KD4RAA-K4JDR Repeater Group Support Membership - $25./yr.

Application Form for IRLP, EchoLink and Repeater Group Supporting Membership

The KD4RAA-K4JDR Repeater Group gladly welcomes any donation to help offset the cost of operating and maintaining the repeater link system, IRLP and EchoLink.  We are fortunate to have been given many commercial radios, antenna systems, amateur radio gear and tower access to help complete the linking projects over the last 14 years, but we have also had to purchase much of the gear as new. Much of the out-of-pocket expenses for maintenance have come from private donations and personal resources. Those of us who own repeaters in the system know that it takes a great deal of money to keep these systems operating.

We are not sponsored by any club or outside organization but believe that each operator contribute to the repeaters and systems used,  whether it be financial, equipment, or knowledge resources.  We want to stress that contributions should never be at the expense of your family or your local club membership participation. Time and energy account for much.  This project from the beginning has been made possible through generous donations and personal involvement which lends a certain amount of personal satisfaction.. and that all this has been accomplished outside any club or organized effort... although many area clubs and individuals have been extremely helpful in providing resources. The beauty of this system is that we all have ownership and make it a vital resource for the ham community. 

To help us keep track of those who wish to help out, we have implemented a Supporting Member Form that allows us to know your interests and helps us know a little of the direction you would like to see us go.  If you cannot make a monetary contribution, but wish to help out in other ways, please let us know on the form.  We will never restrict usage of the system based on financial participation... that is not what this hobby is about.  If you are a repeater owner or trustee please indicate that on the form.

Ron and I appreciate the countless many who have made our linking projects successful. For instance, Jim Price WW4M and Jack Thorpe WA0ERX are  our "node administrators" for the recent IRLP link additions here in Raleigh. They have spent days configuring the Linux server and gathering much research information to keep the IRLP active.  Jim is now considered globally by the IRLP owners and users as somewhat of an authority on IRLP operations.  This is their contribution and piece of the ownership. The various repeater owners and trustees and the trustees have also given of their resources to promote Amateur Radio through our linking system.  Others have helped with repeater and antenna installs, ground crews, tower maintenance writing letters of recommendation, propagation studies and maps as well as site coordination. 

Literality thousands of dollars in personal resources go into making the system available for open access. Annually, our projects have cost more to install and operate than that of most lifetime budgets for an average personal hamshack. We have built repeater systems and IRLP nodes for others to use without expecting remuneration. There is always a core group that is active working on projects for others to enjoy. In some ways, we have modeled Danny Hampton's enormous effort with the VHF systems on the PCRN with a similar concept on UHF and VoIP.  K4ITL is fully aware of the what it takes to keep this effort moving... and we now feel the sense of his passion and endeavor to do this only for the satisfaction of participating in and giving to this great hobby.      

We are always in need of commercial radio gear for links, electronic testing gear, parts supplies, repeater controllers, lightning and surge protection, computers for IRLP,  power supplies, antennas and feed line, tower climbers, leads on tall towers, people who have a passion for building and maintaining repeaters... the list is unending... if you think we can use it, please let us know.   

There are advanced features on the system besides the public emergency 911 patch and WX alerts that we feel can be distributed to those who make a significant contribution to the repeater maintenance.  The phone service alone is over $380 a year per location and we have three. A complete IRLP code list for point to point contact on Node 4270 will also be available to those who wish to support that effort financially with a suggested $25 support membership. All monetary donations go directly into the purchase of new equipment and repair of the current systems.  We actually have a few individuals that give hundreds of dollars, so please don't feel limited to the amount.  You are really not buying a service here, but rather you are helping us to maintain and expand the systems in areas that do not have coverage.  I was impressed by one individuals response when he donated a days wages to help us.   Support Membership Application Form. 

We also invite you to join our user group list to receive timely announcements and information pertaining to our repeater linking and IRLP.

If you wish to mail us, 
please use the following address:

KD4RAA-K4JDR Repeater Group
C/O Ronnie J. Casey, K4JDR
84 Angie Road
Raleigh, North Carolina
27603-7336

If you would like to be involved or see the repeater projects and IRLP in action, please give me a call at the home shop at  Musten Communications  (919) 781-1843. Jim, Ron and I have received several invitations to area clubs and organizations to present demonstrations on IRLP and the link system.  Please feel free to contact us if you would like for us to visit your group.

In January of 2001,  We began to work hard on the goals of finishing the repeater projects that we first started.  It has been an encouragement to me to have good friends that have continued to support the visions of our repeaters and linking system and I am grateful for that leadership and support. The old adage that... you get out what you put in... holds true. I find the greatest satisfaction in freely giving to this system.  Many new technologies like the IRLP have sparked new enjoyment to the hobby. More exciting projects are coming soon.  Plug in, stay tuned and get involved.

Please email me with any ideas or potential projects that you would like to see on the table.  Ron Casey and I would enjoy hearing from you.

Keen Desire 4 Radios and Antennas
Danny Musten KD4RAA