Table of Contents

Introduction

A repeater is a radio station that can listen and transmit simultaneously (known as full-duplex) and is used to greatly extend the usable range of fixed, mobile and handheld radios in two-way communications. Located in advantageous locations and equipped with extensive antenna and filtering systems, the Southwest Community Radio System (SWCRS) provides numerous GMRS repeaters which are freely made available for public use.

Curious, but not sure what any of this means? You may find the following helpful –

A Guide for Newcomers

Terms of Use (AKA: The Rules)

The full terms of use for the system can be found at the following location: Repeater System Terms of Use. This document is the actual binding agreement to use the SWCRS systems (including but not limited to all repeaters, hubs, remote links, and Zello channels). Read it and understand it before proceeding.

The cliffnotes for most users:

1. Abide by the FCC’s rules pertaining to the General Mobile Radio Service. Yes, you need a GMRS license to use this service, no, a ham radio license (unfortunately) does not grant you privileges to use GMRS, no, you can’t use GMRS repeaters under FRS rules. The FCC’s rules for GMRS (47 CFR, Part 95E) are our policy, in addition to the following:
2. Identify transmissions appropriately.
3. Keep language family friendly. Remember; there’s kids with FRS bubble-pack radios that can easily listen in, let alone the young folks and families using our system – be an example, we’re not CB nor the 80 meter band.
4. Treat any and all users of the system and spectrum respectfully. Do not attack others. Leave enough room between transmissions to allow other stations to break in if needed. If unlicensed traffic stumbles onto the network and you’re comfortable: kindly instruct them on how to get a GMRS license and encourage them to get legal before continuing on. Remember, you’re not breaking the FCC’s rules by talking to an FRS station, they’re breaking the rules by operating on GMRS repeater input frequencies. Most of the time it’s an honest misunderstanding, and should be used as an educational opportunity.
5. Move rag chews or other lengthy conversations to the Sidecar Hub or Standalone mode if you have the means to send DTMF. See information on the programming information page. Rag-chews (long conversations) must yield to short traffic and break for other stations needing to use the system. If you do not have the means to switch over, that’s fine, just remember to leave a bit of extra space after the courtesy tone for others.
6. Do not cause intentional interference to the system itself and those using it.
7. Do not discuss intentional interference. If you hear it, be silent, don’t egg it on. Yes: we have malicious interference on occasion, yes: we’re aware of it, yes: we’re working on it with whatever resources we have.
8. Do not kerchunk. If you need to test your reception of the repeater and see if it’s still there throw out your call-sign to identify, such as: “[your-callsign] testing.” Listening stations are advised to not respond to ‘testing’ traffic unless asked by the station doing the testing or the call is for a ‘radio check’.
9. Avoid radio noisemakers and party whistles:
   1. Disable all roger beeps. On Baofeng/B-Tech & Wouxun units, this means settings the “ROGER” menu to “OFF”. On Midland radios, consult your user manual.
   2. Disable the alarm button on your radio. On Baofeng/B-Tech units, this means setting the “AL-MOD” menu to “SITE”.
   3. Do not use DTMF based PTT-ID or selective calling functions except to send intentional commands to a repeater on a radio without direct DTMF input; not only will the repeater system mute the DTMF from being repeated (rendering it useless), you could inadvertently send a command that messes up something on the system.
   4. AFSK transmissions (such as MDC1200 and FleetSync) should be limited to selective calling purposes only (as in to open a muted squelch on another radio) – do not use as caller/PTT-ID. If you do not know how to set up or have a real practical need for selective calling – don’t use it.
   5. Two-tone paging or other in-band signalling for selective calling is allowed if properly identified and usage is kept to a reasonable amount. If you do not know how to set up or have a real practical need for selective calling – don’t use it.
10. Do not use the repeaters to talk to another station on simplex unless it’s to facilitate them getting on the repeater system. If you need to talk to a station you’re hearing on simplex, switch to a simplex channel or talkaround. Remember that everyone else on the system can only hear one side of the conversation and you’re tying up a whole bunch of repeaters for a conversation that can be entirely sustained by simplex.
11. If you’re in stable ear-shot of one another; use simplex. There is no reason to tie up a whole bunch of repeaters between you and someone close-by. Use simplex if in simplex range of your party.
12. If a repeater owner, administrator, officer, or other official of the system gives special instructions, follow them; they’re in charge of the operation of the system.

System Map

Below is a map of the current SWCRS systems, both active and planned.

Coverage Map

A detailed, interactive, coverage map of all repeaters on the link can be viewed in Google Earth.

1. Download and install Google Earth Pro
2. Download the current SWCRS Coverage File

Arizona Repeaters

Arizona has the following repeaters that are part of the SWCRS

New Mexico Repeaters

New Mexico has the following repeaters that are part of the SWCRS

Name	Frequency	Description
Caballo 575	462.575 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located near Truth or Consequences.
Capilla Peak 600	462.600 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located near Manzano
Datil 625	462.625 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located near Datil.
East Mountain Canyon 700	462.700 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located near Tijeras & Albuquerque, east of the Sandias.
Grants 650	462.650 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located near Grants, on Mt. Taylor.
Jack's Peak 625	462.625 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located between Silver City and Lordsburg.
Logan 575	462.575 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810.
Mesa Rica 700	462.700 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810.
Pecos 550	462.550 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located north of Pecos.
Sandia 675	462.675 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located on Sandia Crest
Sedillo Hill 650	462.650 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810. Located on Sedillo Hill near Tijeras and Glenwood.

Standalone Repeaters

The following standalone repeaters are also part of the SWCRS. Standalone repeaters are not connected to the linked system.

Name	Frequency	Description
Datil 700	462.700 Mhz	Hosted by Russ, WQJI810.

Access Tones

Access tones are made available to the licensed public, but must be requested from the SWCRS administration team.

1. To request access; see “Request Access“
2. If your access request has been approved; please see “Programming Information,” for the tones and ready-to-go code plugs for a number of radios. You will need the password included in your approval email.