Association Events

2024 Auburn, Indiana Hamfest

Photographs taken during the 2024 Auburn, Indiana Hamfest. 

2024 Auburn, Indiana Hamfest

2024 Auburn, Indiana Hamfest Read More »

W9OU Repeater Etiquette

A Reminder to all on Repeater usage and Control:

Repeater Etiquette:
The following information is a simple guide to courteous operation on repeaters. If you operate using these simple
guidelines, you will make it more enjoyable for everyone operating on repeaters, and you will also set a good
example for others. It never hurts to review the guidelines (and new hams may not be familiar with these
guidelines) to make sure you are being a responsible amateur radio operator. Remember, repeaters are a public
service, and general courtesy is expected of all amateur radio operators.

  •  Take the time to listen to a repeater before you talk.
  •  Transmit your call sign when you first come on the air. Make sure you ID once every 10 minutes, but there
    is no need to identify too often. (47CFR § 97.119.a)
  • Do not inject a comment into a conversation without saying your call sign. Part 97 of the Code of Federal
    Regulations, which governs our operations as amateur radio operators, requires that you identify with your
    callsign. (47 CFR § 97.119.a) Transmitting comments without identifying yourself is
    prohibited. Interrupting is no more polite on the radio than in the real world.
  • Do not monopolize the repeater. Simplex may be more appropriate for lengthy conversations. Keep in
    mind that repeaters are a shared resource and are to be available to a large community of users. A good
    operating practice is to use simplex for long conversations (rag chewing) if possible.
  • Our repeaters normally have a 3 minute “timeout” setting. The 3-minute length is meant as a maximum
    length, not a suggested length. It is considered good etiquette to keep your transmission length shorter than
    this.
  • Some topics are like land mines – Religion, Politics, Sex, etc. Do not discuss these subjects over the air! It
    can be more interesting than discussing what you ate for lunch last Wednesday, or the weather conditions
    you experienced two days ago, or how bad your bunions are troubling you, but “land mine” conversations
    can sometimes descend into a shouting match and can cause people to become upset (even those listening
    and not part of the conversation).
  • Do not belittle, berate, defame or speak ill of others….period. This includes individuals, groups, nations,
    aspect of the hobby, etc. Using words such as idiot, stupid, hate monger, etc. in reference to any person,
    entity or group should not be tolerated.
  • Even ‘mild’ obscenities are not good operating practice. This includes suggestive phrases, and suggestive
    phonetics. (47 CFR §97.113.a.4).
  • Give a pause before keying the mic and speaking. Don’t start speaking as you key the mic. Repeaters have a
    short delay before transmitting. If you start speaking too soon, your first few words may not be
    heard. Make sure you have finished speaking before you un-key the mic.
  • Pause periodically to see if anyone else would either like to join the conversation or use the repeater for a
    quick call that is not part of the ongoing conversation.
  • When identifying, please say your call sign slowly and clearly. Call signs that are rattled off too fast can
    make the call sign totally unintelligible.
  • Don’t forget that the FCC prohibits the transmission or retransmission of music (and almost anything else
    that is received over the airwaves; for specifics, see (47 CFR § 97.113.a.4). If you have a radio turned on (this
    is especially common for many mobile stations), make sure that it’s turned down before you transmit.
  • When using “comment” or “break” to be recognized and you are acknowledged by net control or the folks
    using the frequency, then be sure to identify with your call sign.

§97.119 Station identification.
(a) Each amateur station, except a space station or telecommand station, must transmit its assigned
call sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes
during a communication, for the purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from the
station known to those receiving the transmissions. No station may transmit unidentified communications
or signals, or transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not authorized to the station.
(b) The call sign must be transmitted with an emission authorized for the transmitting channel in one
of the following ways:
(1) By a CW emission. When keyed by an automatic device used only for identification, the speed
must not exceed 20 words per minute;
(2) By a phone emission in the English language. Use of a phonetic alphabet as an aid for correct
station identification is encouraged;
(3) By a RTTY emission using a specified digital code when all or part of the communications are
transmitted by a RTTY or data emission;
(4) By an image emission conforming to the applicable transmission standards, either color or
monochrome, of §73.682(a) of the FCC Rules when all or part of the communications are transmitted in
the same image emission
(c) One or more indicators may be included with the call sign. Each indicator must be separated
from the call sign by the slant mark (/) or by any suitable word that denotes the slant mark. If an indicator
is self-assigned, it must be included before, after, or both before and after, the call sign. No self-assigned
indicator may conflict with any other indicator specified by the FCC Rules or with any prefix assigned to
another country.
(d) When transmitting in conjunction with an event of special significance, a station may substitute
for its assigned call sign a special event call sign as shown for that station for that period of time on the
common data base coordinated, maintained and disseminated by the special event call sign data base
coordinators. Additionally, the station must transmit its assigned call sign at least once per hour during
such transmissions.
(e) When the operator license class held by the control operator exceeds that of the station licensee,
an indicator consisting of the call sign assigned to the control operator’s station must be included after the
call sign.
(f) When the control operator is a person who is exercising the rights and privileges authorized by
§97.9(b) of this part, an indicator must be included after the call sign as follows:
(1) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice Class to Technical
Class: KT;
(2) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice or Technician to
General Class: AG;
(3) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice, Technician,
General, or Advanced Class to Amateur Extra Class: AE.
(g) When the station is transmitting under the authority of §97.107 of this part, an indicator
consisting of the appropriate letter-numeral designating the station location must be included before the
call sign that was issued to the station by the country granting the license. For an amateur service license
granted by the Government of Canada, however, the indicator must be included after the call sign. At
least once during each intercommunication, the identification announcement must include the
geographical location as nearly as possible by city and state, commonwealth or possession.
[54 FR 25857, June 20, 1989, as amended at 54 FR 39535, Sept. 27, 1989; 55 FR 30457, July 26, 1990; 56 FR 28,
Jan. 2, 1991; 62 FR 17567, Apr. 10, 1997; 63 FR 68980, Dec. 14, 1998; 64 FR 51471, Sept. 23, 1999; 66 FR 20752,
Apr. 25, 2001; 75 FR 78171, Dec. 15, 2010]
A repeater trustee is responsible for the proper operation of their assigned repeaters. A repeater trustee is also
responsible for:
 Ensuring that the club station license is operated in the club’s best interests
 Following all FCC rules
 Designating control operators
 Determining who can use the club license

