| CITY | FREQUENCY | OFFSET | PL | IRLP NODE | ELEVATION |
| MARATHON KEY, FL | 444.025 | +5MHz | 186.2 Hz | Coming Soon | 300' |
| SOUTH DADE, FL | 444.125 | +5MHz | 186.2 Hz | Coming Soon | 200' |
| MARGATE, FL | 444.025 | +5MHz | 107.2 Hz | 4887 | 215' |
| BOCA RATON, FL | 445.000 | SIMPLEX | 107.2 HZ | 4983 | 42' |
| BOYNTON BEACH, FL | 444.850 | +5MHz | 103.5 Hz | 4433 | 190' |
| JUPITER, FL | 443.825 | +5MHz | 103.5 Hz | Coming Soon | 170' |
| VERO BEACH, FL | 444.850 | +5MHz | 88.1 Hz | NONE | 310' |
A repeater is the combination of receiver and a high-power transmitter, with an antenna on the highest available building, tower, or any structure. Its purpose is to extend the talking range of low power transceivers out on the streets and in the city. Some repeaters are controlled by operators, usually members of the local radio club that installed the equipment, others are fully automatic and open. Repeaters which were first used as far back as the 1930's.
Station A (KA4EPS) on (449.025 input) one frequency calls in to activate the repeater. The repeater receives this frequency and retransmits on a different frequency, usually 5 Mhz lower. In this example, the output would be on 444.025 Mhz. Station B (KG4GOQ) is listening on (444.025) of the repeater, hears the latter's strong signal loud and clear. To answer station A (KA4EPS), he transmits on the same frequency as A (KG4GOQ) used. The repeater responds to this and transmits B's(KA4EPS) voice to A (KG4GOQ) again loud and clear.
Most repeaters and all radios (the past 20 years) use what is called a PL-Tone. Many years ago Motorola made these tones standard in commercial radios. The tone is subaudio,(can not be heard). You must know this tone so you can use a repeater. You must program this tone into your radio. Some repeaters use PL because of interference (like coming from a local paging system) or that the repeater is a CLOSED repeater. In this case, either you have to join their club or and pay club dues. This supports the repeater and keeps it going. The repeaters listed above are open to all licensed amatuer radio operators and is not closed.
Good operating practices, operations rules and tips.
1) Prior to transmitting. Monitor the repeater for a clear frequency
2) To initiate a contact, simply indicate that you are monitoring frequency. "This is KA4XYZ monitoring" will be suffice.
3) Do not "KER-CHUNK" ( key up without identifying yourself ) the repeater to see if it's working.
4) Identify legally; per FCC regulation at the end of a transmission or series of transmissions and at least once each 10 minutes during communications.
5) Keep transmissions short and thoughtful. Your transmissions are being heard by many listeners. Including non-hams with scanners. Don't give a bad impression of our service.
6) Use simplex whenever possible.
7) Use the minimum amount of power necessary.
8) When using IRLP, simply identify with you call and dial the appropriate 4 digit code to the node you are wishing to connect with. (When complete, just dial 73 then identify all in one transmission.)
NOTE: If the node is connected to a reflector, please dial 73 then indentify. No need to broadcast all over the world that you are shutting down the link, people really do not need to know this.
9) Pause between transmissions (2 seconds, especially when using IRLP). This allows other hams to use the repeater ( someone may have an emergency )
10) Don't break into a conversation unless you have something to add.
11) Enjoy!