Additional help announcements are available using the following codes.

29 Voice mail and bulletin announcement commands

39 Intra-System linking commands

49 Inter-System linking commands

59 Remote Base commands

69 Weather Radio commands

79 User Access commands

89 Test commands

99 System Status commands

For example…

• You enter command code 20
  
• The repeater responds with “There is mail for, N8DNX, N8JBO”
  
• Since it announced N8JBO second, you use command code “21 2” to listen to the message.
  
• You then enter command code “22” to erase the message you just heard.
  

See command code 20 for an example of using this command.

See command code 20 for an example of using this command.

For example…

• You enter command 23
  
• The repeater says “Who is your message for?”
  
• You key your transmitter and say only “N8JBO”
  
• The repeater comes back and says “Please record your message.”
  
• You key your transmitter and state your message for the other repeater user.
  
• The repeater comes back and says “Your message is stored.”
  

Complex Intra-System Linking

An interesting aspect of the Intra-System linking commands is that they are “cumulative”. In
other words, you can choose to monitor or link to more than one other part of the system at the
same time from the repeater you’re currently using. Also, command code 30 will turn off any and
all linking to other parts of the system from the current repeater. As a result, an advanced user
can link several parts of the system together at one time. (Note that the tail message will only
repeat the last link established.)

One curious thing is that linking to one part of the system that is linked to another part does
not mean that all 3 parts are linked together. For example, if the N8DNX repeater is currently
linked to KO8P and you, as a user of the VHF repeater, link the W8GQN repeater to the N8DNX repeater,
you will not be linked to the KO8P repeater. In essence, you could talk to people on the N8DNX repeater and people on the N8DNX
could talk to people on the KO8P repeater, but you couldn’t talk to people on the KO8P repeater.

Assuming the situation where you wanted the W8GQN and N8DNX repeaters linked together and both
of them also linked to KO8P, how would you do this?

1. Enter 32 from the W8GQN repeater to link to N8DNX
   
2. Enter 36 from the W8GQN repeater to link to KO8P
   
3. Enter 36 from the N8DNX repeater to link to KO8P
   

Note: This command is makes no sense for, and is not available from the W8GQN repeater.

Use command code 32 to establish a two-way link to the VHF repeater.

Note: This command is makes no sense for, and is not available from the W8GQN repeater.

Use command code 31 to monitor the W8GQN repeater’s activity before using this command.

Note: This command is makes no sense for, and is not available from the N8DNX repeater.

Use command code 34 to establish a two-way link to the N8DNX repeater.

Note: This command is makes no sense for, and is not available from the KO8P repeater.

Use command code 36 to establish a two-way link to the KO8P repeater.

Note: This command is makes no sense for, and is not available from the KO8P repeater.

Use command code 35 to monitor the KO8P repeater activity before using this command.

Use 1: Connect to another IRLP node

Enter this command followed by a 4 digit command to the IRLP node computer to control the
IRLP system. (Note that all IRLP node numbers are now 4 digits. Use the “38 73” command to
disconnect from any IRLP node.)

38 4460 – Connect to the Southfield node

38 73 – Disconnect from the Southfield node

Note: Access to the IRLP node is now allowed by all users-login is no longer required.

Use 2: Disconnect from any currently connected IRLP node

Simply enter “38 73” to disconnect from any IRLP node. (73…get it?)

Use 3: Special IRLP Node Commands

Below are some special commands available using the IRLP node computer. These do not connect
to other IRLP nodes. Instead the perform functions local to the IRLP computer, such as playing
an ARRL News recording.

38 73 – Disconnect from any IRLP node or stop playing messages listed below

38 0001 – Play most recent ARRL News

38 0002 – Play most recent Amateur Radio Newsline

38 0003 – Play This Week in Amateur Radio

38 0101 – Play Pelston Airport Weather (updated hourly)

38 0102 – Play stats from most receint IRLP connection

38 0103 – Play current propagation report

38 0113 – Play Solar X-Ray flux report for GEOS satellites

38 0104 – Play list of nearby APRS stations

38 0105 – Play status of 5.8 GHz wireless network feed

38 0199 – Play a silly message

Preset links are those for which the operating parameters (such as frequency, mode, offset, and
PL), are predefined. Preset remote base links permit quick access to those frequencies without
having to go through the process of setting all necessary parameters. A list of these presets
is included below. (See commands starting at 400.)

