Overview

Repeaters allow hams using UHF/VHF frequencies to communicate over the horizon, or in mountainous terrain, where line of sight communication is blocked by tall obstructions  (ie mountains or buildings). They are also useful for hams “passing through” an area, using mobile equipment. The Appalachia Amateur Radio Club operates a repeater on Joanna Bald, in Andrews, NC.  Any licensed operator is welcome to use the repeater, per typical guidelines.

How a Does a Repeater Work

An amateur radio repeater is a device that receives a weak signal from a radio station, amplifies it, and re-transmits the signal at a higher power to reach a wider area.

Here‘s how a repeater typically works:

A radio user transmits a signal to the repeater on the “input” frequency. The signal is weak and may not reach the repeater if the user is far away or obstructed by buildings or terrain.

The repeater “listens” for signals on the input frequency using a receiver that is tuned to that frequency. When it receives a signal, it demodulates the audio and processes the signal using a repeater controller, which may provide additional features like tone squelch or call sign announcement.
The repeater then amplifies the signal to a higher power and re-transmits it on the “output” frequency, which is typically a different frequency than the input frequency. The output frequency is usually chosen to avoid interference with other nearby repeaters or radio systems.

Some Local Repeaters

Some Local DStar Repeaters