W9OU Repeater Etiquette Read More »

NIARA 85th Anniversary Luncheon October 5th, 2024

NIARA members and friends enjoyed a delicious lunch in honor of the association’s highly successful 85th Anniversary year, 2024. To celebrate this milestone in our club’s history and for fellowship with our family and friends.

NIARA 85th Anniversary Luncheon October 5th, 2024 Read More »

Amateur Extra License class training October 8th – November 14th, 2024

The Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association
will have a training class for the Amateur Extra Class License
starting on October 8th. The classes are on Tuesday and
nights Thursday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Comfort.
Suite. The address is 1137 W 15th St, in Auburn Indiana.
The class is free however we use the Gordon West book
for the class. The books can be purchased on the internet
from R & L, Giga Parts and DX Engineering or used books
as well. 

A testing session will be on November 16th at Comfort Suite from 6:00 PM to 8.00 PM.
The testing session is open for any new or upgrade license
tests. The testing session needs to have applicants register
at HamStudy.org. Cost for the test is $14.00. If you
pass the FCC will want $35.00. You will need your FRN
login and password and a CORES login and password to
pay the fee.

Amateur Extra License class training October 8th – November 14th, 2024 Read More »

2024 K9A Special Event Station August 25 – September 7

Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association (W9OU) is proud to participate in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival by having a special event station, K9A,  to inform the amateur community about Classics and Art in the Automobile Industry from its early years

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote automobile heritage.

Special Event Station K9A

68th Annual Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Festival
August 25, 2024 0000z to September 7, 2024 2359z

Operating Schedule

August 31, 2024 and September 1, 2024 9am to 7pm EST

K9A will operate on the following bands and frequencies

  • 40 Meters: 7.180 Mhz
  • 20 Meters: 14.250 Mhz
  • 10 Meters: 28.350 Mhz

        +/- 5KHz depending on band conditions

QSL Information:  

There will be no Log Book of the World or eQSL.

For a QSL card only,

Please send your card and a SASE.
For a Certificate and QSL Card,
Please send your card and  $4.00 USA  –  $6.00 International    
We will furnish certificate, QSL card, envelope, and postage.

The mailing address for this special event station is:
K9A – NIARA
P. O. Box 145
Auburn, IN    46706-0145

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

Come celebrate the automobile legacy of the
Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Automobile Companies
Where the automobile and art Converge.
Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association (W9OU)
Founded in 1939.

NIARA  Members: if you are planning to operate please click here to communicate your operating plans. 

2024 K9A Certificate
vmacocss05_1321145644210-1-0
QSL Card
20220810_090925

2024 K9A Special Event Station August 25 – September 7 Read More »

2024 ARRL Field Day

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The airwaves will see a flurry of conversations take place the weekend of June 22 starting at 1pm and ending June 23 at 4pm as locals can participate in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise.   Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association (NIARA), a local ham (nickname for amateur radio operators) group, will participate in the event from its base at the first Christian Church 910 N. Indiana Avenue, Auburn, Indiana.  Please join us and take to the air with a GOTA (Get On The Air) station or watch ham operators demonstrate their skills.

To register for the event click here:

For Questions or additional info, please email: president@w9ou.org

2024 ARRL Field Day Read More »

Dekalb County W5YI Testing Sunday May 19th, 2024 2-4pm

The Dekalb County W5YI group will be conducting amateur radio license testing session at Comfort Suite. The testing session is open for any new or upgrade license tests. The testing session needs to have applicants register at HamStudy.org. Cost for the test is $14.00. If you pass the FCC will want $35.00. You will need your FRN  login and password and a CORES login and password to pay the fee.

Comfort Suites

1137 W 15th
Auburn, Indiana 46706

Dekalb County W5YI Testing Sunday May 19th, 2024 2-4pm Read More »