SARA Home Page ~ last update: 17 Dec 2023

Shiawassee County Repeaters

Try these:

Call / Type                                Frequency / offset          PL Tone                  Comment

W8SHI / D-Star                      145.240 - 0.6 MHz                                           Shiawassee ARES / Owosso
      Web: W8SHI.net

N8IES / Analog & P25           145.29 - 0.6 MHz          100 Hz                       Bancroft (Durand)

N8VDH / C4FM-WIRES       147.02 + 0.6 MHz          100 Hz (I/O)            Gateway Connected / Owosso

N8VDH / TBD                          442.400 + 5 MHz           100 Hz (I/O)            Owosso Ares

                                                                                                                                          Grand River Rd & Morrice Rd - Temp FM Only 11/17

W8CMN / DMR                        443.3125  + 5 MHz         CC/01                         Central MI Emergency Network / Bancroft
      Web: W8CMN.net

W8SHI / D-Star                      444.300 -+ 5 MHz                                              Shiawassee ARES / Owosso
      Web: W8SHI.net

Procedures / Protocol ~ Important Repeater Guidelines

Long Tone Zero [LiTZ]

LiTZ is a procedure to use a DTMF 'long tone zero' {5 seconds} at beginning of a transmission and then asking for needed assistance. This is 'NOT' a CQ or ragchew procedure just use when someone needs assistance from a fellow amateur radio operator. It is a Touch-Tone based all-call priority alerting system to be used on 'any channel' for requesting mutual assistance. Use LiTZ only when your normal voice calls go unanswered or the initial people responding can not help you.

For further information refer to QST (Oct 1992, page 82; Nov 1992, pages 108-110; Dec 1995, pages 25-31) [information and decoders]. Automatic control to break squelch is used in some areas by using a "long zero DTMF" scheme, This allows frequency monitoring by listeners who then only hear people needing assistance.

Wilderness Protocol

A suggestion for those outside their normal repeater ranges should monitor standard simplex channels {primary is 146.52 MHz} for priority traffic. The protocol suggests stations should monitor primary and secondary frequencies, if possible, every three hours starting at 7:00 AM local time for a 5 minute period ~ 7:00 AM; 10:00 AM; 1:00 PM; 4:00 PM; repeating until 10:00 PM. If possible monitor every hour at the top of the hour. Secondary frequencies to consider: 52.525 MHz; 223.5 MHz; 446.0 MHz; & 1294.5 MHz. Use the Long Tone Zero protocol for assistance needed calls. Hold CQ and normal transmissions until four minutes after the hour start. This allows for standard listening times for people needing assistance. Refer to QST for further information (Feb 94; page 100; Apr 1994; page 109; May 1994, pages 103-104).

Michigan Repeater Council

The Michigan Repeater Council coordinates repeaters in the state of Michigan. Their repeater directory site can be used  for entire state of Michigan is at: Michigan Repeater Council Directory [MARC]

The Owosso Repeaters are Coordinated through this process ~ Michigan Repeater Council.

The Michigan Area Repeater Council has a SE Michigan [MARC's] Quadrant Repeater Directory listing repeaters mainly for the SE corner of Michigan (and some of our 'central lower counties').

You can also try the Repeater Book for an online index of repeaters and information (not affiliated with MARC).

Offset Frequencies {Standards}

Until you become accustomed to using repeaters on all the different ham radio bands, this table may assist you in using the right offsets commonly used. Many radios have the standard options preprogrammed, but you need to be aware of what yours should be and act accordingly.

                                                        Frequency [MHz] of              Offset from Repeater Output to Input
                                                        Repeater's Output Range

6 Meters                                         51.62  to 51.98                             -500 kHz
                                                          52.50   to 52.98                             -500 kHz
                                                          53.50   to 53.98                             -500 kHz

2 Meters                                       145.2     to 145.5                              -600 kHz
(watch channel Spacing)      146.61   to 146.94                          -600 kHz
                                                        147.00    to 147.39                           +600 kHz

1/1/4 Meters or 222 MHz      223.85   to 224.98                           -1.60 MHz

70 cm or 440 MHz                  442         to 445                                 +5 MHz or - 5MHz
(local custom set above/below outputs)

23 cm or 1296 MHz               1282        to  1288                                - 12 MHz
                                                      1290         to 1294