When people are too far apart for simplex communication, duplex communication through a repeater may be possible. A repeater listens on one frequency, called the input frequency, and retransmits what it hears on a nearby frequency called the output frequency. In this way, the repeater acts as a type of signal booster, making it possible for you to communicate with people dozens of miles away using nothing more than a 5-watt handheld transceiver.
The Moshannon Valley Repeater Network currently consists of three GMRS repeaters located near the Rattlesnake Pike, Philipsburg, and Sandy Ridge. The repeaters are currently operating independently. When you talk on one of them, you are only heard by people who are listening to the same repeater.
All three repeaters will eventually be linked so that anything heard by one repeater is retransmitted by all repeaters, thereby providing seamless communication within the Moshannon Valley region. The repeaters will be linked over an internet connection. If at any point a repeater is unable to connect to the internet, that repeater will continue to operate in a standalone fashion.
| Channel Number | Channel Name | Freq (MHz) | Offset (MHz) | Tone (Hz) | Description | Call Sign | Repeater Status | Link Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | RAT550 | 462.550 | +5 | 218.1 | Rattlesnake 550 GMRS repeater | WRDT431 | Online | Coming soon |
| 24 | PHB575 | 462.575 | +5 | 192.8 | Philipsburg 575 GMRS repeater | WRDT431 | Online | Coming soon |
| 25 | SDY600 | 462.600 | +5 | 229.1 | Sandy Ridge 600 GMRS repeater | WREZ994 | Online | Planned |
| 26 | RPT-4 | 462.625 | +5 | – | Reserved for future expansion | |||
| 27 | RPT-5 | 462.650 | +5 | – | Reserved for future expansion | |||
| 28 | RPT-6 | 462.675 | +5 | – | Reserved for future expansion | |||
| 29 | RPT-7 | 462.700 | +5 | – | Reserved for future expansion | |||
| 30 | RPT-8 | 462.725 | +5 | – | Reserved for future expansion |
Tips
Sometimes people are disappointed when they announce their call sign on a repeater and get no response. Please bear in mind that nobody is assigned to monitor the repeaters. PARA members and other users do monitor them from time to time, but many people have jobs and other responsibilities, and everyone is a volunteer.
If you have an emergency, call 911. If you are out of cell phone range, then the GMRS repeaters may allow you to get in contact with someone who can call 911 on your behalf.
If venturing out of cell phone range, make arrangements to have a trusted friend monitor the repeater.
Recreational Use
Outdoor groups, such as hiking or kayaking clubs, are encouraged to use the repeaters to coordinate their activities. This gives the members practice and lets them check out their radio gear. If a group is planning to be in an area that lacks cell phone coverage, they could arrange for one group member to monitor the repeater from home while others are engaged in activities. This would allow the group to summon help in the event that a member is injured.
Scheduled GMRS Nets
| Day | Time | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | 8:30 pm | Moshannon Valley GMRS Net | A weekly net for anyone who uses the Rattlesnake 550 repeater. This net will also include the Philipsburg 575 and Sandy Ridge 600 repeaters when they are linked. |
Scheduling Your Own GMRS Net
If you belong to a group that would like to periodically have a discussion on the MVRN repeaters, just pick a regular time to meet on the air and let us know so that we can add it to the schedule above. That way others will know to avoid using the repeaters at those times and/or to join your discussions.
Privacy
Keep in mind that everything you say on a repeater can be picked up by anyone with an FRS or GMRS radio. If you need to discuss something of a personal or sensitive nature (e.g. religion and politics), please use a cell phone, email, or some other means of communication.