It's on the Senior Road Broadcast tower...the site has 2 250 or 500kw diesel
generators iirc..this allows the 9 FM Broadcast stations backup for 2 to 3
days...I know this since I was assistant CE of KRBE in 2016
Chris WB5ITTTrustee W5APXWRXZ789 GMRSSociety of Broadcast Engineers Vice
Chairman and Frequency Coordinator, SBE134 SE TX and SW LA
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 08:12:11 PM CST, Richard Bonica via BVARC
<[email protected]> wrote:
Ok - it is a natural gas from what I remember and should run until the
dinosaurs stop producing.
Other than that, does anyone else have feed back on this.
Sorry I don't have more info, I trust the geniuses that run it know more. I
just beat it with Radio waves and it yells back. But I am sure others have
better info on that than I do.
Richard Bonica
C: 281.935.7222
Email: [email protected]
Freq: 147.000 - DMR - Digital Mobile
Territory: NE Fort Bend
CERT, CST, EST, WEB EOC, HSEEP, FEMA PD, Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Extra
Ameture Radio
On Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 8:05 PM Lloyd Coker <[email protected]> wrote:
Is it generator backed up?
If so, diesel, gasoline, or natural gas (or propane tank)?
What is the estimated run time while experiencing a full/continuous power
outage?
Just curious. 😎
Thanks, LFC
Lloyd F. Coker
Email: [email protected]
Email2: [email protected]
Cypress, Texas 77429
KI5OYC
From: BVARC <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Richard Bonica via BVARC
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 19:55
To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <[email protected]>
Cc: Richard Bonica <[email protected]>
Subject: [BVARC] Why We’re Using the 146.88 Repeater (Frequencies & PL Tone)
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
________________________________________________
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BVARC mailing list
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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]/