The default mode when you first enable a preset remote base link is receive only. You will need to
use this command before you can talk to another station using the remote base preset.

Always listen on the remote base before selecting transmit/receive mode. If you are experiencing
interference on the local repeater, disconnect from the remote base to avoid causing interference
to stations on the frequency to which the remote base is tuned.

Note: Transmitting on the remote base is, in general, restricted to users who are
licensed for the remote base frequency being used.

Command Preset Configuration

400 – 146.740 Repeater (Cheboygan)

410 – 29.6 FM Simplex

450 – WWV on 10 MHz

You must use this command to turn on the remote base before entering any remote base commands.
Once the remote base has been turned on, you will only be able to use the remote base commands
and will have to turn off the remote base system before running any normal repeater commands.

Note: Do not use this command to interrupt an automatically triggered weather alert transmission.

Each time a weather alert is broadcast by the local NOAA weather station, the repeater will play the
message live on both the W8GQN and N8DNX repeaters while recording the message for replay. If a
weather alert has been triggered, the repeater will announce this by periodically stating “Weather
Alert”. Use this command to listen to the most recent message.

Note: Only control operators can clear a weather alert message and discontinue the alert announcements.

The weather receiver is only triggered by significant local weather broadcasts from NOAA that will
affect Emmet and surrounding counties and is not triggered by test messages.

Note: The system will log you out automatically if you do not enter any command codes
for a few minutes. When this happens, you will hear the message “{your call} Control Down”.

WARNING: Any user on the repeater you used to log-into the system may issue restricted
commands permitted to your user level while you are logged in. In essence, once you log in,
the system can’t tell if someone sending it command codes is the one who logged-in or someone
else. You are responsible for the use of your user ID. Be sure to log out using command code
72 as soon as you are done.

WARNING: You are responsible for the use of your user ID. Do not share your Pass Code
or Pass Phrase with others. If you believe for some reason that your ID and Pass Code or Pass
Phrase is being used by someone else, contact a control or system operator immediately and
have them disable your ID or issue you new access codes.

A user with a specific user level may use any commands available to that user level and all
commands available to lower user levels. For example, a General class remote base user can use
any command available to Tech class remote base users, club members or any user who has not
logged-in, but not those available only to level 4 (Advanced) and greater.

Note: The remote base system knows on which frequencies each class of licensee is permitted
to transmit. Operators need not worry about transmitting outside frequencies permitted for their
license class-the system will not let them do so. This is the only reason for separating access
levels by license class.

There are two forms of this command. Which one you use will depend on whether you have been
assigned a “Pass Code” or a “Pass Phrase”. A “Pass Code” is a specific sequence of from 3 to
5 digits that you will always enter exactly. A “Pass Phrase” is a longer sequence of up to 8
digits that provide a “cross reference” of sorts and is used as part of a “challenge/response”
process. The practical difference is that someone monitoring the input channel with a Touch
Tone decoder can decode your “Pass Code” and use your ID, while the proper use of “Pass Phrase”
makes it very difficult for someone monitoring with a decoder to correctly determine your entire
Pass Phrase and thus to use your ID.

Note: Use of a “Pass Phrase” is beyond the scope of this manual and will be explained to
users who for some reason require higher security.

Most users will be assigned a Pass Code and will log-in the same way each time. For example,
a user with the ID 167 and a Pass Code of 526 would log into the system as follows:

71 167 526

Use may use this command to test all keys on your Touch Tone pad, including A, B, C, D, * and #.

Note: If the system doesn’t properly reply, you may not be strong enough into the repeater
to reliably enter codes or may have some problem with your radio. The most common problems other
than a weak signal are under or over deviation and “twist”. Twist is a situation where there is
a significant difference in level between the low tones and high tones that are produced as you
press each key.

You can use this command to determine if you have a good enough signal prior to executing other commands.

1. Key your transmitter and enter command code 81
   
2. Unkey your transmitter and wait for the courtesy beep
   
3. Key your transmitter and make a short transmission
   
4. Unkey your transmitter
   

At this point a short description of the UHF receiver systems is in order to help you understand
the signal levels reported by this command code. Briefly, both UHF repeaters use the same antenna,
preamplifier, transmission line and distribution amplifier. The following table lists, in order,
various parts of the receive system with gains and losses.

