Astro Hams!
There are a number of Ham Radio operators also involved in astronomy. As amateur astronomers living in and around Aurora Bora Phoenix, we find ourselves driving to very remote areas, not all of which are conducive to cell phones. One of the big things, aside from the removal of the CW requirements of the Ham license, that got me to finally get my license was being able to communicate back to the valley in the case of emergency. Jimmy Ray and I discussed the creation of this page, a listing of good repeaters for the various observing places we go and my additional though of posting who we are and what repeaters or frequencies we hang out on.
Please notify me or anyone on this list of repeaters that work well for the various observing sites. I will list them in the chart.
This page is a work in progress, feel free to request you be put on the list. I know a number of Hams involved in astronomy, but I will not put you on this list unless you specifically request that I do so. Also only your name, call sign and city will be listed, send me only the information you want posted.
Contact me at K7BVOaatttCOXdottNET (I'll let you figure it out)
Also if you are going to be traveling around the state feel free to coordinate with me to do some testing. Contact me via email for a phone number.
Last Updated 3/17/2010
Astro Hams List
| Name | Call | Location ** | Preferred Repeaters | |
| Beevo (aka Bill VanOrden) | K7BVO | South Tempe | 443.050, 53.14/51.86* pm-e, wm, 147.240* am-e, 449.600 | |
| Earla (Mrs. Beevo) | N7ASU | South Tempe | Can act as a base station during telescope weekends, repeater will vary Email Beevo to arrange | |
| Jimmy Ray | KZ7QCW | Glendale | 449.525*, 441.725 dt-a, dt-p | |
| Wes | K7EDE | 146.700, 446.150 | ||
| Jay LeBlanc | KC7NPT | Sonoita | ||
| Steve Rodgers | KI7RB | Phoenix | 147.240 | |
| Chuck Akers | KJ7DE | Avondale | 449-525 | |
| Rick Tejera | K7TEJ | Phoenix | ||
| Andrew Goodwin | KE7DNT | Avondale | 449.525 | |
| Joe Goss | K7JRG | Mesa | ||
| John Christensen | N1RVR | East Tempe | 147.360, 147.240, 442.800 |
* Preferred frequency (if more than one listed) ** Arizona unless indicated otherwise
Repeaters
| Input | Code | Shift | Tone | Call Sign | Sponsor | Location | Notes & Linked Repeaters |
| 443.050 | a | + | 100.0 | W7MOT | Motorola ARC | South Mountain Antenna Farm | mt |
| 449.600 | b | WB7TJD | Superstition ARC | NE Mesa | gt 147.120 | ||
| 147.120 | c | WB7TJD | Superstition ARC | NE Mesa | gt | ||
| 447.650 | d | - | WB7QGJ | N7DJZ | Usery Mountain | ca | |
| 146.920 | e | Mt. Ord | L-f | ||||
| 147.240 | f | Shaw Butte | L-e | ||||
| 441.725 | g | - | 100.0 | White Tanks Peak | L- | ||
| 53.14 | h | - | 100.0 | WK7B | Pinal Peak | L-j 6 meter FM | |
| 53.86 | j | - | 100.0 | N6IEM | White Tanks | L-h 6 meter FM | |
| 147.200 | k | + | 162.2 | W7ARA | AZ Repeater | Pinal Peak | |
| 448.475 | m | - | 100.0 | W7ARA | AZ Repeater | Pinal Peak | |
| 145.410 | n | - | 141.3 | K7EAR | EAARS | Pinal Peak | Eastern AZ linked system |
| 147.360 | p | + | 162.2 | W7MDY | Mt. Ord | Rim Link | |
| 146.940 | q | - | 162.2 | W7EX | AZ Repeater | White Tanks | |
| 146.860 | r | + | 141.3 | K7EAR | EAARS | Heliograph Peak (S of Safford) | Linked to EAARS network including one on Mt Lemmon (s) |
| 147.160 | s | + | 141.3 | K7EAR | EAARS | Mt Lemmon | EAARS Network, linked to (r) |
| 146.880 | t | - | 110.90 | N70EM | TAPR | Mt Lemmon | Can hit from Phoenix with good antenna and 20+ watts |
| 145.41 | u | - | 141.3 | K7EAR | EAARS | Pinal Peak | Linked to s & t can hit from valley with good antenna & 20Watts |
Observing Sites
| Observing Site | Best Repeater | Alternate | Notes (Repeaters listed are verified, please email me any other verifications) | ||
| Picket Post Trail Head | d | Usery mountain is easy with 20W and a mobile antenna ! | |||
| Antennas Site | q | g | g took some power to hold, q was easy | ||
| Hovatter Norte | |||||
| Griffin Ranch | k,h,n,m | Pinal Peak repeaters, both can be hit from the valley with 35 watts and a good antenna, usable on the trip out with a few dead zones in the canyon east of Superior. | |||
| Cherry Road | |||||
| Picacho Peak SP | s,t | a,c | s & t can be worked with 5W HT Need 30+W and a very good mobile antenna for a & c! | ||
| Five Mile Meadow | p | Wide coverage into the valley and Payson/Flagstaff areas | |||
| Kartchner Caverns Campground | r | Nice VERY dark site!! Avoid setting up with view of back of the 2 bathrooms, the only exposed lighting! | |||
| Farnsworth Ranch (AAMM & AASP) | s,t | s & t can be worked with HT and 5 Watts |
Key
| -e | Early, before 7:00 if morning or before 5:00 if afternoon |
| -l | Late |
| dt | Drive Time, assumed to be 7:00am - 8:30am and 5:00pm to 6:30pm |
| wm | When "Mobile-ing" If you always monitor when driving. This can include weekends. |
| * | Indicates primary frequency |
| -a | AM |
| -p | PM |
| gt | Ground Tower |
| ca | Closed Autopatch |
| L- | Linked to (code) |
| mt | Mountain top |