Repeaters

The ARROW operates three FM voice repeaters on the 2-meter, 1-1/4 meter, and 70 centimeter bands. At the present time all three repeaters are operating from atop a building near the intersection of State Street and I-94 in Ann Arbor.  This gives them very nice coverage from 250 feet above average terrain, reaching deep into Wayne county, across Washtenaw and well into Jackson county.   Generally, the repeaters are operated Carrier Access (without PL) but should conditions warrant it, we can turn on 100 Hertz PL but we prefer to make the repeaters as easy to use by all, especially people just driving through the area.

All three repeaters are open for general amateur use, except during nets and declared emergencies. Please consider participating in one of our nets. You can find information on the nets here.

Here is some information about our repeaters:

2 Meter Repeater

146.96 MHz with a -600 KHz offset  (PL of 100Hz when needed).  This repeater transmits 22 watts into a 6db gain Andrew 4-bay folded dipole at 250 feet AGL.  Accounting for feedline loses this gives us an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 63 watts.   An old, yet dependable, Motorola MSR2000 makes up the bulk of the repeater.  A Pacific Research RI-1 controller finishes out the package – but will soon be replaced by an RI-300 controller with features to cross-link with the 440 and possibly even the 220 repeater.

 

 

220 Mhz Repeater

224.38 MHz with a -1.6 Mhz offset.  This repeater is based on a VHF Engineering receiver and chassis.  The transmitter section has been upgraded with a much more stable and “clean” exciter.  This is followed by a 10 watt P.A..  There is no CW ID, but instead uses a Voice ID that plays only when the repeater is in use.

 

 

440 Mhz Repeater

443.50 MHz with a +5 MHz offset  (PL of 100Hz only when needed).   This repeater is based on the Hamtronics RF chassis with a 15 watts P.A. fed into a 4-can array of Motorola cavities.  At this point in time we are using a 6-element yagi pointed East at 250 feet AGL.  Hopes are to replace this with an omni-directional antenna of some kind but coverage to mobiles in Saline is quite common.

 

 

The following is an overall site photo.  The 220 and 440 repeaters are in the cabinet on the left, with the MSR2000 2-meter repeater next to it.  The 2-meter and 440 cavities are contained in the cabinet on the far right.