The latest hot news for the Bromley Repeater Group (BRG)
Silent Key: Graham M0KTY, It is with broken hearts that we share the news from Grahams wife Kerry that her beloved Graham passed away peacefully in the early hours of this morning. Graham was the most wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother-in-law. Outside of his family, one of his greatest passions was amateur radio. As many of you know, he was a regular voice on the Bromley Repeater Group repeaters, GB7OK and GB7LO. The airwaves will feel a little emptier without him, and his kindness, humour, and love will stay with us forever. We want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of his radio friends for the wonderful memories, chats, and camaraderie you shared with him over the years. As a family, we are heartbroken and kindly ask for your patience while we process our loss and make the necessary arrangements. Thank you all for your ongoing love and support during this incredibly difficult time.
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Founded in August 2003 by Tony (G1HIG), the Bromley Repeater Group (BRG) has spent over 20 years as an independent, non-profit collective. Operating without a formal committee, the group provides essential amateur radio repeater services The Bromley Repeater Group (BRG) launched its first repeater, GB3OK, as an analogue on the VHF band,
GB3OK was a "Big Gun" high-performance nature of the original VHF repeater was largely due to its prime location of the early site, It was initially located at Chelsfield, Orpington which sits at approximately 600 feet above sea level which provides reliable coverage for mobile stations within 15–25 mile radius. Operators can expect extended reach of over 40+ miles in all directions including solid mobile coverage across the M25 corridor stretching from Dartford to Reigate, Filling the Void, It effectively replaced the legendary GB3SL (Crystal Palace), inheriting its status as the go-to high-performance hub for London,
Technical Evolution of GB3OK
While initially an analogue system, GB3OK has undergone significant changes over the years:
Original Specifications: It initially operated on 145.650 MHz (RV52) with an input of 145.050 MHz using 82.5Hz CTCSS.
Upgrade to Digital: The 2-metre analogue service was eventually superseded by GB7OK, a digital-only repeater using D-Star and Yaesu System Fusion technologies.
UHF Analogue Identity: The "GB3OK" callsign was later applied to a UHF analogue repeater (previously GB3LK) as part of the group's efforts to maintain analogue access alongside their DMR expansion.
Current Operations:
The group’s repeaters are now hosted at a central site on top of the Alarmwise building in Beckenham,
situated within the London Borough of Bromley.
Technological Evolution:
Embracing the future of radio, BRG has pivoted toward Digital Voice (DV) technologies. This innovative suite includes...
GB3OK was a "Big Gun" high-performance nature of the original VHF repeater was largely due to its prime location of the early site, It was initially located at Chelsfield, Orpington which sits at approximately 600 feet above sea level which provides reliable coverage for mobile stations within 15–25 mile radius. Operators can expect extended reach of over 40+ miles in all directions including solid mobile coverage across the M25 corridor stretching from Dartford to Reigate, Filling the Void, It effectively replaced the legendary GB3SL (Crystal Palace), inheriting its status as the go-to high-performance hub for London,
Technical Evolution of GB3OK
While initially an analogue system, GB3OK has undergone significant changes over the years:
Original Specifications: It initially operated on 145.650 MHz (RV52) with an input of 145.050 MHz using 82.5Hz CTCSS.
Upgrade to Digital: The 2-metre analogue service was eventually superseded by GB7OK, a digital-only repeater using D-Star and Yaesu System Fusion technologies.
UHF Analogue Identity: The "GB3OK" callsign was later applied to a UHF analogue repeater (previously GB3LK) as part of the group's efforts to maintain analogue access alongside their DMR expansion.
Current Operations:
The group’s repeaters are now hosted at a central site on top of the Alarmwise building in Beckenham,
situated within the London Borough of Bromley.
Technological Evolution:
Embracing the future of radio, BRG has pivoted toward Digital Voice (DV) technologies. This innovative suite includes...
📻 Bromley Repeater Group (BRG) History Timeline
2004: Licensing & The Grand Launch of GB3OK
2006 – 2007: Channel Shifts & UHF Expansion
2008 – 2015: The Digital Revolution & Callsign Shuffle
2019 – 2026: The Move to Beckenham with more Upgrades
- 29 March 2004: The Notice of Variation (NoV) is commenced for GB3OK to operate on the 2-metre RV52 channel (145.650 MHz / R2). It cannot transmit yet due to co-channel usage by GB3BF in Bedford.
- June 2004: The RSGB repeater management committee clears the path. They approve GB3BF moving from RV52 to RV63 (145.7875 MHz) to prevent mutual interference with Cambridge (GB3PI) and the upcoming London station.
- 16 August 2004 (12:00 Noon): GB3OK officially goes on-air from Well Hill, Chelsfield, Orpington (Approx. 600ft ASL, utilizing an existing beacon mast 5km SE of M25 Junction 4). Founder Tony (G1HIG) leaves the site after an hour of a "flood" of relief reports from North Kent, London, Essex, and East Sussex.
2006 – 2007: Channel Shifts & UHF Expansion
- 1 February 2006: Due to severe co-channel interference with GB3PO, GB3OK permanently shifts its 2-metre frequency slot to RV57 (145.7125 MHz).
