An alternative C4FM system "YSF" was bridged to the CQ-IRELAND Room in the hope that a little more traffic would occur. This YSF node, IE.YSF.IRELAND allowed users of a personal "hotspot" to connect into the CQ-IRELAND Wires-X ROOM. DMR Talk Group 2724 was bridged to IE.YSF. IRELAND and more recently, D-Star Reflector XLX 353 E. Having linked three digital modes to the one area would be guaranteed to encourage more activity. An added feature is the inclusion of a link from the Peanut APP using Peanut Room YSF.IRE. Check the Yellow Graphic below to see all of the bridges and connections into CQ IRELAND.
Considering the amount of Digital activity in Ireland, this initiative would maximise the use of the respective DMR Talk Group 2724, D-Star Reflector XLX 353 E, YSF Node, and CQ-IRELAND.
In July, the Galway repeater was moved to a new site in Loughrea, Co. Galway making the Wires-X more accessible in the County and surrounding areas. By accessing the EI2SHD Wires-X node, handheld access from Galway City connection into a wider network was possible. Distant stations were now able to take advantage of communication with stations linked to CQ-IRELAND. Stations from other parts of the world could link into CQ-IRELAND. Anyone on holiday would be able to link back to Ireland if near a Repeater with Wires-X installed.
The Galway Fusion Repeater coverage is shown below
The coverage map has proven to be fairly accurate with coverage reports in Westport South of Limerick and beyond Athlone.
The Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club has two Yaesu Fusion Repeaters, one on 70cms currently active and a second on 2 metres, currently off air. Recently, Dermot, EI2GT, set up a ground station linking Wires-X to the 70cm repeater located at Woodcock Hill, Co. Clare.
The Wires-X software needed to be loaded onto a computer and the firmware updated on the HRi200 modem. Dermot was thrown in the deep end as it is not an easy task to set up the system. The Internet router needed to be set up to pass Data from the Wires-X modem. Once this was set up, the parameters of the modem were tailored to the system. John, MI0AAZ, and Steve, EI5DD were on standby to give assistance if required. Within a day, the system was up and running. Initial tests showed that the modem was connected to the CQ-IRELAND Wires-X room and ready to go on air.
The Galway Repeater and the Salthill Wires-X Gateway were all linked together on CQ-IRELAND and it was now possible to call into the Galway Repeater and have contact via the Limerick Repeater. This was now the beginning of a C4FM network.
It is possible to drive from Galway through Limerick and further South and be in constant contact through both Repeaters. As one leaves the Galway coverage area and moves closer to Limerick, it is necessary to retune to the Limerick Repeater Frequency and still be in constant contact with both the Galway and Limerick areas.
The total coverage of the two repeaters is shown below:
The coverage map above assumes that both repeaters are operating on 2 metres. At present, the Limerick 70 cms repeater is connected but the 2-metre repeater will shortly connect into the network to give the coverage above. By networking via CQ-IRELAND both Galway and Limerick benefit from the additional coverage.
An Email to Peter, EI4JR, resulted in the Repeater, EI2IPG, connecting into CQ-IRELAND extending coverage even further. There is one more Fusion Repeater, EI2JPG, located at St. John's Point which would be another potential addition to the coverage on the Fusion Network. At present, it does not appear to be connected.
A few stations connect their personal Nodes to the CQ-IRELAND Wires-X room such as GI7ULG, MI0AAZ, EI4ABB, and EI8DJ. Other connections occur at intervals during the day, so it is important to answer anyone good enough to connect to the system.
Other nodes do connect to CQ-IRELAND on a casual basis and contribute to the activity. We do ask that if a station should appear on CQ-IRELAND; please go back and give a report or hold a brief QSO as this will encourage more activity.
The typical Dashboard of a Wires-X node is shown below:
There are a huge number of Wires-X rooms around the world. Just by pressing the "X" button on the Yaesu Fusion Radio, it is possible to select the part of the world you wish to contact. We do ask that if you do change the Wires-X room and hold a QSO elsewhere, please return the system back to CQ-Ireland when you are finished.
Some say that operating a Yaesu Fusion Radio, whilst mobile involves too much button pressing. This is total poppycock! To drive around Galway you can use the repeater in the same way as any other Repeater. Driving from Galway to Limerick using the Wires-X Room CQ-IRELAND does not require button-pushing as the Repeaters are already set up on it. As you move from the coverage area of Galway into the Limerick area you only have to retune to the Limerick Repeater. One would have done this anyway on the Analog system. The only difference is that whichever repeater that you are on, you will have full coverage in both the Limerick and Galway areas as they are linked. There is no button pushing involved.
Analog FM contacts can be made through any Yaesu Fusion Repeater as they have the AMS system employed. If you transmit Analog the repeater will work in Analog. If you transmit in C4FM the Repeater will work in the C4FM Mode. When the Repeater is connected to CQ-IRELAND you will be able to work stations connected to the network using C4FM.
A lot of time and effort has been put into making this network successful so do, please, make a few contacts and encourage others to join in. If you have a Wires-X modem, do feel free to join the network on CQ-Ireland.
