Rio ARC provides the following information to assist you in utilizing the local repeaters and nets. Rio ARC does not own nor maintain any of the systems listed below. Please contact their respective owners for questions or concerns.
We have placed a .CSV file here for you to download into CHIRP2 to install into your radio. Of course feel free to open it and make any changes you like. If the file opens in a spreadsheet or your browser, just save it to any directory (remember the location though) so you can then open it with CHIRP2 for installation. The STARLINK repeaters and the national calling frequencies for 2m and 70.cm are also included in this file. To use this file once you download it, open CHIRP2, then go to file, open, then select the file that you downloaded (you will have to navigate to the directory you downloaded and saved it). It will then import the .CSV file into CHIRP where you can then install it into any radio supported by CHIRP2.
Analog Repeaters
STARLINK
STARS Repeater System
All STARS repeaters use the 114.8 PL tone and all are linked on UHF. STARS does not use Internet linking methods. Instead, all linking is done by RF, which provides far greater security during disasters. All repeaters have emergency backup power. Map of all STARS Repeaters in the Rio Grand Valley.
Port Isabel
147.120
Brownsville
147.040
444.400
Harlingen
147.140 Harlingen Medical Center
147.200 Valley Baptist Medical Center
444.500 Harlingen 911 Call Center
443.625 (Armadillo Repeater. Must be a member to use. Armadillo is linked throughout Texas and by DTMF codes to repeaters in New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California. Contact https://armadillotx.org/ for membership information)
La Feria
444.275 Hub Repeater for STARLINK
146.700 Valley Wide Coverage
443.800 DMR (Color code 1. Repeater slot 2) Digital Voice
Pharr
146.760
444.600
Raymondville
146.900
444.900
RMS Winlink Packet and VARA FM Nodes 145.010
145.01 W5RGV-7
Pharr Connect via W5STX-10, W5RGV-10 – Packet or VARA FM
VARA FM Digipeat W5RGV-8
145.01 W5RGV-9
Mission Connect via W5RGV-8 – Packet or VARA FM
VARA FM Digipeat W5RGV-10
145.01 KD5MKV-10
Edinburg Connect via W5STX-5, W5RGV-8, W5RGV-10 Packet or VARA FM
VARA FM Digipeat KD5MKV-1
145.01 K5RAV-10
Harlingen Connect via W5STX-5, W5RGV-8 Packet or VARA FM or BRO -Packet only
VARA FM Digipeat K5RAV-5
145.01 W5STX-10
Harlingen Connect via K5RAV-5, W5RGV-8 Packet or VARA FM or BRO – Packet only)
VARA FM Digipeat W5STX-5 - Valley Baptist Medical Center
RMS Winlink Packet and VARA FM Nodes 145.770
145.77 WA2VJL-5
San Benito Vara digipeater – San Benito EOC
145.77 W5STX-1
Valley Wide La Feria - Packet and VARA FM – Digipeater W5STX-2
145.77 W5RGV-11
McAllen Connect via W5STX-2 –Packet or VARA FM
VARA FM Digipeat W5RGV-12 - Rio Grande Regional Hospital
145.77 KD5MKV-11
Brownsville Connect via W5STX-2 – Packet or VARA FM or BVU – Packet only
VARA FM Digipeat KD5MKV-5 - Brownsville
145.77 W5RGV-15
Harlingen Go Kit Connect via W5STX-2, W5STX-5 – Packet or VARA FM
VARA FM Digipeat W5RGV-6 - Valley Baptist Medical Center
145.77 K5RAV-11
Harlingen Connect via W5STX-2, W5STX-5, W5RGV-12 – Packet or VARA FM
VARA FM Digipeat K5RAV-5 - Harlingen
145.77 W5STX-11
Harlingen Connect via W5STX-2 – Packet or VARA FM or BVU –Packet only
VARA FM Digipeat W5STX-5 - 911 Harlingen Call Center
RMS Winlink HF/VHF Gateway Stations
K5RAV on 80, 40, 30 and 20 meters 24/7 operation Harlingen
Connect K5RAV-10 on 145.010 or K5RAV-11 on 145.770 – Packet or VARA FM
W5STX on 80, 40, 30, and 20 meters 24/7 operation Harlingen 911 Call Center
Connect W5STX-11 on 145.770 – Packet or VARA FM
W5RGV on 80, 40, 30 and 20 meters 24/7 operation Harlingen Valley Baptist Medical Center
Connect W5RGV-15 on 145.770 – Packet or VARA FM
DMR Repeaters
RX443.3750 +5 MHz CC0
Harlingen, Cameron County KC5MOL DMR Fusion
RX443.8750 +5 MHz CC1
Harlingen, Cameron County KD4FJ DMR
RX444.3750 +5 MHz CC1
Brownsville, Cameron County KC5MAH DMR US BrandMeister US
RX444.750 +5 MHz CC2
Los Fresnos, Cameron County N5JLR DMR BrandMeister
RX444.8250 +5 MHz CC1
Brownsville, Cameron County KC5MOL FM DMR BM
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RX443.8250 +5 MHz CC0
McAllen, Hidalgo County KC5MOL DMR BM
RX444.9500 +5 MHz CC1
Mission, Hidalgo County N5YWH DMR TEXAS
RX447.475 -5MHz CC1 KC5MOL DMR BM
East Harlingen, Cameron County
Local Nets
Get ready to connect! Rio ARC has launched an exciting new HF Net for the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Join us every evening at 6:30 pm Central time (00:30 UTC) on 28.425 MHz. Everyone is welcome—wherever you're tuning in from! We've got operators checking in from across the US, Canada, and even more far-flung locations. We can't wait to hear you on the airwaves!
Valley Information Net - STARS Linked Repeater System ( See STARS Frequencies above) - Daily at 7:00pm central (0000 UTC)
ARES Net, District 3 - RioLink (See RioLink Frequencies above) - Weekly on Thursdays 7:30pm central (0030 UTC)
STX ARES DMR Net - South Texas Talk-group - Weekly on Tuesdays at 7:30pm central (0030 UTC)
SIMPLEX Net - 146.52 - Controlled from McAllen - Sunday 6:00pm (1100 UTC)