Well, it seems there are again some new owners of the repeater we use, and my thoughts about this are even more enthusiastic than I would have expected! In the last 20 years I have known four different owners of the 147.210 MHz. repeater serving our area. All have supported traditional Ham activities and operation, and all have worked hard to have the best sort of repeater they could manage.

The present owners have taken up this mantle with renewed vigor, and the results of their labor are quite well evidenced! In speaking recently with Steve Mankowski AD6XK, he said, "Yup, we are going to have a pretty good system of several repeaters when we get this all done" I realize and appreciate that in his comment there was the unstated reference seeking my support in this effort, and thats certainly OK! I, and its my bet, that all the Tech Bench Elmers are willing to lend a hand in this effort. It takes a lot to keep a repeater system up, running, and healthy!

Many of you may not realize all of the hardware, and I mean radios, that are up on "the hill". There are three (3) separate 2 meter wavelength band repeaters. There is also a 135 centimeter system, and there will also soon be a 23 centimeter system. For the "user" that lends the potential of five (5) repeaters!

Actually it means much more than that. Steve and I have talked of just a few ways in which these "machines" can be utilized. Several months ago Steve offered me the space to put a 6 meter band repeater up at his site. I accepted and we have talked about some of the ways this might enhance the overall operation. I have long thought of what it would take to reinstate the sort of net operations I was first introduced to when I became a Ham some thirty-four years ago. I hope with the addition up on the hill of a 6 meter repeater, and a simplex transceiver on the 135 centimeter band, that we might re-kindle the kind of operation I enjoyed on the "Rag and Tech Net" of the 1960's. I guess I should add that all of my own repeaters are coordinated as "open systems". This is an important distinction that contributes to the operation I have in mind, and to the Mt. Baldy repeaters!

Well to wrap this up, GREAT WORK GUYS, and our thanks to KE6ZLZ, KD6HDX, AD6XK, and all the gang at the Inland Amateur Radio Society! To paraphrase a line from the movie "Blade Runner" you've all done a mans work sirs!