Here are some guidelines to the sort of equipment you will need, to get the best out of GB3KD:-

DTMF

You can work GB3KD using a simple rig, but to get the best out of the system you really need the ability to generate DTMF tones.

Most modern radios have a DTMF keypad, either built into the radio, or on the microphone. DTMF microphones can be purchased to fit older equipment.

Alternatively, inexpensive self-contained DTMF generators are available, which can be held next to the microphone.

There are also computer programs which will generate DTMF tones via the PC speakers, such as DumboDialer (443k)

12.5KHz Channels

GB3KD is on one of the "new" 12.5KHz channels, and is required to conform to 12.5KHz standards. Therefore, in order to work it your rig must at least be capable of tuning in 12.5KHz steps.

Although many amateur radio rigs will tune in 12.5KHz steps, most still use filtering and deviation more appropriate to 25KHz standard. On receive, you will probably get by with such a radio in the North Worcestershire area, as there are no nearby repeaters on the adjacent channels (yet!). But with the problems licensing 70cms, and the growth in Internet-linking, the 2m repeater allocations are due to get pretty crowded, thus you will get better results using a proper 12.5KHz radio.

Also, with a 25KHz spec. radio you may over-deviate, causing you to "chop" out of the receiver on speech peaks, so you may need to back off from the microphone or turn the deviation down a little.

CTCSS

CTCSS is not mandatory at present, and there are no plans to make it so. However, as the number of co-channel repeaters and QRM increases, I may be forced to require it. CTCSS will enable you to access GB3KD without a toneburst, and to monitor it without hearing the periodic ID's

Tone Burst

If you don't have CTCSS, a 1750Hz tone bursts is required, but if you don't have one, you should be able to open the repeater with a reasonably accurate whistle.

Repeater Shift

A -600KHz Repeater shift is required. That's pretty obvious, but I mention it for the sake of completeness, as some rigs might not be capable of operating split frequency.

Echolink

If you would like to access GB3KD using a computer, for example if you don't have a suitable rig, or are out of RF range, you will need a sound card in your computer, a microphone and speakers, and a copy of the Echolink program.