Wednesday, May 9, 2018

New experimental digital gateway for Cork Harbour...

In order to facilitate testing of digital modes, Don EI8DJ has set up an experimental low power gateway at his home in Crosshaven in Cork Harbour. Please note that this will be on air only when Don is in the shack so it won't be on 24/7.

Some of the specs are as follows...

Frequency : Simplex on 438.700 MHz

Modes : DMR, DSTAR, Yaesu System Fusion and P25

DMR Settings : Colour Code 1, Time Slot 2.

Power : 5w into a Diamond X50 colinear.


Coverage is dependent on terrain but tests suggest that it is pretty good out to about 10kms and perhaps further to stations out to 20kms on higher ground. Radio coverage software suggests that it may be accessible from high ground on the north side of Cork City but the south side might be out of range.

As can be seen from the map, it is in an ideal location for radio amateurs on visiting cruise and passanger ships stopping off at Cobh and Ringaskiddy.

Click to see large version of Cork City north side coverage

If you have any questions about the gateway, Don can usually be found on the Cork repeater or on the Southern Ireland Repeater Network.

Traffic and signal levels heard on the EI8DJ gateway can be seen HERE

For more information on digital radio locally, have a look at the digital page on the Southern Ireland Repeater Network website.

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