KB3AWQ Repeater

03/24/2026

Although this is not a voice repeater, this is the APRS digi/iGate I have that does share the same antenna as 444.900 with it being a dualband antenna. Is APRS busy you may ask, well see for yourself in the last 19 hours.

01/10/2026

I have unlinked the DMR Bridge with the system. It is able to be if the need would ever arise. DMR as you know sounds different just like any digital would. There isn't much that comes from it anyway, but in the attempt to clean up some things on the air, this is one of them.

The Pocono and Catawissa links through K4MTP are currently still linked, but there are always potential changes in the future and there are times when it is not linked which times of nets and newsline etc when it is not connected. There are several types of hams out there too and that can also determine linking, most do not tolerate bad hams.

This is not an all-inclusive list, but some things to keep in mind.

Standard Repeater Etiquette

Listen First: Always monitor the frequency for at least 30 seconds before transmitting to ensure you don't interrupt a conversation or a scheduled net.
Wait for the Courtesy Tone: Most repeaters emit a short "beep" (courtesy tone) after a station unkeys. Wait for this tone before responding to allow others a chance to break in for emergencies.
Avoid "Kerchunking": Keying your mic briefly without identifying yourself just to hear the repeater is illegal and annoying to other users. Instead, say "[Your Callsign] testing".
Monitoring vs. CQ: Do not call "CQ" on a repeater. Simply state your callsign followed by "monitoring" or "listening".
Yielding to Others: If you are having a long conversation ("ragchewing"), move to a simplex frequency if possible to free up the repeater for others.

Emergency Procedures

Breaking In: If you have an emergency, wait for a break and say "Emergency" or "Break Break" followed by your callsign.
Immediate Handover: If you hear someone declare an emergency, stop all casual conversation immediately and yield the frequency until they are finished.

Ownership and Control

Private Property: Even though they are "open," repeaters are private property. The repeater trustee or club has the legal right to set additional rules or ban specific users for non-compliance.
Control Operators: Licensed hams designated as "Control Operators" have the final say on the repeater's operation and may shut it down if rules are being violated.

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/repeater1.pdf

11/24/2025

UPDATE: K3ISP got things squared away early morning, so things are now working. Thanks Matt!

Around 8 PM last night the internet stopped working at the club tower where 444.9, 147.09 443.050 etc. is. I was not able to find the issue when I went up. The router is working, and it is connected to the Firewalla that Travis has in between, and from there I am not sure. The internet light is lit on the router, though. I did reboot everything, but nothing changed. Maybe something can be figured out later today as to what is going on.

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11/05/2025

As requested by some members after my last message about this, a video
recording of the live ham radio interview on FOX 29 in Philadelphia on
Sunday, October 19 was just posted up on a YouTube page created by storm
chaser WX3I who was also a guest on the show with me in the latter half.
Recordings of their live shows are typically not posted anywhere.

It was an unscripted, free-form discussion that went wherever our
host wanted it to go but it worked out well. We got to explain ham
radio during this one hour live presentation on air with the FOX 29
local digital channel and also on the FOX 29 live stream as well. We
pulled some strings and thanks to some work by Lou WX3I, it is available
on a YouTube channel Lou set up. I am sending our meteorologist host of
the interview, Drew Anderson, an ARRL license manual.

I checked the link below and it should work for you. Paste it into
your web browser. If any issues, let me know. The host received a
number of email inquiries from the public about ham radio after this
interview. He suggested another follow-up show in the near future on
other ham radio subjects.

73, and I will see you on the radio.

https://youtu.be/JmFp9HXm3Y8

Bob Famiglio, K3RF

ARRL Atlantic Division Director
Chairman Legal Defense Committee
Chairman ARES Subcommittee
610-359-7300

www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF

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ARRL Atlantic Division
Director: Robert B Famiglio, K3RF
[email protected]
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K3RF personal biography

11/01/2025

When you're trying to get your signal from one place to another, take a look at this page to see how line of sight the path is.

Compute elevation profile for an arbitrary path

10/26/2025

This map of course just shows the area between each of the tower sites that are linked. Click this link for the actual map https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1pgLOtES7HQ2qkEqVGcsKQzlI5ZiWqTQ&usp=sharing
The 5 Red towers are N3FYI 446.475 PL 114.8
The Blue Towers are KB3AWQ/W3AHS/Williamsport and the Lock Haven tower that KE4MHE has his receiver at.
The Orange is the ones is K4MTP's repeaters Catawissa and Long Pond
The Purple is KB3VXB's repeater

10/07/2025

29.660 has a PL of 131.8 now instead of the 173.8

Send a message to learn more

09/03/2025

08/31/2025