The W6FNO Repeater
Southern California's Calling and
Emergency Repeater System
146.22 / 146.82 MHz -- Johnstone
Peak / Onyx Peak
WHAT IS THE W6FNO REPEATER ALL ABOUT?
As the longest continually operating VHF FM repeater in California W6FNO has always been dedicated to serving the public through Amateur Radio. The W6FNO repeater actively supports the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the American Red Cross and other organizations as appropriate. W6FNO has a 30 second timer which resets when the repeater transmitter drops off the air. The 30 second time limit was chosen to assure that at least twice a minute there is an opportunity for a station with a problem to break into an ongoing exchange of information.
For over 40 years the W6FNO repeater has maintained a policy of being used as a calling and emergency channel.
Because of the wide coverage area afforded by W6FNO it is an excellent system to monitor for a call and then select either simplex or a local coverage repeater to continue the contact. This policy of short contacts also makes it very easy to monitor the channel on a routine basis for emergency or priority traffic. All users of the W6FNO system are encouraged to support the repeater by handling calls for highway or other assistance.
There are no membership fees or dues to use the W6FNO repeater. All that is asked is that in return for the use of the system in the manner described above the user devote some time to supporting the system. This support can be in the form of handling CHP or other traffic or helping out at one of the many Public Service activities which take place on the channel.
W6FNO is a simulcast system with transmitters on Johnstone Peak near Pomona and Onyx Peak near Big Bear. In addition there are several automatically selected receiver sites avalable to the system.
The Onyx Peak part of the system is totally solar powered and the Johnstone Peak main site is protected against prolonged power failure by generator and battery backup. The system is designed to be self sufficient for at least 14 days. Because of the reliability of the system many different organizations will turn to the W6FNO repeater for initial communications support in time of a major disaster.
It is important to remember that after, for example, an earthquake everyone for a large distance is aware there has been a problem. Using W6FNO to ask a friend if he or she felt the earth shake is Not acceptable. If the weather is inclement it is Not acceptable to ask a friend if it's raining. The channel time is to valuable. There may be an operator with urgent traffic and a less than optimum station. If the channel is busy with non critical traffic the weak low powered station may have trouble accessing the repeater.
During a major emergency a designated station will assume control of the channel and ask the listening and waiting group of amateurs what resources are available. Please assist us by not using the channel unless absolutely necessary during a major emergency situation and directing all communications to the Net Control station.