ZL2VH: Upper Hutt Branch 63 NZART
Project 5 – Mt Climie UHF PRS Repeater
The club has approved a new initiative to install a UHF PRS repeater at Mt Climie, to be developed as a community-owned and community-operated asset.
This initiative is known as Project 5, named after the intended repeater channel: Channel 5 – 476.5250 / 477.2750 MHz.
The club will provide:
- The repeater site at Mt Climie
- The repeater licence
- Mains power
- Ongoing maintenance and operational support
To bring this project to life, the club is seeking community donations to fund the installation. The total project cost is estimated at approximately $10,000, covering:
- A Tait TB7300 repeater 40 W UHF 470-520 MHz
- Duplexer: DPRE8-6UH-0.65
- Feedline: SPUMA 400
- Antenna: ZCG Scalar EA40-67-P 4 x dipole array
This will be a brand-new installation using all new components, not a refurbished or second-hand system. Our goal is to deploy high-quality equipment to ensure reliability and a long service life for the community.
If you would like to support Project 5 and assist with its financial backing, please contact the Club President via email. Contact details are available on the Contacts page.
ZL2VH is the call-sign for Upper Hutt Branch 63 NZART. We are the Upper Hutt Amateur Radio Club. We're involved in a wide range of activities associated with amateur radio, from basic radio operation and volunteer activities to radio theory, use of new digital communications methods and experimentation.
QST63 the club's newsletter is now back as a monthly release, on the first day of the named month e.g. November 2024 was released on 1 November 2024, etc. QST63 is sent to members on the first of the month, with the web site having the newsletter available for download from the 10th of the month.
The D-Star Newsletter is published when information to share is available and as such has a less frequent release date.
Repeaters
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The two D-Star repeaters, '5425' and '860' have both been upgraded to the latest versions of the ICOM D-Star models - ID-RP2010V and ID-RP4010V. Both new repeaters were upgraded in October/November 2024. We wish to thank RWB Communications (ICOM agents in New Zealand) for their support of this upgrade.
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Branch 63 owns, operates and maintains a large number of repeaters, which are situated on Mt Climie Track in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
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Of these, our 730 repeater has IRLP Node #6713 on it and provides excellent FM voice coverage throughout the lower North Island. 730 is being worked by stations in Blenheim, Nelson, Masterton and Taranaki. A few times in the past, propagation conditions have been such that Australia has worked through 730 along with regular Christchurch and Auckland contacts being reported.
Beacons
Branch 63 operates a 3 cm (10368.275 MHz) band propagation beacon at Climie for the benefit of the wider New Zealand radio amateur community. We've recently added a 10 m (28.229 MHz) band beacon, currently transmitting from our club rooms in Upper Hutt.
3 cm (10368.275 MHz) band propagation beacon - main module is under repair so no signals transmitting through - as at 15 March 2025.
- ZL Beacon Status (updated 16 January 2026)
- ZL2VHX Mt Climie 10 GHz Beacon (Off the Air)
- ZL2MHF Upper Hutt 28.229 MHz Beacon
SDR Receiver
Branch 63 operates a KiwiSDR Receiver at Climie for the benefit of the wider New Zealand radio amateur community.
The link below will take you to the SDR:http://123.255.47.67:8073
KiwiSDR - ZL2VH Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Grid square: RE78NU73.
Antenna: End fed long wire - 860 m ASL
Location (lat, lon) (-41.150409, 175.143457)