Next month GB3YR has been serving up HAM radio communications for over 16 years from Micklebring in Rotherham as an analogue repeater and internet connected node.
Placed near the M18, YR offers great coverage for the radio user but costs the group over £800 a year to run. This week the bill landed at SYRG’s headquarters for the site rent and associated costs for the next 12 months.
An emergency meeting was called this evening at the Three Horse Shoes In Brierley to discuss the future of GB3YR.
SYRG reported that over the last three years YR has had little use with no contributions to the upkeep from the local HAM radio community and simply could not continue to run as an analogue repeater and node.
Rather than put the repeater and the site to rest, 2E0BLF of UKIT togeather with M3VYV of D-STAR Usergroup Northern agreed from the 2nd of November to take on the site and costs of converting YR into a D-STAR regenerative node.
2E0BLF put to the group that DUGN could run it for 12 months on current funds and would secure it for another 24 months after this as part of the DUGN network or as a (PORN) Privately Owned Repeater Network into 2011 and beyond.
Discussions are still going on with DUGN and SYRG to secure radio comms from Micklebring for the next 3 years as part of a long term strategy to encourage D-STAR digital comms in Yorkshire.
What do you think about GB3YR? Should it stay or go as an analogue repeater?
This is your opportunity to tell the group. Speak now, or forever hold your peace!
