Tec-Ni-Chat Radio Club

Announcements

Next Net

Our next net is on Sun, November 24 at 6:30pm following the R.A.C.E.S. Net, following the RACES Net, and will be run by Gordon, KCØBXO

Annual membership meeting

The Tec-Ni-Chat Radio Club invites all members to attend our Annual Membership Meeting on December 7th at 19:00 (7:00 PM) at Riverwalk Church of Christ, 225 N. Waco, Wichita, KS. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow members, discuss club updates, and vote on important items. This is an important meeting because we will be voting on a possible upcoming by law change. Refreshments will be served and everybody is welcome to bring a dish.

Welcome to the Air Capitol Tec-Ni-Chat Amateur Radio Club, a dynamic community of radio enthusiasts from the Wichita area. Our members are actively engaged in operating across HF, VHF, and UHF bands, exploring various modes of communication permitted under their license privileges.

Our Mission and Objectives

The Organization is devoted to the following key purposes:

  • Educational: We aim to educate and promote the proper use of amateur radio through weekly on-air nets, providing valuable information to the amateur radio community.
  • Scientific: Encouraging the exploration and advancement of amateur radio technology among our members and the wider amateur radio community is a core focus.
  • Testing for Public Safety: Our repeaters are open to all licensed amateur radio operators. They are also dedicated exclusively to Sedgwick County RACES (part of Sedgwick County Emergency Management) during training and emergencies, as authorized by Sedgwick County officials.

In support of these goals, our Organization is equipped to own, maintain, and operate one or more amateur radio repeaters. Additionally, our purpose extends to assisting the public in emergencies by providing and facilitating emergency communications and services. We are committed to increasing amateur radio knowledge among our members, helping others become licensed operators, promoting amateur radio activities on authorized frequencies, and performing any acts that further the interests of amateur radio to serve the public interest, convenience, or necessity.

Our Repeaters

In recognition of the vital role that R.A.C.E.S. plays in emergency communications, Phillips Petroleum generously provided a grant to Sedgwick County several years ago as a restricted gift for the benefit of R.A.C.E.S.. This grant enabled us to purchase the two repeaters currently in use today, the 146.940 MHz and the 444.000 MHz repeaters. These repeaters are integral to our ability to provide backup communication services during emergencies, storm spotting, and other disaster response scenarios.

We are deeply grateful for Phillips Petroleum's support, which has greatly enhanced our mission to ensure public safety and reliable communication for the amateur radio community across Sedgwick County and beyond.

The Club Operates Two Repeaters:

Wichita 146.940 VHF Repeater

Output – 146.940 MHz
Input – 146.340 MHz
CTCSS tone – 103.5 Hz
Band width – Narrow – 12.5 Kc

For an optimal experience on our 146.940 repeater, we recommend setting your radios to NARROW bandwidth (e.g., 12.5 Kc). This adjustment helps prevent signal clipping and drop-out issues associated with WIDE bandwidth settings during transmission.

Wichita 444.000 UHF Repeater

Output – 444.000 MHz
Input – 449.000 MHz
CTCSS tone – 100.0 Hz – Analog only
Band width – Wide – 25.0 Kc

In the distant past when our 146.940 repeater was offline, many of our members have discovered the impressive capabilities of our 444.000 repeater. It's renowned for its excellent wide-area coverage. Detailed access information for both repeaters is available below.

The Wichita 444.000 Repeater stands out for its versatility as a dual-mode repeater, accommodating both analog and DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) operations. It smoothly facilitates analog-in to analog-out, as well as DMR-in to DMR-out communications.

For DMR operations, please use Time Slot 1, Color Code 1, and Talk Group 1. This configuration ensures seamless digital communication.

Uniquely, our club's repeaters are independent units. They operate as stand-alone entities without linking to other systems or repeaters, either through radio or internet connections. This design choice enhances the reliability and quality of communications.

Both repeaters are strategically positioned atop a commercial tower in northwest Sedgwick County, near Colwich. The Wichita 146.94 repeater's antenna is mounted at 540 feet, while the Wichita 444.000 repeater enjoys an elevated position at 580 feet, optimizing area coverage.

While non-members are welcome to use our repeaters, we encourage regular users to consider joining the Tec-Ni-Chat Club. Your membership not only supports the maintenance and improvement of these valuable resources but also connects you to a community passionate about amateur radio.

Weekly Nets

Every Sunday evening, the Air Capitol Tec-Ni-Chat Amateur Radio Club hosts a series of engaging on-air nets, fostering community and skill development among radio enthusiasts. Our schedule includes:

  • Sedgwick County RACES Net - Kicking off at 6:30 PM.
  • Air Capitol Tec-Ni-Chat Amateur Radio Club Net - Following the RACES Net.
  • Intra-City UHF Club for Fast-scan TV (ICUC) - A unique net for TV enthusiasts.

Our club proudly operates OPEN repeaters, welcoming both members and non-members alike. While club membership is not a requirement for repeater use, we encourage regular users to join us. Membership supports the maintenance of these vital resources and connects you to a network of fellow radio aficionados.

Additionally, our repeaters are affiliated with Sedgwick County RACES. In times of emergency, as directed by Sedgwick County Emergency Management, our nets transition to support emergency communications. During such activations, only RACES stations are permitted to participate, but our RACES Net Control will accept emergency traffic from any station, ensuring community safety and responsiveness.

Meetings

The Board meets bi-monthly throughout the year. Members are welcome to attend the bi-monthly meetings. Comments and suggestions may be brought to the Board during the meetings. View the calendar for meeting dates and locations.

The first Saturday in December brings the annual “face to face” meeting where the members get together to elect the new Board of Directors and to attend to current business and to socialize.

Non-Profit

The Club is registered with the Kansas Secretary of State as a KANSAS NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION.
As of 3/28/2024, the Kansas Secretary of State’s website lists the Club’s status as “ACTIVE AND IN GOOD STANDING”.

Questions

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Club’s President, Brandon *KDØHTI* Trube




Join the Air Capitol Tec-Ni-Chat Amateur Radio Club, a vibrant community of Wichita area radio amateurs. Engage in HF, VHF, and UHF band operations, explore our advanced repeaters, participate in weekly nets, and be part of our dynamic events. Open to all, the club offers a platform for both seasoned operators and newcomers to amateur radio. - , Air Capitol Tec-Ni-Chat, Amateur Radio Club, Wichita radio amateurs, HF band operation, VHF band, UHF band, radio repeaters, 146.940 MHz VHF Repeater, 444.000 MHz UHF Repeater, DMR mode radio, Sedgwick County RACES, amateur radio nets, radio club meetings, amateur radio operators, Kansas not-for-profit corporation, radio community, Tec-Ni-Chat membership, amateur radio training,