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Latest News

Spoke Too Soon

February 16, 2025

Although upgrading the 5GHz radio hardware at both ends of the link between the CAS control server and the Benton (master) site initially improved performance, the improvement was short-lived. The primary issue remains: the growing trees across from my QTH - as well as obstructions in the path of other links - continue to obstruct the signal, leading to ongoing degradation in link quality. As a result, the CAS system has become nearly unusable on some days due to increasing packet loss.

While my existing 5GHz wireless links are functional, they come with their own set of challenges. To keep costs manageable, I have relied on older, more affordable used equipment rather than investing in new hardware. Additionally, the geographic limitations of my location make establishing stable connections difficult. The obstructing trees have caused timing issues, audio drops, and other disruptions in the VOTER system, further impacting performance.

To address these challenges, I am exploring potential solutions, including raising the height of my 5GHz antenna to clear obstructions, identifying a nearby tower or structure to serve as an intermediary hop, and seeking new site locations to establish a more robust network and create a reliable ring of connections.

My goal is to strengthen the link between sites to keep the CAS simulcast system operational and growing. However, working with a limited budget and restricted site access presents significant obstacles. Finding suitable locations and cost-effective solutions remains a priority to ensure the long-term reliability of the system.

New Years Resolution - Better Backhaul

January 1, 2025

Starting off 2025 strong - I have finished upgrading both ends of the 5GHz link between the CAS control server and the Benton (master) site, which has massively improved the timing accuracy and reliability of the system as a whole. This should resolve most, if not all of the timing/dropout issues.

Decreased Audio Delay

October 12, 2024

Today, a new wireless link was constructed to serve the Hot Springs site with an improved network connection with significantly higher stability and lower latency. Due to this, the CAS repeater system audio delay has been decreased from 750ms to only 210ms!

Networking / Benton Duplexer

September 28, 2024

The past few days have been spent rebuilding the N5LSN IP network to accommodate the many hosted services that have grown since I first put it together.

During this, I discovered that the duplexer at Benton was arcing on the TX side, and replaced it with a new one.

70cm Conversion Complete!

September 14, 2024

Today marks the completion of the conversion from GMRS to 70cm! Benton, Metro, and Hot Springs are back on the air and simulcasting!

Benton needs an antenna swap - the currently installed antenna is 460-470MHz and does not perform well at 442MHz.

Hot Springs still needs a link upgrade - right now it is running on a cellular modem and the latency is awful. This causes a significant audio delay on the entire system. I'm hoping to get a PtP link to the site established, but I have to find a site to use as a relay "hop" point to get LoS around the terrain between Hot Springs and Benton.

Want to expand coverage into Perry, Conway, Faulkner, White Co's... need more sites! Need more $$$$$!

The Rebirth of CAS 700 - 70cm Edition!

August 20, 2024

Welcome to the Central Arkansas Simulcast (CAS) 700 website.

If you’re new here, CAS 700 was originally set up as a GMRS repeater system, designed to provide top-tier communication across Central Arkansas.

Recently, though, changes and clarifications from the FCC regarding GMRS operations have made it clear that continuing to use CAS 700 in its original form would no longer comply with the rules. As a result, I’ve made the tough decision to transition the system to a 70cm Amateur Radio (ham) repeater system.

For those of you who were part of the GMRS community, I understand this might be disappointing. CAS 700 relied on linking multiple repeaters through external networks to create a wide-area coverage system. Unfortunately, the FCC has clarified that these types of connections aren’t allowed under GMRS, so to stay within the rules, the system can’t operate as it did before on GMRS frequencies.

But I’m not abandoning GMRS altogether. I’m working on setting up standalone GMRS repeaters at the current CAS 700 sites so that you’ll still have reliable communication options in Central Arkansas. It might take some time to get these replacements up and running, but I’m committed to making it happen.

To those of you coming to CAS 700 as Amateur Radio operators, welcome! The system you’re joining has a strong foundation, built with high-accuracy equipment and a focus on providing robust communication capabilities. By transitioning to the 70cm band, I’m able to keep the advanced features of CAS 700 intact, ensuring that it remains a valuable resource for the ham community.

Whether you’re here from the GMRS side or you’re a new ham user, I’m excited to continue this journey with you.

If you have any questions or want to support the setup of new GMRS repeaters, feel free to reach out.

Thanks for being here and for your continued support as we make this transition together.

Scrollbar Messages

Data links between sites are extremely weak and hindering system performance. I am searching for new locations to create stronger links and restore system performance.