Repeaters and nets are where ham radio becomes a daily habit — and a community. A repeater lets a small handheld radio reach across a town or county, a net is a regular on-air meeting where hams check in and catch up, and the clubs behind them are what keep it all running. This page explains how it all works, how to find repeaters and nets near you, and how to get your own repeater or net listed here.
What Is a Repeater?
A repeater is a station on a high spot that listens on one frequency and retransmits what it hears on another, so low-power handhelds and mobile rigs can talk much farther than they could on their own. Most repeaters need a small frequency shift (the offset) and, often, a sub-audible tone (CTCSS) to open them. Repeaters are built and maintained by clubs and volunteers, and they are shared resources — keep your transmissions short, identify with your call sign, and leave a gap between transmissions so others can join.
Repeaters & Talkgroups You Can Hear Here
This is our own on-page list — the DMR talkgroups Sam (K4KNJ) monitors full-time on his hotspot, plus the national simplex calling frequencies every ham should know.
DMR Talkgroups Sam Monitors (BrandMeister)
| Talkgroup | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 31459 | BrandMeister | Sam’s home talkgroup — a good place to catch him |
| 3145 | BrandMeister | South Carolina statewide |
| 3137 | BrandMeister | North Carolina statewide |
| 31373 | BrandMeister | North Carolina |
| 31419 | BrandMeister | South Carolina |
| 313715 | BrandMeister | South Carolina |
You can listen to these talkgroups live on our Listen Live page.
National Simplex Calling Frequencies
| Frequency | Band | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 146.520 MHz | 2 meters | National 2m simplex calling frequency |
| 446.000 MHz | 70 centimeters | National 70cm simplex calling frequency |
Submit Your Repeater
Do you own or help run a repeater or a net? Send us its details and we will add it to the table above. Include your call sign, the repeater frequency, offset and tone, location, mode (analog, DMR, D-STAR, Fusion), and any net times. Only submit repeaters you own or have permission to list. Reach us through the community channels on our Join page — Facebook or WhatsApp — with the subject “Repeater listing”.
Finding Repeaters Near You
Repeater directories list repeaters by location, band, and mode — many with maps, coverage areas, and notes about nets. Look up repeaters by your town or zip code, note the offset and tone, program them into your radio, and listen for a while before your first transmission. The RepeaterBook directory is a good place to search, and RadioReference lists repeaters alongside scanners and public-safety frequencies.
When you search a directory, check the details that matter: the output frequency and offset, the CTCSS tone, whether the repeater is open or closed, its coverage area and elevation, and whether it carries a regular net. Keep a short list of the repeaters you can reach from home, from work, and along your usual routes, and program them in that order — the ones you use most should be the easiest to reach on the radio.
What Is a Net?
A net is a scheduled gathering on a repeater or simplex frequency, run by a net control station. Nets come in many flavors: traffic nets that pass formal messages, weather and Skywarn nets during storms, club nets that are mostly a friendly round-table, and special-interest nets for POTA, SOTA, digital modes, or new hams. A regular net is the fastest way to meet the hams in your area and to learn good on-air habits.
Checking In for the First Time
- Listen to a full net first, so you know its rhythm and format.
- When net control asks for check-ins, give your call sign slowly and clearly, once.
- Wait to be called, then keep your turn short and friendly.
- Sign off with your call sign and a 73 when you leave.
Clubs, Nets, and Community
Most repeaters and nets are run by local clubs — volunteers who build and maintain the equipment, run exam sessions, and welcome new operators. A club is the best place to find an Elmer, to learn how to program your radio, and to hear about nets, events, and field days in your area. Look for a club near you through the ARRL club search, then drop in on a meeting or a net and say hello — guests are welcome, and you do not need to be licensed to attend a meeting or listen in.
A good club keeps a shared calendar of its nets, meetings, and events, a roster of its members and their interests, and a way for members to find each other — a regular net, a group chat, or a monthly gathering. If you are new, the club roster is a friendly map of who to ask about antennas, which repeater covers your street, and who runs the net you just heard.
Running a Net
Once you are comfortable checking in, try net control. A good net control keeps the pace steady: call the net to order, take check-ins in an orderly list, call on each station in turn, keep the round moving, and close with a clear sign-off. Keep a roster of who checked in — a simple list of call signs and names — and keep a log of the net, even a one-line note of the date, the number of check-ins, and any announcements. A net that runs the same time, on the same frequency, every week becomes a habit people plan their evenings around.
Repeaters on the Road
Planning a trip? Map your route and note the repeaters along it before you leave — a repeater directory can show you which machines cover each stretch of highway and which ones carry a net while you are passing through. Program the repeaters in order along your route, note their tones and offsets, and keep a printed list as a backup. When you are on the road, listen first, then check in with your call sign and your location — a roaming check-in is one of the friendliest sounds on a repeater.
Digital Voice and Linked Systems
Many repeaters now carry digital voice modes such as DMR, D-STAR, and System Fusion, and some are linked to other repeaters or to talkgroups that span a state or a country. The same good habits apply: listen first, identify with your call sign, and keep gaps between transmissions. If you are just starting out in digital, listen to a talkgroup on our Listen Live page first — you will hear how digital nets sound and how operators handle check-ins before you key up yourself.