The BARRA Tech Net
Buffalo Amateur Radio Repeater Association
The BARRA Tech Net was started as a weekly gathering place for hams in Western New York to discuss the technical side of amateur radio. While many on-air nets focus on traffic handling, ragchewing, or public service, the Tech Net was designed specifically for exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, and answering questions about the equipment, modes, and innovations in the hobby.
Hosted on the Buffalo Amateur Radio Repeater Association’s repeaters, the net provides an open forum where hams of all experience levels can check in, learn something new, and share their projects. Over time, the Tech Net has covered a wide range of subjects, including:
Linking systems such as AllStarLink, EchoLink, and Hams Over IP
Digital voice modes (DMR, Fusion, P25, FreeDV)
Satellite and space communications, including contacting the ISS
RF infrastructure such as station grounding, antennas, and simulcast repeaters
Modern ham-adjacent technologies like SDR, ADS-B, Meshtastic, HamClock, APRS, and weather systems
The net runs Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM Eastern, with rotating topics and occasional guest speakers (such as Ted, WA2HKS, describing the technical design of the WA2HKS simulcast system). Each net includes a short topic preamble followed by discussion questions to encourage check-ins and participation.
The BARRA Tech Net continues to grow as a resource for hams in Buffalo and beyond, promoting technical learning, experimentation, and fellowship over the airwaves.
Upcoming Amateur Radio Events in WNY
How to Connect to the Mighty 444
Node#: 52515
Talkgroup: 3167813
BARRA Tech Net Topics
most all past nets incude an archive of the presentation and audio
Horizontal vs. Vertical Polarization on HF – What Do You Use and Why?
Tonight's discussion is all about horizontal versus vertical polarization, with a focus on HF antennas. There are many ways to get on the air, and there is no single "best" antenna. Some operators swear by horizontal antennas like dipoles, inverted V's, loops, and...
Grounding Your Station
Good station grounding is one of the most overlooked parts of an amateur radio installation, yet it can have a major impact on safety, equipment protection, RF performance, and noise reduction. Join us for this week's BARRA Tech Net as we explore the fundamentals of...
Your 2026 Field Day Experience
Field Day 2026 is in the books, and now it's time to share the stories, lessons learned, and memorable moments from amateur radio's biggest operating event of the year. Join us this Wednesday at 8:00 PM for a special BARRA Tech Net discussion focused on your 2026...
What’s the Best Ham Radio Purchase You’ve Ever Made Under $100?
Join us this Wednesday at 8:00 PM for an interactive BARRA Tech Net discussion that every amateur radio operator can participate in, regardless of experience level. Our topic is simple: What is the best ham radio purchase you have ever made for less than $100? Some of...
Antennas and Feedline
This week's BARRA Tech Net dives into one of the most important parts of any amateur radio station: antennas and feedlines. Whether you're operating from a large property, a city apartment, or a restricted HOA neighborhood, the antenna often makes the biggest...
arrl field day… and the big boy
Join us this Wednesday at 8:00 PM for the BARRA Tech Net as we discuss plans for the upcoming ARRL Field Day, taking place June 27-28. Whether you're a seasoned contester, a casual operator, or participating in Field Day for the first time, we'd like to hear about...
How To Use AllStar Instead of Echolink On Phones
Our DVSwitch Node # is 527631
2026 field day plans
As Field Day 2026 approaches, this week’s BARRA Tech Net will focus on everyone’s plans, ideas, and preparations for the biggest operating event in amateur radio. Whether you’re planning a full-scale club operation with towers, generators, and multiple stations, or...
weather websites and online weather resources
Tonight on the Buffalo Amateur Radio Repeater Association Tech Net, we’re diving into one of the most valuable tools available to amateur radio operators — weather websites and online weather resources. From tracking severe thunderstorms and lake effect snow to...
Emergency gear you keep in your vehicle and more…
Join us for this week’s BARRA Tech Net as we dive into a practical, experience-driven discussion every mobile operator can benefit from. We’ll start by comparing what emergency gear you keep in your vehicle—everything from basic jumper cables and first aid kits to...
BARRA-Tech Shop
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