Puget Sound Repeater Group

Update: Talk Groups Revised. Added PS1 and PS2.  These are for EMCOMM/Public Service use only.  See PNW-DMR website for more details.

From Doug (KD7DK): With material help from Randy (W3RWN) and labor from Casey (AE7SL), the Puget Sound Repeater Group has installed its test DMR repeater at Capitol Park.  This repeater is linked to and carries the core PNW-DMR (Pacific NorthWest DMR Group) talkgroups.  Please visit their website pnwdigital.net* for more information on the PNW-DMR network, talkgroups, user technical guidelines, and operating best practices.

If you are going to operate DMR in this region, please join the PNW-DMR notification group so you can receive operational notifications and be informed of network changes.

Now the details so you can program your radios:  Our repeater is new so its not in the existing codeplugs which you can download from the PNW-DMR website.

RX 440.775 / TX 445.775 (+5.0)  Color code 2
Callsign WW7PSR
This is a dedicated narrowband (12.5KHz) channel.
DMR Digital transmissions only.

The following talkgroups are supported:

Time slot 1:
Seattle 1 (310477)
Wash 1  (3153)
Local 1  (3181)
PNW 1  (3187)
PS1 (3190)
Parrot (9998) – This is a playback test talkgroup.

Time slot 2:
Seattle 2 (310534)
Wash 2  (103153)
Local 2  (3166)
Tac 1  (8951)
Tac 2  (8952)
Tac 8 (8958)
PNW 2  (103187)
PNWR (31771)
PS2 (103190)
Audio Test (9999)

The equipment for this repeater is a Yaesu DR-1X operating at 20 watts into a modest gain antenna.  The digital modem is a Micro-Node Teensy-MMDVM connected to a Raspberry Pi 3 running MMDVM-Host and DMR-Gateway to interconnect to the PWN-DMR 2-slot gateway, known as Rex.  This is not the final configuration but one the group could launch quickly, and help us gain more information to inform our final equipment choices.

If you have not operated DMR before, please take some time to read some of the information for first time users  before keying up.

We have been really pleased with the initial coverage reports.  Please let us know how you find the coverage.  We are currently running 5 watts, but that was a configuration mistake and it will shortly be set to 20 watts which will probably be the final setting for the test repeater.  Send questions and observations to tech@psrg.org.

*Also please note that PNW-DMR is in the process of moving their web presence to a new hosting site and that some of the URLs referenced above may change in the future.

Update 

PSRG added a “Voting System” in October 2018. This is a network of remote receivers scattered around the coverage area to enhance the coverage for people calling into the repeater. Although the system is one directional, i.e., the remote units can receive your signal, the output of the repeater still comes from Queen Anne. A more detailed explanation of how the system works has been provided by Doug Kingston, KD7DK: PSRG Voting System. PSRG Voting System.

You can look at the strength of the signals being received by each of the receivers in real time at the PSRG Supermon page.

There is an Extra Class coming up in late October and early November.   The class is sponsored by Mike & Key Amateur Radio Club, and it’s FREE.

Details: Dates for the class are October 27th, November 3rd and 10th from 9am-5pm.  The class is FREE, but the test at the end of the third day costs $ 15. The class location is

PC Center
2363 NW 80th Street
Seattle, WA 98117

Course materials are available at www.TukwilaRadioClub.org under Training Roadmap and the ARRL Extra Licensing Manual is recommended. The Manual is available for $30 at the class, but you should reserve a copy.

There is also a Technician class at the same location on November 3rd and 10th. If you know anyone looking to get their license, here is an opportunity. Materials are also on the Tukwila site.

If interested in either class, please email Dan Stevens kl7wm@aol.com to sign up.

Saturday, July 21 was a lovely memorial for our friend and mentor-to-many, LW, K7LWA. In honor of LW, who was occasionally seen in a tie-died shirt, a few of our members showed up appropriately attired. (Photo by Steve, N7GWG)