10/22/2006

Welcome to the Mountain Radio Network website. The purpose of this site is to provide information about the linked repeater network covering the San Jacinto Mountain communities and the surrounding regions, including the Coachella Valley to the east and the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley to the west.

The repeaters in this system have always had emergency communications and public safety support as a primary purpose. From the beginning, we have been affiliated with the R.A.C.E.S. groups in the area and have provided communications support for a multitude of operations in the mountain region, including fires, floods, earthquakes, Red Flag patrols, and training/practice simulations. There is no membership required nor are there any dues or costs. The system is provided by us, to, and for the benefit of, the communities in this area. Although the system is not "private" or "closed", we do try to restrict access by locale. Since we are sharing several frequencies with other radio systems, we discourage out of area users that might interfere with co-channeled repeaters. Be a good neighbor, if you are a ham in our primary coverage area, you are welcome to use the system as it was intended. If you are not located nearby, there is probably another repeater that would serve you better.

The first repeater was originally established over 25 years ago in Pine Cove on 146.085 Mhz by the Anza Radio Club. Over the years, it was moved several times, finally settling on Table Mountain in the Anza Valley. A second 2 meter repeater was put on the air from Santa Rosa Mtn. on 145.340 Mhz in the late 1980's. The original 447.480 Mhz repeater was located there as well. The Santa Rosa site covered a wide area including the Coachella Valley. The core group that built and maintained the repeaters became known as the Anza Repeater Group.

When the Santa Rosa site was lost, it became a goal to re-establish the same coverage area. The 145.340 repeater moved to Table Mtn. in Anza Valley and the 447.480 radio moved to Pine Cove. The first link was set up connecting these two sites. Over the years, several more sites were established to increase the coverage and a linking system was constructed to connect all the sites together. The system is still under construction with several major site upgrades going on. The Pine Cove 1 repeater was just rebuilt and installed . The new repeater has provisions for battery operation with automatic revert to low power transmit to conserve battery power. Upcoming work includes rebuilding the Edom Hill equipment(under way) and installing the link that will tie the Palm Springs upper Tram Station repeater to the rest of the system. We have also established a link over the internet to the Squaw Peak 2 meter repeater in the Verde Valley area of Arizona so we can keep in touch with K6JM, who retired there.

Since the system has grown to cover such a large region, we decided to rename it to reflect what it is today. So, we now have the new Mountain Radio Network club callsign on the way, N6MRN will be assigned to all the repeaters in the system and we have established this website, www.N6MRN.org, to provide information on the system.

The repeater system would not exist today but for the tireless support of many people. All the amateurs in the Anza Club and surrounding areas especially. Several individuals have been involved since the first radio went on the air many years ago, among them are John, K6JM, and Garland, K6VP. Others who provide valuable support include Tim, KF6FM, who's technical suppport has been crucial to the construction and maintainance of the equipment, also Jim, K6GUN, Jay, W6IDY, and Steve, K6JSJ, who have helped in many ways. Thanks everyone!