This page shows you how to access and operate the MB6IOK Wires-X / System Fusion simplex gateway. If you want to know more about how it is built, click here.
Accessing the MB6IOK Wires-X / System Fusion simplex gateway
- Tune your transceiver to 431.1250 MHz.
- Switch the mode on the transceiver to DN – this is the digital (System Fusion) narrow mode.
- Press the “X” key on your transceiver. Your transceiver will now attempt to connect to MB6IOK. Since the RSGB ETCC allocate frequencies so that no two simplex gateways will be on the same frequency, in the same area, there should be no conflict with other gateways.
- If all is well and a connection is made, you should hear a series of tones and the X led will light up on your transceiver.
- If, after several attempts, your transceiver fails to connect to the MB6IOK simplex Gateway, it could be cause the path to the gateway is too far, there are obstructions between you and the gateway, or the gateway is switched off.
- Simplex gateways are only intended to be local community assets. As a result they are limited to transmitting at very low power levels – so its range is not huge.
- With very low power comes the inability for the signal to penetrate big dense objects – even lots of wet trees can be difficult. Moving to a location with a clearer line of sight to the gateway can help.
- The gateway is licensed as an attended gateway. This means that when the gateway keeper is not on the premises the gateway will be shut down. There’s nothing we can do about this unfortunately.
Rooms
You are now connected to the MB6IOK simplex gateway. It in turn is connected, by default, to the Wales Digital Radio Group (WDRG) room. Though it might be connected to a different room if somebody else has just finished using the gateway and connected it to a different room – it takes a few minutes of non-use for it to automatically return to the default WDRG room.
Other simplex gateways may also be connected to this room.
If anyone transmits into one of these, so connected, simplex gateways, the MB6IOK simplex gateway will retransmit the speech and you will hear it.
Similarly, if you transmit in to the MB6IOK simplex gateway, all the other simplex gateways connected to the WDRG room will transmit what you say in their respective locations.
Operating through MB6IOK
The rules of using a Wires-X simplex gateway are few and simple.
- Always listen before transmitting. This is not a repeater, so you can’t always hear other people in the vicinity who might already be transmitting in to the MB6IOK simplex gateway. It’s a judgement call as to whether the gateway is already in use.
- Leave 2-3 second pauses between transmissions. This gives all the other simplex gateways connected to the same room the chance to drop carrier before the next person starts transmitting.
- Leave a little longer gap to give other operators a chance to join in the chat on the gateway – do remember that the simplex gateway is not exclusively yours whilst you are using it – it’s for the benefit of all radio amateurs in the area.
- Once you’ve keyed up (pressed the PTT on your transceiver, wait a second or two before you start to talk. This will give all the other simplex gateways connected to the same room the chance to key up their transmitters ready for your transmission. If you don’t, other gateways might miss the first few seconds of your transmission.
- Always identify yourself using your callsign and location in accordance with your licence conditions.
- Please do not key up when connected to the gateway and say nothing. ‘Test’ transmissions are really annoying – when you key up all the simplex gateways around the world that are connected to the same room key up too.
Making a call through the gateway
To make a call through the gateway …
- Listen.
- Key up.
- Wait a couple of seconds.
- Say something like, “This <your callsign> listening for any stations”.
Joining an existing conversation …
If you want to join an existing conversation on the gateway …
- Wait for a pause between transmissions.
- Key up and announce your callsign.
- Wait for those already communicating in the room to bring you into the conversation.
- Don’t keep keying up after every over ends in an attempt to join the conversation – patience.
Further information
Dewey L Hee (WB7OEV) wrote a great book about Wires-X and made it free for the amateur radio community to download and read – Wires-X Bible.