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The following procedure is recommended for the weekly DMR net. The net control operator is free to make revisions at their discretion as long as the basic format is followed.
Approximately five minutes before the net start time, the net control operator should announce that the net will begin.
"The Harris County NARS Amateur Radio Society DMR net will begin in approximately 5 minutes. This is <your call>, net control operator for the evening."
At the appointed time, the net control operator begins net operations
"This is <your call> opening the Harris County Area NARS Weekly DMR Net on the Brandmeister network TG3146211 sponsored by the Northwest Amateur Radio Society. This will be a directed net. Net control this evening is <your call>, and my name is <your name>."
<<Break>>
"This net is conducted weekly on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm and during significant events affecting Harris County. This net will accept reports from any amateur radio operator licensed to operate on this frequency. Tonight’s net is open to all amateurs, and discussion may include technical discussion or any subject of interest to amateur radio operators."
<<Break>>
"Any stations with emergency or other high-priority traffic please call net control now."
<<Log Emergency/High Priority Traffic>>
"We will now begin taking check-ins. When checking in, please state your callsign, your name, your location and any traffic. After stations have checked in, each station will be called in order of check-in for comments or announcements. Please call now – Alpha through Zulu."
<<Break>>
Any mobile stations or check-in-only stations, please call now.
<<Log and handle traffic for mobile or check-in stations.>>
We will now Call each operator in order of check in:
<<Log and handle traffic/discussion for all stations>>
<<Make any announcements or weather briefings you may have (i.e. Hazardous Weather Outlook)>>
<<Ask for any late check-ins or comments>>
<<Net Closing Comments, thanks for checking in, etc.>>
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This article helps the new Ham to be more at home on repeaters. It contains a basic description of a ham radio repeater and how to properly use one. Though the examples are written for 2-meter repeaters, the principles and operating information applies to all amateur radio repeaters.
It focuses on practical repeater information in very non-technical language. It is practical learning material for new hams as well as a refresher for those with more experience. Thanks to Tom King, WK5DX for taking the time to provide this valuable reference material for all of us.
How to Use Repeaters by Tom S. King, WK5DX
This document is in PDF format. It will open in a new window.
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The Klein repeater (444.375/PL100) is permanently connected to the NARS Allstar Hub. The Hub serves as the central connection for the NARS repeaters.
Direct connections to the repeater nodes fail because the repeater nodes are behind firewalls. The downtown node is not yet connected to the repeaters. Once internet service or an RF link to the downtown site is in place, any traffic to or from a repeater will be heard on all 3 repeaters.
The map shows some additional connections by some NARS members connected to the Hub. Members who have an Allstar node at their QTH can connect to the Hub (node #59847) .
There are multiple phone apps for Allstar also. Individuals may install the app on their phone and connect to the Hub in the same way as a node at home. Doing so will enable you to monitor the connections to the hub and know which node is the source of the transmission. The hub url is
http://allstar-hub.w5nc.net/supermon/link.php?nodes=59847
We broadcast the Amateur Radio Newsline via the NARS Allstar system each Saturday morning. The broadcast begins at 10:00 AM and lasts approximately fifteen minutes. Additional announcements and reminders, such as weekly net announcements and club meetings are planned for the near future.
April 2024 Update:
The NARS Repeater team has replaced the UHF repeater at the Galleria site. The new repeater is on 443.075 +5mHz offset with a PL 103.5 tone. We also installed the equipment necessary to connect this repeater to the NARS Allstar Hub. This links the Klein UHF and Galleria UHF repeaters together through the NARS Allstar Hub.
Coming soon:
We plan to return to the Galleria site to replace the damaged/broken VHF antenna to return the VHF repeater to service. The Repeater Team also has identified an alternate setup which will connect the downtown VHF repeater on 146.66 to Allstar using an RF link while we continue to search for Internet service at the downtown site. This will achieve the ultimate goal of having all of the NARS repeaters linked together. More details on this as we get closer to installing equipment. This should provide HT coverage to members for most, if not all, of Harris County as well as a portion of neighboring counties.
This is a lot of information to digest so if you have any questions or problems connecting to the NARS Allstar Hub, please contact any of the Repeater Team members. There are discussions ongoing to have a brief Allstar class and/or education in the near future. Once those plans are finalized, we'll notify the members.Check back here and on the W5NC groups.io reflector for updates.
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Important
The Galleria VHF repeater is off-line until further notice because of a faulty antenna. We are working diligently to replace it. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
April 2024 Update:
The NARS Repeater team has replaced the UHF repeater at the Galleria site. The new repeater is on 443.075 +5mHz offset with a PL 103.5 tone. We also installed the equipment necessary to connect this repeater to the NARS Allstar Hub. This links the Klein UHF and Galleria UHF repeaters together through the NARS Allstar Hub.
The NARS 146.66 / PL100 Repeater remains in service. There are still some technical issues pending, however.
Three active repeaters in the Houston area are affiliated with NARS. One repeater is located just west of the George R Brown convention center in downtown, the second is located in the Spring/Klein area near Klein Collins High School, and the third is located in the Galleria area. All three repeaters are now linked full time and are also available on EchoLink/Allstar
- W5NC - 2M 146.660 -600 kHz PL 100.0 Located in the Downtown Houston (signs W5NC/R)
- W5NC - 70cm 444.375 +5 mHz PL 100.0 Located in the Klein-Spring area (signs W5NC/R KLN)
- W5NC-R – EchoLink/Allstar
- W5NC - 2M 146.660 -600 kHz PL 141.3 Located in the Galleria area (signs W5NC/R)
- W5NC - 70cm 444.375 +5 mHz PL 103.5 Located in the Galleria area (signs W5NC/R)