03-01-10, 10:15 PM

Russ Called me on the WIN system tonight from San Fransisco! I also talked to Mike - KR6ROK he was on a Hand Held in the OC. Not bad... but no Nipple Twister..

Edit: Oh, I almost forgot. I may not be on the air the rest of the week depending how I feel after have three wisdom teeth extracted tomorrrow. I'll just have to see how I feel

KX6D

03-02-10, 04:23 PM

IIRC it's on Blackjack Peak...

The antenna for 147.090 has a very high angle of radiation to assure hitting the meaty part of LA and Orange County.
The repeater is at the airport in the hanger. They use an antenna with a low angle of radiation in order to blanket San Diego to Santa Barbara.

Its a great system with a bunch of great people. The repeater has some amazing coverage...even into Palm Springs when the weather is right.
http://www.cara.nu/

sarah

03-10-10, 11:45 AM

I set up my little handheld in my office to try to hear Materdaddy through Keller Peak over Echolink (via iPhone!). I wasn't hearing anything, so I moved the radio around until I could hear him - wow! It's driving me nuts that I can't talk yet....

Oh! And the best part is, the radio works best on the opposite side of the office that my desk sits :(

Roger

03-10-10, 12:48 PM

Oh! And the best part is, the radio works best on the opposite side of the office that my desk sits :(

Simple- move your desk :D

sarah

03-10-10, 12:52 PM

Simple- move your desk :D
I was thinking antenna tower :D

Roger

03-10-10, 01:43 PM

I was thinking antenna tower :D

Good thinking!

OU812

03-10-10, 03:24 PM

I talked to Materdaddy on Keller peak today too. iPhone to iPhone! I guess I could have just called him. lol

Roger

03-10-10, 10:17 PM

Materdaddy

03-11-10, 06:32 AM

I also caught up to him but I was on Keller Peak and he was on his iPhone. So I'm going to claim to be his very first contact through a repeater!

Mat, I didn't realize you were talking to Scott via echo link phone to phone!

Haha, yeah, we were just experimenting. I'm basically only waiting on my antenna mount now. I have everything else I need.

I had a long discussion about antennas at HRO yesterday and I hope I don't regret my purchase.

I did buy a little Comet B-10 antenna after a LONG discussion about antennas and being talked down to for thinking everybody's steel whip antennas were "probably fine": http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4027. The reviews actually look pretty good, my my fear is the people claiming unexpected performance for something so small are all mounting them on car roofs with a good counterplane to help a little bit with radiating the signal and I'm going to be mounting it near the rear of my Jeep. We'll see! I might buy a different antenna for every-day use, and only use this one offroad so I don't snag a tree.

Roger

03-11-10, 11:56 AM

I really don't think VHF & UHF antenna placement is as critical as HF antennas are. If you are pushing 35 - 50 watts to a repeater, normally there's never a problem except mountains or tall buildings etc. interfering with the signal. Then it doesn't matter where you mount an antenna on your vehicle you can't talk through a mountain!

Materdaddy

03-11-10, 01:59 PM

Good point. I guess I'll find out soon enough. I'm hoping to get the radio installed soon.

Nipple Twister

03-12-10, 03:37 AM

I am currently using that antenna on my Jeep and on my "city" truck and it works very well. The Jeep is mounted on the rear tire rack. I have not found a longer antenna that can withstand the off road enviroment, the constant bouncing seems to break the elements.......

troyboy162

09-18-10, 12:33 AM

Russ Chung

09-18-10, 08:08 AM

i think i just got on the victorville win repeter
Victorville CA K6PNG 448.900* (-) 162.2
it beeps at me when i key up and i hear it giving morris code every once and awhile, but i dont hear anyone. is it possible at 1230am on a friday that no one would be on this huge system? i probably messed up some settings.

I was in the area yesterday and tuned into the Victorville WIN System repeater. I heard some local hams chatting on it, but it appears that the repeater was not linked into the WIN System. The link could have been down due to equipment problems or the owner of the repeater may have disconnected it for some reason. My biggest gripe about the WIN System is that there is no timely information about the status of the repeaters in the system. The WIN System control group (K6JSI, KI6IXQ and a few others) know the system status, but ordinary users (and ordinary members) don't have an easy way to find out the current system status.

