I have heard this many times before especially with regards to the 145.600 Mhz local repeater. No I do not down-run the repeater, custodian or club in any way. I only use it as a general example as I experienced this first hand. This is/was a real problem for several radio amateurs living in Wilderness, George and also in the Hartenbos Heuwels area. As we all know this is not only related to one repeater in South Africa but many repeaters do not cover all areas especially if you behind a ridge or in a valley. In the days gone by a good friend stayed in the Hartenbos Heuwels area and he could not access the 145.600 Mhz repeater and this was not due to a repeater issue. Well like they say in afrikaans "n boer maak 'n plan". Thanks to PEARS and the Scarr family the 145.700 Mhz and 145.600 Mhz repeater was linked together and could be switched in with DTMF. Now this resulted in many more radio amateurs being able to use either the 700 or the 600 repeater and even the linked repeater network reaching from Cape Town to Welkom/Umtata etc.
I am not familiar with the current repeater setup and can therefor not comment on the accessibility of repeaters in the Southern Cape Area. Now why would I mention the above? Well I have a simple solution should there be radio amateurs that cannot access a repeater in their area. You can easily access such a repeater by simply install/build the following:
- Install/build an AllStar Node/Hotspot and add a 2m RF Link to the node for your Shack if you would like to use your HT, mobile or base station in and around the house/town. This setup is ideal and you do not have to rely on other means of accessing the repeater. The node option is an all in one package. A small Baofeng 888 radio, raspberry pi, sound-card fob, power supply is needed. You control "your link" to the repeater and can chat away at any time of day even World Wide if you choose to do so. This setup also allows for other stations in your area to link to your system to get into the repeater. Flexibility and accessibility rules!!
- Cross-band Repeater: You can through the help of another amateur radio station use his cross-band repeater facility should he have the capabilities. This might work but has drawbacks. You will have to rely on this radio amateur to allow you access to his system. If he is not available you cannot use his radio. Overheating can be a problem as many radios with this capability is used for short overs and emergency situations. This is not the ideal option and cross band repeating require careful frequency selection.
- Ask the repeater custodian/club to install a permanent link between two repeaters in close proximity to your station. One must however be accessible to you. This way you can switch in/out the repeaters with DTMF. This will allow you to access the repeater via another repeater. This could however be problematic if the majority of repeater users are against linking of one local repeater to another as some do not approve this action.
- Echolink: You can ask your repeater custodian/club to connect Echolink to the repeater which is not accessible to you. Unfortunately many custodians/clubs do not want to link Echolink to their repeater/s. Many radio amateurs see Echolink as the Internet and not radio. Be as it may Echolink is used world wide by millions of radio amateurs.
- Setup a Remote 2m Station: You can setup a remote 2m station on a hill or high site. Have a look at operating a remote station on HF. It should not be difficult to use this setup on 2 meters. This might not be a feasible option for many as you need a high site, tower, power, security etc.
- Construct a 2m Yagi Antenna: Now this will depend on your topography and propagation conditions. In the past a radio amateur living in Glentana used a yagi antenna to access the 145.700 Mhz repeater. For those that do not know Glentana it is situated behind a hill right at sea level. You will definitely struggle to access the 700 repeater with a vertical antenna. The Yagi antenna also posed several challenges in such a setup. This radio amateur however used a reflected signal to get into the 700 repeater.
Now I know that there are many radio amateurs that cannot access repeaters from their QTH. However if you want to access a "difficult to reach" repeater then the above could assist you in getting into a repeater. You will have to choose an option but some options rely on clubs and a repeater custodian to make changes to their repeater systems. Some are however reluctant to make changes for a few that cannot access their repeater.
Which option above is the best. I will try not to be biased, but my first choice would be the AllStar Node/Hotspot option if your repeater is already equipped with Echolink or AllStar, period. Use this option also if you cannot get into the Garden Route Hub Network. Second would be the repeater RF/hardware linking option if you have the cooperation of your club/repeater custodian. Thirdly Echolink (must be installed on repeater and at your QTH station). It works but then your fellow radio amateurs must leave large enough gaps between overs for you to get in. Fourthly the Remote 2m Station. Fithly: Cross Band Repeating and finally to construct a 2m Yagi Antenna depending on your topography. (Not effective when behind hills or in valleys but works great if you just need extra gain where terrain is not an issue.)
Finally: My motto - I am of the opinion that "if a door is closed in your face, then just open another door". The same with accessing a repeater, just "open another door". Make a plan, build, ask, read, research etc to assist you in this regard. I trust that the above will assist you in getting full quieting into a repeater to have a chat with your club members or other radio amateurs.
