Frequently asked questions

How do I become a member?

That is easy. Just send an email to members@delcityarc.org and request membership. It is free and everyone is welcome. Tell your friends.

What are the offsets and PL tones?

The 145.25 repeater is minus 600 KHz with a PL tone of 103.5 and the 443.3 repeater is plus 5 MHz with PL tone of 162.2.

What is expected of me on the repeaters?

We expect courtesy to others while using our repeaters or nodes. Do not use profanity or treat others with disrespect. If someone is jamming the repeater, just sign off and do not discuss it on the air. You are giving them what they want when you talk about it on the air. If you must talk about it call someone on Skype and talk off the air.  Before dialing any DTMF tones on the repeaters, PLEASE give your call sign first.  There are two reasons for this.

1. Indentifying one’s self on a repeater is common courtesy.
2. Once connected to a node, there may be an ongoing conversation that will prevent the user from complying with FCC rules requiring users to identify at the end and at ten minute intervals.

Why am I hearing a constant signal on the 145.25 MHz repeater?

The constant dead key often heard on the 145.25 MHz repeater is caused by cable television channel 18 video signal. The cable television lines around the city are leaking and allowing the signal to escape. The cable channel video signal is 145.25 MHz. For a more detailed description of the cause and how to eliminate it read this this article.

What is IRLP?

The IRLP or Internet Radio Linking Project is a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system used with amateur radio.  A computer or node is electrically connected to an amateur radio repeater.  This computer runs a modified Linux version of Speak Freely.  The system was designed by Dave Cameron, VE7LTD
Each system is assigned a unique node number for identification, similar to a telephone number.  When a user wishes to call another enabled repeater they must enter a DTMF, or touchtone of the remote node number.  The node is configured to recognize certain series of tones that activates one of the various scripts on the computer.  Some scripts establish a connection to the remote system through the Internet while others do administrative, or control functions
The IRLP system uses a voice code decode (codec) called Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM).  This requires more bandwidth to send audio through the Internet than Echolink but results in a more robust audio.  The node is connected through a broadband Internet connection 24 hours a day. While anyone with a valid amateur radio license may use the system, only authorized control operators will be given administrator access.  The administrators have authorization to turn the system on or off, forbid those that do not follow the rules, and control the operation of nodes and repeaters.

What is Voice over IP?

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a system that takes audio from our repeater and converts it into data packets. The data is transmitted over the network (Internet) to remote nodes. The remote node computer takes the data and converts it back to audio for the users on the remote end to hear. Voice over IP is a widely use technology today.  If you have ever used voice on Skype, Windows Live Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger, then you are familiar with this technology.  Most cellular telephone companies today are using this same technology.

What is a node?

A node is simply a computer connected to the Internet. As stated in the above question “What is IRLP”, each node is assigned a unique identifying node number.
What node number are we?
An occasion may come when you are asked what your node number is.  The 145.25 repeater is node number 3867.  The 443.3 repeater is node number 8440.  These node numbers serve no purpose locally.  The remote node that wishes to call into our repeater will dial our node numbers to connect.  It is important to note that node 8440 is always connected to the WIN System so others cannot call in direct.  If remote nodes wish to connect to this node, they will need to dial into WIN System on the Dallas reflector channel 3 (9453).
Why do I need to know what node number we are?
It is important to know these numbers so that you can give the numbers to friends and family so they can call into our nodes from remote nodes.

What is a reflector?

