Autopatch - Let's make a phone call from our radio

[@kchaney56]

This feature was shown to me by my HAM friend Rich Johnson back in the 80's, while we were both working at Disneyland, and I have never forgotten it. Sadly I waited this long to get into HAM myself, I left Calif(thank God) but I have lost contact with Rich.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

I was part of a backcountry team one summer around here called TERT. We use a system just like that to call into the county sheriff’s office for emergencies. Just so happened on my first day up we used the phone patch to get a helicopter evacuation for a man experiencing a medical emergency. Nice demonstration, Tech Prepper!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s amazing how well systems like these work in the back country.

[@bradleyjohnson452]

This was/is a great service. I grew up in SoCal. Back in the early 90s I used a auto patch quite a bit. Cells phone were around but very expensive and I was driving a lot from LA to OC to SD weekly. It allowed me as a newly wed to check in with my wife when I was running late. I still have a early Heathkit Autopatch on a shelf.

[@TheTechPrepper]

What a great time to be a ham. Thanks for sharing this experience. I am regretting not getting licensed while in high school in the 90's. It sounds like you had a blast. 73

[@Pearsoftslaughterguy]

Thanks for clearing that up

[@snoopaloop007]

I'm a new ham and I'm constantly learning about all the awesome things about the hobby! Thanks for the video

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for watching! Welcome to the hobby.

[@ericbjorkman4665]

Auto patch is a great feature for any personal repeater. Especially if you are out of cellphone range. Nice job 👍

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thank you! There’s so much to explore in amateur radio. 73

[@pu4cac-redfox532]

@@TheTechPrepper how do i built one?

[@thomastully234]

We did this on our locomotive radio one time while sitting for hours waiting for a favorable signal! My engineer knew how to do it and it worked. We got pretty nervous thinking we might get in trouble, it was in the days before everything went digital. I wish I could remember how to do it!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Very cool! I enjoy hearing stories like this.

[@414RadioTech]

I built mine out of a repeater backbone system and I made a community repeater out of it so now everybody in the neighborhood and where I live can make phone calls free of charge courtesy of my internet subscription phone service so everybody can make unlimited calls all they want through my repeater

[@PreppingWithSarge]

Actually didn’t know this was possible. Thanks brother 👍

[@TheTechPrepper]

No problem. dual band radio + repeater + physical landline = prepper comms.

[@khanscombe619]

New to radio In 20 yrs. I do remember dad using parch while camping way back in mid 90s as a kid. I don't have anything here but I'd like to get my license to motivate me to get a handheld

[@capricornone2362]

My local 6 meter repeater has Autopatch😎👍

[@TheTechPrepper]

That's great that you still have this feature in 2022 and on 6m. ;-)

[@harrybolognese1408]

#GETLICENSED Awesome video. Next up is SMSGATE via APRS!!! Can’t wait to see more content. Your video subjects seem to always be extremely relevant to my own interests. Great channel as always.

[@TheTechPrepper]

As always, thanks, Harry. There are too many prepper channels, that talk about ham radio, but never do anything with amateur radio in practice. It’s interesting that you mention SMS/APRS Gateway. It’s been on my video todo list for awhile. Glad you enjoyed the content.

[@billystallings7373]

That’s pretty sweet.

[@wild-radio7373]

Very cool! :) 🤜🏻👍🤛🏻♡♡♡

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yep. Thank you!

[@wild-radio7373]

@Amber Hartfield ♡♡♡

[@fabiosilveirabueno1573]

Hi good demo - I think yours is the unique AUTO PATCH DEMO on the air in the INTERNET. We started with autopatch in Brazil in 1979 using a -1600 VHF Repeater owned by a HAM GROUP. The amateurs were the first kind of station using this kind of connection, considering for commercial usages were not alowed. Thank you PY2FI.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Greetings from the US, Fabio. The unfortunate fact is that autopatch is extermely rare to find these days in the US. It must have been great to use pre-cell phone in the early 1980's in Brazil. 73, KT1RUN

[@fabiosilveirabueno1573]

Gonzalez - the maintenance for the autopatch is not something easy. The line arrives at the repeater in cupper pairs, and having lightnings on the site, it is very probably the surges to damage the autopatch controller. It happened many times till I disconnect the line we had here in 1997. Considering the low price of cell phone connections (Brazil prepaid around 4 dollars monthly) there is no interest to keep running these machines. But consider the low cost for the solution, we might build a good personal autopatch using a duplex radio (such as TM742 KENWOOD - FT8100 YAESU) and a controller like CAT300DX ( the same you used on the test - unfortunately they have closed the factory in Florida ). If your hand talk has the full duplex capability you will deal with a perfect telephone. Despite this the radio will operate as a cross band repeater for you usage (I am not sure about FCC regulations on that - check with people over there).

[@TheTechPrepper]

You raise a good point about repeater maintenance. It’s never something I considered. It would be interested to see what the local repeaters cost to operate. It would be nice to help support the operational costs through donations and fund raising. Take care!

