BARRA Repeaters at a Glance
| Frequency | Offset | Call Sign | Location | PL / Notes | Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29.68 MHz | – | WB2JQK | Boston, NY | PL 107.2 Hz | Voice TX UB (Degraded) |
| 145.17 MHz | – | K2ISO | Wethersfield, NY | None | Voice OFFLINE |
| 146.73 MHz | – | KD2GBR | Wheatfield, NY | D-Star DV | Digital Voice |
| 146.91 MHz | – | W2EUP | Boston, NY | PL 100.0 Hz | Voice (Degraded) |
| 147.00 MHz | + | K2LED | Kenmore, NY | PL 107.2 Hz | Voice RX KW |
| 224.82 MHz | – | N2ZDU | Boston, NY | PL 107.2 Hz | Voice (Degraded 5w) |
| 442.00 MHz | + | WR2AHL | Wethersfield, NY | PL 110.9 Hz | Voice / Linked to Empire State Network |
| 444.00 MHz | + | WA2HKS | Buffalo, NY | None | Voice / EchoLink N2UGS-L / Allstar 52515 |
| 444.75 MHz | + | WB2DSS | Kenmore, NY | PL 151.4 Hz | Voice |
| 444.8375 MHz | + | KD2GBR | Wheatfield, NY | D-Star DV | Voice |
| 444.9625 MHz | + | WB2FXY | Boston, NY | DMR | Digital Voice |
BARRA Repeaters – In Depth
W2EUP/R (146.91 MHz) & N2ZDU/R (224.82 MHz)
Located on club-owned property in the Town of Boston, NY, this site is fully solid-state, computer-controlled, and powered by 12-volt DC derived from commercial mains with battery backup. The microprocessor-based control system was designed, built, and programmed by BARRA members and manages all equipment at the site.
This location serves as the primary switching hub for links between BARRA repeaters and external systems. The site sits at 1,640 feet above sea level and features two self-supporting towers.
Housed at this site are:
The 146.31/146.91 W2EUP repeater
The 223.22/224.82 N2ZDU repeater
The receiver for the WB2JQK 29.68 MHz 10-meter repeater
The 224.82 MHz and 29.68 MHz repeaters can be linked together, as well as to the WA2HKS 444.00 MHz repeater. The on-site control system provides highly flexible and reliable linking across all connected repeaters.
Tower Replacement Project
On September 8, 2019, the Cole Road tower replacement project was completed. This effort began in January 2017 after the top section of the original west tower failed during 70+ MPH winds.
Thanks to the dedication of site coordinator Jan Jarecki, WB2FXY, and his team, a replacement tower—generously donated by Bob Schober, K2CRR—was installed. Member and community donations funded new antennas, feedlines, concrete foundations, and improvements to the A-frame building, significantly enhancing site reliability.
Coverage on the 146.91 MHz repeater improved dramatically after restoring antenna height to 90 feet. The WB2FXY DMR repeater was also upgraded with 7/8″ hardline and an 8 dB commercial antenna, providing near-handheld coverage throughout much of southern and central Erie County.
WB2FXY/R – 444.9625 MHz (DMR)
The 444.9625 MHz repeater is located at the BARRA Boston site on club-owned land at 1,640 feet ASL. It uses a Motorola XPR 8300 with a split transmit/receive antenna system.
Transmit: Comet GP-15 at 60′ on the west tower, fed by LMR-400
Receive: Combined antenna system with 7/8″ Heliax and a tower-mounted 10 dB preamp
The repeater is connected to a cBridge, enabling linking to BrandMeister, DMR-MARC, and independent DMR networks. Available talk groups and sample code plugs can be found at www.w2brw.net.
KD2GBR/R – 146.73 MHz & 444.8375 MHz (D-Star)
Originally located on Grand Island and later in Niagara Falls, this repeater now operates from Wheatfield, NY at a historic 1922 broadcast site—once home to WMAK (a forerunner of WBEN) and later Inland Marine Radio station WBL.
In January 2014, the original GE Mastr II equipment was replaced with Icom D-Star digital voice hardware by BARRA members. This upgrade supports D-Star operation on both:
146.73 MHz (VHF)
444.8375 MHz (UHF)
The system supports cross-band D-Star operation. Additional details are available on QRZ.com.
WA2HKS/R – 444.00 MHz
Located on the Main Street campus of the University at Buffalo, this repeater offers extensive capabilities, including:
Links to Boston, Wethersfield, and TFMCS repeaters
Six-site voted receiver system
Backup transmitter and battery power
Dual transmitters for wide coverage
- Allstar Echolink and DV Bridge
The transmitter for the WB2JQK 29.68 MHz repeater is also located here. Activity on this repeater is nearly continuous, with local operators active around the clock.
Nearly all equipment at this site is home-built or custom-modified by Ted Ertl, WA2HKS, including the controller, identifier, and most RF components.
K2ISO/R – 145.17 MHz OFFLINE (Repair Completion Date: ?)
This repeater is located at the WTSS-FM (107.7) mountain transmitter site in Wyoming County at over 2,000 feet elevation. The antenna is mounted 400 feet above ground on a community antenna system, providing exceptional coverage from Buffalo to Rochester and well into the Southern Tier.
The system uses Motorola equipment and includes emergency power capabilities.
WR2AHL/R – 442.00 MHz
Located at the Wethersfield site alongside the 145.17 MHz repeater, this UHF machine offers coverage comparable to the K2ISO system. A PL tone of 110.9 Hz is required for access.