On the 3rd of July 2008, Chris M1EEV switched on the first Wirral Regenerative node (repeater) on behalf of the Wirral & District Amateur Radio Club.  GB7WP (Wirral Peninsular) is a D-Star digital unit by ICOM operating in the 70cms band and we were among the first group in the UK to be licensed by the ETC (Emerging Technologies Committee) of the RSGB.

A forward thinking Club project, it gives the opportunity both to Club Members and all radio amateurs living within the footprint of the repeater to try, learn about and enjoy the very latest amateur radio communications mode.

Latest News is that GB7WP is up and running and is connected to Reflector 5 in London, and therefore all Wirral D-Star users should have their radio's set as below:-

Linking and Unlinking Nodes and Reflectors

The key thing that all users need to remember to make Reflector access work, is to set your RPT 2 field to include a G suffix in the 8th position.  For example .. in the case of users on GB7WP:-

Your CQCQCQ

RPT1: GB7WP B (2 spaces)

RPT2: GB7WP G (2 spaces)

Please see your manual on how to set this, or give Chris M1EEV a call on 144.750MHz before you try to connect. (He monitors this frequency whenever time allows).

Please note you will need to register with Chris M1EEV to have full access to link around the world

To do this, send your full name, callsign and working email address to m1eev@wadarc.com

Here is a link to the reflector status page, from which you then can click on last heard to see who is using the reflector.   http://www.ukit.org.uk/ref005.html  This will auto update in real time.

What is a Reflector ? read the following pdf  "Reflector User Guide".

 GB7WP D-Star 70cms Repeater

Tx is on 439.9125MHz  Rx is on 430.9125MHz

The repeater footprint is centred on the Wirral Peninsular (WP), however, coverage is expected to extend out towards Southport, Liverpool, Chester and the North Wales coast .. perhaps as far as Point of Ayr.

See anticipated coverage map

Initial reports have been most encouraging with all locals making it in without problems.  A good contact was made with Darren G7LWT mobile near Oldham some 40+ miles away, and a new station from Mold.

Chris, the repeater keeper, will appreciate reports and comments from everyone who can hear or work through the box at m1eev@wadarc.com   Chris also monitors 144.750MHz when in the shack, and will be happy to offer advice on programming your D-Star radio if you get stuck !

Congratulations to Chris and his team for their success in getting the project "to air" so quickly, and to the WADARC committee for keeping Wirral at the forefront of emerging technologies.

GB7WP - Wirral D-Star Repeater