An Amateur radio repeater is an electronic device that receives a weak or low-level amateur radio signal and retransmits it at a higher level or higher power, so that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation.

In amateur radio, repeaters are typically maintained by individual hobbyists or local groups of amateur radio operators such as the Lakeshore Repeater Association. Many repeaters are provided openly to other amateur radio operators and typically not used as a remote base station by a single user or group. In some areas multiple repeaters are linked together to form a wide-coverage network, such as the linked system provided by the Independent Repeater Association (^*) which covers most of western Michigan.

Services provided by a repeater may include an autopatch connection to a POTS/PSTN phone line to allow users to make telephone calls from their radios. These advanced services may be limited to members of the group or club that maintains the repeater. Many amateur radio repeaters typically have a squelch tone (CTCSS or PL tone) implemented to prevent them from being keyed-up (operated) accidentally by interference from other repeaters.

In many communities, the repeater has become the on-the-air gathering spot for the local amateur radio community. Local public service nets may be heard on these systems and many are employed by weather spotters. In an emergency or a disaster a repeater can sometimes help to provide needed communications between areas that could not otherwise communicate.

Repeaters may also be linked together or connected to over the internet using voice over IP (VoIP). Echolink allows hams with computers to connect to repeaters anywhere around the world and The Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) and App rpt/Asterisk allow for direct repeater linking. In addition, communications satellites called OSCARs have been launched with the specific purpose of operating as spaceborne amateur repeaters.

In the UK repeaters are managed by the Repeater Management Committee of the Radio Society of Great Britain (licenced by Ofcom ([http://www.ofcom.org.uk) the industry regulator for communications.

Radio electronics | wireless communications | Amateur radio