TECHNICAL:The repeaters can be heard on 448.975 megahertz and 53.71 megahertz in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They are co-located and linked together continuously. The input frequencies are 443.975 megahertz and 52.61 megahertz. YES,The six meter split is 1.1 megahertz. There are 15 "Trunking" transmitters spaced 1 megahertz apart at the same location making a standard 1 meg. split impossible due to intermod. The power output at 70 cm. is 25 watts and 40 watts at 6 meters. Feedline consists of 1 and 5/8 inch "Heliax" and 1/2 inch "Heliax" respectively. A dual band 70 cm./2 meter "Comet" ant. is utilized for UHF at the 180 foot level. The six meter ant. is homebrew and consists of two co-phased folded dipoles, side mounted, and extending from the 140 foot level up to the 170 foot level. The six meter side consists of "General Electric" Mastr Pro equipment which is old but very reliable. The 440 side consists of a General Electric Mastr Pro receiver, a "Hamtronics" 2 watt UHF exciter and a commercial 45 watt power amplifier of unknown manufacture. Pre-emphasis was removed from the transmitters and the de-emphasis was removed from the receivers. A fifteen band graphic equalizer further "smooths" out the frequency response from 200 hertz to 5000 hertz within a half decibel making the audio response transparent. Frequencies below 200 hertz. are rolled off considerably. An audio compressor provides 10 db of compression holding the levels quite consistant. Instantaneous peak limiting is not used in either transmitter due to the extremely fast attack time of the compressor. The six meter duplexer is home brew and constructed from 4 inch and 6 inch broadcast hard line. The four cavities stand 60 inches tall and provide 116 db of isolation.

HISTORY: The repeater debuted operation at UHF in the fall of 1992 and six meters followed about a year and a half later. The six meter repeater previously served the Northeast for several years in the late 70's and the early 80's from Forkston mountain in Mehoopany, Pa. It was linked to six meter repeaters in Wilkes-Barre and atop the Blue Mountain, above the Lehigh tunnel on the Pa. turnpike providing excellent coverage from the New York Southern tier to Philadelphia.