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<H1>D-STAR growing in VK3</H1>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>The 2-metre D-STAR <STRONG>VK3RMM</STRONG> repeater on the
wide coverage area Mt Macedon northwest of Melbourne is currently being
site-tested with the initial contacts through it reporting perfect
copy.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Further testing will ensure compatibility with other radio
services at the site. The 70cm VK3RMM D-STAR repeater that first went on test in
February is fully operational and continues to receive good reports from
users.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Amateur Radio Victoria is further considering broadband
options at the VK3RMM site for a D-STAR gateway facility.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>In another development, the Shepparton and District
Amateur Radio Club in North-Central VK3 has decided to buy a 70cm D-STAR
repeater following the success of a month long trial of the portable repeater
VK3RWW.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>The plan is to permanently install it at the VK3RGV
repeater site at Mt Wombat. The tests from there gave mobile and base coverage
as far north as Tocumwal New South Wales, across to Wangaratta and Benalla, west
to Bendigo and as far south as Kyneton.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Club President, Toby Corbett VK3PNF said, "It's a real
sunspot buster, Matt M3PPU and Dick G4HHX from Kent Southern England were there
most days supporting the test."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>The test also involved many of the Melbourne D-STAR users
when the Melbourne repeater VK3RWN and VK3RWW were simulcast linked - a great
facility of D-STAR.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Also in VK3, the Wimmera Amateur Radio Club has its VK3RDK
2-metre D-STAR repeater at Horsham in Western Victoria, the Ballarat
Amateur Radio Group (BARG) VK3RBA 70cm DV and 23cm DD repeater is serving
Ballarat and surrounding areas, while another D-STAR installation is being
considered for eastern Victoria. </FONT></P>
<P><EM><STRONG><FONT face=Verdana>Jim Linton
VK3PC</FONT></STRONG></EM></P></BODY></HTML>