What we do

The Iowa Repeater Council coordinates amateur radio service repeater frequencies in the state of Iowa (in the “midwestern” US). Amateur radio operators (hams) coordinate the frequencies of their repeater stations in order to minimize interference between such stations and to maximize the use of the available frequency spectrum. Additionally, amateur radio repeaters placed in service without coordination, and causing interference to coordinated repeaters, may be called upon by order of the FCC to discontinue operation until coordination has been obtained through this organization.

Iowa amateur radio repeater operators formed the IaRC as the central clearinghouse and coordinator of repeater channels. The repeater council is a non-profit corporation supported by the annual dues of its membership. IaRC coordinates frequency usage with similar coordination councils in surrounding states. IaRC is also a member of the Mid-America Coordination Council, INC (MACC).

Coordination Policies

The IaRC has its own policies and procedures which closely follow the polices of MACC, an umbrella organization of coordination councils. Excerpts from MACC’s frequency coordination guidelines are available here.

Amateur Radio Service

Amateur (or Ham) radio is a licensed service world wide for non-profit, experimental, and public service.  The Amateur Service has frequency allocations from the HF through the microwave regions of the spectrum.  More information on the amateur service, and how to get licensed can be found at www.arrl.org, the website for the “national association amateur radio” in the US.

Repeaters in the Amateur Radio Service

Amateur Service Repeaters  facilitate communications with mobile and portable stations and operators.  These systems support local communications for general amateur communications, as well as in support of public service activities like supporting parades, fun-runs, and emergency drills.  These systems are in the VHF and UHF bands, and have coverage of cities, or a county, or potentially multiple counties.

Amateurs support public needs with storm-spotting efforts, and provide public officials additional communications for monitoring impacts from natural disasters (floods, tornadoes, etc.) as well as man-made occurances (train derailments, fires, explosions), and emergency drills to rehearse for a variety of potential events.

Spectrum management / channel assignments OUTSIDE the Amateur Service

The Iowa Repeater Council provides coordination only for the Amateur Service.   Users looking for channels, frequency coordination, spectrum management for business, non-profit organizations, family, etc.  can research for those services from their radio system vendor, FCC references, etc.