Hunter Radio Group Repeaters Hit by Cable Theft at Mt Sugarloaf
Date :
20 /
09 /
2026
Author :
WIA & Hunter Radio Group
The Hunter Radio Group has suffered two incidents of cable theft at its Mt Sugarloaf communications site near Newcastle, leaving the group's repeater network off air and disrupting other communications services at the site.
According to a report supplied to the WIA News team by Hunter Radio Group President and Secretary Richard Osborne OAM, VK2AUS, coaxial cables were cut and removed from the Mt Sugarloaf site last weekend. The incident put all of the Hunter Radio Group repeaters at the site off air. Richard reports that infrastructure belonging to Telstra, Hunter Water and community radio station 2NUR FM was also affected. A temporary repair subsequently allowed the Hunter Radio Group to restore service using a lower antenna.
Unfortunately, the reprieve was short-lived. On Wednesday evening, while Richard was conducting the regular Hunter Radio Group Wednesday Night Chat, the repeaters suddenly went off air again. After contacting the group's repeater manager and carrying out some initial checks, Police were contacted and attended the site along with a WIN Television technician. Richard reports that cables had again been cut and removed, affecting the Hunter Radio Group and other site users, although 2NUR FM was not affected in the second incident.
Police investigations are continuing, including examination of camera footage from the site. As the matter remains under investigation, the WIA will not speculate on who was responsible or the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
The Hunter Radio Group's VK2RNC repeater and beacon network operates from Mt Sugarloaf. The club lists repeaters on 146.900 MHz, 146.975 MHz, 438.025 MHz and 438.675 MHz DMR, together with its 50.288 MHz beacon. Its 146.975 MHz repeater normally carries the club's Monday evening news broadcast and Wednesday evening chat net.
Incidents like this are particularly frustrating for volunteer organisations. Amateur radio repeater systems represent countless hours of volunteer effort, equipment, maintenance and expense, and sites such as Mt Sugarloaf provide valuable coverage across large areas. The Hunter Radio Group has been operating since 1922 and is a WIA Affiliated Club serving amateurs throughout the Newcastle and Hunter region.
The WIA thanks Richard VK2AUS and the Hunter Radio Group repeater team for their efforts to restore services under difficult circumstances. Local amateurs should be aware that some Hunter Radio Group services may remain unavailable or operate differently from normal while repairs and investigations continue.
Anyone who has information that may assist Police regarding the incidents should provide it directly to the appropriate authorities rather than conducting their own investigation.
Hunter Radio Group VK2AWX website - Link
Image sourced from the CREAST NSW website.
Page Last Updated: Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 at 19:58 hours by Justin Giles-clark
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