A Brief Background on The System

NERA began over 20 years ago when several engineers employed at the CBS Television Network and the FCC built the WA3KOK repeater system in Washington DC. The original system was designed to provide hand-held coverage throughout the greater DC area. This was one of the first 440 MHz repeatersusing multiple remote receivers to provide this type of coverage in the area. Corporate sponsors have been wonderful benefactors throughout our history. NERA has recieved generous support from several state and corporate sources including Team Video International, CBS Television, and the National Weather Service to mention a few.

In 1994 a new WA3KOK linked repeater was installed on Cacapon Mountain near Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. This addition extended system coverage to include most of Central and Western Maryland, the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, northwestern Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania.

In 1997 the K3HOT linked repeater was installed at 4030 feet AMSL atop Fork Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Madison County, Virginia. This addition increased coverage to include fifty-seven counties in central Virginia and eastern West Virginia. The NERA system now covered an area extending from Washington DC to West Virginia and from the Pennsylvania border to Charlottesville Virginia.

After several years of planning the installation of another WA3KOK linked repeater at Bull Run Mountain in Prince William County Virginia was completed. This new repeater provided additional coverage up and down the Interstate 66 corridor. Additionally, the relatively central location of this machine provides backup coverage into areas already served by the other machines.

During the year 2001 we made a trip to Fork Mountain to replace the link antenna with a brand new Comtelco 5 element beam. The Comtelco beam is very rugged and should be capable of withstanding the severe winter weather at the site better than the previous two antennae that were used at the site(we hope!). In December the NERA system was expanded to High Knob Mountain near Linden Virginia through the addition of the N1TXI machine. This machine is sponsored and maintained by K4QJZ and N1TXI and will fill in nicely up and down the I-81 corridor. There are also plans in the offing to have this machine provide crossband repeat operation in early 2002.

 

Through the efforts of VE7LTD and his Internet Radio Linking Project the linked NERA system now provides worldwide telecommunications via amateur radio through an Internet interface. The system currently covers most Canadian provinces, Hawaii, Alaska, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, The Caribbean and many states throughout the contiguous United States with new nodes coming on-line almost daily.  If you've not used the IRLP before, please refer to KWARC's IRLP Page for valuable guidance. If you would like to eavesdrop on one of the IRLP Reflector Nodes(allows multiple connects) check out VE3RBM's IRLP Monitoring Page

Membership

The extensive Network Engineers Repeater Association system has evolved and grown through the efforts of our dedicated members both past and present. The system is not closed nor is it private. Rather, it is a member supported system.  We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted.  Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator. If you enjoy using the system and wish to become a working-participating member you may email any one of our current members or complete an online application.

Members may go to our members only site to find out about upcoming association events.

Good Amateur operating practices are encouraged. Whenever you access the NERA system please remember to pause a moment between transmissions to allow others to join your QSO or to pass Emergency Traffic. This practice is particularly important when accessing other repeater systems via the IRLP since some additional "turnaround" time is frequently required. Don't use 11 meter lingo when talking on the system. Speak normally.

Some examples:

Don’t say, "The personal here is _ _ _" (use name).

Don’t say, "Thanks for the comeback" (use thanks for the call/answer).

Don’t say, "I’ve destinated" (use I’ve arrived).

Don’t repeatedly say, "I hear that" or "roger that" or "QSL" in response to every transmission/comment.

Don’t say your, or the other person’s, call sign every transmission (only your call is required once every 10 minutes).

Don’t just kerchunk the repeater without saying your call (at least on the second kerchunk).

Don’t shout into your microphone.

Key the microphone for at least one second before talking to give the link relays time to function.

Don’t give one-word answers or comments.

Don’t break in on an ongoing conversation unless you know who all is in it, and you have something meaningful to contribute.

When in a QSO with more than two people involved, turn it over to someone by name (go ahead Jim).

When you sign clear, turn it over to someone by name or call (don’t just sign clear because no one knows who should pick up).

Use a mike hanger in your vehicle to avoid sitting on the microphone and inadvertently keying up the system with people all over listening to your conversation.

If your organization intends to use the NERA system for a planned public service activity please let us know as early as possible prior to your event.

 

Western Intertie Network System Space Weather Now XMLog Logging Software Echolink

* Internet Linking Round-up

 

Questions? Comments?

All content (c) 2001 Red Onion Productions, Station Zed and the Network Engineers Repeater Association unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.  No portion of this website may be used, duplicated or distributed in any form without expressed permission.