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Hear the Live Audio Feed from the B.A.R.T. System !



LATEST NEWS:

1 December 2009

The Southern Arizona DX Association has a new website at http://www.sadxa.org 
Stop by and take a look when you get a chance and if you are interested in DX, 
attend a meeting and see what they're all about.

29 October 2009

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted any news.  Anyway, here's some good news!
Christine and Bob (N7ZQK) are starting their weekly computer talk radio program on KVOI
The Voice of Tucson (1030) beginning on 14 November from 11:00 AM until 12:00.  Christine
is a big supporter of the B.A.R.T and has contributed several times when we've been in need
for old computers.  So, please listen in and support Christine and Bob.  Here's the link:

<CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ADVERTISEMENT> 

23 October 2008

The bright blue, crisp display on my ICOM IC-756 had finally deteriorated to the point that the
bottom inch of the display could not be read.  ICOM, in their infinite wisdom, had elected not
to support replacement.  However, I found a ham in the Netherlands that had developed an LCD
replacement screen for the rig.   I sent him the front panel and in less than 2 weeks I was
back in business.  It's not as pretty, but it's perfectly functional and saved my old IC-756
for years to come.  Click on the picture to check out the site.

14 September 2008

K7IOU had a malfunction in his 224.74 machine and spent some time troubleshooting it and
finally discovered the problem with a squelch gate card.  He felt so good about it that he
decided to tempt fate and do a "re-organize" on the repeater, link radios and VoIP system
computers.  It looks so neat that a gremlin might come in and try to do something .  We'll see !

<Click Picture to Enlarge>

30 June 2008

I just had to post a picture of my recently revived Johnson Valiant AM transmitter
somewhere, so, I chose the BART page.  Here she is, ready made for true and
original, hotel sierra, atmospheric burning, ionospheric scorching "Old Fogie Overs" !

5 June 2008

Dave - K7IOU has made a few changes to his system including the Echolink connect prefix and
disconnect.   The connect prefix is * (star) and the disconnect is now # (pound).

An IRLP node has been added to his system.  The node number is 3033 and requires a "B"
prefix in order to differentiate from the 3892 node.  The disconnect is B73.

And to top it all off, Dave has a WIRES-II node #1381.  So, the BART has two of everything.
If you hear anyone connecting, please give them a call.  

As you might already know, the N7JND simplex node is connected to the BART 24/7.  Lee,
WB9TPD has re-established his Echolink Conference server.  To connect to Lee's server,
just DTMF 111 and you'll be there.  Enjoy !

5 March 2008



We regret to announce the passing of Hobart (Bart) Paine, who passed at the age of 84.
Bart - K7CC was the original owner and licensee of the 146.34/94 repeater which is
part of the B.A.R.T. system.  Bart originated the B.A.R.T. many years ago and allowed it
it to be revived by the users of the system.  May he rest in peace.

6 August 2007

Dave - K7IOU has added an Echolink node to the BART system.  The node number is 22474 (not coincidental) and the access code to connect is: *C and the disconnect is ##.  What that means is you have to DTMF a *C followed by the node number you want to connect to.  Dave has some shortcuts installed and probably will share them with you.  Have fun !!

12 March 2007

Well, it finally happened !!  The Kenwood repeater is now installed, replacing the old
G.E. that has provided service for many years.  I have been thinking about it for quite
a few months now and, personally, I'm glad it's over.  Below are a couple of pictures
of the event, and click <here> to read the synopsis of the whole thing as it unfolded
since Gary turned over the Kenwood TS-820 Repeater over to the BART.  I didn't tell
it all because I wouldn't have anything to talk about at the breakfast meetings.

Gary - N1DHS, Dave - K7IOU, myself - WD7F and Fred - WA0RTO made the trip to the
Lemmon and installed the repeater in the same location as the old G.E.  Fred is a U.S.
Forestry Service communications guru and without his help it would not have been
possible.  Thanks, Fred !   It seems to be working pretty good, but that illusive crack-
ling is still there when the input signal is a little weak.  The new Motorola GM-300 link
that we installed Saturday seems to be keeping the AGC wrapped tight enough that
the crackling is less when the input to the repeater is via the 94 or the 74 machines.

