NDRG North Devon Repeater Group

Getting on air

Radio setup

How to program the North Devon repeaters into your radio, with settings for each repeater and video guides for popular handhelds.

Settings for each repeater

Everything you need to get on air, in one place. “Radio receives” is the repeater’s output; “Radio transmits” is its input.

RepeaterModeRadio receivesRadio transmitsShiftAccess
GB3DNFM / C4FM (Fusion)145.6375145.0375−600 kHzCTCSS 77 Hz
GB3NDDMR439.7375430.7375−9 MHzColour code 1
TS1 local · TS2 SW Cluster
GB3NXFM145.7375145.1375−600 kHzCTCSS 77 Hz
GB7FBDMR439.4750430.4750−9 MHzColour code 5
TS1 local · TS2 cluster
GB7BUDMR439.6250430.6250−9 MHzColour code 1
TS1 local · TS2 SW Cluster
GB3XMDMR439.6625430.6625−9 MHzColour code 1
GB3BUFM430.9625438.5625+7.6 MHzCTCSS 77 Hz

Frequencies in MHz. This table is generated from the repeater details pages.

Step by step

FM GB3DN · GB3NX · GB3BU

  1. Switch to VFO (frequency) mode and key in the frequency your radio receives — the repeater’s output.
  2. Set the shift direction and size. 2m repeaters here are −600 kHz. GB3BU is the odd one out: +7.6 MHz.
  3. Set the transmit tone to CTCSS 77 Hz. Use tone mode TONE / ENC (American videos call this a “PL tone”).
  4. Save it to a memory channel and give it the callsign as its name.
  5. Press PTT briefly: you should hear the repeater’s carrier or courtesy tone come back.

DMR GB3ND · GB7FB · GB7BU · GB3XM

  1. Register for a free DMR ID at radioid.net and enter it in your radio. You need one before you transmit.
  2. DMR radios are set up with a “codeplug” in the manufacturer’s software (CPS). Create a digital channel with the receive and transmit frequencies (−9 MHz shift on 70cm).
  3. Set the colour code from the table: GB7FB is CC5, the others are CC1.
  4. Pick the timeslot: slot 1 is local RF only, slot 2 carries the South West Cluster (and the Tuesday 950 DMR Net).
  5. Add the talkgroup to the channel, write the codeplug to the radio, and you’re ready.

C4FM / Fusion GB3DN

  1. GB3DN also carries Yaesu System Fusion. FM still works for everyone; Fusion radios get digital audio.
  2. Program the channel as for FM above, then set the radio to AMS (automatic mode select) so it follows whatever mode is in use.
  3. Leave DG-ID at 00, the repeater is open.
  4. WIRES-X: GB3DN is node 96101, and the North Devon room is 6101.

Video guides

Hand-picked walkthroughs for popular 2m/70cm handhelds. Most are from American channels, so two things to remember: a “PL tone” is the same as CTCSS, and American 70cm shifts are +5 MHz, whereas ours are −9 MHz for DMR or +7.6 MHz for GB3BU. Use the numbers from the table above, not the ones in the video.

Start here

Any radioHam Radio Repeater Programming Explained: Offsets, PL Tones & TSQLSteve's Techtube · YouTube

Budget dual-band handhelds

Baofeng UV-5RHow to program CTCSS and offset on the Baofeng UV-5RKE6VRK · YouTubeBaofeng UV-5RAdd CTCSS tones on the keypad and talk on a repeaterNotaRubicon Productions · YouTubeBaofeng + CHIRPBaofeng UV-5R programming fast and easy with CHIRPDarryl Downey VA7DDU · YouTubeQuansheng UV-K5How to manually program the Quansheng UV-K5On the Mic with Mike · YouTubeQuansheng UV-K5/K6Add repeaters and memories using softwareHamTech M0FXB · YouTube

Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood

Yaesu FT-65 / FT-4XProgramming a repeater memory channel from the front panelKS6DAY · YouTubeYaesu FT5DSetting up the Yaesu FT5D for repeater communicationsK4SRF · YouTubeYaesu FT3DHow to manually input FM repeatersPrecisionGroupYT · YouTubeYaesu FT3D · FusionHow to use WIRES-X and C4FM (System Fusion)ModernHam · YouTubeIcom ID-52ICOM ID-52 add repeaterHamTech M0FXB · YouTubeKenwood TH-D74How to use the TH-D74 (includes repeater setup)KE6VRK · YouTubeKenwood TH-D75Introduction and programming of the Kenwood TH-D75Don Arnold · YouTube

DMR radios

AnyTone AT-D878UVHow to create a DMR codeplug: AnyTone 878UV, BTECH DMR 6×2 and moreGoodgame Ham Radio · YouTubeRadioddity GD-77GD-77 basic setup on DMRVA4AFK · YouTubeOpenGD77 firmwareHow do I use OpenGD77? An overviewSTEMwithMrDuda · YouTube

Still stuck?

Come along to one of the GB3DN nets and ask, or get in touch with one of the group members. Someone will be happy to talk you through it.