Honoring Our History and Engineering Our Future: The 23rd Anniversary of the 2003 Repeater Rebuild
Hello MAARS Members,
Today marks a very special milestone for the Milwaukee Area Amateur Radio Society. Exactly 23 years ago, our dedicated technical team completed the massive 2003 rebuild of our repeater system. That project laid a foundation of reliability that has kept our community connected through severe weather, special events, and countless nightly nets.
At the heart of that 2003 rebuild—and faithfully serving us ever since—has been our workhorse ACC RC-850 controller. It is a legendary piece of equipment that has defined the “feel” of the MAARS repeater for over two decades. However, as we take a moment today to celebrate our club’s rich history, the board and the technical committee are also incredibly excited to announce the next era of our system’s evolution.
The Next Generation: A 45-Year Leap in Technology
While the RC-850 has been phenomenal, the time has come to modernize. We are officially kicking off a project to replace our aging ACC RC-850 controller with a cutting-edge setup: a Raspberry Pi 5 running Allstar Link 3 (ASL3).
This is not just a minor update; it is a 45-year leap in technology! By moving to an ASL3-based system, we are opening the door to a world of modern capabilities, including crystal-clear digital audio processing, robust network linking, and immense remote-management flexibility.
What does this mean for everyday users? If you love the classic functionality of our current setup, don’t worry! We are carefully programming the new ASL3 system to retain many of the familiar functions, courtesy tones, and operational feels of the RC-850. Our goal is to provide you with the absolute best of both worlds: next-generation technology operating with the classic MAARS character you know and love.
Boosting Our Footprint: Antenna System Upgrades
Upgrading the repeater’s “brain” is only half the equation. We are also deeply committed to improving the “voice” and “ears” of our system.
The technical committee is actively researching and designing system antenna upgrades to significantly improve our transmit coverage. Our goal is to punch a stronger, more reliable signal out across the greater Milwaukee area, ensuring that whether you are hitting the system from a base station in the suburbs or a handheld downtown, you have solid, dependable coverage.
Join Us in the Next Chapter
The 2003 rebuild was a monumental task achieved by volunteers who wanted to leave the club better than they found it. Today, as we embark on this exciting Pi 5 and ASL3 upgrade, we carry on that same spirit.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the MAARS repeater over the years. We will be sharing regular progress reports on the controller build and antenna projects at our upcoming club meetings and on the nets.
Here is to 23 years of excellent operation, and to the exciting modern future of the MAARS repeater system!
73,
Dave KA9WXN President, Milwaukee Area Amateur Radio Society (MAARS)