Changes to our Repeaters

On 3 December we received an eviction notice from our landlord for the San Pedro Ridge and Big Rock repeater sites. We have communicated with the landlord and there is nothing we can do to reverse their decision. We must have our equipment out of these sites by 30 January 2020. This did not entirely come out of the blue. We had been in discussion with the landlord as they wanted us change our insurance for the sites but while we were working to meet their request they chose to evict. The assumption is that they need space on their towers and low rent tenants like us would be the first to go. Evidently we are not the only ham repeater to have their tenancy ended.

What does this mean?

What this means is that the VHF Simulcast System on 146.70  will have to be re-engineered. It also means for the time being that the UHF 443.525 on San Pedro Ridge will go dark until we can relocate it. We are assembling a Repeater Recovery team to deal with the short term and long term actions required to deal with this blow.  

Our first task will be to clear our equipment from the sites.We are putting the team together to do this now.

Our second task will be to engineer the first phase of what replaces the Simulcast System. This is being planned now and I don’t yet know what it will look like. I will keep you up to date when I know more.

Our third task will be to find other sites where we can put our repeaters and rebuild our Simulcast System. While the first two have to happen before the end of the month this third task will take some time.

What can I do?

Since we have to act quickly and this situation requires action on several fronts at once we need your help. If you have experience with industrial radio communications systems to help with the redesign and construction work; Real Estate law to help identify owners of potential sites and negotiate with owners about our use of their sites; Personal contacts with the boards of directors or technical committees of other repeaters in the area, particularly in the east bay, again for possible sites. 

Since our Repeater Recovery Team is working full tilt right now if you have any the resources discussed above please contact me at WA6UDS@arrl.net and I will pass your info on to the team. Of course as we know more I will send out additional reports.

73 de WA6UDS
Curtis Ardourel
President and Membership Chair
Marin Amateur Radio Society