The Utah VHF Society

The Intermountain Intertie

The Intermountain Intertie is a more-or-less informal collection of repeaters located in northern Utah/Southwestern Wyoming, many of which (but not all) are supported in part by the VHF Society.  This system is a hub-and-spoke system, with the Hidden Peak (the so-called "Snowbird") repeater 147.18 (+) repeater acting as one of the hubs.  If you are interested in seeing pictures of this repeater and reading more about it, go to the Hidden Peak Repeater page.  There is also a page for the 146.86 Medicine Butte repeater.  To look at a growing collection of pictures and info about other repeaters in the Intermountain Intertie, go to the Other Repeaters of the Intermountain Intertie page.

Configuration:  Normally, this system is always linked to other repeaters/systems in the network that collectively cover much of central and southern Idaho, southwestern Wyoming, northern Utah, western and southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona, and northeastern Nevada.

Etiquette:  Because of this extensive geographical coverage, please be courteous of others that may be wanting to use the system, frequently leaving time for breaks, and limiting QSOs to no more than 10 minutes during the heavier usage times - and it is uncouth to monopolize the system at any time.  Keep in mind that it takes a good portion of a second for all of the various links to 'turn around' so be sure to pause for several seconds when you allow for breaks, and key up for about a second before you say your first word.
 
General connectivity map of the Intermountain Intertie
An up-to-date map of the Intermountain Intertie
Click on the image for a larger version
This map shows those repeaters that are normally linked together.
For a grayscale, more printer-friendly version showing only Utah repeaters, click here.
 These maps are current as of September, 2008.
 

The repeaters directly linked into this system:

The Hidden Peak Repeater (at the top of the Snowbird tram, at 11,000 feet) has several links.  The 'hub' portion 'talks' directly to the following repeaters:

Please note:  The following repeaters share the same frequency as two other Intertie repeaters, so please refrain from using any of these three repeaters in areas better-serviced by a more "local" intertie repeater.  Also be aware that the Mount Harrison repeater also shares 145.270 as well.
The link to the south:

Until fairly recently, the link connecting Northern and Southwestern Utah was done on the 222 MHz band, linking Frisco Peak and Hidden Peak.  While the equipment is still present at both sites, the linking is now done on 70cm between Frisco Peak and the 147.12 site on Farnsworth Peak.

Some of the repeaters linked on this path are aligned with the Utah VHF Society, while some others are voluntarily linked into the system by their respective organizations and owners.  Through the southern link, the following repeaters are also connected:

The link to the north:

There is an additional link that connects to the north into a similar system operated in Idaho.  The link to the north into Idaho connects these repeaters:
Current status of the Intermountain Intertie:

Hidden Peak:

The Hidden Peak (a.k.a. Snowbird) repeater is currently online.

Links to the north:

Since the installation of the War Eagle repeater on 145.230, coverage into Boise is once again available.

Links to the south:

On 12 September, 2008, work was completed on the 146.96 repeater on Navajo Mtn. to link it into the Intertie via Blowhard Peak.

The links to Levan, Frisco Peak and Blowhard are operational.  Links into Las Vegas (via Potosi) are also available.

Reports indicate that the Jacob Lake repeater (147.30+) is no longer linked to the intertie.  Note that the 146.96- Navajo Mountain repeater (see above) covers much of the same territory.

Connectivity into Montana has changed.  Please refer to the Montana Repeater Link Association web site for further information. 


IRLP Connectivity:  Direct connectivity to IRLP Node #3660 is currently NOT available.  Please read this for more information.

Note:  While many of the participating systems are usually linked into the Intermountain intertie, they may be occasionally disconnected due to local requirements.

For more information, send email to John, K7JL (at the link below) and he will forward your request to the appropriate party.

Occasionally, connectivity into Oregon (and other areas) is possible.  This can happen when operators of those other systems remotely link into an intertie-connected repeater. Note:  Such operations are not usually under direct control of the operator(s) of an intertie repeater.

There are other repeaters that may be linked to the above repeaters on a full or part-time basis.  Information on other repeaters will be posted if/when it becomes available.

"Who maintains all of this?"

A system this extensive cannot practically be maintained by just one person.  Suffice it to say, there are a few key people who do most of the work to keep this system operational.  To list those people here would be unfair, as it is a group effort and someone would undoubtedly be overlooked.

If you wish to help maintain this system, please join the Utah VHF Society (the address is given on the  home page) or the appropriate local repeater group (for those outside of Utah.) If you have any questions about this system, feel free to ask John Lloyd, K7JL.  Even if he isn't in charge of the repeater(s) that you are wondering about (i.e. the Southern Utah, Idaho or Montana repeaters), he can probably put you in touch with those who are
.

Current Intermountain Intertie projects:

The following is an incomplete list of projects currently underway having to do with the maintenance and enhancement of the Intermountain Intertie.

If YOU are interested in helping out with any of these projects, please contact John Lloyd, K7JL.


Some additional information may be found at the  Rainbow Canyons Amateur Radio Club page describing this system.  This site also contains pictures of some of the sites.  Also, see the Other Repeaters of the Intermountain Intertie page.

Questions, updates, or comments pertaining to this web page may be directed to:   uvhfs@utahvhfs.org

This page was last updated on 20080923

Return to the  Utah VHF Society homepage.