[Richard VE3OZW]

I heard today that a new repeater system has been installed in Owen Sound 147.105 PL156.7 and Markdale 444.500 PL156.7 and they are linked back to the Hamilton area.  Just installed last week.  I tried them from here and cannot key them up.

After a quick Google search, it appears that they are linked via Allstar.  https://hearham.com/repeaters/23385/

[Tom VA3TS]

Derek VE3DXT is either the owner or installed this repeater. A foolish move considering OSR and YOS are a few kilometers away. No discussion with the club other than to dismiss my questions. 



So why are we considering spending $60K on our repeaters....

[VA3-GUF-Frank]

To all,

Yes we have new repeaters in the area that are ALLSTAR linked or DMR linked.  These 3 new repeaters (listed below) are part of an Ontario Provincial initiative to have RAC install a repeater network for Ontario South and the Golden Horseshoe Escarpment Repeater Association (ERA System)

The 3 new repeaters are installed at the following locations;
 
VHF 147.105+ Tone 156.7                       Call-sign VE3MBR at the Owen Sound Hospital
UHF DMR 444.425+ Tone 156.7               Call-sign VE3MBR at the Owen Sound Hospital
UHF 444.500+ Tone 156.7                       Call-sign VA3NEG at the Markdale Hopital

Based on the AllStarLink system, the network utilizes Radio over IP (RoIP) technology to link various analog FM repeaters across Ontario over the internet with very low latency and great voice quality.

Core Infrastructure & Capabilities

• [b]The Hub:[/b] The central nexus of this specific network is the [b]AllStar Hub (Node #2248 or back-up Node#27288)[/b]. Local and regional repeaters connect to this hub via Asterisk-based computer nodes to route crystal-clear voice audio seamlessly across the Ontario South and Golden Horseshoe geographic areas up to Manitoulin.
  
• [b]Wide-Area Coverage:[/b] The physical repeater backbone includes sites covering major population centers and transit corridors, such as Stoney Creek (VE3UHM), Carlisle (VE3WIK), King City (VE3UKC), and Parry Sound (VE3UPS).
  
• [b]A ProComm Net:[/b] The system's high-efficiency linking capability is prominently featured during the [b]Ontario-wide ProComm Net[/b], a check in net.  This NET takes place every Thursday and Sunday evening at 8:00 PM local time and accessible in Grey County at the Owen Sound 147.105+MHz or Markdale 444.500+MHz repeaters. Many independent repeaters across the province are programmed via scripts to automatically connect to the Hub just before the net starts and disconnect afterward.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in the NET.
  
• See the attached PNG file for the repeaters linked to these new repeaters.
  

How Operators Interact with this network;
Licensed amateur radio operators can access the system using standard analog VHF/UHF radios by tuning into the local 147.105+ or 444.500+ repeaters.  If you are running your own AllStar node or hotspot (like a SHARI or ClearNode), then you can use DTMF keypad commands to interact with the network:

• Connect to the network: Key up and DTMF dial *3 plus the node you want to link to.
  *32248 or *327288
  
• Disconnect from the network: Key up and DTMF dial *1 plus your linked node number.
  *12248 or *127288
  

Link & Disconnect Commands
Here are some of the primary commands used to control node-to-node connections. Replace <node> with the target AllStar node number (Examples for node# 2248).

           — Disconnect Link: Breaks the connection to the specified node.

• Code:

  *1<node> becomes *12248
  
  — Monitor Only Link: Connects to the node in receive-only mode. You will hear their traffic, but your local transmissions will not be sent to them.
  
• Code:

  *2<node> becomes *22248
  — [b]Monitor Only Link[/b]: Connects to the node in receive-only mode. You will hear their traffic, but your local transmissions will not be sent to them.
  — Connect (Transceive) Link: Establishes a full two-way connection. Both nodes can hear and transmit to each other.
  
• Code:

  *3<node> becomes *32248
  — [b]Connect (Transceive) Link[/b]: Establishes a full two-way connection. Both nodes can hear and transmit to each other.
  
• Code:

  *4<node> becomes *42248
  
  — Permanent Connect Link: Establishes a full two-way connection that automatically reconnects if dropped or after a node reboot.
  
• Code:

  *5<node>
  
  — Disconnect All: Drops all active connections to your node simultaneously.
  
• Code:

  *10
  
  

Enjoy your time chatting on this network and for those of you that have DMR compliant radios, enjoy.

[Dave_VE3WI]

If the repeater licensees had consulted WNYSORC they might have learned that the preferred CTCSS tone for the Owen Sound area is 97.4 Hz not 156.7 Hz. 

https://wnysorc.net/ctcss-map

73
Dave, VE3WI

[VE3JMD Jim]

I find it interesting that the person holding callsign VA3NEG, Jon Roarke, is listed on the WNYSORC website as the President and Frequency Coordinator.  He, of all people, should be aware of the CTCSS map.