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The W4RAT 442.55 MHz repeater first signed on in 1996. With antenna positioned 680 feet above Chesterfield Town Center, this Yaesu DR-2X system provides both analog FM and digital C4FM service to a large portion of central Virginia. This system is equipped with access to the global WIRES-X network, allowing users of handheld and mobile UHF radios to communicate with others all around the world. Multiple stations can communicate at once through the use of WIRES-X rooms. RATS hosts the VIRGINIA room (#68927) from our repeater site.
The repeater is open to all licensed amateurs. You do not need to be a member of the club to use this system. Please take a moment to become familiar with our Repeater Rules and basic repeater etiquette before going on the air. RATS members needing help accessing the repeater may reach out to their Technical Committee.
Here's an estimated coverage map generated with Radio Mobile Online by Rouger Coudé VE2DBE.
C4FM users: Keep in mind that WIRES-X is a shared resource. When you establish a link to a remote WIRES-X room, you are controlling the state of the repeater for all users. Please do not monopolize access to the system. Extended connection time is permitted between 10 PM and 7 AM daily. Consider establishing a WIRES-X Portable Digital Node (PDN) for prolonged lurking on remote rooms. Excluding automatic connections to scheduled nets, please try to limit daytime system usage to about 30 minutes per day.
Basic Configuration
Basic Configuration
Frequency: 442.550 MHz, +5 MHz offset
Call Sign: W4RAT
Mode: Wideband FM (in & out), C4FM (in & out, networked)
FM Parameters: TX & RX PL 74.4 Hz, enable Busy Channel Lockout
C4FM Parameters: TX DN (Digital Narrow), DG-ID 00
Repeater: Yaesu DR-2X
Antenna: Commander 455-5N 12.1 dBi @ 680 feet
TX Power: 50 watts
C4FM/WIRES-X users should disable their radio's Automatic Mode Selection (AMS) feature to prevent unwanted mode changes during QSOs when using a dual-mode system such as the 442.55 repeater. C4FM radios must digitally transmit a valid FCC call sign. Radios with improper ID will be blocked from the WIRES-X network.
FM users should engage their radio's Busy Channel Lockout function to avoid accidentally transmitting over digital traffic.
Digital Traffic Precedence
Digital Traffic Precedence
This is primarily a digital repeater. Digital traffic takes precedence. It stays linked 24/7 to a network of other repeaters, and only digital traffic passes over this link. As a result, stations on linked repeaters will not hear our local analog traffic and may start a digital QSO at any time. Analog stations must yield to digital activity.
Because this repeater may transmit in either analog or digital mode, as determined by the incoming signal, users of analog-only radios should ensure their radio is set to utilize a 74.4 Hz receive PL tone. This will prevent the squelch from opening for the noise of digital signals. However, the user must observe the radio's signal meter or receive activity light for several moments before transmitting in analog mode to avoid conflicts with digital traffic. Only one mode may be active at a time. The use of Busy Channel Lockout is highly recommended, if available.
WIRES-X Available Here
WIRES-X Available Here
Club member Mike Friedman W4MAF put together an excellent presentation on the capabilities of our WIRES-X system in March 2022. We have a copy of it here. New users of the W4RAT WIRES-X system should review this to become familiar with local operating practices and the characteristics of our particular system.
We also have a list of WIRES-X nets on our Nets page.
Regional Linking via the Virginia Room
Regional Linking via the Virginia Room
Unless a user has temporarily connected the repeater elsewhere, the machine stays linked to the Virginia Room (#68927) along with several other repeaters in the region.
WIRES-X traffic from these systems will be carried on the digital portion of the repeater and will not be heard by analog users.
Questions about the WIRES-X system on the VHF repeater may be directed to the Technical Committee.
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