Amateur Radio Repeaters
Find repeaters near you and learn how they work. Repeaters are the backbone of local amateur radio communication.
Find a Repeater
RepeaterBook
FreeThe largest free repeater directory in the world. Search by location, frequency, band, or mode. Includes access tones, offsets, and coverage information. The go-to resource for finding repeaters.
Search Repeaters →Official ARRL directory of repeaters in North America. Available as a printed book and in digital format.
Learn More →How Repeaters Work
A repeater is an automated radio station, usually located on a hilltop, tall building, or tower, that receives a signal on one frequency and simultaneously retransmits it on another frequency. This extends the range of low-power handheld and mobile radios from a few miles to potentially 50+ miles or more.
Key Concepts
Offset: The difference between the repeater's transmit frequency (what you hear) and its receive frequency (what you transmit on). Standard offsets: +/- 600 kHz on 2 meters, +/- 5 MHz on 70 centimeters.
PL Tone (CTCSS): A sub-audible tone your radio must transmit to activate the repeater. This prevents the repeater from being activated by interference or signals from other sources. You must program the correct PL tone into your radio.
DCS: Digital-Coded Squelch. An alternative to PL tones using digital codes. Some repeaters use DCS instead of or in addition to CTCSS tones.
Autopatch: Some repeaters allow users to make telephone calls through the repeater. This feature has become less common with the ubiquity of cell phones.
Using a Repeater
- Look up the repeater's output frequency, offset, and PL tone on RepeaterBook
- Program these into your radio (a radio programming tool like CHIRP makes this easy)
- Listen first to make sure the repeater is not in use
- Key up and give your call sign
- Wait for a response or the repeater's courtesy tone
- Keep transmissions brief, leave gaps between transmissions for other stations to join
Digital Repeaters
Modern repeaters increasingly support digital voice modes. These offer clearer audio and additional features like internet linking and data transmission:
- DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) Widely used digital voice. Radios from many manufacturers. Brandmeister is the largest DMR network.
- D-STAR Digital voice protocol by Icom/JARL. Call sign routing and internet gateway linking.
- System Fusion Yaesu's digital voice system. WIRES-X internet linking.
Digital repeaters are listed on RepeaterBook alongside analog repeaters. Filter by mode to find digital repeaters in your area.
Repeater Linking
Echolink
FreeVoIP system connecting repeaters and stations worldwide via the internet. Use from your radio through an Echolink-enabled repeater, or from a phone/computer app.
AllStar Link
Open SourceOpen-source VoIP repeater linking using Asterisk PBX. Enables large repeater networks and remote base operations.
Internet Radio Linking Project. Connects repeaters via the internet. Uses Linux-based nodes at each repeater site.