How Do I Use the 537 System?

The 537 System is full featured and easy to use. Here are the basic rules:

1.     The easiest way to start is using the central receiver. Set your 2 meter transceiver for 145.370 with a negative 600 KHz offset. You must set your radio to transmit a 103.5 PL tone. Set your radio to decode 103.5 PL if that option is available.

2.     There are a lot more time delays in the transmit chain of this system than a little repeater. Please make sure you press your PTT and pause just a 1/2 second before beginning to speak.

3.     Repeater features are activated by keying the repeater and sending touch-tone (DTMF) signals. Enter a 1 through 3 character command code to request a function.

4.     The execution of the command code will not begin until you unkey your transmitter.

5.     You may request multiple commands occurring sequence. To do this, enter the first command code, then enter the '*' key, then the next command code, etc. You do not need the '*' on the last command code. But, when you do this each command begins in sequence when you enter the '*'.

6.     Before the 7K controller was added (Summer 1999) you needed to copy morse code or remember tone patterns to know about the state of the repeater. Now the 537 talks and the courtesy tone alerts you to three things. The 'waterdrop' courtesy tone is used in open and normal operation. The waterdrop changes to a triple beep to identify an alarm or weather condition. A double beep means the audio is arriving from the linking system.

7.    The 537 System has an integrated WRSAME radio that monitors the National Weather Service NOAA VHF broadcast on 162.550 MHz. When this radio detects EAS coded weather watches and warning from the NWS, the repeater automatically changes its alert mode and begins a paging cycle. Users may also enter a command code to monitor the WRSAME radio audio at any time. You can read more details about the WRSAME use if you want to control the system.