Post by va3css on Mar 2, 2005 4:38:40 GMT -5
There are many many new rigs and even HT's nowadays that feature multi-band transmit capability. Many mobile units also feature Cross-Band Repeat allowing the user to "link" one band to another using the rig's own built-in electronics.
One of the ways you can use it is when you've gone to pick something up at the store, and you bring your HT with you. The HT probably won't get into your local repeater very well being inside a building using large steel girders for it's frame and a metal roof. Yet this is likely exactly what type of building you'll be in. So you set up your mobile rig to "cross-band" your HT into the repeater.
But not much is written about how it's actually done.
The basics are simple. You choose two bands that your rig can transmit on, and pick a frequency to use on each of those two bands. Then just "turn on" the feature, and off you go.
But there should be more thought put into it.
In the example above, one of the frequencies you set will be the local repeater you'd like to get into. The other will be a frequency that your HT can transmit on.
This can pose many problems:
And so on. One must be aware of the dangers and possibilities before setting such a feature up.
First of all, I look for other features in rigs that contain cross-band repeaters to make that feature safer and better for use.
Of those three features, the BCLO is the most important, as it automatically prevents your rig from "stepping" on someone else who may turn up on your selected frequency after you set it. That can't be a bad thing!
The reason I feel CTCSS is important is that it can be used as a filter preventing:
a) unauthorized use of your cross-band repeat setup
b) unwanted or unexpected interference or intermod from being cross-banded through your rig
c) other unrelated Amateur communications that suddenly appear on your chosen frequency from tripping your cross-band setup.
It should be enabled for both the transmit (encode) and receive (decode) of the simplex frequency you're cross-banding to.
There are other considerations about cross-banding that bear mentioning here also.
As mentioned above, a rig capable of HF communications can possibly be setup to allow Hams without HF privileges to get on HF bands. Obviously then, it is not a good idea to cross-band an HF band to another band that has lower privileges, such as 2m. Cross-band two HF bands or 2m and 70cm, for example, but don't mix two bands with different privileges in your setup.
Cross-banding one repeater to another is not only a rotten way to tie up two repeaters at the same time, it's also very impolite. Most repeater admins would not want this done, and the few that might allow it, (for linked nets, for example) would much prefer to be asked permission first. To me, it's common sense, but just in case it's not for you, I recommend you ask before trying this.
In many areas, such as this one, the 2m band is quite saturated. Most repeater pairings are used up by a repeater somewhere close to me. In this situation, the part of the 2m band that is generally considered to be the "simplex" portion could also be very well used. While most hams in your area might be tolerant of temporarily using up a simplex frequency for cross-band repeating temporarily, they certainly don't want a frequency designated for simplex use being setup as a "new" input frequency for a local repeater. Don't enable your cross-band repeater and leave it for days or months on end.
Most of this can all be considered common courtesy. Think of your fellow operators, and try to operate in such a way as to be non-intrusive and respectful.
One of the ways you can use it is when you've gone to pick something up at the store, and you bring your HT with you. The HT probably won't get into your local repeater very well being inside a building using large steel girders for it's frame and a metal roof. Yet this is likely exactly what type of building you'll be in. So you set up your mobile rig to "cross-band" your HT into the repeater.
But not much is written about how it's actually done.
The basics are simple. You choose two bands that your rig can transmit on, and pick a frequency to use on each of those two bands. Then just "turn on" the feature, and off you go.
But there should be more thought put into it.
In the example above, one of the frequencies you set will be the local repeater you'd like to get into. The other will be a frequency that your HT can transmit on.
This can pose many problems:
- Any interference received on the cross-band input will make it's way into the repeater you linked to.
- The frequency you setup to use for your HT might be free when you set it, but become used after you walk into the building.
- Rigs that feature HF bands and the cross-band feature will allow linking between HF bands to bands that have lower qualifications. ie, A Technician or Basic class operator can inadvertantly be broadcasting on a band they have no priveleges on, thanks to your cross-band setup.
- Rigs that have had a MARS / CAP mod performed on them, allowing them to transmit outside of Amateur bands, could inadvertantly setup a link between an Amateur band and a public band, allowing non-Amateurs to transmit on Amateur frequencies - a violation in any rulebook.
And so on. One must be aware of the dangers and possibilities before setting such a feature up.
First of all, I look for other features in rigs that contain cross-band repeaters to make that feature safer and better for use.
- A time-out timer. If interference should happen, and your cross-band setup allows it to be re-broadcast on another frequency, this will at least limit how long it interferes. It also keeps your rig temps cooler!
- BCLO = Busy Channel Lock Out This is a feature that temporarily locks out transmit of the rig, if the frequency it is set to transmit on is in use (ie a signal is being received by the radio on the frequency that it's set to transmit on.)
- CTCSS or PL tone Most newer rigs and HTs have this feature, but for cross-band repeat, it's essential, IMO.
Of those three features, the BCLO is the most important, as it automatically prevents your rig from "stepping" on someone else who may turn up on your selected frequency after you set it. That can't be a bad thing!
The reason I feel CTCSS is important is that it can be used as a filter preventing:
a) unauthorized use of your cross-band repeat setup
b) unwanted or unexpected interference or intermod from being cross-banded through your rig
c) other unrelated Amateur communications that suddenly appear on your chosen frequency from tripping your cross-band setup.
It should be enabled for both the transmit (encode) and receive (decode) of the simplex frequency you're cross-banding to.
There are other considerations about cross-banding that bear mentioning here also.
As mentioned above, a rig capable of HF communications can possibly be setup to allow Hams without HF privileges to get on HF bands. Obviously then, it is not a good idea to cross-band an HF band to another band that has lower privileges, such as 2m. Cross-band two HF bands or 2m and 70cm, for example, but don't mix two bands with different privileges in your setup.
Cross-banding one repeater to another is not only a rotten way to tie up two repeaters at the same time, it's also very impolite. Most repeater admins would not want this done, and the few that might allow it, (for linked nets, for example) would much prefer to be asked permission first. To me, it's common sense, but just in case it's not for you, I recommend you ask before trying this.
In many areas, such as this one, the 2m band is quite saturated. Most repeater pairings are used up by a repeater somewhere close to me. In this situation, the part of the 2m band that is generally considered to be the "simplex" portion could also be very well used. While most hams in your area might be tolerant of temporarily using up a simplex frequency for cross-band repeating temporarily, they certainly don't want a frequency designated for simplex use being setup as a "new" input frequency for a local repeater. Don't enable your cross-band repeater and leave it for days or months on end.
Most of this can all be considered common courtesy. Think of your fellow operators, and try to operate in such a way as to be non-intrusive and respectful.
