how to set up your ht for reverse operation
[WHAT IS THE “REV” OR “REVERSE” FUNCTION ON MY RADIO?
What follows is an example of when to use the “REVERSE” function that is found on many hand held HT’s and larger mobile radios used by Hams.
This example is based on Hams supporting a charity bicycle event which is located in a remote rural area some distance from the repeater. Some Hams are using their powerful vehicle mounted mobile radios and patrolling sections of the bike event as SAG, “Support and Gear” wagons to assist broken down riders. Their powerful mobile Ham rigs enable them to reliably reach the repeater. Some Hams are just using HT’s and in many cases will hear the repeater OK, but will have difficulty consistently reaching the repeater when transmitting. In this example the repeater is published as a 146.640 Mhz repeater with a Minus offset.
Unlike our personal Ham radios, many repeaters consist of two co-located but independent and separate radios that often have separate antennas. One radio is exclusively a receiver that feeds audio to the other radio which is exclusively a transmitter. The repeater's receiver hears our puny signals on one frequency (i.e.- 146.040 that in our case is specified by the 600Khz minus offset), and simultaneously feeds that audio to the repeater’s transmitter, which instantly and powerfully transmits it out over a wide area using the main repeater output frequency of 146.640Mhz, the published frequency for our repeater.
Note that all the Hams, (you, me, SAGs, everybody) supporting this event that have programmed this repeater into their radios, will have their radios set and be listening to the repeater output frequency on 146.640.
It is only when a Ham, (you, me, SAGs, everybody) presses their PTT, that their radio will automatically change from listening on 146.640 to actually transmitting on 146.040 so the repeater will hear their puny signal and instantly blast it out on 146.640 where all Ham radios are listening.
What if a Ham's puny transmitted signal on 146.040 is blocked by terrain or distance from reaching the repeater? The repeater won't hear it, and no other Ham in the event (including Net Control) will hear the puny 146.040 signal because everybody's radio is set and listening at 146.640.
So what is a possible alternative for the Ham with the blocked signal to be heard?
While the repeater may be too far away or blocked by terrain, the blocked Ham can try to see if another Ham, e.g.- a SAG that is supporting the event and listening like all the other Hams to 146.640, is in the vicinity and able to hear and respond. In order to do this the blocked Ham has to temporarily use "REVERSE" so the blocked radio will transmit on 146.640 to the SAG, and when the SAG transmits back on 146.040 the blocked radio will be listening.
At the same time, when the SAG transmits back to the blocked Ham on 146.040 there is a good chance the SAG’s stronger mobile signal is still able to reach the repeater. This will enable the SAG to first get information from the blocked Ham and then relay that information to Net Control. (The SAG should tell everybody else to standby while in contact with the blocked Ham, so they understand that a relay is going on).
The blocked Ham should immediately un-reverse after the temporary contact and relay of information with the SAG. Un-reversing will avoid future confusion and enable the blocked Ham to listen to the event.
(Because the Reverse function acts on the radio’s currently programmed and “in use” repeater setting, there is no need to try to somehow program the Reverse frequencies into a memory location in the radio.)
Hope this helps to understand the “REV” function.
73, Roger K6OU