BARRA Tech Net
A weekly round-table focused on the technical side of amateur radio. Operators of all experience levels are welcome to listen, learn, and contribute.
Net Control
Rotating volunteers. Want to run a night? See contact.
Format
Short intro ➜ topic overview ➜ round-table Q&A ➜ closing announcements.
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly, expert-approved. Bring your curiosity (and questions!).
At-a-Glance
- Day/Time: Thursdays, 8:00 PM Eastern (US)
- Duration: ~60 minutes
- Primary repeater(s): VHF: 147.000 + PL 107.2
- VHF: 146.910 - PL 107.2
- UHF: 444.000 + PL CSQ
- AllStarLink: 52515
- EchoLink: N2UGS-L
- Simplex (optional): 146.520 check-ins after net if announced
Update the placeholders above via shortcode attributes.
How to Join
Choose any method below. Please identify with callsign and name on first transmission.
Local Repeaters
- VHF: 147.000 + PL 107.2
- VHF: 146.910 - PL 107.2
- UHF: 444.000 + PL CSQ
AllStarLink
Connect your node to 52515. Links open ~10 minutes before start.
DTMF example: *3NODE connect; *1NODE disconnect.
EchoLink
Search for N2UGS-L. Enable TX audio and courtesy tones.
Recent / Popular Topics
Operating skills, digital modes, station building, software, and RF engineering.
AllStarLink
What it is, how nodes route, and linking best-practices.
EchoLink
Working EchoLink from desktop and mobile, audio tips.
Hams Over IP
Connecting SIP phones to ham networks and talkgroups.
Contacting the ISS
Tracking passes, Doppler shift, and etiquette.
Winlink + VARA FM
Gateway setup, forms, and best practices.
APRS
Digipeaters, igates, messages, and station beacons.
Weather Stations & APRS/CWOP
Getting your Wx data on APRS-IS and CWOP.
Build an ADS-B Station
Hardware, antennas, aggregators.
Meshtastic
Hardware, firmware, GPS integration, routing.
HamClock
Dashboards for HF, satellites, and conditions.
Weather Radar Tools
Sites & software for awareness.
Grounding Your Station
RF vs safety grounding; lightning protection.
HF Digital Voice
CODECs, bandwidth, practical expectations.
DMR
Codeplugs, talkgroups, hotspot tips.
Yaesu System Fusion
Wires-X, rooms, repeater linking.
P25
Conventional vs trunked, scanners, ham use.
RTL-SDR + sdrtrunk
Decoding, filters, RF hygiene.
Simulcast Systems
How multi-site, multi-TX works (e.g., 444 MHz).
Net Guidelines
On-Air Etiquette
- State callsign phonetically on first transmission.
- Keep overs short; leave room for doubling and link delays.
- Wait for courtesy tone / drop to avoid timeouts.
- Use the minimum power for reliable access.
- Follow NCS directions and hand-offs.
Contribute
- Suggest a topic or present a 5–10 minute intro.
- Share links, diagrams, or code after the net.
- Bring measurements/logs when asking for help.
Contact & Credits
Questions / Updates
Email jmedinac@gmail.com for repeater/node updates.
Present a Topic
Send a note with your callsign and a 2–3 sentence abstract.
Notes
Rendered via shortcode. No theme edits required.