The repeater was disconnected Friday April 24, 2026 due to a water leak at the repeater location. We were notified of the power drop and leak and quickly arrived and disconnected mains from the power to the repeater location.
The leak was repaired yesterday and after a 24 hour dry out the repeater was returned this morning to operation.
We’re excited to share a major upgrade to the WB4RL repeater system! Our new 7 element, 11 dB gain Yagi antenna has officially been installed, mounted, tuned, and brought online—just in time for tonight’s East Coast Reflector “Open Mic Night” net.
This enhancement represents a significant step forward for our community. With the addition of the high-gain Yagi antenna, we are already seeing improved transmit distance, stronger signal clarity, and more reliable access across a wider coverage area. Operators who were previously on the fringe of the repeater’s range should now experience noticeably better performance.
The directional properties of the Yagi antenna allow us to focus RF energy more efficiently in the desired coverage direction. This translates into:
This upgrade helps ensure that our repeater continues to serve as a dependable communications hub for both everyday operation and emergency use.
Installing and bringing a Yagi antenna online involves several important steps, each critical to achieving optimal performance:
Before installation, we evaluated the mounting location to ensure:
Directional antennas like Yagis require careful orientation, so determining the primary coverage direction is essential.
The antenna elements (reflector, driven element, and directors) were assembled according to manufacturer specifications. Proper spacing and alignment of these elements are crucial for achieving the rated gain and radiation pattern.
The Yagi was securely mounted to the tower/mast using appropriate brackets and hardware. Attention was given to:
High-quality coaxial cable was run from the antenna to the repeater system. All connections were:
Because a Yagi is directional, precise aiming is key. The antenna was aligned toward the target coverage area using compass headings and signal testing to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Once installed, the antenna system was tested and tuned:
Finally, the antenna was connected to the repeater system and brought online. Testing included:
We’re proud to have completed this installation in time for tonight’s East Coast Reflector “Open Mic Night” net. This is a great opportunity for everyone to try out the upgraded system and experience the improved coverage firsthand.
We encourage all operators—near and far—to check in, give us a signal report, and enjoy the enhanced performance of the WB4RL Repeater.
This upgrade is part of our ongoing commitment to improving amateur radio infrastructure for our community. We appreciate everyone who contributed time, effort, and expertise to make this project a success.
See you on the air tonight!
— WB4RL Team
Amateur (ham) radio is one of the most rewarding technical hobbies you can dive into—combining electronics, communication, and community. But before you can get on the air, you’ll need to pass a license exam. The good news? With the right study approach and tools, most people can pass their first test faster than they expect.
In the United States, there are three license levels:
Each level requires passing a multiple-choice exam covering topics like radio theory, FCC rules, and operating practices. The Technician exam, for example, has 35 questions and is the most common starting point.
You don’t need to learn Morse code anymore—it’s no longer required.
There are two main approaches to preparing:
Most beginners use a mix of both, starting with memorization and building understanding over time.
Here are some of the most trusted and widely used study platforms:
These sites use the actual FCC question pools, making them extremely effective.
ARRL also provides a Tech Prep Resource Library with study materials and courses.
These are great if you prefer learning by watching instead of reading.
Perfect for studying during downtime.
A good rule:
👉 If you consistently score 80–85% on practice tests, you’re ready.
Ham radio exams are administered by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) under FCC guidelines.
You can:
Typical requirements:
Getting your ham radio license isn’t as hard as it might seem. With modern tools like online practice exams, video courses, and mobile apps, you can realistically go from beginner to licensed operator in just a few weeks.
Best starting plan:
Once you pass, the real fun begins—experimenting, building, and making contacts around the world.
WB4RL Repeater Celebrates One Year On the Air! 🎉
This month marks an exciting milestone for the WB4RL repeater—one full year of service on the air! What started as a vision has grown into a reliable and active hub for communication, connection, and community across our area.
Over the past year, the repeater has supported countless QSOs, provided a dependable resource during events, and helped bring both new and experienced operators together. From casual daily check-ins to more organized nets, WB4RL has become more than just a signal—it’s become a community gathering point.
Being part of the East Coast Reflector family has been a rewarding and exciting addition. Allowing you to access the world with national and international QSO’s the ECR has provided all of us contacts found no where else and weekly nets to enjoy.
This success would not have been possible without the incredible support from all of you. Whether you contributed time, technical expertise, equipment, or simply showed up and used the repeater, thank you. Every contact made and every voice heard has helped make WB4RL what it is today.
We also want to extend a special thanks to those who worked behind the scenes—handling setup, maintenance, troubleshooting, and improvements throughout the year. Your dedication has kept everything running smoothly and ensured that WB4RL remains a dependable resource for everyone.
