RADIO Systems

2 Meter System Fusion Dual Mode Repeater

The 147.345MHz repeater system consists of a Yaesu System Fusion DR-2 dual mode C4FM/FM repeater. Dual mode means that if you transmit to this repeater in FM analog mode the repeater will automatically retransmit you in FM analog mode. Likewise, if you use either of the System Fusion digital voice modes the repeater will retransmit in the mode you are using. This repeater currently operates with about 50 watts ERP from an antenna at 250 feet on a commercial tower located in Northfield.

The repeater frequency is 147.345 +0.6 MHz with a TPL of 107.2 Hz for FM analog mode. Please note: If you are using a non-Yaesu System Fusion radio it is recommended that you activate the CTCSS or Tone Squelch feature so that you will not have to listen to the unintelligible signals from the repeater when it is operating in digital mode.

This repeater system is a Skywarn local spotter net repeater serving the northern half of Cook County. Skywarn operation has priority over all other repeater usage so please leave the repeater clear when a Skywarn net has been activated.

THE VHF Repeater is Moving (Spring/Summer 2025)

Due to interference problems at the current location of the repeater, it was decided to move it to a new location to the Willow Hill Golf Course which is about 2 1/2 miles due west of its current location.

There are two maintenance sheds, one of which was the former home of a RED Center fire department receiver that is no longer located there. This is significant because the antenna mounting hardware and hardline feedline are still in place which greatly simplifies the reinstallation of our repeater antenna.

The building on the left is where we will be.

Here are some of the facts about this move. Our 2M antenna is currently about 870 ft. ASL. The Willow Hill height will be about 770 ft. ASL. Granted, this is 100 ft. lower overall, but we pick up some significant advantages:

  • The mobile coverage area is still over 35 mi. in all directions. More than enough to perform our Skywarn responsibilities and provide good general use coverage to club members. Moving 2 1/2 mi. due west relocates our repeater closer to the middle of our northern Cook County Skywarn coverage area and removes the RF shadow immediately west of the landfill from our current location.

  • Our current feedline run is over 260 ft. and that is reduced significantly due to the much shorter run from one end of the maintenance building to the other leading to considerably less signal loss.

  • Access to our repeater becomes much easier since our current site has an understandably high level of security which can make it very difficult at times to get to our equipment.

The dual mode FM and System Fusion capabilities of this repeater will remain unchanged as will its use for Skywarn nets. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

73, Don KK9H
NSRC President & Trustee

220 MHz Analog Repeater

The 220MHz system consists of a 20 watt Bridgecom repeater running through an Henry amp and delivering about 60 watts ERP to an antenna atop a 180 foot water tower in Deerfield, IL. This repeater primarily serves northern Cook and southern Lake Counties.

The repeater frequency is 224.320 -1.6 MHz with a PL of 110.9 Hz.

440 MHz Analog Repeater

The 440MHz repeater consists of a Motorola repeater and an S-Com 7330 controller. It operates with about 80 watts ERP from an offset pattern antenna at 513 feet. It primarily covers Cook and Lake Counties and has become one of the most active repeaters in the Chicago area. The repeater can be accessed using a mobile radio as far south as Merrillville, IN as far north as Kenosha, WI and west to Crystal Lake.

The repeater frequency is 442.725 +5 MHz with a TPL of 114.8 Hz. It is located near the north end of Lake Shore Dr. in Chicago.

D-Star System

We have two Icom D-Star systems in place in the same location as our UHF repeater.

1.2 GHz D-Star Voice Repeater

  • 1292.200 MHz (Output)

  • 1272.200 MHz (Input, -20 MHz offset) No PL

 440 MHz Digital Voice Repeater (Linked to Talk Group 51C)

  • 442.09375 MHz (Out)

  • 447.09375 MHz (In)

APRS

Our club operates two digipeaters.

NS9RC (main digi) Northfield

TNC: Kantronics KPC3+ v 9.1 firmware

Radio: Motorola VHF mobile set to 30W

Antenna: Diamond X-50A — 4.5 dB gain at 45 feet

NS9RC-5 (fill-in) Highland Park

TNC: Argent Data Tracker3 internal board for Alinco

Radio: Alinco DR-135T mobile set to 25W

Antenna: J-Pole unity gain at 25 feet

Winlink Packet Radio

The club sponsors an open packet radio Winlink station on 145.61 MHz which is collocated with our UHF FM repeater and D-Star system. It can be accessed by connecting to NS9RC-10. The equipment consists of a Kantronics KPC-3+ TNC (vers. 9.1) with a 512K RAM upgrade and an Icom IC-28A at 25 watts out to an antenna at 513 feet.

Recommended simplex frequencies for club events

* 446.025 PL 114.8 - Primary Channel
* 147.405 DCS 073 - Secondary Channel
* 146.460 PL None - July Fox Hunt Channel