Choose a membership type
Dear Prospective Member,
The CRA began operating its first repeater on 147.225 MHz in March of 1981 from Conifer Mountain for its handful of members. Since then, the CRA has grown to more than 300 members and operates ten repeaters from five sites in the Colorado Front Range.
Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain, located 20 miles west of Denver at 11,430 feet, is the site of the 145.145 MHz and 447.575 MHz voice repeaters. These are wide area coverage repeaters.
Eldorado Mountain, located southwest of Boulder at an elevation of 8,300 feet, is the site of our 145.460 MHz and 447.975 MHz repeaters. The 145.460 MHz repeater is continuously linked to CRA VHF Link System repeaters to provide coverage in Denver, Boulder and other areas of northeast Colorado.
Westcreek, located 16 miles southwest of Castle Rock at an elevation of 9,200 feet, is the site of the 147.225 MHz and 448.425 MHz repeaters. 147.225 is continuously linked to CRA VHF Link System repeaters to provide coverage from Denver to Colorado Springs.
Cheyenne Mountain, located on the southwest side of Colorado Springs, is the site of our 145.160 MHz repeater. It is continuously linked to CRA VHF Link System repeaters to extend coverage south along I-25 to Pueblo and other areas of southeast and south central Colorado. Switch to this repeater south of mile marker 170 on I-25.
Simla, located east of Colorado Springs along Route 24 to Limon, is the site of our 147.105 MHz repeater. This repeater is continuously linked to the 448.425 MHz repeater at Westcreek to extend Westcreek coverage to the eastern portions of Elbert County.
We are in the process of relocating our 53.050 MHz, 224.980, 447.150 and 1287.900 repeaters. These repeaters were located on Conifer Mountain until September 2017 when we had to move them. We are actively searching for new locations.
Our voice repeaters require a CTCSS tone of 107.2 Hz for access and also transmit the tone on their outputs. Program your radio for CTCSS encode for access to the repeaters and, optionally, decode to minimize interference to your receiver.
The CRA repeaters have always been intended for ragchew use, and we strive to continue this philosophy. This policy encourages some very busy repeaters, however we feel this is the best method to determine coverage and gauge the effectiveness of our systems. Coverage at the present time for our repeaters ranges from Cheyenne, Wyoming to the north, beyond Pueblo to the south, Limon to the east, and South Park and the Eisenhower Tunnel to the west.
The club operates nodes for Echolink and IRLP and provides a statewide autopatch. Echolink and IRLP provide access to a worldwide network of linked repeaters and amateur operators. Echolink, IRLP and the autopatch are accessed on CRA VHF Link System repeaters. A second Echolink and IRLP node is accessable on the Squaw 447.575 MHz repeater.
As a member, you will receive instructions and guidelines covering autopatch, Echolink, and IRLP use. The CRA Echolink and IRLP nodes and autopatch are for use by CRA members only – a benefit of membership; however, all members should be willing to assist non-members in the event they need to make a phone call or access a node.
Instead of monthly meetings, the CRA operates weekly on-the-air meetings each Sunday morning on CRA VHF Link System repeaters. On Sunday through Thursday evenings, the CRA repeaters host special-interest nets covering APRS operation, QRP operation, scanner operation, EOSS weather balloon experimentation, ARES public service, and other technical and public service activities. During emergency or simulated emergency operations, listen to or help out ARES as they provide support. See the web site for the latest schedule. All hams are welcome to join in.
A weekly swap net is held after the Sunday morning net with a list of amateur equipment for sale, wanted, or free. The swap list is available by email. See the web site to subscribe.
A very active all-volunteer Tech Team is constantly working on improvements to the many CRA systems as well as troubleshooting the inevitable problems that occur in the busy RF environment of the Colorado Front Range.
The CRA offers two membership plans: a Family Membership costs $25 per year and covers all members of your immediate household; a Student Membership costs $10 per year, offering a low-cost alternative for younger hams through high school age. The CRA has no initiation fees.
Upon receipt of your dues, we will send you an up‑to‑date membership roster, instructions for operating the autopatch and nodes, and a member information packet detailing club activities. Your canceled check is your receipt.
Please join our weekly on‑the‑air meetings held each Sunday morning at 9:00 A.M. local time on our 145.460, 147.225, 145.160 and 145.145 repeaters. We discuss club activities, matters of interest to amateurs, the weekly CRA Swap List, announcements of VE test sessions, upcoming swapfests, and public service events. The Newsline Report is featured each Sunday following check‑ins, providing timely news of Amateur Radio events from around the world. Members and non-members are welcome and urged to participate in our net!
Our repeaters are open to all licensed amateurs and our philosophy remains:
THE CRA WAS FORMED TO PROMOTE AMATEUR RADIO.
IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE ASK ANY MEMBER.
IF YOU ARE ASKED, PLEASE HELP.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT !!!!!!
73 from your CRA Board of Directors.