And we’re not stopping here.
In the coming days, we’re excited to continue improving coverage with the addition of a new 7-element Yagi antenna with 11 dB gain, similar to the upgrade work completed just days ago at the WSHE379 GMRS Repeater. This enhancement will significantly extend the repeater’s reach into the Hartselle area, giving our friends there stronger, more reliable access to the system.
This is just the beginning. With your continued support, WB4RL will keep growing, improving, and serving the community for years to come.
Here’s to an amazing first year—and many more ahead!
73,
The WB4RL Team
We’re excited to announce that the WSHE379 system has been upgraded with a high-performance Yagi antenna—bringing stronger, clearer, and more reliable communications to our community!
🔧 What’s new?
The addition of a directional Yagi antenna significantly boosts signal gain by focusing radio energy in a specific direction rather than spreading it evenly. This means:
⚡ Why this matters for GMRS users
Operating on GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) frequencies, WSHE379 plays an important role in keeping our community connected. With this upgrade:
This enhancement ensures that when you key up your radio, your signal goes farther and comes through clearer than ever before.
🙌 Thank you to everyone who supported and helped make this upgrade possible. Stay tuned, stay connected, and as always—radio on!
#WSHE379 #GMRS #RadioUpgrade #CommunityComms
We’re excited to share a major upgrade to the WSHE379 GMRS repeater system happening this weekend! On March 21, 2026, we will be installing a new 7-element Yagi antenna to enhance our coverage and overall performance.
This upgrade brings a significant improvement in signal strength, with the new antenna providing approximately 11 dB of gain. In practical terms, that means a much stronger and more focused signal compared to our current setup. An 11 dB gain increase can effectively multiply our radiated power in the desired direction, allowing signals to travel farther while maintaining clarity and reliability.
One of the key advantages of a Yagi antenna is its directional capability. Unlike omnidirectional antennas that spread signal equally in all directions, the 7-element Yagi concentrates energy in a specific direction. For our installation, this beam will be oriented westward, allowing us to strategically expand coverage where it’s needed most.
This means improved reception and transmit performance along the I-65 corridor and into the Hartselle area, with:
We’re looking forward to hearing your signal reports after the installation. As always, your feedback will help us fine-tune and optimize performance.
Thank you for your continued support of the WSHE379 repeater system!
73,
WSHE379 Team
When severe weather strikes or an unexpected emergency unfolds, communication becomes the most important tool you have. For the WSHE379 GMRS community, staying connected can mean the difference between confusion and coordination, isolation and assistance. While GMRS is an excellent primary system for family and community communication, having more than one type of radio available is a critical part of emergency preparedness. One of the most valuable backup options is Citizens Band (CB) radio.
Emergencies rarely unfold in predictable ways. Power outages, damaged infrastructure, overloaded cellular networks, and even terrain can all disrupt communication. That’s why experienced emergency communicators rely on redundancy—having multiple systems that can operate independently of each other.
If one system fails, another can take its place.
In a severe weather event, for example:
Having a backup radio service that operates independently ensures you still have a way to communicate.
CB (Citizens Band) radio is a short-range radio service that operates on 40 channels in the 27 MHz band. Unlike GMRS, CB does not require a license in the United States and is widely used by truck drivers, travelers, off-road groups, and rural communities.
CB radios have been a staple of emergency communication for decades because they are:
Even when other systems are unavailable, CB radios can often still reach nearby drivers, travelers, and residents who may be monitoring channels.
While GMRS provides clearer audio, repeaters, and more structured community communication, CB offers a different frequency band and user base. That difference can become an advantage during emergencies.
Here are several reasons CB works well as a backup system:
1. Different Frequency Band
CB operates on 27 MHz (HF), while GMRS operates around 462–467 MHz (UHF). If conditions affect one band, the other may still function well.
2. Different User Community
Truck drivers frequently monitor CB Channel 19. During major highway incidents, weather events, or evacuations, this can provide valuable real-time information from people already on the road.
3. Infrastructure Independence
CB requires no repeaters or internet connections. Communication is radio-to-radio, which makes it resilient when systems fail.
4. Wide Availability
CB radios are inexpensive and widely sold. Many vehicles, especially in rural areas, already have them installed.
In severe weather situations such as:
communications infrastructure can fail quickly. A prepared household may have:
Each radio serves a different purpose, creating a layered communication strategy.
Preparedness is not just about having equipment—it’s about having options. The more communication paths available to you, the more likely you are to stay informed and connected during a crisis.
The WSHE379 GMRS network is built around community support and reliable communication. Adding a CB radio as an emergency backup strengthens that mission by ensuring members have additional ways to share information and reach others when conditions are at their worst.
