Frequently Asked Questions

What areas do your radios cover?

That depends a lot on your radio and antenna!

You should just be able to reach our UHF repeater using an HT on high power (5 watts) from the 12-mile playa entrance. At this distance your signal will sometimes be ok but will sometimes be broken and scratchy. Occasionally you may not even be able to raise the repeater. If you're using an HT you'll want to (1) use high power, (2) use as good antenna as you can, (3) stand in a location in the clear. (Height is good too -- standing in the back of a pickup truck will be better than sitting in the cab of the truck or lying in your sleeping bag in your tent!)

With a mobile rig running more power and/or a better antenna (e.g., a mag-mount) you should be full quieting on the UHF machine at the 12-mile entrance and well beyond.

The VHF IRLP node on 146.7 MHz simplex has less range than the UHF system.

We're still in the process of mapping out our coverage. You can help! Please drop us a line at signal-report (at) cq-blackrock (dot) org and let us know how the system worked for you. Please be sure to tell us where you were in the area, which frequency you were using (444.175 MHz or 146.7 MHz) what kind of radio and antenna you were using, what power you were using, and what your reception was like. This will help us form a more complete picture of our radio coverage.

I couldn't get the VHF IRLP node to work and I'm sure I'm in range!

Check to make sure that you are transmitting PL 100.0. Then check to make sure that your radio is in simplex mode, that is, that you are not transmitting with an frequency offset. The frequency of our VHF IRLP node, 146.7 MHz, is in the repeater portion of the ARRL band plan. Most modern radios automatically switch to a negative frequency offset as soon as they see the 146.7 MHz frequency. You may need to manually override this. (And yes, our simplex use of 146.7 MHz is blessed by CARCON, the organization that coordinates repeaters in Nevada.)

Are your systems open or closed? Does it cost anything to use them?

Our systems are free and open! All amateur radio operators are welcome -- encouraged! -- to use them.

That said, setting these radios up has been a significant expense. If you find our radios useful, we encourage you to donate to our organization or become a member.

Can you tell me more about the technical details of your setup?

The UHF repeater, IRLP node 7249, is a pair of GE MVS radios controlled by a Zetron Model 30 repeater controller. Output power is 16 watts. The simplex VHF IRLP node 3075 is a Motorola GM300. Output power is approximately 40 watts. All of the above radios are duplexed onto a Comet CX-333 triband antenna providing 6.5 dBi gain on VHF and 9.0 dBi on UHF. The antenna sits atop a 20' mast mounted on top of a 32' tower.

The APRS digipeater (GERLCH) is an Alinco DR-135 with a Tracker 2 TNC, both generously donated by Argent Data Systems. Output power is 50 watts. The APRS antenna is a Diamond X50A providing 4.5 dBi gain at about 30' above ground. Digipeating and packet gatewaying to the Internet are provided by the aprs4r software.

The Internet connection is the Gerlach town wifi network which is is provided courtesy of the Burning Man organization.

I'm not familiar with IRLP. What is it?

Please see our super-quick IRLP tutorial and the official IRLP web site.

Where exactly is your equipment located?

Our equipment is in Gerlach, Nevada at the southernmost tip of the Black Rock Desert.