Our Amateur Radio Repeaters

GCARS operates four (4) amateur radio repeaters, three (3) of which have world-wide communications capabilities, all of which are “open” and welcome for use by all licensed amateur radio operators within the bounds of civility and the FCC Rules: 

1)The 147. 120 MHz 2 meter band FM repeater (100 Hz PL (CTCSS) tone). This repeater is connected directly to the N4GAS-R (node 598669) repeater link on the Echolink global internet linking system. 

2) The 444.550 MHz 70 cm band FM repeater (100 Hz PL (CTCSS) tone).

3) The 224.860  MHz (100 Hz PL (CTCSS) tone) 1.25 m band FM repeater (negative offset, input 223.260). This is our newest repeater and opens yet another communication channel for general amateur and emergency use. This repeater is also connected by RF to the  AJ4JZ-R (node 670472) repeater link on the Echolink global internet linking system. This repeater shares an  antenna with the 440 repeater listed above.

These first three repeaters can be linked  (two at a time or all together) so that we have cross-band capability via our ARCOM RC-210 repeater controller.

4) The 445.7250 MHz 70 cm band DMR repeater (Brandmeister global network). Special thanks to Gerald Rankin, AG0R, for his generous gift of the DMR repeater to the Gaston County ARES/RACES.  This repeater shares an antenna with the 2 meter repeater listed above. 

Our DMR repeater is a Hytera RD-622

Link to the NC4GC Brandmeister repeater web page:

https://brandmeister.network/?page=repeater&id=313759

If you would like a code plug to work the repeater, please proceed to the DMR repeater sub-page:

http://gcars.org/?page_id=1134

All of these repeaters are located on Spencer Mountain, a monadnock that rises to 1250 ft. above sea level. With the addition of the old WBTV tower, our 2 meter and DMR antenna are about 900 feet above average terrain. Our 70 cm and 1.25 m  FM repeater’s antenna is on top of the old transmitter building.  Given this terrain advantage, operators can connect to our repeater from the first line of the Blue Ridge Mountains 80 miles away to the west, and to Kannapolis/Concord area to the east, giving us a superb system to reach Gaston County and the Charlotte Metro Area. We are very grateful to WBTV for letting us continue to have a presence on the mountain. Photo below:

The old WBTV transmitting tower (1/2 original height), our 2M/DMR antenna is 3/4 way up at about 200 ft. above ground level.

GPS coordinates: 35.297365, -81.115273

N4GAS Repeater Committee:

(Appointed by the Board of Directors):

Chairman/Repeater Trustee/Club License Trustee:

Robert Zeman, K4VAV

Members:

Mark Thornburg, NC1G

George Poteat, NC0G

Gerald Rankin, AG0R

enjoying the ham radio hobby in gaston county