There was only one snag.  When the pictures of the event are posted, you can see
that there was enough ICE on the dirt road up to the Lemmon site that Gary's pretty
Toyota Tundra (no 4-wheel drive) couldn't make it.  So, we unloaded the stuff into
Fred's company truck and we made it the rest of the way up the trail to the site. 

<Click Pictures to Enlarge>

 Installed - Front View

 Rear View in the Rack Mount Tray

14 January 2007

A project is underway to replace the 448.350 repeater on Mt. Lemon with another
more modern repeater, specifically a Kenwood TKR-820 that Gary (N1DHS) has
had in service as 449.800 for several years.  Gary re-programmed the repeater, and
and it is in the possession of KD7TXO and WD7F for further tweaking. The repeater
has been modified to allow operation on 12 VDC as well as 115 VAC and prevent the
repeater ID and announcements to be linked to the  224.74 and 146.94 systems.  It
is operational on 448.350 at KD7TXO's QTH and has been encorporated into the
BART system.  As soon as weather and schedule allows, the repeater will be moved
to Mt. Lemon.

<Click Pictures to Enlarge>

The N1DHS Kenwood TKR-820

Repeater & Controller at KD7TXO's QTH

Mod to Signaling Unit to control DPL
during Repeater ID & Announcements

Bridge Rectifier, Power Receptacle
& Wiring to allow DC operation

28 August 2006

 We have a user group established on the Yahoo.  If you'd like
to keep up with BART activities and discussion click below.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bart_users/

16 March 2006

 The 146.94 (110.9) and 224.74 (136.5) repeaters are linked to the 448.350 (107.2)
Mt. Lemon repeater.   N1DHS, Gary, has allowed us to complete the link.  Thanks
to WE7H, we have an operational link radio, an ICOM-2720H, which Ed donated
to the cause.  There are many minor things to be ironed out, such as squelch tails
and audio levels, but it seems to be working pretty good just out of the box.  This
link will expand our coverage greatly over a large portion of Arizona.

Thanks again, Gary Matthews - N1DHS, for the use of your machine.

The MSR-2000 146.94 repeater is now linked to the recently completed & converted
Micor 224.74 machine. Every effort is being made to insure that audio quality is
maintained and it will not be apparent which repeater is the source.  DTMF access
to the Voice over Internet (IRLP/ECHOLINK/WIRES) modes is the same as the
146.94 machine.



17 September 2005

BART JOINS
 
BART has  joined the Amateur Radio Council of Arizona.
Dave, K7IOU will be serving as the  initial President of BART.  The
rules of BART will be the same:
Dues:  None
Requirements:  None
Fund Source:  Donations only
You are invited to attend our informal BART Meeting:
8:00 AM, Saturday, Jerry Bobs, 5028 E. Broadway, Tucson
More to follow.  de 

16 May 2005
Down Comes W0LTL's Tower !

 24 August 2004

Would you believe that an "Up Front" article complete with a picture
was published in the Sept 04 issue of QST.     Dave, K7IOU, submitted
the article, however, QST saw fit to reduce the size and heavily edit it.
The article was published in its entirety in the November 2004 issue of
World Radio.  Sorry that all the contributors weren't at the party so they
could be in the picture.    Some live just a little far away to have been
at the party.   Click the article to see an enlarged picture and the calls
of those on the certificate plus the World Radio article complete.






10 January 2004
In January 2004,   Twenty members of the revised BART group
purchased a Motorola MSR-2000 repeater, CAT 250 controller,
RLS-1000 switch along with other items and presented to me to
replace the tired old machine in use at the time.   We're talking
major SURPRISE here!  I consider the repeater to belong to all.

Click HERE to read all about the MSR-2000 conversion!

Click HERE to read about the 220 Micor Repeater conversion!

HISTORY:

BART was originally organized by Hobart Paine, K7CC.  The original
group consisted of over 150 members.   Bart, K7CC, remains as well
as Don Brumbaugh, N7AEU.     I will attempt to locate a roster of the
BART group and post it and I'll see if I can find more members around.