Our Radio Repeaters

The Branch Owns and Operates Two Repeaters in the Wanganui Region.

(A "repeater" to put it simply, is a receiver on one frequency connected to a transmitter on another frequency, usually high up somewhere on a hill/mountain/tall building and/or mast, to extend the range of its' users)

1. "Wanganui 690" VHF Repeater.

This repeater is located near the Maewa Bench Mark (Trig AK5Q, Maidenhead square RF70PH40TQ), about 35km (21 miles) north east of Wanganui or about half way up the "Parapara Highway" (SH3) at about 657 metres (2155') AMSL.

It transmits on 146.90 MHz (Hence the name "690", from the last three digits.)

The Tait TB7100 repeater unit, powered by a Cordex CXRC12-250W power supply, has an output of around 10 watts fed into two stacked vertical folded dipoles antennas.

The Wanganui 690 repeater covers areas including Taupo, Kapiti, Horowhenua, Manawatu, Wanganui, and parts of the top of the South Island.

As of 25 November 2019 a new repeater link installed at Kaharoa Road (grid RF70GH78KB) linking Wanganui’s 690 repeater to South Taranaki’s 705 (grid RF70FK22GD) and New Plymouth’s 720 (grid RF70AT61RP) repeaters. (Click here to see a PDF of the linking setup.)
This has increased the coverage to most of the Taranaki area.

The repeater trustees are John Love (ZL2JEL) and Laurie Winton (ZL2TC)

The Tait TB7100 repeater unit (top) and the Cordex CXRC12-250W power supply (bottom)

(Click on image for the larger view)

This is "690's" duplexer filters.
This allows both the repeater's transmitter and receiver to be connect to the same antenna with minimal de-sensing of the receiver.

(Click on image for the larger view)

Kaharoa Road Repeater Link Repeater and Batteries etc.

(Click on image for the larger view)

690 is in the Small white hut to the South (Ground view Here)

View Larger Map

2. "Wanganui 9875" National System Repeater.
(This repeater is connected to a country wide network of UHF repeaters)

The Wanganui National System node is located at Landguard Bluff near Wanganui airport. It consists of a local repeater on 439.875 MHz, interfaced to a second repeater linking to Egmont on 434.900MHz. Much of the equipment was donated, and the duplexers were purchased from a grant by PowerCo Trust.

The 2 receivers are Tait T345, the 2 transmitters are T346.

A Tait monitor panel is included to provide local monitoring of either receive frequency.

The controller interconnects the Tait equipment, providing balanced audio feeds, from either receiver and keying to the selected transmitters. The controller also allows the trustees to command several functions by remote tones (pass word protected), and also provides monitoring of battery voltage and charge status.

The 550Ah battery consists of three 4 volt units in series, maintained at 13.7volts by a Tait T348 automatic 12amp mains supply.

The 8 Tx/Rx duplexer cavity filters are configured as two separate networks, each frequency pair having 4 cavities. These filters are configured as bandpass/bandreject,and allow simultaneous transmit and receive on the respective antennas.

The antennas consist of a corner reflector at the top of the 10 metre high mast, directing the local repeater towards Wanganui city and the river valley, and for the Egmont link a 6 element stainless yagi, located lower on the mast. The path to Egmont is line of sight.

A copper plated rod is mounted above the top antenna to provide an electrostatic discharge path in adverse weather. This rod is connected to a similar ground rod at the base of the mast, via a heavy copper conductor.

Click HERE to "tune-in" to the NZ National System

The repeater trustees are John Love ZL2JEL & Mike Newman ZL1BNB

Map of New Zealand's Amateur Radio
"National System" network of UHF repeaters (map updated 2021/10/25)
(Click on image for the larger view)

(or for a Larger printerble Colour Version)
(Larger printerble Outline Version)

(Click on image for the larger view)

More Pictures in the Photo Gallery.

The Branch Owns and Operates Two Repeaters in the Wanganui Region.

(A "repeater" to put it simply, is a receiver on one frequency connected to a transmitter on another frequency, usually high up somewhere on a hill/mountain/tall building and/or mast, to extend the range of its' users)

1. "Wanganui 690" VHF Repeater.

The Tait TB7100 repeater unit (top) and the Cordex CXRC12-250W power supply (bottom)

(Click on image for the larger view)

This is "690's" duplexer filters. This allows both the repeater's transmitter and receiver to be connect to the same antenna with minimal de-sensing of the receiver.

(Click on image for the larger view)

Kaharoa Road Repeater Link Repeater and Batteries etc.

(Click on image for the larger view)

This is "690's" duplexer filters.
This allows both the repeater's transmitter and receiver to be connect to the same antenna with minimal de-sensing of the receiver.