This repeater is available to support ARES Emergency Communications.

This page last updated 19 September 2019 to disclose changes to local channel programming. NOTE: The Time-Slot 1 / Talk-Group 8 and Time-Slot 2 / Talk-Group 2 channels have migrated to Time-Slot 1 / Talk-Group 311603 and Time-Slot 2 / Talk-Group 311602 respectfully.

• Introduction
• Code Plug Parameters
• Private Calls
• Repeater Block Diagram
• Projected Coverage Footprint
• Roaming Support
• GPS / APRS Support
• W7ELE DMR Repeater RESET Events
• Additional Hytera RD-982 Technical Information

Roaming provides for the automatic channel selection between two repeaters when driving out of coverage from one repeater and into coverage of another repeater. The W7ELE repeater and W7CIA repeater are configured to cooperatively support roaming, using static talk-groups, to support automatic selection of the most favorable repeater. If the operator's radio supports roaming, this means that the operator will not have to manually select the best repeater as they move in and out of coverage while mobile or portable.

This repeater has been reconfigured to support ROAMING. The repeater will transmit a beacon of a duration of 4320 milliseconds every 60-seconds. Radios that have roaming support, such as Hytera and Motorola, can be programmed to support roaming on static talk-group channels. Static talk-groups available for roaming include:

• 31160 ARES Idaho on Time-Slot 1
• 3116 Idaho Statewide on Time-Slot 1
• 311603 LOCAL (SECONDARY EMERGENCY COMMMS)
• 311602 LOCAL (PRIMARY)

For the purpose of explaining roaming, the following discusses how roaming works with Hytera radios:

Hytera radios creates roaming lists, which are analogous to a scan list, but differ from a scan list in that the roam list contains channels on different repeaters that contain the exact same content (i.e. the same talk-group). When creating a code plug, the roam list are constructed first, and then the channels that are to be used with roaming are then subscribed to the appropriate roam list.

The following roaming lists would be created:

• 31160 ARES Idaho
• 3116 Idaho Statewide
• 311603 LOCAL (SECONDARY EMERGENCY COMMMS)
• 311602 LOCAL (PRIMARY)

Then the individual channels that use the talk-groups and time-slots as appropriate for static-talk group operation on the repeater, are then configured to subscribe to the appropriate roaming list:

• The 31160 ARES Idaho channel programmed for the W7CIA and W7ELE repeaters are set to subscribe to the 31160 ARES Idaho roaming list.
• 3116 Idaho Statewide channel programmed for the W7CIA and W7ELE repeaters are set to subscribe to the 3116 Idaho Statewide roaming list.
• 311603 LOCAL channel programmed for the W7CIA and W7ELE repeaters are set to subscribe to the 311603 LOCAL roaming list.
• 311602 LOCAL channel programmed for the W7CIA and W7ELE repeaters are set to subscribe to the 311602 LOCAL roaming list.

Lastly, the code plug is modified to assign a programmable button to be used to place the radio into or out of roaming mode.

Once the radio is properly programmed to support roaming, the appropriate channel that is included in roaming support is then selected on the operator's radio and the radio is then placed into roaming mode.

With the radio in roaming mode, the radio monitors the beaconing of the repeater. If the repeater signal strength falls below a specified Relative Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) threshold, the radio will try to find a new master repeater site by scanning the channels contained within the active roaming list. If a new master site is found that has better performance, the radio will automatically switch to that channel. If no better master site is found, the radio will remain on the current channel (which is what will happen the station moves out of range of a master site and coverage from another master site is not available). In essence, the operator's radio is voting on which repeater has the best coverage and always maintains a channel selection on the best repeater.

Roaming relieves the operator of having to manually monitor the repeater signal strength (or the station geopgraphical position) and switch channels, and this helps to maintain communications in a linked repeater network.

NOTE: Not all radio manufacturers support the roaming feature. Motorola and Hytera radios are know to support roaming. Your mileage may vary.

NOTE: Because the repeaters are periodically beaconing so that the Relative Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of the operator's radio can perfrom the voting process, the beaconing will cause all radio receivers operating on a repeater that supports voting to exit power savings mode at a repitition rate equal to the beaconing rate (i.e. once every 60-seconds). Beaconing may result in faster discharge of a portable radio battery than might be experienced on an inactive non-beaconing repeater. Beaconing occurs at a 5% duty cycle, with the W7CIA repeater beaconing for 3000 milliseconds every 60-seconds and the W7ELE repeater beaconing for 3000 milliseconds every 70-seconds. The offset intervals are intended to skew the beacons on the respective repeaters so that overlapped beaconing is less unlikely. A 5% duty cycle, per beaconing repeater, represent 42 minutes over a 14-hour period that a receiver will not operate in battery savings mode.

If you are researching the Hytera RD-982 repeater and are looking for additional technical information, including guidance on configuring the RD-982 to participate on the BrandMeister network, please see the W7CIA VHF DMR Repeater page.