Regional Despatch officer

[Rockjet]

Have been listening to a number of WAPOl channels while driving around the Midwest (Geraldton, Mingenew, Morawa, Perenjori etc). Heard licence checks on Ch 20, 5, 24, 11 but the person speakin was the same on each channel. Does anyone know where the despatch officer is for these channels?

[WPXZBP]

More than likely in Gero. They have a similar system in the Wheatbelt where everything via VKI was dealt out through Northam. Merredin also dealt out their own at times as they were contacted locally. In the Great Southern I know Albany does some but might also have some through Narrogin.

You'll hear the same bloke on each repeater as they are all linked together.

[ZO100_marto]

Have been listening to a number of WAPOl channels while driving around the Midwest (Geraldton, Mingenew, Morawa, Perenjori etc). Heard licence checks on Ch 20, 5, 24, 11 but the person speakin was the same on each channel. Does anyone know where the despatch officer is for these channels?

Yep Geraldton is the base for that region.

Kalgoorlie is the same for the Goldfields, they can sometimes be heard talking to Coolgardie, Kambalda, Norseman etc. Oh and Menzies before the 2 officers were given leave at the same time and told not need to return after hols finish

[Rockjet]

So if they are working out of Geraldton they wouldnt be on the main channel then (6) would they?

[WPXZBP]

Repeaters have only a set range... maybe 30km. Therefore they have other repeaters to provide the extra distance. They operate on different channels so they don't interfere with each other.

[Rockjet]

Thanks Wes, How do they use HF does that come thru on channel 6 if they are out of range or the highway channel 11 or do they have a HF receiver at the base?

[Nick]

They are linked via 400 - 404 meg radio links. If you have a scan around those frequencies you will find them. There are many frequencies used by all services as links to the main radio channels .Quite a few in the 850-950 meg area as well.
ps Most are a mix horizontal and vertical polarisation to reduce interference. All are low power into yagi antennae for the same reason.

[WPXZBP]

Unless there is an HF to VHF or UHF link they would operate solely on an HF radio at the station. I have seen at Merredin an HF antenna above the station.

If I'm wrong I'd appreciate being corrected.