The original Oly-Comm1 repeater upon which this system is based was a Kenwood TKR-850. Operating at 462.675 Mhz, PL 100.00, with 25 watts output, it operated in a dual-back-up mode with a UPS which is, itself, backed-up with an on-site generator powered by 400 gallons of LP gas. This machine was replaced/upgraded with a repeater capable of 100% duty cycle operation at a full 50 watts of RF power on 07-28-2022.
Power limitations in the GMRS are measured at the transmitting device output (95.1767). The ERP (Effective Radiated Power) is ungoverned. In theory, 50 watts of output, with zero line-loss (never happens, of course) into a high gain antenna, could allow for an ERP of a theoretical 500 watts. Be sure you do not confuse "output power" with ERP (Effective Radiated Power). They are NOT the same.
The TKR-850 is being held in reserve on the site as a backup for redundancy purposes. The current antenna is a CommScope DB411-B antenna (11dbi gain) mounted on our main tower at about 65' above ground. The new antenna was mounted on the tower 11-12-2020 by Harrington Aerial and was placed into service on 12-04-2020. The tower elevation is 2077 feet above sea level.
The New DB-411B Antenna of Oly-Comm1.
Our second "close-in" saturation repeater Oly-Comm2 for Port Townsend operates at (462.675, PL 210.7) with 25 watts of power which is enhancing operations over the difficult terrain of the northern Quimper Peninsula.
The Oly-Comm3 repeater (capable of 100% duty cycle operating at a full 50 watts of RF power) has been developed to thoroughly cover (as much as terrain features and foliage will allow) the Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia region and extends Oly-Comm Peninsula communication capacity across the Sound. This is being done in cooperation with the SeaTac GMRS Repeater Association as an existing-equipment upgrade to increase power levels and hardware durability.
Oly-Comm3 is multi-tone with a few restricted tones and general operations currently on 462.625, 141.3 Hz (open system, known as East Tiger, with no permission required).
Oly-Comm3 is expected to improve service into somewhat isolated locations like Shelton, Brinnon, Hoodsport and portions of Northern Kitsap county not reachable through Oly-Comm1. Field-testing and verification is on-going.
The very-recent photos of East Tiger shown below are provided by Rich Salter WQOG473. Quoting Rich "The first picture is of particular interest, it's the top half of the 16 bay antenna the GMRS repeater is hooked up to. The others, Just nice scenery!" This appears to have been a DB-420B, so it's no wonder that East Tiger has a broad footprint! And yes, the scenery is very nice!
Rich Salter and Team have been at it again!
Years of experience with antenna radiation patterns, combined with multiple field observations, led to an antenna swap at East Tiger on May 29th, 2021. The previous antenna was better suited/configured for usage at a lower elevation and was replaced with a Phelps Dodge stationmaster which has a nominal gain of about 6 DB. The new (more "rounded") radiation pattern is expected to provide considerably fewer areas where access to East Tiger is difficult unless higher power levels are used. Our thanks go out to Rich and his team of assistants and the SeaTac Repeater Association for their commitment to best operations at East Tiger.
This is a photo of the current antenna.
This is a photo of the previous antenna.
Other nice photos taken from East Tiger.
What a View!
Our upgrade enhancements at Oly-Comm1 (some final tasks are still a work-in-progress) seem to have nicely provided sufficient improvement to system coverage in mid-western Clallam County, so our new plan is to establish coverage over a new region! Oly-Comm4 is under evaluation for allocation to provide coverage for central Clallam County when a suitable location is identified (462.675, PL 91.5).
Expansion plans have called for additional equipment to provide expanded coverage and to "harden", or make more resilient, the Oly-Comm systems. This includes eventually adding solar/battery backup to our existing UPS and LP-fired generator systems.
Some Really Good News!
Collaborative contributions toward the various projects have been significant! A generous grant in the amount of $5,000.00 was provided by the First Federal Community Foundation. The Community Services wing of the Sequim Seventh-day Adventist Church also provided $1,500.00. This funding level enabled both the upgrade to Oly-Comm1 and the establishment of Oly-Comm3 through a gracious cooperative arrangement with the SeaTac GMRS Repeater Association and facilitated by City of Seattle technical personnel.