There are two different types of nodes.  Ours are normal nodes attached electrically to our repeaters.  There is another type that is not physically attached to any repeaters at all.  These special nodes are called reflectors.  They are nothing more than a computer that is connected to a very large broadband Internet connection.  These reflectors allow many other nodes to connect to them at the same time.  When a person speaks while connected to a reflector, all nodes connected to the reflector hear the voice simultaneously. This allows conversations with many people at once although only one person at a time may speak.  Even though only one person can speak at a time, everyone that is connected hears it at the same time.  This explains the need for a large bandwidth Internet connection.  If fifty nodes are connected, then that one person’s voice is being fed to fifty different Internet connections requiring a large “symbolic pipe” to feed the data that holds the voice.
Reflectors are identified by their unique node number beginning with a “9”.  The last digit signifies the channel number beginning with “0” and ending with “9”.  An example of this would be the Western Reflector in Las Vegas with the node numbers 9250 – 9259.  This allows different groups of people to connect to different channels simultaneously.  Reflectors are available for any licensed amateur radio operator though they have their own operating guidelines.  Each reflector has assigned control operators that have administrative privileges to temporarily, or permanently block nodes depending on the infraction.   Repeaters and nodes are electronic devices and are subject to failure.  When this unfortunate event happens or an operator fails to abide by the rules, the reflector control operator has authority to terminate the connection.  Sometimes you will hear this person referred to as the “Reflector Cops”.
When a node is blocked from the reflector, it is important to note that it is only temporary and once the infraction is corrected, the block is removed.  This is usually not punitive but rather a means to keep order when there are many nodes connected together.  One of the rules that nodes must abide by is the muting of courtesy tones, and repeater ID’s from entering the reflector when connected.  Our repeater is no different and we have made the necessary adjustments to prevent this from happening.  If you have inadvertently violated these rules and caused our node to be blocked, then please let one of the local control operators know so they can let the “reflector cop” know that it has been corrected and they will unblock our node.  We understand that anyone can make a mistake and there will be no disciplinary actions on our end ;-). 

What is the WIN System?

The Win System literally the “Western Intertie Network” system originating from San Diego, California.  This system was created by Jeff (Shorty) Stouffer K6JSI and was originally comprised of multiple repeaters connected or “Intertied” via radio frequency (RF). The system later added IRLP capability and took residence on the Dallas Reflector channel 3, or 9453.  Since this addition, the system has grown to more than sixty full time repeaters and our 443.3 repeater is the 39th affiliate.  The 443.3 repeater is always connected to the WIN System and no action is required by users to connect. The control codes have been deactivated and only authorized control operators have access to these functions.
When a user keys the microphone on the 443.3 repeater, the audio is automatically heard on the system.  The WIN System is an independent entity and have their own operating procedures.  As an affiliate, our users must abide by these rules and they can be found here. We are confident you will love this system.  Our repeater is the only gateway in the state of Oklahoma and we are very proud to be affiliated with them.

How do I call an IRLP node?

To dial an IRLP node you first find the node number you need here

1. Key the radio
2. Annouce “Your callsign”
3. While holding the transmit key, enter the node number via your touchtone pad.
4. Unkey, and you will hear the announcement of the connection.
5. Wait at least 30 seconds before speaking to ensure you are not interrupting another conversation that may be in progress on the other end.

How do I disconnect?

1. Key the radio
2. Enter “73” on your touchtone pad
3. Unkey and wait for the node to announce that it is disconnection.
4. Key up the radio and announce “Your callsign clearing the node”.

Where is Del City and do I have to be a member to use the nodes?

Del City is a suburb of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA. near Tinker Air Force Base. Del City is the nearest suburb to downtown Oklahoma City.

Why do the repeaters use different CTCSS (PL) tones?

When the two nodes signed on in 2002, they were both on simplex.  Node 8440 signed on first and was on 145.67 MHz and node 3867 was on 147.55 MHz.  Due to the close proximity of these nodes to each other, they could often be heard across frequencies upon each other.  When they had the same tones, they both would be activated when someone would enter a tone.  The signal would be heard on both nodes with an undesirable result.  This caused us to change the tones on the nodes so they would not inadvertently interact upon each other.
When we moved node 3867 over to a repeater 145.25, it was still on two meters and could still be heard on the other node because of the close proximity.  When the node 8440 was move to UHF onto 443.3, it was coordinated using 162.2  The 145.25 could not be changed to 162.2 because it was coordinated that way.