A Brief Background on The System

NERA began over 20 years ago when several engineers employed at the CBS Television Network and the FCC built the WA3KOK repeater system in Washington DC. The original system was designed to provide hand-held coverage throughout the greater DC area. This was one of the first 440 MHz repeatersusing multiple remote receivers to provide this type of coverage in the area. Corporate sponsors have been wonderful benefactors throughout our history. NERA has recieved generous support from several state and corporate sources including Team Video International, CBS Television, and the National Weather Service to mention a few.

In 1994 a new WA3KOK linked repeater was installed on Cacapon Mountain near Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. This addition extended system coverage to include most of Central and Western Maryland, the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, northwestern Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania.

In 1997 the K3HOT linked repeater was installed at 4030 feet AMSL atop Fork Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Madison County, Virginia. This addition increased coverage to include fifty-seven counties in central Virginia and eastern West Virginia. The NERA system now covered an area extending from Washington DC to West Virginia and from the Pennsylvania border to Charlottesville Virginia.

After several years of planning the installation of another WA3KOK linked repeater at Bull Run Mountain in Prince William County Virginia was completed. This new repeater provided additional coverage up and down the Interstate 66 corridor. Additionally, the relatively central location of this machine provides backup coverage into areas already served by the other machines.

During the year 2001 we made a trip to Fork Mountain to replace the link antenna with a brand new Comtelco 5 element beam. The Comtelco beam is very rugged and should be capable of withstanding the severe winter weather at the site better than the previous two antennae that were used at the site, we hope. In December the NERA system was expanded to High Knob Mountain near Linden Virginia through the addition of the N1TXI machine. This machine is sponsored and maintained by K4QJZ and N1TXI and will fill in nicely up and down the I-81 corridor. There are also plans in the offing to have this machine provide crossband repeat operation in early 2002.

 

Through the efforts of VE7LTD and his Internet Radio Linking Project the linked NERA system now provides worldwide telecommunications via amateur radio through an Internet interface. 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. If you've not used the IRLP before, please refer to KWARC's IRLP Page for valuable guidance.

Membership

The extensive Network Engineers Repeater Association system has evolved and grown through the efforts of our dedicated members both past and present. The NERA system of linked repeaters is limited to club members. NERA prides it's self on providing outstanding community service therefore all public service utilization of the system expressly takes precedence over ordinary communication and has no limitation on membership. Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator. Non members are encouraged to check out the system and if it is desired to become a member of NERA ,  you may complete an online application.

Members may go to our members only site to find out about upcoming association events.

Good Amateur operating practices are encouraged. Whenever you access the NERA system please remember to pause a moment between transmissions to allow others to join your QSO or to pass Emergency Traffic. This practice is particularly important when accessing other repeater systems via the IRLP or DRIL since some additional "turnaround" time is frequently required. Don't use 11 meter lingo when talking on the system. Speak normally.

If your organization desires to use the NERA system for a planned public service activity please let us know as early as possible prior to your event so the activity can be coordinated and the system configured effectively.

 

Cactus Intertie Organization Cholla Amateur Remote Base Association Western Intertie Network System Space Weather Now IRLP Echolink

* Internet Linking Round-up