• There are no active watches, warnings or advisories

Central Arkansas Simulcast 700

Repeater Owner: WRKF394

Site Sponsor: WRJG563 (Metro)

Repeater Frequency Pair: OUTPUT: 462.700 // INPUT: 467.700

CTCSS/PL Tones: 141.3

Repeaters: Vertex VXR-7000U

REPEATER SYSTEM INFO:

This repeater system combines multiple transmitters and receivers in Central Arkansas onto one single frequency by simulcasting and uplink voting, increasing coverage and ease of use while decreasing frequency band usage. By programming this one frequency pair into your radio, you have programmed all of the repeaters in this system. When you use this system, you will automatically be using the repeater closest to you! Think of this system like the towers that your cell phone operates on. You can move between areas without having to worry about changing the channel on your radio!

FEATURES

• This repeater system is linked full-time to the Arkansas GMRS Repeater Group Network – a wide-area system providing free and open GMRS communications across the state of Arkansas. The repeater network also features a connected Zello channel (more information below).
• This repeater system will periodically play tail-messages containing important announcements, such as local weather alerts.
• If a severe weather alert is currently active in the local area, the repeater systems courtesy tone (the beep heard after a transmission) will change to a distinct 3-tone sound effect.
• This repeater system automatically relays Emergency Alert System broadcasts from the WXJ55 station in Little Rock if the alert was issued for any of the following counties:
  • Faulkner
  • Garland
  • Grant
  • Lonoke
  • Perry
  • Pulaski
  • Saline

DTMF CONTROLS

How to use: hold PTT, input activator key followed by code (ex. “*60”)

• * – Activator key
• 60 – Parrot Mode (input code, and while still holding PTT, speak – repeater will echo your transmission back to you)
• 61 – Link Status (says which node(s) the CAS 700 system is currently linked to)
• 62 – WX Tail (plays the current Weather Alert tail-message, if there is one)

SYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS

This system relies on a data connection between each site location and a single master controller. This inherently introduces a noticeable delay between the time at which the system receives your audio, and the time at which the system re-transmits (repeats) that audio. This results in the user being able to hear a slight “echo” of the last bit of their transmission. This is completely normal, and to be expected on a system of this magnitude and complexity.

Given that this system is made up of several transmitters operating simultaneously, you may experience some noises on your receiving end that are not present on conventional single-site repeater systems. These noises may present as a “buzz” or a “whine”, and are also completely normal. The following video showcases an example of these noises that you might encounter.

FAILOVER & REDUNDANCY

Given that this system relies on a data connection between each site location and a single master controller, there are failover processes in place in the event that any of these data connections are severed. If any site location in the CAS 700 system loses it’s connection to the master controller, that site location will automatically enter a “failover mode”, in which the machine will continue to operate as a basic, unlinked, repeater on the same 462.700 frequency but different PL/CTCSS tones until connection is restored. This means that if you are in Little Rock and you try to key up CAS 700 and notice it does not seem to be working, you can switch from the normal CAS 700 CTCSS tone to the Metro backup CTCSS tone to see if it has gone into failover mode. If you can, you should program each of the sites “failover mode” into your radio (for example “METRO BACKUP”) so that you can still use them if the simulcast system encounters issues. The “failover” CTCSS tones for each site are listed below. Failover CTCSS is REQUIRED on the backup input and available on the backup output as well.

CAS 700 BACKUP CTCSS

• Hot Springs: 67.0hz
• Benton: 77.0hz
• Metro: 88.5hz

Each node in this system also employs some form of backup power. This may be in the form of battery, generator, or both.

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This repeater system is open to all licensed GMRS users. Proper call sign ID is required.

• Current Locations:
  • Benton
  • Hot Springs
  • Little Rock

ZELLO INFORMATION:

ARKANSAS GMRS REPEATER GROUP – OFFICIAL ZELLO CHANNEL

This Zello channel is linked to the Arkansas GMRS Repeater Group Network – a wide-area GMRS repeater system with machines across The Natural State.

TRANSMITTING IN THE ZELLO CHANNEL IS ONLY FOR LICENSED MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS GMRS REPEATER GROUP. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REQUEST PERMISSION IF YOU DO NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS. Thank you for understanding!

You must be “trusted” to transmit. To become “trusted”, FIRST become a member at https://arkradio.net. Once you are a registered member, transmit a voice message in Zello stating your name, callsign, location, and membership status, and ask an admin to make you a “trusted” user. Until you have been “trusted”, your messages will only be heard by admins, and will not be sent to the repeater, network, or other users.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and welcome! We’re so glad to have you!

Open use always permitted to GMRS licensees as you enjoy the surrounding areas. Proper call sign use required as in all repeater systems.  Proud to be part of the Arkansas GMRS Repeater Group