QST de Ron / KD6ZXG —
The new Hernandez Valley repeater is now linked to our repeater network.
This repeater is off of Coalinga Road and serves the extreme southeastern part of San Benito County that has no radio or cell phone coverage. Specifically, this repeater covers the Bitterwater, Clear Creek and Hernandez Valley regions of our county. Since it is now linked, any radio traffic originating from Park Hill, Call Mountain or the Bear Valley repeaters will automatically be broadcasted to Hernandez and vice versa, creating a seamless communication system for most of San Benito County.
To accommodate the radio link to Hernandez, the Bear Valley repeater was rebuilt to allow it to be a hub in our linking system. Thanks goes out to the many hams who worked on this project including Billy W6WKB, Mel KK6MES, Robert K9OHV, Brent KG6KPD, Jim KI6KD, Joe KK6ZWM, Vanessa KG6ZAK, Tim W6TST, Sara KJ6SAS, Jack K6KRK and Heatherly N6HKT. And a special thanks to Clark KK6UGA who coordinated much of the work including the roofing and solar aspects of the project.
The frequency for Hernandez Valley is 146.985 MHz (-) with a PL of 118.8. Because of the area that it serves, you can not reach this repeater in Hollister but as you travel south on Highway 25 it will come in just north of Bitterwater Valley. To conduct a “self test” radio check, key your mic and press 455 on your DTMF keypad, then release your PTT button and say your call sign after the repeater says “Ready”.