[@chrishopkins8214]

Thanks again for the info

[@n1kkri]

That brings back a lot of memories from the 70's.

[@TheTechPrepper]

That must have been great pre-cell phone. Glad I could send some nostalgia your way. 73

[@MountainMan7.62x39]

I live in a very mountainous area with limited cell coverage. I think I'd like to talk to my club about integrating one of these on our repeater.

[@forgetyourlife]

The antenna needs to be up when your entering dtmf codes as well.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for the tip!

[@EvgeniX.]

nice one! so basically you can talk to any non-ham this way? any limitations as far as fcc goes?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yes, but everyone on the repeater can hear your conversation. The challenge is that almost no repeaters offer this autopatch service anymore.

[@EvgeniX.]

@@TheTechPrepper right. But it doesn't have to be the repeater itself, isn't it? if a repeater forwards DTMF, than another ham on the same repeater can host an autopatch service to his landline? Well that's assuming the repeater won't block dtmf..

[@jeremytaylor4576]

Does auto patch work if the grid is down? Can they call you back? Is the call public broadcast for anyone to hear your call?

[@jeremytaylor4576]

Ok heard the public conversation not private. 2 questions remaining

[@YeshuaJesus-j4q]

Can you make calls in other regions too or just the us?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Most of these are restricted to just local area codes due to cost. These autopatch systems rarely exist anymore. They were popular pre cell phone.

[@hlessiavedon]

I noticed your in arizona, you by chance a member of RU Prepared? If so we might wind up talking to eachother on the radio. 73, KK7AHG.

[@YeshuaJesus-j4q]

I wish I could learn this. How do we in other countries learn about this. Do you have a course bro?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Sorry, I only have the videos on KZbin. No courses yet, but I may in the future.

[@lucasbrown3156]

Do you know what auto patch controller the repeater owner is using? I am interested in putting this feature up on my future repeater. Thanks!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Hi Lucas, I’m not sure what equipment they are running. The maintainers of this repeater usually respond in a day or so. I’m using the Daisy Mt. repeater. Here’s the site: www.w7ara.org/z/Repeaters.aspx

[@lucasbrown3156]

@@TheTechPrepper awesome! Thanks for the reply man, 73

[@renrat1585]

So you hit the * button to access the auto patch?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yes, for my particular repeater, it was hold the PTT, announce callsign, *, then the number, then release PTT. You may need to check the instructions for your local repeater.

[@renrat1585]

I just had a repeater used locally here today. No other repeaters are listed for auto patch. Time for some research.

[@N9MXTHAM]

When I got licensed back in 1991 Auto Patch was a big and exciting feature. I honestly don't know any repeaters now that still have this feature engaged. Still active by you in other states?

[@TheTechPrepper]

The 90's seemed to be the decade for auto patch. I'm in Arizona and most of the repeaters run by the Arizona Repeater Association (ARA) still support auto patch. I would suggest looking on repeaterbook.com or searching for the organizations/clubs that run repeaters in your area. It will take some digging. Good luck!

[@oscaropont]

Does the repeater has to have that feature?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yes, the repeater needs to have this feature. They are becoming more rare these days. Stay tuned for a future video where I’ll talk about and demonstrate sending text messages from a handheld radio. It will be sometime in September. If you download RepeaterBook from the Apple or Android stores, it will typically tell you which features a repeater has available.

[@gramgram1playsfortnite31]

Cool!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Right? Very cool in my option, too. I’m glad this old tech is still around. Take care.

[@stephaniestephanie1290]

Well, my baofeng BF f8hp lets me connect to a repeater. But when I press the "*" button then phone number, it doesn't really let me finish the phone number. Can you be more explicit on how to punch the "*" and phone number into the baofeng? thanks

[@TheTechPrepper]

The repeater instructions are repeater dependent and your repeater needs to support autopatch. Almost no repeaters support this capability. Double check with the repeater owner whether it is supported and what the procedure is to initiate autopatch. Hopefully the repeater owner has a website that you can consult. Good luck!

[@darrellcollins877]

WOW first i ever heard of this

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yeah, it is. The trick is finding a repeater near you that still has autopatch. Good luck.

[@darrellcollins877]

@@TheTechPrepper yessir, I found the info on repeaterbook, none near me lol. Still good info to have on hand , especially if your travelling.

[@kelvinzelaya2162]

How do you know if your local repeater supports it? What technology do you search on repeater book? For example to find DMR we search DMR repeaters.

[@TheTechPrepper]

My local repeater has it listed as "autopatch" on the RepeaterBook app on my iPhone. Once I saw that this service was offered, I performed a Google search using the repeater's call and found the group that maintains it. Once on their website, I was able to find instructions on how to use it. Your mileage will vary as the service is rarely supported these days. Good luck!

