Frequently Asked Questions

What areas do your radios cover?

Our UHF repeater covers most of the Black Rock desert, from Gerlach to well past Double Hot hot springs. You should be able to hit the repeater with a five-watt HT with no problem just about anywhere in the Black Rock. Coverage degrades quickly south of Gerlach on Highway 447, ending just north of Empire.

The VHF IRLP node on 146.7 MHz simplex has less range than the UHF system. It is usable in and around Gerlach with an HT, and out to roughly the 12-mile playa entrance with a higher-powered mobile rig and vehicle mounted antenna.

I couldn't get the VHF IRLP node to work and I'm sure I'm in range!

Check to make sure that you are transmitting PL 100.0. Then check to make sure that your radio is in simplex mode, that is, that you are not transmitting with an frequency offset. The frequency of our VHF IRLP node, 146.7 MHz, is in the repeater portion of the ARRL band plan. Most modern radios automatically switch to a negative frequency offset as soon as they see the 146.7 MHz frequency. You may need to manually override this. (And yes, our simplex use of 146.7 MHz is blessed by CARCON, the organization that coordinates repeaters in Nevada.)

Are your systems open or closed? Does it cost anything to use them?

Our systems are free and open! All amateur radio operators are welcome -- encouraged! -- to use them.

That said, setting these radios up has been a significant expense. If you find our radios useful, we encourage you to donate to our organization or become a member.

Can you tell me more about the technical details of your setup?

The UHF repeater is a pair of low-power (5 watt) radios and an NHRC-7 repeater controller powered from a solar array on a mountain-top on the east side of the playa. The simplex VHF IRLP node 3075 is a Motorola GM300. Output power is approximately 40 watts with a Comet CX-333 antenna atop a 20' mast mounted on a 32' tower.

The APRS digipeater (GERLCH) is an Alinco DR-135 with a Tracker 2 TNC, both generously donated by Argent Data Systems. Output power is 50 watts. The APRS antenna is a Diamond X50A providing 4.5 dBi gain at about 30' above ground. Digipeating and packet gatewaying to the Internet are provided by the aprs4r software.

The Internet connection is via Friends of Black Rock and the Gerlach town wifi network that is provided courtesy of the Burning Man organization.

I'm not familiar with IRLP. What is it?

Please see our super-quick IRLP tutorial and the official IRLP web site.

Where exactly is your equipment located?

Some of our equipment is in Gerlach, Nevada at the southernmost tip of the Black Rock Desert. Other equipment is on a mountaintop on the east side of the playa.