- June 2007: GB3LK (70cm analogue wide-split UHF repeater) goes on-air as a sister station from the group to bolster coverage across London and NW Kent.
2008 – 2015: The Digital Revolution & Callsign Shuffle
- 22 December 2008: Just in time for Christmas, GB7OK is commissioned as London's very first D-STAR repeater, completely replacing the old analogue 2m GB3OK hardware.
- Early 2009 (The Shuffle): With the "GB3OK" callsign vacant on 2 metres, the 70cm analogue GB3LK repeater temporarily takes over the GB3OK callsign name.
- 22 August 2015: The UHF station officially drops analogue operation. It transitions to digital DMR and is allocated its modern callsign: GB7LO.
2019 – 2026: The Move to Beckenham with more Upgrades
- 22 August 2019: Applications are formally submitted to the RSGB ETCC and Ofcom to permanently move both GB7OK and GB7LO to their current site in Beckenham, London.
- 11 January 2025: GB7OK undergoes a major digital overhaul on D-Star and Yaesu Wires-X C4FM / FM system.
- 4 May 2026: GB7LO officially migrates its UHF DMR infrastructure away from the Phoenix network to the BrandMeister network, permanently locking Talk Group 2358 (Slot 2) for local London traffic.
Digital Voice (DV) Technologies:
- GB7OK (Dual-Mode): This is a high-profile D-Star and Yaesu System Fusion (C4FM) repeater. It was one of the first D-Star repeaters in the UK and serves as a major digital hub for London.
- GB7LO (UHF DMR): A dedicated DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) repeater that provides digital coverage for users across London and the South East.
- YSF Reflectors: BRG hosts the YSF20456 (GB-CQ-GB7OK-UK) and YSF20458 (GB-CQ-London-UK) reflectors, which allows local operators to link with other stations globally.
- Wires-X Integration: Their Fusion systems are fully integrated with the Yaesu Wires-X network, including links to the Southern England Group.
Beckenham is a leafy, well-connected town in the London Borough of Bromley, situated about 8.4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. Known for its mix of affluent suburban charm and a thriving high street, it is a popular residential choice for families and professionals.
Musical Legacy: Most famously, David Bowie lived here in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He co-founded the Beckenham Arts Lab at what was then the Three Tuns pub (now Zizzi) and held the 1969 Free Festival at the Croydon Road Recreation Ground, which features the now Grade II-listed Bowie Bandstand.
A major restoration project which was completed in 2024 to return the Bowie Bandstand to its original glory while preserving its cultural legacy.
Musical Legacy: Most famously, David Bowie lived here in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He co-founded the Beckenham Arts Lab at what was then the Three Tuns pub (now Zizzi) and held the 1969 Free Festival at the Croydon Road Recreation Ground, which features the now Grade II-listed Bowie Bandstand.
A major restoration project which was completed in 2024 to return the Bowie Bandstand to its original glory while preserving its cultural legacy.
Repeaters located above Alarmwise office building rooftop at 100 High Street, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1AW.
FUNDING
All of our facilities are funded by Tony G1HIG on behalf of the Bromley Repeater Group. Tony, will have ongoing costs to provide both repeaters GB7OK along with GB7LO and internet services we all enjoy, from the purchase of updated repeater equipment, and computers, to the ongoing operating costs, including power, internet and insurance, We ask please that you consider making a donation to the Repeaters please get in touch by emailing [email protected].
All of our facilities are funded by Tony G1HIG on behalf of the Bromley Repeater Group. Tony, will have ongoing costs to provide both repeaters GB7OK along with GB7LO and internet services we all enjoy, from the purchase of updated repeater equipment, and computers, to the ongoing operating costs, including power, internet and insurance, We ask please that you consider making a donation to the Repeaters please get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Above is Tony G1HIG and Gary 2E0ULA with Rob Mannion (G3XFD/EI5IW) was the highly regarded Editor of Practical Wireless (PW), the UK's leading amateur radio magazine, for over 24 years, retired in September 2013. A dedicated HF/VHF portable operator and experienced medical/scientific journalist, he was known for his hands-on approach and support for the radio hobby before and during his editorship at The Kempton Radio Rally, officially known as the West London Radio & Electronics Show, was a significant annual amateur radio event held at the Kempton Park Racecourse. For years, it served as a primary hub for the radio community.
Special thanks Gary, 2E0ULA & Michael, 2E0MRE for their help with the repeaters over years
including Denis Stanton, G0OLX for he's hardware support received.
including Denis Stanton, G0OLX for he's hardware support received.
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It is with great sadness we learn that M0KTY Graham Furlonger - G4ZXO Peter Horbaczewskyj - Dave Pearson G7AKM - Alan Smith G6XFI - Mike Hawkins G8WOY - Arthur G0MLV - Alan Stanley G1OMH - John Drury G4YVL - Barry Capper G4DBC (ex-G8CUA) -Steve Reigate G1IEY - Connie Ballantyne KB0ZSG - James Flint G0SDB - Stan White G4EGH. have all passed away and will be missed by all. Rest In Peace. |
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