The AREC Repeater Group, Inc.

06/12/2021

June Updates:

o Although we had a slow start because of COVID, our 2021 renewals are coming along nicely and we have a few new members as well. If you have not yet sent your renewal, please do so.

o I have to report that the repeater has had a problem with a crackling sound on weak signals for several months now and we have not yet been able to correct the problem. We have purchased and installed a different Quantar repeater, replaced the duplexor (which needed replacing anyway), and most of the cables and are still encountering the problem. We will continue to work on it, of course. Your financial support has been key to being able to make those equipment changes.

o Many of you have asked that we provide a way to join or renew your membership on our pcrams.org website. Although I maintain the website, I do not have the ability to install PayPal code which has become more and more complex over the years. If any of you know how to do it and can help, please contact me.

John, K2CIB
President AREC Repeater Group

11/13/2018

Happily, I have not had to post any bad news recently! Actually, the repeater is working just fine 99.99% of the time - no outages at all since we moved into the County's shelter. The only problem which occurs sporadically is a burst of digital noise between transmissions. This may be de-sensing some weak transmissions. It will be very hard to find the offending transmitter(s), since it probably corresponds to two or more repeaters being used while 146.670 is up too.

10/21/2018

To find out more about our fine repeater, go to

The 2018 Annual Meetingwill be held onMarch 25, 2018 st 2 PMat the South Florida Science Center.Everyone is welcome! Business meeting Nominations from the floor Voting for officers The state of our 146.670 repeater and plans Questions and discussions ------------------------------------------ The en...

12/18/2017

Installation of Quantar

12/18/2017

In early 2014 we learned that West Palm Beach was going to replace their tower - the one on which we were situated. Negotiations began with the West Palm Beach Mayor's office and, later, Palm Beach County and after three years of work, not only did we move to the new tower, but were able to move into an air-conditioned shelter owned by the County. Our thanks to Mark Filla, N4DES, for helping to get us into the shelter. Harris donated the new coax and antenna installation, and we bought the new antenna. The County arranged for Motorola to do the installation of our equipment.

In the meantime, the Hi-Pro repeater, CAT-300XL controller, and Vocom amplifier had failed, in various ways, and a Motorola Quantar was purchased from Dave, N4QPM in June of 2014 to replace all of them.

The Quantar solved all of the interference problems we had been encountering, but we were still in the little traffic control shelter out in the intense Florida heat and humidity which took its toll on the Quantar power supply several times. We have not experienced any power supply failures since moving into the County shelter on March 30, 2017.

The recorder in the CAT-300XL controller was permanently damaged by leaky batteries. A cable was purchased to interface the CAT-300 with the Quantar, but it did not work initially and more work needs to be done. No telephone lines or Internet is available in the county shelter, so there are no plans to link to other networks.

Today the 146.670 repeater has equal or better coverage of Palm Beach County than it ever had. Chris, AJ1Q, our call trustee, has set up a transmitter to send out periodic information about our repeater and the group that owns it. Our thanks to Chris who had to take the calls on replacing the failing power supplies and checking out the new installation.

07/04/2016

New antenna has been delivered to the site and should be installed this month! Keep posted.

03/15/2013

Calling All Palm Beach County Hams!! You know our terrific wide-coverage 146.670 repeater, but did you know that it is only funded by our members? We invite you to become a supporting member of the AREC67 Repeater Group. Just go to our web page, www.arec67.org, find the "Become a Member" page and follow the instructions.

The 2013 General Meeting will be heldSunday, April 7 at 1:00 PM at the South Florida Science Museum 4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach, FL 33405All AREC67 members are requested to attend.

03/13/2013