The latest addition to SVRG is Williams Hill !! The Frequency is 147.210 MHz – PL 94.8.
Thanks to the WB6ECE Repeater group and all that have been involved in the build out of this site, There is still much work to be done to complete the build out of the site and many volunteer opportunities to follow!
Event: Big Sur International Marathon
Area of operation: Big Sur, Ca to Carmel, Ca
Event Date: 4-28-2024
Race Start Time: 0645hrs (Approximate)
Race End Time: 1230hrs (Approximate)
Volunteer Start Time at Position: 0500hrs (Approximate)
Positions Volunteers Staff: Mile/Aid Stations , SAG & Other positions as requested by the BSIM.
(Positions Assigned by Event Coordinator)
What do the positions’ duties encompass:
SAG: Five Sag operators will ride co-pilot with a driver and vehicle provided by the Marathon that travels the course picking up runners that can not finish the race for various reasons. Runners picked up by a SAG are dropped off at various drop points along the course. SAG operators and SAG drivers will work together to navigate the course to pick up runners, pickup assignments are dispatched out by Net Control. Sag operators do not drive the vehicle, the SAG will come with a driver.
Mile / Aid Station: Operators are placed at one of 13 or 14 different Mile / Aid Stations where they will be responsible for reporting any kind of race traffic that needs to make its way back to Net Control. Such information could be major medicals, minor injuries, runner pickups, rogue vehicles on the course or any other vital info that may need to get passed back to Net Control or another Mile / Aid position or SAG vehicle.
Equipment Requirements:
SAG: Operators should bring a mobile radio (dual band) with an accompanying magnetic-mount antenna and cigarette lighter plug. Operators should also bring a portable radio with good batteries to use as a backup radio or when you’re out of the SAG vehicle. In the event you should have to operate off of a portable radio in vehicle please bring an adapter cable to connect the mobile radio magnetic-mount antenna to your portable.
Mile / Aid Stations: Operators can operate mostly off portable radios (there are a few spots that portable do not work or have bad coverage, but a mobile/base radio is also encouraged if available. Mile/Aid station operators will be able to drive to their location on course and park their vehicle at the location. Portable radios should have good batteries that can last long enough for the duration of the event, bringing a spare charged battery is always encouraged.
Volunteer Goodies:
Every year the BSIM provides each volunteer with a commemorative t-shirt in your size of choice. The shirt is distributed upon your check in either the day before or the morning of the race. In addition to the t-shirt the Marathon also provides a free volunteer BBQ lunch after the event! In years past there’s always plenty of BBQ Tri Tip and chicken and with all the fixins!
We look forward to having you volunteer with the Salinas Valley Repeater Group in this years support of the Big Sur International Marathon! If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Jeff KG6UYZ, at the email posted above with your questions or requests for signup forms.
After 10 hours of work yesterday with KG6UYZ, AI6MS, and W6KWF, I am pleased to announce the Salinas Valley Repeater Group now has a repeater system in South Monterey County! In addition to installing a UHF repeater, an APRS digi / iGate was build by W6KWF and installed by the team. The full duplex link is up, the repeater is on the air and the digi/ iGate is reporting to the Internet! Next time your in King City check the system out!
The repeater frequency is 442.600 + PL 110.9
Today, I am pleased to announce the W6WLS 147.180 Repeater is back on the air with temporary setup in the Santa Cruz mountains! Please keep in mind that this is a temporary setup that runs on battery/generator power. This site is also analog only and will remain that way until the new site is built.
The coverage seems to be good, while not comparable to 170ft tower it should fill in the lost coverage in the San Lorenzo Valley and Summit Road and Aptos areas.
I would like to thank everyone for the support we have received and remind everyone that the GoFundMe is still active to raise the funds needed to rebuild the Empire Grade Tower. As of this post the 67% of the funds needed have been raised!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-the-empire-grade-tower-site
On August 19 the CZU Lightning Complex Fire distroyed the tower site that hosts SVRG’s repeaters. We are asking for your help in rebuilding the site infrastructure. Please visit the Gofundme page for more information. >>>>Click Here<<<<
The KE6STH 443.575 South Bay area system is OFF AIR for site and antenna system maintenance. We are expecting it to be off air for at least 5 days until we can get a temporary antenna up in the interim. We found the repeater antenna had some problems as expected given the issues we were having at that site. Upon initial inspection we found at least 1 bad/broken solder joint and a damaged capacitor. The antenna will be replaced with a new one in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week we lost our Empire Grade tower site to the CZU Augest complex fire in burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The W6WLS 147.180, W6DXW 442.750 and WB6ECE 441.300 simulcast repeater burned down in the fire. These means that those repeaters are OFF AIR until further notice.
Over the last week I have received and overwhelming amount of people asking to donate or volunteer their time to help us rebuild the site. It will be some time before we can, in good faith take donations from you (our users). There are many logistical issues that need to be accounted for first.
While today only a inspection has been completed at this time, a game plan for the site and how we will address things and move forward to the planning phase of this project will take time as the fire still rages on in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In the coming months we will need volunteers to assist in clean up of the property, funding the replacement of equipment and building a new start for us on Empire Grade.
I ask all of you who are interested in donating to and or volunteering for our respective repeater groups to fill our a form I have setup that will allow us to contact you when we will be able to take your donations and assistance. Thank again for all your support.
73, Joe KG6NRI
Well everyone, It was a long 10 hour day at Fremont Peak yesterday, but I’m pleased to announce that the antenna installation is complete. The new 4 Bay Dipole is located at the 140ft level of the tower, fed with 1-1/4 inch hardline and hearing many of you on the air testing it though out the day proves that the system is covering as expected. The coverage map of the system has also been added to the website. I would like to encourage everyone to try the system out! 441.900 + PL 110.9 and for P25 NAC $293.
Everyone, I am pleased to announce the launch of our new site and latest addition to the Salinas Valley Repeater Group linked system. This new site will greatly enhance our coverage in south Santa Clara County, San Benito County and the surrounding areas.
Please keep in mind that the system is on a temporary antenna so performance will be greatly enhanced once the scheduled tower climb is completed.
Frequency: 441.900MHz + 110.9, NAC $293
In the early 2000’s Sean W6MOW installed a UHF repeater on Fremont Peak. That system in combination with Mike W6WLS on Empire Grade is what gave the spark for the repeater system that we have today. Those two systems were the source many years of fun conversations and interesting times on the radio. If it wasn’t for all the cool people that I’ve met because of ham radio that took the time help me over the years the Salinas Valley Repeater Group wouldn’t exist. I would like to take a moment to say Thank You to everyone who has volunteered their time, knowledge, equipment, and provided us with the tower sites that makes this system what it is today.
