AUSTIN TX · GRID EM10
Austin Repeater
Local repeaters, frequencies, clubs, licensing info, and the Austin amateur radio community — kept like a station log, readable like a QSL card.
The Repeater Log
Austin & Central Texas| Frequency | Offset | Tone | Callsign | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146.940 | −600 | 107.2 | W5KA | Austin Amateur Radio Club — the most active machine in town. |
| 147.360 | +600 | 103.5 | KE5RCS | Part of linked systems that reach across Central Texas. |
2 Meter
The most active band in Austin. Key repeaters: 146.940 (W5KA, Austin ARC, offset −600, PL 107.2) and 147.360 (KE5RCS, +600, PL 103.5). Linked systems reach across Central Texas.
70 Centimeter
Less crowded, great for digital modes. Check RepeaterBook.com for the full Austin UHF listing. D-STAR and DMR repeaters are growing in the area.
D-STAR / DMR
Digital voice modes are growing fast in Austin, with multiple D-STAR and DMR repeaters active. You need a D-STAR or DMR capable radio ($150–500); it connects you worldwide via the internet.
APRS
Automatic Packet Reporting System — track position, send messages. Austin has an active APRS network. The Kenwood TM-D710GA and TH-D75A are the go-to radios.
Getting Licensed in Austin
Technician → General → ExtraWhere to Test
Austin ARC offers VE sessions monthly. Williamson County ARC tests in Round Rock, and ARRL VE sessions run at various locations. Online testing is available through some VE teams. Exam fee: $15.
Study Resources
HamStudy.org (free, best for Technician), the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, and the Ham Radio Crash Course YouTube channel. Most people pass Technician with 1–2 weeks of study.
Austin Clubs
Austin Amateur Radio Club (W5KA) — oldest and largest. Williamson County ARC. Travis County ARES for emergency communications. Central Texas DX and Contest Club for HF enthusiasts.
Getting Started
Get your Technician license. Buy a Baofeng UV-5R ($25) or Yaesu FT-65R ($80). Program the Austin repeaters. Check in to a net. Join a club. You're a ham.
Band Plan & Calling Frequencies
Where to listen firstThe 2-Meter Workhorse
144–148 MHz is the busiest VHF band in Central Texas. FM repeaters use a ±600 kHz offset; the national FM simplex calling frequency is 146.520 — call there, then move to another simplex frequency to chat. Most handhelds cover this band out of the box.
440 and Up
The 70-centimeter band (420–450 MHz) is quieter, penetrates buildings well, and carries most of the area's digital voice traffic. Repeaters here use a ±5 MHz offset; the national FM simplex calling frequency is 446.000. A dual-band radio covering 2m/70cm is the practical first purchase.
CTCSS & Offsets
Most Austin repeaters require a sub-audible CTCSS tone (often called PL) to open the machine — that's the “107.2” or “103.5” in the log above. Program the frequency, the offset direction, and the tone, and you're transmitting through the repeater. Get one wrong and you'll hear the repeater but never key it up.
A Word on HF
The long-distance, around-the-world bands (160m through 10m) need a General or Extra license and an antenna with room to stretch. They're where you work other states and countries without any repeater or internet at all. Start on VHF/UHF, then grow into HF when the bug bites.
On-Air Nets
The scheduled meetupsWhat a Net Is
A net is a scheduled on-air meeting run by a net control station. Operators check in one at a time, take turns, and follow net control's direction. It's the single best way for a new ham to get comfortable transmitting — the format tells you exactly when it's your turn.
Kinds of Nets
Ragchew nets are casual conversation. Traffic nets pass formal messages. ARES/emergency nets drill for disasters. Swap nets trade gear, and new-ham (Elmer) nets answer beginner questions. Austin clubs run a mix across the week on the repeaters listed above.
How to Check In
Listen first. When net control asks for check-ins, key up, say your callsign with the ITU phonetic alphabet (“Kilo Five Alpha Bravo Charlie”), and wait to be acknowledged. Short, clear, and one station at a time — that's the whole etiquette.
Find a Schedule
Net days and times shift, so check the current calendars at the ARRL Net Directory and the Austin Amateur Radio Club site rather than trusting a stale list. Program the repeater, tune in a few minutes early, and listen to a full net before your first check-in.
When the Grid Goes Down
Emergency communicationsAmateur Radio Emergency Service
When cell towers and power fail, licensed hams keep messages moving. ARES (the ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and RACES organize volunteers to support served agencies — emergency operations centers, the Red Cross, hospitals, and shelters — on VHF/UHF repeaters and simplex.
Why It Matters Here
Central Texas sees ice storms, flash floods, and the 2021 grid failure within living memory. Radio needs no working internet or carrier — a handheld, a charged battery, and a repeater can relay welfare traffic across the county when nothing else will.
Severe-Weather Spotting
Trained SKYWARN spotters report real-time ground truth — hail size, rotation, flooding — to the National Weather Service over the air. Free spotter classes run each spring; a Technician license and a 2m radio are all you need to take part.
Be Ready Before
Keep a charged HT, a spare battery, and the local repeater frequencies programmed and tested before you need them. Practice on the weekly nets so the procedures are second nature. Winlink lets hams pass email over radio when the internet is down — worth learning once you're licensed.
Worked All Pages
Site directoryTop Ham Radio Videos
The most-watched repeater videos on YouTube, ranked by views and curated for substance — operation, etiquette, and builds.
Sources Directory
The annotated directory of amateur-radio organizations, references, communities, and tools — from the ARRL to APRS.fi.
FAQ
Which repeaters to program first, how to get licensed in Austin, what radio to buy, and how this site operates.
Resources
Practical picks for getting on the air in Austin: clubs, ARES, study tools, and license lookups.
Site History
This domain's Wayback Machine timeline, 2003–2024 — fourteen snapshots of austinrepeater.com through the years.