So We Don\'t Have A Repeater!

From: W0TRI



You would not believe the looks and remarks you get when
you try to start a simplex club. We would know - we did just that. Many amateurs
just cannot understand how to operate on 2 meters without using a repeater, and
further more cannot understand how it can possibly be fun to do so.</p>





We are not saying no one uses simplex, almost all amateurs
have at least one simplex frequency they frequent, it is just that on 2 meters,
repeaters are the norm.</p>


When the Tri-Star Amateur Radio Club decided to go to a
simplex-only club (yes we did start out on a repeater) we did so hoping to get
back to the true spirits of amateur radio - experimentation. We wanted to see if
a simplex club could provide the same services, the same reliability, and the
same general functions that a repeater club is able to. This is what we
discovered: We can provide reliable services to the
community and have found that our range from a base to a mobile is very comparable
to a typical repeater. We have a weekly net, just as
any normal club, and we are able to perform all the basic functions of a normal
amateur radio club.</p>



The one thing we are lacking are members, due to the fact
that many amateurs cannot see past needing a repeater to have a club, and that
repeater clubs feel that we are in competition with them. We feel that it is not
that amateurs need repeaters, it is just that repeaters are the norm and that is
what everyone is used to. We are not in competition with any repeater clubs -
rather we are trying to start a whole new path for 2 meters.

</p>


So if you live in the tri-state area composed of southeast
South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa, or if you are ever just
passing through, make sure to check into our frequency of 146.580 PL 88.5 and
say hello.


Our nets are held every Thursday night at 8:00 PM on our
frequency. For more information on our simplex club and its activities, check
out our club web site at www.qsl.net/tsarc.
We are actively seeking members and would love to have you join in on our next
net or at our next club meeting!


73's,


Tri-Star Amateur Radio Club, WØTRI


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