If you already operate GMRS radios, consider adding a small CB radio to your emergency kit or vehicle. It’s a simple and affordable way to increase your resilience during severe weather and unexpected events.
When emergencies happen, redundancy saves lives.
Stay prepared, stay informed, and most importantly—stay connected.
Thanks to Laura at Retevis — you can now equip your family with reliable, affordable radio communications just in time for storm season. Use Coupon code ZRTSAVES for $5 off your purchase
Over the past few years, a new type of communication network has been gaining popularity in the amateur radio and maker communities: LoRa mesh networking. Two of the most talked-about systems are Meshtastic and MeshCore.
Both allow users to send messages across long distances using low-power radios without relying on cellular networks or internet infrastructure. For emergency communications, experimentation, and off-grid messaging, these systems are becoming an exciting addition to the modern radio toolkit.
Let’s look at what they are, how they work, and how you can get started.
Both systems use LoRa (Long Range radio) technology operating in the license-free ISM bands (typically 915 MHz in the United States). LoRa allows radios to transmit very small amounts of data over long distances with extremely low power consumption.
Instead of communicating directly point-to-point, devices form a mesh network. Each radio node can relay messages to others, allowing communication far beyond the range of a single transmitter.
This makes it possible to:
Messages hop from node to node until they reach their destination.
Meshtastic is one of the most popular open-source LoRa mesh networking platforms today.
It uses inexpensive LoRa radios paired with a smartphone app to send and receive encrypted messages across the mesh network.
Meshtastic uses a technique called managed flooding, where nodes rebroadcast messages so they propagate across the network. Messages typically travel up to 7 hops through other radios.
Meshtastic excels in situations where users are mobile or temporary, such as:
Because every node can relay traffic, a network can form automatically as users join.
MeshCore is another open-source LoRa mesh system but designed with a different philosophy.
Rather than having every device relay messages, MeshCore uses dedicated repeater nodes to handle network routing. Personal devices are called companion nodes, which connect to repeaters but do not relay traffic themselves.
Because routing is more structured, MeshCore networks can be more efficient and less congested when properly designed.
MeshCore works best when you can deploy fixed infrastructure nodes, such as:
| Feature | Meshtastic | MeshCore |
|---|---|---|
| Network Type | Ad-hoc mesh | Infrastructure-based mesh |
| Routing | Managed flooding | Path-based routing |
| Hop Limit | ~7 hops | Up to ~64 hops |
| Node Roles | All nodes can relay | Repeaters relay traffic |
| Ease of Setup | Very easy | More planning required |
| Community Size | Very large | Smaller but growing |
In simple terms:
Many groups experiment with both systems, sometimes using the same hardware with different firmware.
Most mesh nodes are small development boards that combine:
Popular hardware includes:
These devices typically cost $20–$80, making them affordable for experimentation.
Most run for days on small batteries thanks to LoRa’s low power consumption.
Many of these boards support both Meshtastic and MeshCore, so you can simply re-flash firmware to switch between systems.
Choose a supported board like a T-Beam or WisBlock.
Flash either Meshtastic or MeshCore firmware onto the device.
Meshtastic has official Android and iOS apps.
MeshCore typically uses companion apps or command-line tools.
Your phone connects to the radio which becomes your gateway to the mesh.
Once two or more nodes are online, the mesh begins forming automatically.
Range depends heavily on terrain and antenna height.
Typical results:
With multiple nodes relaying messages, networks can span entire regions.
While these systems operate on unlicensed ISM bands, they share many principles with amateur radio networking:
Many amateur radio groups are experimenting with mesh nodes alongside traditional radio systems to create hybrid emergency communication networks.
Both MeshCore and Meshtastic represent a new generation of digital radio experimentation. With inexpensive hardware and open-source software, anyone can participate in building decentralized communication networks.
If you’re interested in experimentation, emergency communications, or just learning something new, LoRa mesh networking is worth exploring.
And as always in amateur radio…
The best way to learn is to get on the air and experiment.
The WB4RL Repeater system continues to operate reliably and has seen several exciting upgrades and developments throughout March 2026, bringing enhanced digital communications and connectivity to the local amateur radio community.
The WB4RL repeater provides strong regional coverage and continues to serve as a central communications hub for local operators.
System Details
The repeater site also hosts several digital communication systems including packet radio, APRS services, and a Winlink RMS Gateway.
These systems operate together to support everyday communications, digital experimentation, and emergency communications capability throughout the region.
One of the most exciting upgrades this month is the activation of the Winlink RMS Gateway Post Office function, which significantly expands packet radio capabilities available to local operators. The Winlink system operates on 2 Meters at 145.0500 24 hours a day.
