Recent 220 testing a success

[clint]

Recent testing has proven the value of 220 over other bands for communicating with family or friends off the hill during communication system failures or emergencies. The number of open 220 repeaters which are either linked all the time or offer selectable linking is a strength of the band and has now demonstrate it's value once more.

A recent test using a four element Yagi from a very poor location in Newport Beach provided solid communication from Newport back into the west side of Wrightwood.
The Yagi was directed towards Pasadena/La Canada, to the JPL repeater on 224.080 and the link was turned on to connect to the 223.960 machine at Table Mt. Observatory. This provided solid copy over a very difficult path that cannot be accomplished with 2 meters or 440.

[clint]

Two more 220 options have been tested for communicating from Wrightwood into the greater LA/OC basin.

The former Mountain Repeater Association machine on Frost is working but apparently is still equipped with it's corner reflector antenna. This repeater now IDs as W6CPA the IRC radio club. So apparently it's no longer the MRA system. It's noisy but usable from here to Newport Beach. A great choice though is the K6AFA repeater, also on Frost. This machine is not listed in any of the repeater guides (it's not coordinated) so it will have little traffic. It is an open machine and I have communicated with Angel, it's owner and control op, and have full permission to use it. many of the users are Spanish speakers so don't think you are hearing a machine south of the border if you hear Spanish here. This repeater is full quieting from here to Newport. As both of these are on Blueridge at the Frost site they might be a little tricky to hit from the south edges of the village.