According to the IRLP web site (which does have very current information), the Victorville IRLP node is node 3358, and its current status is down for four days
http://www.irlp.net/

troyboy162

09-18-10, 11:56 AM

great thanks for the follow up! setting up the memory channels it kinda weird so i figured i had botched it

Materdaddy

09-18-10, 09:08 PM

i think i just got on the victorville win repeter
Victorville CA K6PNG 448.900* (-) 162.2
it beeps at me when i key up and i hear it giving morris code every once and awhile, but i dont hear anyone. is it possible at 1230am on a friday that no one would be on this huge system? i probably messed up some settings.

Keying up and not identifying is technically illegal. Most people will call it "kerchunking" and it's frowned upon. Just ask for a radio check and somebody monitoring will gladly chat with you and let you know if you're hitting the repeater.

I was in the area yesterday and tuned into the Victorville WIN System repeater. I heard some local hams chatting on it, but it appears that the repeater was not linked into the WIN System. The link could have been down due to equipment problems or the owner of the repeater may have disconnected it for some reason. My biggest gripe about the WIN System is that there is no timely information about the status of the repeaters in the system. The WIN System control group (K6JSI, KI6IXQ and a few others) know the system status, but ordinary users (and ordinary members) don't have an easy way to find out the current system status.

According to the IRLP web site (which does have very current information), the Victorville IRLP node is node 3358, and its current status is down for four days
http://www.irlp.net/

I have a neighbor who knows Shorty (K6JSI). He stays off the WIN system and has told me that a lot of their ops (including K6JSI) have a chip on their shoulder. The few times I've been on one of their repeaters, I get the same impression.

troyboy162

09-18-10, 10:29 PM

Keying up and not identifying is technically illegal. Most people will call it "kerchunking" and it's frowned upon. Just ask for a radio check and somebody monitoring will gladly chat with you and let you know if you're hitting the repeater.

I have a neighbor who knows Shorty (K6JSI). He stays off the WIN system and has told me that a lot of their ops (including K6JSI) have a chip on their shoulder. The few times I've been on one of their repeaters, I get the same impression.

thanks. i did start with a multiple radio checks but with no responce i thought maybe my set up was messed up and didnt want to hurt it by tx too long. so after i started "kerchunking". good to know thats not legal.

i did get everything working and had a contact through keller tonight. ive got 7 channels programed including rodman mtn 147.885 - PL151.4 but i think thats the one Rodger says is not up yet. these radios are really great!

Materdaddy

09-19-10, 07:30 PM

Fun stuff for sure. I tend to listen more than I talk, and we're pretty much all guilty of kerchunking from time to time.

Roger

09-22-10, 05:53 AM

... ive got 7 channels programed including rodman mtn 147.885 - PL151.4 but i think thats the one Rodger says is not up yet. these radios are really great!

Troy,
That repeater is up. It's the win or echo (I forget which) link 440 repeater that is not up and won't be going up.

The Rodman repeater is a great repeater with good coverage over a large portion of the desert. It's linked to the Barstow and Ludlow repeaters. The other night I talked to a friend in Oak hills from my house. It won't cover the Victor Valley though.

troyboy162

09-22-10, 07:50 PM

hey thats good to know. that would be a good one for calico id bet. any high ground in calico should have LOS with rodman peak. although the "barstow" repeter in there group seems to be accesable in victorville so im wondering if that is located up pretty high too.

Roger

09-22-10, 11:16 PM

The Barstow Repeater is on a hill named Flash II, I'm not 100% sure of it's location. I think it's near the old road to Ft. Irwin, just out of town.

Matt2001TJ

10-03-10, 09:35 PM

Does anyone here use the keller peak machine on a regular basis ??? I'm on there all the time for the various nets. Lots of nice hams on that machine and some of the best coverage from the mexican border to the north all the way to Tehachapi in Kern County. There is also a 4x4 related net on there on thursday nights.

Roger

10-03-10, 10:22 PM

Matt,

It's always tied up during my comute hours and I don't have a clear shot at it form home. So my answer is no, I don't use it.

troyboy162

10-04-10, 12:08 PM

whats the 4x4 net like? just calling in from odd places?

Materdaddy

10-04-10, 12:11 PM

whats the 4x4 net like? just calling in from odd places?

It's run by OAUSA (Outdoor Adventure USA). There's a different topic every week, here's a list of past ones for example: http://oausa.net/netrecordings

The upcoming net topics are here: http://forums.oausa.net/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=1355

Matt2001TJ

10-13-10, 09:20 PM

whats the 4x4 net like? just calling in from odd places?Really nice group of 4x4 hams. But from what I have gathered they are not into rock crawling. No big deal. I do like the thursday night net they have going on at 7:30 pm. Just so happens I am on that machine all the time. That machine is also set up for echolink.