About MB6IOK

MB6IOK Wires-X Gateway, Ormskirk, Lancashire
MB6IOK Wires-X Gateway, Ormskirk, Lancashire

MB6IOK is a UHF (70cm) amateur radio Wires-X gateway that allows those in range of it to communicate with other licensed amateur radio operators around the world using just a low-power handheld radio.

  • Frequency: 431.125MHz (70cm)
  • CTCSS Tone: None required
  • Mode: System Fusion (C4FM)
  • Location: Ormskirk (IO83nn)
  • Height: 73m ASL
  • Operational: When the SysOp is at home
  • Transceiver: Yaesu FTM-100D
  • Antenna: Watson W30 (7m AGL)
  • Digital Interface: Yaesu HRI-200
  • Controller: Dell Optiplex 790 SFF (Core i3-2100, 3.1GHz, 4Gb, Windows 10 Pro 21H1)
  • Software: Wires-X ver 1.5.3.0
  • Default Room: North West Fusion Group (NWFG 41755)
  • Local Room: Quantum Technology Club (QUANTUM-TECHCLUB 41369)
  • SysOp: Derek Hughes (G7LFC)

Using MB6IOK

PLEASE NOTE: If this gateway is not connected to a node/room for a short period of time, bit will automatically connect to the North West Fusion Group room.

Connecting to the gateway

To access the gateway:

  • Tune your Wires-X equipped transceiver to the operating frequency.
  • Press and hold the [X] button on your transceiver.
  • The screen on your transceiver will indicate that you are connected to the gateway if you are within range and the room that the gateway is currently connected to will be identified.

MOST IMPORTANT: Please do not log on to the gateway and immediately attempt to disconnect the room it is currently connected to because it is not the room you want to use. You must remember that this is a simplex gateway, so whilst you might be able to hear what is being transmitted by the gateway from the Internet, you might not be able to hear a station that is transmitting into the gateway. Remember the golden rule in amateur radio: LISTEN for a while before trying to operate.

Changing the connected node/room

To change the connected room using the node/room list:

  • Select the ‘Search & Direct’ option on your transceiver (this will be in different places on different transceivers).
  • Select the ‘ALL’ option.
  • The list of available nodes/rooms will be obtained from the gateway and sent to your transceiver.
  • Scroll up and down the list of available nodes – the number next to the node/room ID indicates the number of stations connected to it.
  • Press on the required node/room when it is displayed.

To change the connected room to one you know the name of:

  • Select the ‘Search & Direct’ option on your transceiver (this will be in different places on different transceivers).
  • Select the ‘Search & Direct’ option.
  • Enter all, or part of, the known room or node name.
  • Press [Ent].
  • If more than one room/node matches the text entered, a list will appear; click over the desired room/node.

To change the connected room to one you know the numeric ID of:

  • Select the ‘Search & Direct’ option on your transceiver (this will be in different places on different transceivers).
  • Select the ‘Search & Direct’ option.
  • Press [ID] and a ‘#’ character will appear.
  • Enter the known room or node ID.
  • Press [Ent].
  • If more than one room/node matches the text entered, a list will appear; click over the desired room/node.

Disconnecting from a node/room

When you have finished using the gateway, please ensure that you disconnect the gateway from the node/room you have been using as a courtesy to other users.

To disconnect the gateway from a node/room press and hold the [BAND] key on your transceiver.

Disconnecting from the gateway

To disconnect from the gateway press and hold the [X] key, on your transceiver.

Thank you for using MB6IOK

Thanks for using the MB6IOK gateway, we hope you enjoy it. If you would like to make a donation towards the upkeep of the gateway you can make a donation to the Quantum Technology Club. Thank you, your support is much appreciated.