Since there is adequate gain in the system to overcome any loss after the preamplifier, the
system noise figure (sensitivity) is effectively set at the preamplifier. The signal delivered to
the receiver, where the signal level is measured, has a net gain of +13.2 db over the level of
signals at the input to the preamplifier. As a result, the reported signal levels may seem a bit
higher than you would normally expect for the quality of signal received since I did not compensate
for this when I calibrated it. (Perhaps I will some time in the future.)

The following table can be used to convert the dbm readings to uv (microvolts) at the receiver and
preamplifier inputs, and to gain an understanding of what these numbers mean in practical terms.

Note: Due to limitations in the signal level reporting of the repeater, -113 is the weakest
reading, and -66 is the strongest reading that can be reported. Signals stronger than -66 dbm will
still read approximately that value. Also, due to a slight increase in loss at the front-end filter
on the input frequency of the KO8P repeater, readings on that repeater will be slightly worse than the N8DNX repeater.

Date and time

Backup battery current

Backup battery voltage

DC Supply voltage

UHF #1 (N8DNX) “Squelch Low” status

UHF preamp current

Normally, the battery backup system charges the backup batteries as they are being used.
The amount of current being reported is actually the net current between the charge and
load currents. During a power failure, you are likely to see current values up to, or
exceeding, 100 amps. Also, since the N8DNX power amplifier is tied directly to the backup
batteries, you may see values exceeding 50 amps at times when AC power is present.

Note: At this time there is a problem with obtaining a reliable value of current from
the backup battery current shunt amplifier. Values may not be correct or even close.
(I hope to fix that sometime next spring.)

Note: When the backup battery voltage is less than 12.8 volts, but greater than 11.5
volts, the repeater courtesy beeps on the W8GQN and N8DNX repeaters will change to a CW “B”.
This indicates that the system is on, or recovering from an AC power failure. A CW “BL”
indicates that the battery voltage is less than 11.5 volts (battery low). The power inverter
will automatically shut off, and the repeaters will cease to function, when the voltage reaches
about 10.5 volts. This is necessary to protect the batteries.

Note: The DC power supply is used to power devices that require 12V DC, but that
won’t operate properly with the reduced or varying voltage available on the backup batteries.
During an AC power failure, the backup system will automatically switch in and produce AC power
from a 1 KW power inverter to all devices that require AC power, including the DC power supply.
This permits these devices to continue operate during an AC power failure as they normally would
when AC is present.

Note: The UHF preamplifier is actually a redundant pair of individual preamplifier stages.
Either of the two preamplifier circuits can fail and the system will continue to function, although
with a slightly worse system noise figure and about 3 db less gain. The failure of one of these
two redundant pairs may cause a decrease or increase in the current reported by this command.

Where {mode} is: 1 = USB, 2 = LSB, 3 = AM, 4 = FM, 5 = CW

Note: You can only select frequencies on which you are allowed to transmit when in
receive/transmit mode.

Note: This will only work on the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 220 MHz and 440 MHz bands when in
FM mode and with PL transmit enabled (7 2 2).

Note: This will only work on the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 220 MHz and 440 MHz bands when in FM mode.

Note: DO NOT include a “*” for decimal point as is the case when setting the radio frequency.

Note: The remote base system uses separate radios for HF and VHF/UHF operation. When
switching VFO’s results in the remote base having to switch radios, the system will automatically
turn off the remote base, reconfigure it for the correct radio, and ask you to turn it back on.
(For reasons beyond the scope of this document, it was not possible to make this process fully automatic.)

Where {speed} is:

Where {direction} is: 0 = Positive Offset, 1 = Negative Offset

Where {size} is:

Note: The remote base system uses separate radios for HF and VHF/UHF operation.
When switching VFO’s results in the remote base having to switch radios, the
system will automatically turn off the remote base, reconfigure it for the correct
radio, and ask you to turn it back on. (For reasons beyond the scope of this document,
it was not possible to make this process fully automatic.)

Where {frequency} is: MHz followed by “*” followed by KHz

Examples:

Note: The remote base system uses separate radios for HF and VHF/UHF operation.
When the frequency change results in the remote base having to switch radios, the
system will automatically turn off the remote base, reconfigure it for the correct
radio, and ask you to turn it back on. (For reasons beyond the scope of this document,
it was not possible to make this process fully automatic.)

Note: If the remote base is in receive/transmit mode, it will not permit you to
select a frequency on which you are not permitted to transmit. To select such a frequency,
use “7 1” to return to receive only mode, then select the desired frequency.