Hello and welcome to UK916, a PMR446 & CB gateway on the eQSO network, based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK.
The gateway is normally connected to the Australian UHF CB eQSO server which is crosslinked to other English language servers and radio users around the globe, which means that you can talk to people in other parts of the World, using the handheld 2-way PMR446 radios (walkie-talkies) that you can buy from Argos, eBay etc for less than £20, or a normal UK CB radio!
To use the PMR446 gateway, all you need to do is set your radio to channel 6 and then use sub-channel 02. If your radio does not have sub-channels, also known as CTCSS or CTCSS Tones, you will be able to hear the transmissions but will not be able to talk back. The range of the gateway is limited by the restrictions on PMR446, but covers most of the town centre and sefront. The CB gateway does not use CTCSS, just set your radio to ch27 (27.86125mhz). If you are in range of the gateway, you should be able to hear the other users talking. (If the system is idle then the gateway will transmit a recorded announcement every five minutes and in normal operation will transmit a K tone every 60 secs). Wait for a break in the transmission and then key up and call for a reply. Make sure you speak clearly and slowly, when you stop transmitting you should hear a short 'bleep' back from the system to confirm you connected. It shouldn't take long for someone to get back to you. Please be sure to leave a gap between overs so the system can reset, and so other users can get a shout in!
Besides the UK gateways you can contact, the system is connected to the main eqso server in Australia, transmitting on several UHF CB channels around the Perth, Melborne and Victoria area. There are also gateways in Cyprus, Canada, Germany and the USA. There are several networks crosslinked so you may hear users calling from other radio services such as UHF CB, UK CB, USA and Canada FRS and also PC based users.
The gateway hardware consists of a Sharman Multicom Control PMR base unit, which has been modified to operate the PTT using the COM port on a PC. A 40mm 12v fan has been added to the rear of the unit to cool the output circuit during long overs, this is powered by a seperate power supply to the one powering the radio. The radio is connected to a homebrewed PC (1Ghz Pentium3, 768mb RAM) using a standard audio lead and the homemade COM-port keyer. The CB gateway runs on channel 27 of the UK CB(27/81) system(27.865MHz FM), using a maxcom 30e rig controlled by another PC(1.4Ghz AMD, 768Mb RAM) and COM port keyer, this radio is also fan cooled to keep temperatures down when the system is busy, and has an extra 3.5mm jack on the rear to take the audio from the PC. Unlike the PMR446 radio, the CB is allowed to use an outdoor antenna, a 1/2 wave Silver Rod. Both systems are free to use and there are no licence restrictions, however using the system for any business purposes is not allowed.
The PMR446 gateway is on 24/7 unless there are technical issues. The CB gateway is only on when there is someone here to monitor it, so as to reduce any abuse of the system.
If you like the idea of setting up your own gateway, please have a read through my Blog as there is a lot of plain English technical info on there, all gained whilst setting up my gateway system. Drop me a line if I can be of any help.
For more information on PMR and CB gateways and to join the eQSO network then visit www.pmr-radio.net , this is where you can download the PC Client software to allow you to connect to the eQSO network just using your PC, or you can download the gateway software to set up your own radio gateway. Either way, once you have installed the client, click where it says 'Whos on the system' and look for eqso.pmr-radio.net in the list, this is the eQSO server I use, it runs 24/7 and is very reliable. Just choose a callsign/username (ie UKxxxx-L) and select the 'X-Link' room. If the server is down, please check back in a couple of hours, it usually doesn't take long to come back online. Also, the system can get a little busy at times, and there can be occasional breakdown of transmissions. this is not a fault with your radio, just the internet link suffering some lag!
For useful information on the UK PMR446 system and the eQSO network, please check out all of the following sites: www.446muppets.co.uk , www.delboys446.co.uk , www.uhfcb.org or www.ragchewuk.com. Other websites with information on eQSO are www.cyprus-storms.orgfree.net (Ian in Limassol,Cyprus), www.m0gcp.co.nr (Duncan in Manchester) and www.palmbeach.dynalias.com/gateway.htm (Russ in Rockingham WA)
Please refrain from abusing the system, ie swearing or plain acting stupid, this will only result in the server admin diconnecting the gateway. Please also make sure you don't use call tones, echo mics or roger beeps, these only confuse the system and cause it to lock up.
Most of the time there is someone monitoring the general PMR radio and CB traffic here in Southend, usually listening out on ch19 on the CB (27/81) and ch25 on CEPT as well as monitoring 27.555mhz USB on a Realistic DX394. If you are in the area, do try giving a shout, call for a copy/contact and see who gets back to you!
I hope this page has been useful and informative, please post a comment or message before you leave, or even add us as a friend! Don't forget to read the blog for technical info and latest eQSO news. For any further information on using the UK916-L gateway, or problems arising from its operation, please drop me a line through MySpace messages or mail me at pmr446southend (at) rocketmail (dot) com
73's from UK916
Who I'd like to meet: Any 934mhz users out there who still use the band, please drop me a line as we are trying to get as many of the former users back together online. Reftec, Cybernet, Delta 1, NPR934, Stabo PRS933/934, Grandstand Transverter, any users or owners of these please get in touch.
PMR446 & CB eQSO Gateway Southend's Friend Space (Randomized)
hey, have heard the activity a few times on the scanner in town and caught your ident - good stuff! I wondered where the eQSO PMR gateways went after 446user went offline.
I'm a bit too far out in Shoebury, will call from town if I remember. Keep up the good work!
HELLO SEXY YUMMY FRIEND,i thought i would pop by and lay a round on yur page for a while... hope yur ok and all is well yur end hun, please feel free to drop by and comment me up some time.. xx jaz xx
HELLO SEXY YUMMY FRIEND, Well i..m trying to be a good girl this year so i thought what could i do my new year..s resolution and i was thinking of hugging tree..s, so i thought i would send u some pic..s and i was thinking would u like to join me ???/ drop by some time and message me,what..s your new years resolution? xx jaz xx
Hey dude... did you Put a Fan in the Handheld radios too :) lol :D. What the heck are you cooling anyway with all thoes Fans. PoP over to my Pic Photo albums and You Will see A Few Things That NEED BLOWERS to keep Cool NOT tiny Fans LOL, I have One Unit that has a 3CX-15,000A7 VALVE in side, I use 2 Big BLOWERS to keep that thing COOL
