Welcome to the Lone Star State and the web home of the North TeXas Repeater  Association.  NTXRA  is comprised primarily of amateur radio operators employed in the telecommunications and IT fields in the Dallas area. We have constructed a network of  repeater stations in and around the region to provide clear, reliable communications.  We continue to enjoy our association with the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) to expand our reach throughout the world.  We invite all licensed radio amateurs to stop by and give our system a try.  On the local front, we support SKYWARN and ARES public service operations.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE DALLAS IRLP REFLECTOR, CLICK HERE

Latest News

The Mc Kinney VHF machine suffered antenna damage during a recent storm.  We have moved the transmitter to our Ft. Worth site until repairs can be made in McKinney.  Coverage has been greatly reduced from the transmitter to the north east of Dallas but improved in the mid cities. 

Brief History

The initial system was constructed in 1999 on a building site in Plano, TX operating on UHF.  As the repeater traffic increased, the need for wider coverage became apparent and a search for a suitable site began.  In early 2000 a site was secured west of McKinney, TX, 35 miles north of Dallas and the system was moved.  The new site has a split antenna system, receive at 809' AGL and transmit at 750' AGL.  This site became the anchor  for the NTXRA network.  Good mobile coverage reached over 60 miles in all directions.  

Shortly after the McKinney site was completed, a second was added in downtown Dallas.  The Dallas site provides good mobile coverage to the east, south and west of Dallas.  Additionally,  excellent portable coverage was gained in the major sporting and entertainment venues in the Metroplex. Good mobile coverage is available from the Texas/Oklahoma border to about 50 miles south of Dallas, West Ft. Worth to 75 miles east of Dallas.

At the beginning of 2001 discussions with a few amateurs in the Atlanta, GA area uncovered a desire to have a long distance link to join two repeater networks of telecommunications concentric groups.  After several ideas were investigated, the IRLP system showed most interesting.  Not only would IRLP give both systems the ability to join, it would allow the systems to experience real DX through the IRLP network.  By mid 2001 the IRLP hardware had been installed and a link established.  IRLP was developed by VE7LTD and the system currently covers most Canadian provinces, Hawaii, Alaska, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, The Caribbean and many states throughout the contiguous United States with new nodes coming on-line almost daily.  To find out more on IRLP, click here.  To see a listing of all active IRLP nodes click here.  If you are already connected to the IRLP system, try our Reflector at Node Number 945x.  Our local node is 3695 on UHF.  Repeater network commands and operation guidelines can be found here.

Thanks to Todd, N5TPS for the great 220 machine we recently added to the network.  It is located with the Dallas 440 machine and provides really good coverage.  The transmitter is only 25 watts so look for even better signal when we install a PA.

With the help of Reed, WW3A and Rick, N5GI we are adding a 6 meter machine in the near future.  We found a new home for the Ft. Worth machine and now have excellent coverage from the new location.  It actually covers well into Downtown Dallas!  We continue to improve our reliability with the addition of a good back-up battery system for the Mc Kinney site and the addition of a backup VHF repeater at a totally redundant site.

Additional NTXRA projects include expansion of the analog voice repeaters.  We have found a site and received our construction permit for a repeater near Lake Texoma.  Stay tuned for construction status! 

NTxRA System

Voice

Texas IRLP Reflector Status

The reflector is open to everyone, and all are welcome to use it. We ask that you please monitor before transmitting on the reflector and leave a lot of time between exchanges.  A complete operating guide is available here. 

Membership

Membership in NTXRA is open at this time.  We do not hold regular club meetings, nor do we participate in any club activities.  The membership gives no rights to any property or service, it is simply a social club.   If interest dictates a change in club status, we will address that promptly.   Local IRLP questions can be directed to Rick, N5GI via email at n5gi@arrl.net or Jeff, N4MSE via email at n4mse@arrl.net. 

If you enjoy the local system and would like to make a donation (it is not necessary!), please follow this link  to PayPal