I’ve hit the repeater from Huntsville state park before. Because of the weather many may be on handhelds that will hit this repeater much better also. While I’m here it’s Willis not Wallis. Wallis is west inside of Sealy.
Good call Richard 73’s all KI5SKL Sent from my iPhone On Jan 21, 2026, at 6:55 PM, Richard Bonica via BVARC <[email protected]> wrote: Hello everyone, I’ve received a few questions asking what the 146.88 repeater is and why I’ve been asking members to use it. Since good questions deserve good answers (and bad rumors deserve none), here’s the scoop — plus the technical details so nobody has to guess or squint at a repeater directory. What is the 146.88 Repeater? The 146.88 repeater is a high-level, wide-area coverage repeater that reaches a large portion of the Houston–Galveston area. Because of its height and location, it performs exceptionally well during poor weather and other situations where lower-level or simplex communications may struggle. In plain language: it hears really well, it talks really far, and it does not need to be yelled at. Repeater Technical Details (a.k.a. “How to Make Your Radio Happy”) Receive (Downlink): 146.880 MHz Transmit (Uplink): 146.280 MHz Offset: –0.600 MHz PL / CTCSS Tone: 167.9 Hz (uplink and downlink) Power / Height: 75 watts at ~1400 ft (If your radio still won’t key it up after this… we may need to talk. Kindly. 😄) Coverage Area This repeater provides wide-area coverage, including: North to Wallis South to Dickinson West to Sealy East to Daisetta In other words, if you’re in the Houston metro area and your antenna isn’t zip-tied to the fridge, there’s a good chance you can hit it. Why We Are Using 146.88 I use and recommend 146.88 because it allows members across a wide geographic area to communicate clearly and reliably. It’s well suited for general coordination, information sharing, and keeping everyone connected when conditions aren’t ideal. You may notice that we are not using 146.94, and that is intentional. That repeater is actively used by other agencies and groups, and I prefer not to be that guy who accidentally interrupts someone else’s operations. Sharing spectrum politely is part of being good amateur radio operators — and good neighbors on the air. Important Notes (Read This Before Getting Any Big Ideas) Members may use the repeater normally in accordance with amateur radio rules and good operating practices. Other agencies will be using this repeater and if an emergency net starts, please give them way. Please do not self-deploy or take independent action unless specifically directed This is about communication and coordination, not spontaneous hero missions As amateur radio operators, we all know the phrase: when all else fails, radio works. Choosing the right repeater just increases the odds that it works the first time — without drama. Thank you for the questions, the curiosity, and for keeping things professional (and occasionally entertaining) on the air. 73, Richard Bonica KG5YCU BVARC President ________________________________________________ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list [email protected] http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
________________________________________________ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list [email protected] http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
