VALLEY   AMATEUR   REPEATER   ASSOCIATION

WR9ABQ

VHF Analog: 52.95 MHz (-1 MHz) 114.8 Hz (2A)
Receiver Input PL,
94.8 Hz (ZA)
Transmitter Output PL
VHF Analog: 146.790 MHz (-600 KHz) 107.2 Hz (1B) PL
VHF APCO P-25: 146.790 MHz (-600 KHz) NAC 293
VHF Analog: 223.920 MHz (-1.6 MHz) 100.0 Hz (1Z) PL
UHF Analog: 444.950 MHz (+5 MHz) 114.8 Hz (2A) PL
UHF APCO P-25: 444.950 MHz (+5 MHz) NAC 293
UHF DMR: 444.975 MHz (+5 MHz) Color Code 1

Elected Officers
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Trustee
Will, W9WSS Mark, KB9TVD Kevin, KB9PYH Steve, W9ELG Terry, W9AUV
 

Contact Us   |   Membership App   |   History   |   Links

VARA CLUB
The Valley Amateur Repeater Association (VARA) is an amateur radio club that maintains several repeaters that provide service in and around the Elgin, IL and Kane County, IL area. Formed in 1970, the club has been in continuous operation for more than 50 years. For historical details, please see our history page.
 

CLUB MEETINGS
The quarterly meetings are held on the first Friday of the months of February, May, August and November. The election of club officers takes place every May meeting.

The August 7th meeting will take place in a reserved conference room at:
ETC Coworking
11 Douglas Ave, 2nd Floor
Elgin, IL, 60120
7:00 pm to approximately 9:00 pm.

This is not a restaurant and no food will be served at the meeting.
This location is in downtown Elgin. The closest parking is on the street or one block north in the civic lot.

The quarterly business meeting will begin at 8pm local time.

REPEATER & NET INFORMATION
Please allow the carrier to drop after each transmission for timer reset and to provide an opportunity for anyone else to join the conversation or pass emergency or priority traffic. The 2m FM repeater has coverage as far as the lake shore to west of Interstate 39.

The 70cm (UHF) repeaters do not have a courtesy tone, so please allow the carrier to drop after each transmission to reset the time-out timer during QSOs.

The VARA 2m net occurs every Monday evening at 8:00PM local time on the 146.79 repeater. Any and all amateurs (members or non-members) are invited to check into this net and pass any traffic that may be of interest to other amateurs.
 

MEMBERSHIP
The annual dues from our members go towards financially supporting our repeater systems in terms of site rent and electric bills, as well as other ongoing costs of maintaining the repeater equipment.

Dues are payable from April 1st each year and are to be paid before the annual meeting in May.

Additional family members (living at the same address as the paying member) may join free of charge.

Regular membership prorated based on the time of year you joined.

Dues can be paid at meetings, Sent to our mailing address below, via bill pay at your financial institution, or via HamClubOnline.

DONATIONS
If you wish to support the club but don't want to join as a member, you can still donate online.

Please include your name and callsign (if any), so we know who made the donation.

If you prefer you can send mail to our mailing address below (bottom of page).

Thank you for your support, it is much appreciated.
 

EMAIL GROUP
The members-only VARA Email Group page can be accessed at Groups.io. Access to this group is granted via membership invitation and only VARA members in good standing are eligible to join.
Meeting notices, club news and other amateur radio related information can be shared via this group in between regular meetings.
Please contact us if you are a member and would like to join the VARA Email Group.
 
FACEBOOK GROUP
We also have a VARA Facebook Group page.

You do not need to be a member to follow us.

MAILING ADDRESS
Valley Amateur Repeater Association
P.O. Box 53
Gilberts, IL 60136
 
Note that our mailing addressed is checked infrequently, and so you might let us know via email if you've sent us something to pick up!

© 1997-2025   Valley Amateur Repeater Association, Inc. Last updated 2026-02-01