VA3XPR Launches Improved Analog FM Repeater

VA3XPR analog FM repeater Toronto Ontario ham amateur radio Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR8400 UHF
The VA3XPR repeater duo, featuring Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR8400 commercial grade hardware. Shown is the analog FM repeater on the top and the digital DMR repeater on the bottom.

Great news, Toronto! The VA3XPR analog FM repeater is back on the air after a hardware failure on April 19, 2013, which rendered it inoperative. The new analog FM repeater, which is a Motorola XPR8400, is a 100% duty cycle commercial grade repeater, that will offer a number of benefits over the previous unit:

  • Improved receive sensitivity, allowing it to hear weaker signals than before, thereby extending it’s usable range;
  • Improved audio quality, making for crystal clear conversations.

Since this new repeater uses Motorola’s latest repeater technology, it is capable of being remotely programmed and monitored over the Internet, allowing a great deal of flexibility for on-going maintenance.

“This is a welcomed addition to the St. Jamestown community”, said Don Trynor, VA3XFT, the repeater’s sponsor. “By having a high quality, commercial grade repeater, amateur radio operators in St. Jamestown and adjacent neighbourhoods will have a reliable means to communicate with one another and Toronto will have a reliable means of communication in the downtown area in the event of an emergency or natural disaster” Trynor added.

As always, the VA3XPR repeater is open for all amateur radio operators to use and any activities that help the local community, promote education & learning or the growth of amateur radio are highly encouraged.

To access the VA3XPR analog FM repeater, enter the following details into your FM radio:

Frequency: 441.950 MHz
Offset: +5.0 MHz
PL Tone: 100.0 Hz

For more information about the analog FM repeater, please check out the Analog FM Repeater Page.

About Don Trynor, VA3XFT

Don is a 16-year veteran of the telecommunications industry and a licensed Canadian ham radio operator since 1988. He is passionate about VHF/UHF repeater communications, especially using digital modes and he has owned and operated a number of ham radio repeater installations over the years, including ones in both the provinces of Ontario (VE3/VA3) and New Brunswick (VE9). In addition to ham radio, Don enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, biking and astronomy.