Forum Chat

[VGI249]

Heya Davo & other readers. Sorry it’s taken a while to reply, I read Ur message on Friday but have been really busy over the weekend so haven’t
had a chance to go online till now.

Thanks for the info re who does/doesn’t own the license for Springbrook site, as U said that Government listing is so outta date it’s useless. From
memory TGC04 was still up & running 12 months ago, I made enquiries about 6 months after it was turned off & was told Chappo still owns the
license for Springbrook and also for a site south from there. (Either owned license or had applied for it) I don’t personally know Chappo so can only
go by what people had told me (or that outdated Government listing) but last I heard ANYTHING about Springbrook/Channel 4/Chappo was that
he’s moved away from the Gold Coast so would be unable to maintain the repeater, it’s unlikely it will come back up & the equipment and/or site is
for sale.

Anyhow, it’s all redundant information now as I’ve got NO INTEREST in putting a repeater on the Springbrook site. Why? There’s a few reasons,
main ones are:
1. The rules/regs are EXTREMELY strict there...no room for modified equipment & rules getting tighter. (requiring circulators, dump loads etc so it
doesn’t interfere with other equipment on-site...adding huge amounts of $’s for more equipment)

2. It’s (fantastic) coverage. What was a really good thing, CB’ers being able to talk from Brisbane to Byron Bay (& further) was a source of problems
interfering with other repeaters on channel 4. Remember all the crap from users (& owner) of channel 4 Caloundra? Everything from Springbrook
users being threatened with assault to Chappo being sued etc. Sure an antenna system could be setup so it doesn’t go as far but then what’s the
point of having (& paying) for a site that high. Besides, if I really want use a repeater @ Springbrook I’d get an amateur ticket & use the well
established 2m repeater there...has better coverage than TGC04 did + have access to all the other benefits. (like “EchoNet” )

3. As you pointed out with 3 words (err, 1 word repeated 3 times) – “Pay, Pay, Pay up!” As far as repeater sites go Springbrook is farken expensive.
Most CB users down this way are disabled and/or on benefits, they can’t afford to fork out huge $’s & neither can I. My business is a small operation
– I repair radios and industrial/commercial electronics, have done all my life. (14 years up here, about 7 years in Victoria previously) Work isn’t
constant – sometimes I’m flat-out (like the last 4 weeks) but other times it’s dead. I’ve been sub-contracting for a security company the last 10 years
to keep my own business going during the quiet times. I’ve also got some expensive and on-going medical bills, am guardian to my 17yo step-son &
became a father myself ~2 years ago so any ‘Spare’ cash that may be lying around is absorbed there. I’d quite literally have to be asking a $100 fee
every year from 30 CB users just to cover the site fee...can you see that happening? It’d all have to be setup properly as a voluntary/community
project, that’s not my specialty nor am I interested in becoming a ‘Comms Pimp’.

I do indeed have an interest in putting up a repeater to fill the gap between the Gold & Northern Tweed coasts, especially an emergency repeater
on channel 5/35 as there’s absolutely nothing from Tweed to Lismore. Even if/when channel 5 works @ Lower Beechmont it’s very hard to hit from
down here & ASA you go over Sexton Hill (AKA Terranora Range) you’ve lost it all together. There’s 6 people (besides me) working on finding a
suitable (& affordable) site to setup a repeater – primarily an emergency channel & also a CBRS that will hook the Tweed & Gold coasts back up
again. We’ve got a few sites in mind (inc hills & buildings – some have power others need solar) and are looking into the ups & downs of them all,
as yet nothing has been decided or any licenses applied for.

BTW (in response to ur BTW) I guess this comes from me saying over the air when someone asked if I know what’s going on with ABC03 & I
answered “Farked if I know, don’t hold ur breath coz last I heard he knows it’s not working but isn’t in any hurry to fix it”. (Or words to that effect) I
don’t personally know Gary G either so can only go by what people have told me. I’ve heard everything from “it’ll be back up by this weekend”
(since June) to “he’s moved away & is unable to repair it”. Short of the long is don’t believe too much of what you hear on the air – a lot of it is
people making assumptions and/or hear-say. (Let’s face it, if the owner isn’t talking what else can people do?) For the most parts its harmless
chatter on CB and gives something for people to talk about.

Better get back to it...pile of stuff to do today, catch up on-air. ..Hopefully poorly adjusted/faulty multiplexer (or whatever is causing that horrible noisy
echo) on ABC03 is fixed soon coz it makes my brain itch.

Thanx again Davo for the info & bringing up the topic(s).

Cheers, 249.
(Even tho I’m participating in “OctSober” so no ‘Cheers’ for me another few weeks. (sheesh))