Packrats DMR Repeator

Using DMR as a Talk Group 8804 in the Field - I was also able to test the Pack Rat 8804 DMR Talk Group. This is an ideal way to utilize the vast repeater network and communicate with other Pack Rats on this Group. You can find info here at https://www.delmarvadmr.com/  A list of the PackRat DMR repeaters are available at the bottom of the page. https://www.packratvhf.com/index.php/on-air  Fellow Pack Rat Nick 

N3YMS was very helpful and with one phone call I was able to set up on DMR.

Packrat DMR Talkgroup Recommended Usage

The Interstate repeater network is just that - a network of repeaters. The cBridges and

repeaters are installed and maintained at considerable expense to provide wide-area DMR

*repeater* coverage. It was never intended to be used as a platform to host hotspots.

However, due to the specific needs of the Pack Rats, a few of whom are currently reside

outside the range of any Interstate network repeater, a limited exception is being made for

hotspot connections to the Interstate cBridges. Access to the cBridge by Pack Rats who

own hotspots will be determined on a case by case basis. The baseline criteria is that the

station has attempted to use a radio connected to a decent outdoor antenna and is unable

to reliably access one of the repeaters that carries the Pack Rats talkgroup (8804). In the

future, as additional repeaters are added to the network in-range of anyone who had been

using a hotspot, we ask that they again attempt to access the repeater network

directly.

Please do not ask for hotspot access because you want to use an HT and a rubber duck

indoors. That is neither the intent of the network, nor is it the reason why we are allowing

limited hotspot connectivity to the cBridges by Pack Rats members.

This talkgroup should be used for a calling channel during contests, coordination of weaksignal contact attempts, etc... Outside of contest periods, the talkgroup is open for general

discussion among club members. The Pack Rats talkgroup is available full-time on repeaters

in-range of most Packrats members. Dedicating full-time status to a talkgroup is not

something that is done without serious consideration, as there are only two talk paths

available on a given repeater at any point in time.

We are happy to provide this service to

the Packrats and other weak-signal operators and hope that it will be well utilized on a

regular basis.

However, if you will be using the talkgroup for a long period of time, such as attempting a

difficult one-on-one contact that may take a long time, please consider moving to one of the

many TAC talk channels, such as TAC316, to free up the Pack Rats talkgroup, particularly

during contests. TAC316 is used by other stations in the North East to coordinate weak

signal contacts as well. However, the TAC talkgroups, like most other talkgroups, are all

user-activated ("push-to-talk") - they remain active on any given repeater only while there

is activity on that talkgroup on the local repeater. That is, if you monitor TAC316, by default

you will not hear activity on other repeaters unless you key up and make a transmission, at

which point a timer starts running, and once it expires, TAC316 is again disconnected from

the repeater your are on. In contrast, the Pack Rats talkgroup is operational full-time, so

no matter what repeater another Pack Rats talkgroup user is on, you will hear them at all

times. You can think of the Pack Rats talkgroup as being a party line that is always active,

whereas most other talkgroups are more akin to a conference call, where repeaters connect

and disconnect from the conference as activity comes and goes.

Please contact us if you have any questions, and/or visit the web site for additional

information - www.wr3irs.com

73 de Jeff WN3A (jeff@wn3a.net) and John KA3LAO (johns@sxsco.com)

Location                               FREQ        CC      TG        TS 

•    Wilmington, De.        448.425    1         8804    1 

•    Dover,De.                       449.075    1          8804   1 

•    Dover,De.                        146.79     1          8804    1 

•    Hazlettville,De.            448.075   2         8804    1 

•    Frederica,De.                 449.725   1          8804     1 

•    Seaford,De.                      442.8125  1         8804   1 

•    Dagsboro,De                    443.1           1        8804   1 

•     Havre de Grace,Md.    443.65         1       8804  1 

•    Chestertown,Md.           441.6625   1      8804  1 

•    Wye Mills,Md.                  441.9125    1      8804  1 

•    Federalsburg,Md.            442.05         1        8804 1 

•    Trappe,Md.                          442.5375    1        8804 1 

•    Princess Anne,Md.          441.8875    2        8804 1 

•    Baltimore,Md.                    441.4           1          8804 1 

•    Woodbine,Md.                  442.4625  1         8804 1 

•     Philadelphia,Pa.               440.65         1         8804 1 

•    Eagle,Pa.                                441.3            1        8804 1 

•    Ephrata,Pa.                         443.6              1        8804 1 

•    York,Pa.                                  441.15           1        8804 1 

•    Joliett,Pa.                              444.40625  1       8804 1 

•    Forkston,Pa                        . 440.1             1        8804 1 

•    Red Rock,Pa.                       441.3              1         8804 1 

•    Camelback,Pa.                    441.55          1         8804 1 

•    Rockton,Pa                             443              1         8804  1 

•    Charlestown,Pa.                    440.2         1       8804 1 

•    Hilltown,Pa.                          441.84375 1        8804 1 

•    Fairfield,Pa.                            146.475       1      8804 1 

•    Chambersburg,Pa.              441.9            1       8804 1 

•    Cornwall,Pa.                            147.105        1      8804 1 

•   Waterford Works,Nj.           443.3           1     8804  1 

• Corbin City,Nj,                            440.4           1      8804 1 

• Trenton,Nj.                                  443.65         1       8804 1 

• Warren,Nj.                                     440.2875 1        8804  1

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