Radio Systems

2 Meter System Fusion Dual Mode Repeater

Our interference problems disssapeared and we shelfed the plans for moving the repeater for now.

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.

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

NS9RC-10 Chicago

collocated with the UHF 442.725 repeater

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.

Propagation Beacons

To help discover band openings, the NSRC has operated a propagation beacon on 28.297 MHz since 2001. It is located at the Heller Nature Center in Highland Park, IL about 27 miles north of downtown Chicago. The beacon was built from a Radio Shack HTX-100 running 5 watts to a Cushcraft AR-10 half wave vertical. CW message keying is performed by an Ultimate PicoKeyer. The 10M band is open a lot more than you may think, even during periods of low sunspot activity, so be sure to check the beacon section of the band between 28.200 and 28.300 regularly, you may be pleasantly surprised with what you hear. Over the years we have received reception reports from over 30 countries and every continent except Antarctica. The club also operates a 6M beacon on 50.072 MHz which is co-located with the 10M beacon. It was put on the air in January 2023 and was built by AA7DJ. It runs about 6 watts out to a halo antenna at 20 ft. As with the 10M band, be sure to check the 6M beacon section between 50.060 and 50.080. Reception reports on our beacons are always welcome and QSL cards are available. Please send your report to KK9H.

Recommended simplex frequencies for club events

* 446.025 PL 114.8 - Primary Channel
* 147.405 DCS 073 - Secondary Channel
* 146.460 No PL used - July Fox Hunt Channel