The WTF operates three APRS Digipeaters and two 2-Way APRS iGates listening on 144.39 MHz.
WW8TF-1 RITTMN
From Rittman Ohio with an alias of RITTMN under the callsign WW8TF-1. It’s currently running 5 watts into a 7dBi antenna at 125′ above ground based at 1150′ ASL for a total antenna height of 1275′ ASL. It provides very good coverage particularly to the south and southwest of Rittman.
It’s based on a Kantronics KPC3 Plus running 9.1 firmware and an Yaesu FT-5200 transceiver.
WW8TF-2 AKRON
From Akron Ohio with an alias of AKRON under the callsign WW8TF-2. It’s currently running about 20 watts into a 6dBi Diamond X200A antenna about 160′ above ground level based at 1150′ ASL, for an antenna height of 1310′ ASL. It fills in to allow handheld based APRS nodes to function in the downtown and Akron metro areas.
The AKRON digi is running a Kantronics KAM+ with firmware 8.2 and a Motorola Radius GM300 transceiver.
WW8TF-3 WOOSTR
The WOOSTR digi is located on the South East side of Wooster Ohio on a high profile tower with the antenna up about 300′ above ground. This digipeater runs a Motorola CDM-1250 radio at 40 watts and is controlled by a Kantronics KPC-3 on version 8.2. See live info about WOOSTR on APRS.fi here.
WW8TF-15 APRS iGate
WW8TF-15 is a two-way APRS iGate located in Norton, Ohio. It is a low profile site intended primarily to relay messages to and from the high profile AKRON, RITTMN, and WOOSTR digipeaters. It is, however a fully-functional digipeater itself as well.
WW8TF-15 is a Motorola CDM-1250 transmitting 40W into a dual-band antenna at approximately 20ft above ground (1190′ ASL). The controller is a Raspberry Pi running Debian 12 Direwolf. The same system also powers the KE8LDH 442.5125 repeater on AllStarLink.
KE8LVA-10 APRS iGate
KE8LVA-10 is a 2 way APRS Igate serving the general area of Wooster, Ashland, and Mansfield. This Igate receives a lot of traffic from the nearby high profile Woostr digipeater as well as other more distant high profile digipeaters.
KE8LVA-10 consists of a Motorola CDM1250 VHF radio transmitting 40 watts into an ed fong dual band antenna at approximatly 35 feet. Controlled by a Raspberry Pi 4 running direwolf with a master communication RA board.
KE8LVA-10 is powered using an Epic PWRgate which allows it to use AC power when available with a 100AH battery backup that will take over in the event of a power outage. Internet is also on an uninterruptable power supply. Starlink backup internet as well as generator backup is available for extended outages.
Coverage Map
Here’s an example coverage map from aprsdirect.com that shows our real “heard” coverage of a 10-day period from 10/31/2020 to 11/9/2020.
