Linking Repeaters

Linking repeaters is done all over the country. When one repeater is linked to another, whoever keys up on one, can now be heard on both. This can extend the range of a radio.

And if several, well placed repeaters are linked together, the ability to communicate over the total area of all the involved repeaters can be a valuable asset to communications (especially emergency, public service, and disaster related communications). Most of us are familiar with TARCs UHF network which serves much of Eastern Oklahoma with repeaters in:

Tulsa 443.850
Manford 442.000
Tahlequah 442.225
Cavanal Mt. 442.250
Muskogee 443.100
Stillwater 444.525
Mounds 444.600 (having some problems at this time)
Ponca City 444.700 (having some problems at this time)
Bartlesville 444.975 (having some problems at this time)
McCalister 444.975
Edmond 443.250
Fayetteville, AR 444.925
Decater, AR 442.850
Ketchum 444.875 (temporarily out of service)
Daisy 444.400

Also I just found that there seems to be a linked system that covers much of Western Oklahoma. This was pulled from the internet at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/skywarn/.

"The NWS Norman SKYWARN Radio Network should be thought of as a "liaison net" during severe weather. It is not intended to collect individual spotter reports, but rather to serve as a collection point where local spotter networks can relay information to the NWS. In other words, the individual storm spotter should use their local frequencies and procedures to report severe weather to their local organization. When the local spotter net receives a report of severe weather, a liaison from that group relays the report to the National Weather Service via the liaison net. Amateur radio operators at the NWS Office will also provide radar information and the latest warnings and statements to the liaisons, who in turn pass the information on to their local spotter network.

Spotters and anyone else interested in keeping track of severe storms are encouraged to monitor these frequencies, but traffic should be limited on the liaison net. You should attempt to report severe weather to your local spotter groups instead of on these frequencies."

Much of the following is taken from http://repeater-builder.com/rbtip/repeaterlinking.html


There are other areas around the country that have linked systems as well. For example:

Alabama - 29 repeaters

Arizona - 22 repeaters

West Texas (Davis Mountain)

Cactus Intertie - icludes parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, & Texas.

Colorado - 15 repeaters

South Carolina - 4 repeaters

Illinois/Indiana

Tennessee

Target Link - Parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.


The "Remote Base" type link system is the most common because of its simplicity and low cost. Basically a second radio (even an old hand held or mobile rig) is connected to a repeater that you want linked to another. It uses that new radio as if it was a regular "user radio" on the other system. The "link" radio need not be duplex because of the way the link and repeaters are configured. Naturally the link (remote base) radio will need to be on the same band, frequency, split, and PL as the repeater you are linking to.


ae5ft, Gene, had the following information on IRLP as a mode for linking radio systems.

http://www.irlp.net/

The aim of this project is to reliably and inexpensively link amateur radio systems without the use of RF links, leased lines, or satellites.

The IRLP uses Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) custom software and hardware. Coupled with the power of the Internet, IRLP will link your repeater site or simplex station to the world in a simple and cost effective way.

IRLP operates a worldwide network of dedicated servers and nodes offering very stable worldwide voice communications between hundreds of towns and cities. All this with unsurpassed uptimes and the full dynamic range of telephone quality audio.

kd5cub, Lee, asked if anyone had any information on the FT-2000 100 watt with pep upgrade. If anyone has information on this equipment please contact kd5cub.

wa5vxi, Manuel, asked if other repeater systems use modes other than rf to connect up between repeaters (in particular, maybe using the internet).

ke5okt, Jim, mentioned that the newly running 430 repeater in Sapulpa was recently connected to another repeater (I believe in the OKC area) via Echolink (which is via the internet) but that it is not normally linked up. It can be done (and is likely being done in other places).

kd5guu, John, said that he regularly checks into an Echolink repeater on a Railroad Net on Tuesday evenings that is run out of Wisconsin. He mentioned that is a very operational and effective system.

ae5ft, Gene, added that our (TARC's) system is rf to rf, but IRLP is a very valid and easy to operate system for internet linking. He provided the IRLP info a few paragraphs up.

ke5zcz, Mike, announced that he is a scout leader and that the scouts are selling popcorn, as a fund-raiser, and that those who may run across a popcorn-selling scout, please consider buying some to help support this very worthwhile organization.

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