Update 3rd Jun 2023 – 2metre (VHF) repeater back online:
Great news, the VK5RHO 2 meter repeater is back online. You can access it by tuning your radio to 146.850MHz with a -0.6 MHz offset.
Update 30 Mar 2023:
The club has negotiated with the land owner to put the repeaters in a different location on the same land. We will need to make it completely self sufficient with batters, solar, tower, and shed.
UPDATE 20 Mar 2023:
Both the VH5RHO 2m and VK5RNE 70cm repeaters along with the APRS have been taken down and are looking for a new location.
VK5RHO VHF 2metre Repeater (146.850 MHz)
In 2002 the Wireless Institute of Australia announced that it would discontinue financial support for the VK5RHO 2m repeater, which it had owned and operated for many years. This repeater was offered to NERC to fund, maintain and operate for the amateur radio community.
The Club agreed as it did not wish to see the repeater closed down and decided to take up the challenge to maintain its’ operation. The WIA offered to assist in the re-establishment and with some initial ongoing costs.
A sub-committee was formed to find a new site with affordable rent, and eventually a site was found 2 Km due South of the existing site. The new site was on private property and had a rather dilapidated pipe mast with possibly a UHF CB antenna at the top previously used by the site owner.
Following careful negotiations the landowner agreed to a proposal for NERC to use the site. We offered to erect a new mast and refurbish the CB antenna for his use. A Hills Telomast was obtained along with surplus Heliax coax. This was installed under the supervision of Jim (VK5NB now SK). Eric (VK5BT) modified a metal cabinet to house the RF equipment and refurbished the UHF CB antenna. Gerry (VK5ZHE) extensively modified an old battery cabinet to house the batteries.
In December 2002 a working bee was arranged to erect the mast with antenna and in January 2003 the repeater was finally moved into place. VK5RHO VHF remains on its original frequency of 146.850 MHz.
Coverage is similar to the previous site and the Club is proud of its’ achievement in continuing to service Adelaide radio amateurs. Our thanks go to all those involved in the project, to the WIA (SA Division) for its’ assistance with re-establishment costs, and especially for the generous cooperation given by the site owner.
In 2006 the original RF equipment was replaced with Tait T375/377 equipment. This replacement was in line with other metropolitan repeaters having similar equipment and a uniform standard established. The choice of use of this equipment has proven a wise one.
VK5RNE UHF 70cm Repeater (439.875 MHz)
In 2007 the VK5RNE UHF repeater was relocated to the VK5RHO site, with the subsequent callsign change to VK5RHO. The original frequency of 439.875 MHz has been maintained. Both repeaters will be interlinked at some future time.
Site Upgrade
In October 2009 work commenced on upgrading the site of VK5RHO. Repeaters were moved into their own building which makes access for repeater managers much simpler.