[@kelvinzelaya2162]

@@TheTechPrepper Great job putting this together and making the video. Keep it up.

[@ItsEverythingElse]

Emergency calls have a max time limit??

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's probably a limitation of the repeater equipment not being able to transmit for more than X minutes without "cooking".

[@giannagiavelli5098]

that land is so pretty where is that?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks. Just north of Phoenix. It's the New River / Cave Creek area.

[@giannagiavelli5098]

[@TheTechPrepper]

This is a tri-band antenna that covers 2m/220/440. It's the Diamond SRH320A. It's a great performer. I actually recommend the Signal Stick from Signal Stuff. It's a rugged antenna, inexpensive and they're the company behind HamStudy.org. Take care.

[@dmacleod8152]

What kind of radio are you using ?

[@TheTechPrepper]

It’s the Yaesu FT-60R. It’s a 2m/440 dual band radio. It’s an older radio, but proven and very reliable.

[@deddie4645]

Hi I'm a new Tech here in East Mesa.... I was looking through a bunch of papers I downloaded off the Internet and read that auto patch then Google your video.....COOL MAN.... 1 question do you keep holding the PTT continually If through the whole phone conversation how does that receive transmit thing work Thanks

[@TheTechPrepper]

Congrats on getting licensed. Take a look at page two. It describes when you needed key and unkey. I hope this helps. www.w7ara.org/pdf/ARA-Repeater-Info.pdf

[@mikeblue8011]

What class is necessary for you to auto patch ?

[@TheTechPrepper]

The first entry-level license. It's the Technician license. Note: Autopatch is not available on all repeaters. This is a dying service, so check your local repeaters. Good luck with your license!

[@arikjohnson412]

I’d like to learn how to set one of these up!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Start by downloading the RepeaterBook app and see if the repeaters in your area have autopatch listed as service. Most repeaters these days don’t offer this anymore.

[@Ray-zh8dr]

I have a yeasu ft3d trying to figure it out (KE8RJC)

[@TheTechPrepper]

That’s a really nice HT. I bet APRS is fantastic on that radio.

[@chrishopkins8214]

Can you have the entry-level license and also make phone calls like that?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yes, you can. The entry-level Technician license in the US gives you full privileges to the 2 meter and 70cm bands. Autopatch systems, if available in your area, have been traditionally connected to local repeaters on 2m and 70cm. The challenge is finding a repeater in your area that still has autopatch capabilities. Autopatch has been disappearing over the last few decades... pretty much since the introduction of cell phones. As I mentioned, there are lots of limitations with autopatch, but if it's available in your area, it's another great resource to add to your emergency communications plan. Some of the autopatch systems in my area are run by local clubs and typically have a small fee associated to help maintain the equipment and service. I will say, that I am very lucky that my local repeater offers this service for free. Good luck if you decide to get licensed! Thanks for the view and great question.

[@PatrickDickey52761]

One thing to note (for newcomers especially). You can't use this to do commercial calls (ordering a pizza, buying/selling things, etc.). That's one of the FCC's rules for amateur radio.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Very good point. Thank you!

[@kevinjanowski9876]

FCC changed the pizza thing

[@PatrickDickey52761]

@@kevinjanowski9876 True. But it's much easier to say "don't do it at all" than it is to say "Hey this is OK, but that might not be."

[@archerjackson690]

In Canada you can order pizza lol

[@xpy1]

what frequency do i go to and how do i use it

[@TheTechPrepper]

There frequency is the frequency of the repeater of the repeater that has this capability. I’m afraid most repeaters don’t have this feature/capability. Try downloading the RepeaterBook app on your phone and it will list the repeaters in your area. It should list which features the repeater supports. Good luck finding one as autopatch is not very common anymore, now that cell phones are everywhere.

[@mikemcdonald5147]

I didn't know people still used auto patch systems LOL. Its been years since ive seen or heard one. Now everyone has cell phones. Glad to see they are still in use.

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's great for an emergency out here in the back country. ;-)

[@Ray-zh8dr]

He didn't explain how to access it..

[@TheTechPrepper]

The instructions can vary from repeater to repeater. Starting at 3:10 I have a screen overlay with the steps. Almost no repeaters have this capability any more. Have a good one!

[@Ray-zh8dr]

Thank u

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@Ray-zh8dr No problem. I hope you have a repeater nearby that has this feature. It's a dying service unfortunately.

[@coziii.1829]

Why do people call them handy talkies For 55 years I only heard of walkie talkies. When did this change is a political correct thing .

[@TheTechPrepper]

I have no idea. I’m a new ham and everyone seems to call them HTs. Does anyone else know why and when it changed?

[@USAFJUNKIE]

@@TheTechPrepper I believe it was Motorola that came out with a model called the "handie talkie" some years ago... Or something like that is the story I remember hearing. I've also heard that it's a slang version of "handheld transmitter/transceiver." It's kinda like the name "Jeep." Nobody knows the true story.