Traditionally, a Winlink RMS Gateway serves as a connection point between radio users and the global Winlink email system. When a packet station connects to an RMS Gateway, the gateway normally forwards messages through the internet to the central Winlink servers.
The Post Office feature adds a local message server that can store and route messages directly between radio users entirely over RF.
The RMS Gateway now includes a local message database that allows packet stations to exchange messages even if internet service is unavailable.
Operators connecting via packet radio can:
Messages addressed to local stations remain stored within the gateway until the recipient connects and downloads them.
This essentially turns the system into a local packet mail server, similar to classic packet bulletin board systems used widely in amateur radio in the past.
Local RF Messaging
Stations can exchange messages entirely over radio without needing internet connectivity.
Emergency Communications
During disasters or outages, the gateway continues operating as a local message hub, allowing operators to pass traffic between stations and emergency groups.
Store-and-Forward Packet
Messages can remain stored until the receiving station connects later.
Training and Digital Experimentation
The system allows operators to practice digital messaging techniques commonly used in emergency communications.
A portable station operating during a storm or public service event could connect to the WB4RL packet gateway and leave a message for another operator. The message remains stored in the local Post Office until the receiving station checks in and retrieves it.
If internet connectivity is available, the gateway will also continue routing messages to the global Winlink network as normal.
This hybrid capability allows the gateway to function as both:
The WB4RL-10 APRS system has also been performing extremely well throughout the month. The system operates on the 2 Meter band at 144.390 MHZ 24 hours a day.
During the recent storms that passed through the region, numerous APRS weather stations were active across the network. Many of these stations successfully digipeated and IGated weather telemetry, helping distribute real-time environmental data.
Weather station packets included:
Several stations relayed this information through the WB4RL-10 APRS infrastructure, allowing reports to reach the wider APRS internet network and contribute to broader weather monitoring systems.
This activity demonstrates how amateur radio and APRS infrastructure can assist with situational awareness during severe weather events.
Another major improvement to the WB4RL system is the installation of a T-Mobile 5G internet connection at the repeater site.
This high-speed connection now supports multiple communications services simultaneously, including:
The increased bandwidth and reliability of the 5G connection has noticeably improved the performance of digital services hosted at the site.
The WB4RL repeater is connected to the nationwide AllStarLink network, allowing the system to link with repeaters and nodes across the country. The WB4RL Allstar Node 556940 operates 24 hours a day.
With the new internet connection, the AllStar node has shown improved stability and audio quality. Operators can easily connect to regional or national nets and communicate with stations far outside the normal RF coverage area.
This connectivity significantly expands the reach of the WB4RL repeater.
In addition to AllStarLink, the WB4RL repeater also supports EchoLink, allowing licensed amateur radio operators to connect to the repeater using internet-connected devices such as computers, smartphones, or other radios running EchoLink software. The WB4RL Echolink Node 454955 operates 24 hours a day.
This capability provides several benefits:
EchoLink support allows operators to stay connected to the local amateur radio community even when they are away from the region.
Several developments across the amateur radio community have taken place recently.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has extended certain amateur radio license renewal filing deadlines that were affected by the 2025 federal government shutdown, allowing additional time for operators to submit renewal applications.
Updates have also been implemented for the 60-meter amateur band, aligning U.S. amateur radio operation with international allocations approved during the World Radiocommunication Conference.
Amateur radio operators and scientists are also preparing for upcoming ionospheric research events and propagation studies that use amateur radio signals to better understand the upper atmosphere.
The WB4RL repeater system continues to evolve as a modern communications platform combining traditional FM repeater operation with advanced digital radio services on our 2 Meter and 70 CM radios and repeaters.
With the addition of the Winlink Post Office feature, strong APRS performance during severe weather events, EchoLink connectivity, and improved system infrastructure through 5G internet, the system is better equipped than ever to support:
Operators throughout the region are encouraged to get on the air, explore packet radio and Winlink messaging, and take advantage of the many services provided by the WB4RL system.
73 from the WB4RL Repeater Team.
📡 T-Mobile 5G Internet Coming in March
The repeater internet connection is coming off grid and connecting via T-Mobile 5G next month. Between March 1 – March 6. The iGate and Digipeater as well as the new Winlink RMS Gateway Post Office will also be placed on the T-Mobile 5G Network. We are excited to offer more reliable connections and less interruptions which landline offers.
🚗🚐 Traveling outside the coverage area? When traveling outside the local coverage area, the WB4RL Repeater is still accessible via internet linking. Users may direct-connect through EchoLink Node 454955 to gain access to the repeater, or connect via the WB4RL AllStar Node 556940. These connections allow you to stay in contact with friends, nets, and home-area communications from anywhere you have internet access, extending the reach of the WB4RL system well beyond its RF coverage.