Status of VA3BMC

Check below for the latest information

March 2, 2001: The original Micor repeater at Weston Rd. and Finch has been removed from service. It will soon be retuned and re-installed, again using 103.5 Hz PL Access. Measures are being taken so that the car alarm interference will no longer be an issue. Please stay tuned!

November 10, 2000: The GE Exec 2 repeater is operating from a 150' tower located 700 meters from Hurontario St. or Highway 401 in Mississauga. It operates in PL mode using 123.0 Hz. Interference from Compustar is severe. There are Compustar Alarm installers in the area. Many car alarms are heard transmitting when the brakes are depressed. The original Micor repeater is still in operation at Weston Rd. and Finch using 103.5 Hz.

September 22, 2000: No improvement in the interference level. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. Any time of the day, one can key the repeater and hear the Compustar bursts.

A second repeater package (GE Exec 2) was installed in the semi-rural town of Nobleton, 10 miles north of the original repeater. It operated in Carrier Squelch mode. A few times a week, miswired Compustar alarms could be heard clearly, as Compustar equipped vehicles pulled through town and had to brake.

June 7, 2000: The repeater had it's controller recently changed to the Zetron 48B panel. This is a high quality commercial community repeater panel that also accomodates 2 phone lines of full duplex interconnect.

We used to have 3 separate panels: one for ID, second was the CES 5200 community interconnect, and finally a 3rd CSI community repeater controller. All have been replaced by the single Zetron 48B. I wish the new controller was easier to program... and newer versions of it are. But that's what you get for no-profit (actually loss of time and material) amateur radio repeater. Finding yesterdays repeater controller at a cheap price is what limits this hobby's modernization. Finding the time to implement changes is the other restriction.

Since last year, digital data has been heard through the repeater. Due to tone access, the digital bursts were noticed between mobile transmissions, before the audio gate would close. These digital emissions would also compete or be heard mixed with conversations. The only pattern that emerged was the the interference was worst during "rush hour", when roads were clogged and traffic at a standstill. However, the data emissions could be heard randomly at any hour.

Since the new year, the digital bursts were getting worse. Reports were made of hearing the digital data anywhere along the 400 and 401 series of highways. Interestingly, the worst of it is has been centered near the repeater.

A subsequent investigation with a mobile Direction Finding unit revealed that the digital emissions are mobile and intentional, when a City cab was cornered and the Compustar 2-way alarm discovered.

Please read the Car alarm page to find out more about the offending device. In the mean time, we are considering reversing the repeater split so that the car alarm no longer affects the repeater input. While we anticipate that interference to other 442.700 repeaters is possible during inversion activity, all North American repeaters are at risk from the Compustar car alarm and may soon consider the same action. We will be in touch with our nearest 442.700+ neighbours to coordinate our relief efforts.

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

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