* * * Coming soon... 145.47 in Palm Coast * * *
Three voice repeaters currently comprise the Florida Crown Repeater Network (FCRN). These are the NOFARS W4IZ system on 146.7 MHz and 444.4 MHz in Jacksonville and theKF4PXZ repeater on 145.37 MHz (negative offset) in Palatka.
Collectively, these provide coverage of much of the seven counties that comprise Crown District.
During some routine times and when activations occur, these repeaters are linked for parallel operation. Anyone accessing any of the three repeaters can be heard on all. Repeaters in the system can be linked and unlinked on demand.
ARES organizations within Crown District can use the system as a primary or an overflow path. The Duval County ARES Net currently operates on the system at 7 PM each Weds.
The W4IZ 444.4 repeater is the hub of the Florida Crown Repeater Network. It is a UHF output of the VHF 146.7 repeater. The repeater runs in "quiet repeater" mode meaning that the only time the the CTCSS tone is encoded in the 444.4 transmit signal is when the repeater is receiving an incoming signal.
Any other time that the transmitter is transmitting (ID, DVR messages, autopatch) it is in carrier squelch. This is done so that the W4IZ ID and other messages are not transmitted on other participating repeaters.
What is important to note is that you should not just turn your radio on and start transmitting on the 145.37 repeater. Someone in Jax could be in the middle of an autopatch on the 146.7 repeater and you would never know it because landline traffic from 146.7 is not transmitted on 145.37.
Most autopatches are less than 3 minutes, so wait a little bit before making your call ensuring that you won't pop up in the middle of someones autopatch.
Along with the SEDAN digital system, FCRN provides a path between key points in Crown District. SEDAN has direct contact with the State EOC and voice messages can be routed statewide via FCRN in conjunction with the sectionwide voice gateway system.
SEDAN has made substantial gains during the past year with KD4MWO planning more expansion in 2002. More remote receivers are slated for the W4IZ repeater system and FCRN as well in 2002.