MARCONI WOULD BE PROUD OF BALLYCASTLE TODAY
NEW 70CMS AMATEUR RADIO REPEATER COMES ON AIR AT BALLYCASTLE FOREST.
A new 70cms repeater at Ballycastle forest (GB3KK) came live on the 23 May 2008 which was developed and placed on scene by the Marconi Radio group. The work on this was commissioned by the Marconi Radio group and carried out by club member Michael Kaskoush.
The repeater transmits on 430.975 Mhz and receives on 438.575Mhz with a CTCSS tone of 110.9Hz, its locator is IO65WT with a LAT of 55.191845 and a LONG of -6.243352. Full details can be found at http://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaters/gb3kk.htm This allows communications on the band between North East Antrim right across East Londonderry and out towards Inishowen, Co Donegal.
The repeater also links into Campbeltown all the way up the mull of Kintyre to include parts of the Isle of Arran, all of Islay, Jura and Gigha, and also parts of the Scottish Mainland. This is its natural RF coverage area. However, it is now linked 24/7 hrs to the Ireland conference server via echolink which brings coverage from all over the world right into a small hand held radio which you can carry with you while walking within the RF coverage area of the repeater.
This has brought a whole new dimension to Ham radio in that it is now possible to talk all over the world from a small hand held radio from anywhere in the area. Countries connecting to the Ireland server include the USA, Australia, Japan, Germany, UK and, indeed, anyone who has a call sign world wide can register.
Kevin McAuley
