In the beginning (you know, He is one of us, a Zero), they only had repeaters on the upper half of the 2M band, from 146 – 148. It grew out of former usage, .94, a popular simplex freq at first, and then repeaters with a minus 600kc offset. When it came to putting repeaters in the 147 Mc, they decided to go with a plus offset in case there might be some interference with services outside our band. (Individual’s Xmtrs are likely to be of lower power and height than a repeater and thus less likely to cause out-of-band problems.)

Then, they decided to expand repeaters into the 145 Mc (late 1970s). Thirty kc channels were first, and even today, in this area, we have both 15 and 20 kc channels represented in the 145 segment.

But, you need some simplex channels on your radio also. Start with 146.43, .46, .49, and .52, continuing through .55 and .58. Then add some in the 147 Mc (from 147.42 at 30kc intervals) and listen around for other odd usage like ‘The Outlaw Channel’ 146.45; people on 146.50 even, and the rarely publicized Pottawattamie County Super Secret Simplex Freq of 147.495. (You won’t hear people calling on that freq, only a reference to “QSY to Secret Channel 9.”)

List of some of the Freqs used for Nets in the area

Sundays

2 PM 50.200 USB 7:50 PM 144.250 USB 9 PM 146.94 KØUSA

Mondays

7 PM 145.29 NØWKF 8PM 147.39 PL 131 WØWYV 9 PM 146.94 KØUSA

Tuesdays

7 PM 147.435 Simplex 8 PM 147.39 Tech Net 9 PM 442.225 PL136 Conspiracy Net

Wednesdays

9 PM 442.225 PL136 SWIARC Club Net

Thursdays

8 PM 147.36 KØBOY

Fridays

None

Saturdays

Noon 442.225 PL136 Sat. Noon Swap Net 7 PM 145.29 NØWKF

 
Do you have a complete or reasonably complete list of local area repeaters or a traveler’s repeater list that you would like to share?

If so, please let us know, and we will post it here!

SWIARC Net Control Operators

You can be a net control operator, too. Ask the club for information if you want to try it! We can help by providing you with a sample net script that you’re welcome to use or customize. As long as you follow FCC and club rules, you can run a net as a guest or regular net control operator. Also, every net should have a backup net control operator, which is a good opportunity for you to volunteer to shadow one of the regular Net Controls.

Here are our primary net control operators. This isn’t a complete list of all net control operators who have ever existed on the club repeater; it is merely some of the ones you often hear nowadays.

 

Rich Swig WAØZQG, formally the primary SWIARC repeater net control operator. The Wednesday net might not have continued if it weren’t for this guy. Rich has been the driving force behind a steady and consistent weekly plethora of repeater nets.  Rich also formally contributed to the club website, serves as an officer most of the time, and had volunteered at the yearly SWIARC hamfest.  Rich knows much of the club’s history and local ham radio folklore.  Keeping the conversation interesting and being extremely patient with all hams during the net are reasons Rich remains an extremely popular NC station.

 

Norm WAØJYD aka Junk Yard Dog – reliable sun spot number reports and Monday night 94 net participation, Norm often operates nets when Rich is unavailable. Repeat your callsign phonetically and slowly, even if you know Norm well. Norm is an excellent interviewer, asking questions and finding out more about your take on the current net topic. Count on Norm to archive an informative and thoroughly analyzed subject matter as a net control operator. [Net Control]

 

Bill KDØFJR – has served as the SWIARC Club President and Vice President.  He is a reliable net control operator known for filling in when another NetCon cannot conduct a net.  Bill is a staple of the SWIARC club.  He actively operates on the SWIARC repeater daily and is responsive to other ham radio operators wishing to have a QSO.  Bill has been a consistent ambassador on the air for SWIARC. [Net Control] [Club Officer]

 

 

YØU – That’s right, your name should be listed here as a SWIARC net control operator. After all, the only real qualifications include liking the sound of your voice, keeping a temporary list of names and callsigns, and stretching out the conversation for at least an hour. We nations do blather on but cleverly make plenty of time for all participants to have their turn to speak. You’ve got to keep things under control and respect the wishes of the club and repeater trustee. It’s fun, rewarding, and good practice in public speaking. Contact the club for more information on becoming a SWIARC net control operator on the 146.82/442.225 repeater.

 

 

 

Do they look like their voice?