KBARA (KB7ARA) is a regional amateur radio club for the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
The primary purpose of the KBARA repeaters is to provide a means for emergency communications
within the Pacific Northwest, and secondarily for routine radio traffic. It makes possible a single
system of mobile communications coverage, extending the limited range provided by any single
repeater operation.
The KBARA repeater system consists of several privately owned linked Amateur Radio repeaters.
It covers an area from northeastern Washington to northeastern Oregon, and from western Montana
to central Washington. The KBARA system is also part of the
Evergreen Intertie, an interconnected group of repeaters located around the Pacific Northwest.
See Coverage Maps for a graphic display of coverage.
The KBARA system can also be connected to the Evergreen Intertie, an interconnected group of repeaters
located in the northwestern United States and western Canada.
Most KBARA FM repeaters operate in the VHF bands and are linked by UHF radios.
The repeaters' frequencies, call signs and locations are as follows:
147.38 MHz W7OE, Mica Peak, east of Spokane, WA
147.36 MHz KF7QLH, Stensgar (Stranger) Mt., north of Spokane near Chewelah, WA
147.28 MHz KD7DDQ, Pikes Peak, southeast of Walla Walla, WA
147.02 MHz K7HPT, Lookout Pass, on the Idaho-Montana border
146.74 MHz W7HFI, Kamiak Butte, near Colfax and Pullman, WA
223.90 MHz AK2O, Stensgar (Stranger) Mt., north of Spokane near Chewelah, WA
444.35 MHz N1NG, Mica Peak, east of Spokane, WA
3957 IRLP Node N1NG, south hill, Spokane, WA
7141 IRLP Node KF7QLH, south hill, Spokane, WA
3282 IRLP Node KF7QLH, west Spokane, WA (Simplex - 147.40MHz, 100 Hz tone)
53.75 MHz N7ZUF, Kamiak Butte, near Colfax and Pullman, WA (100 Hz Tone)
History of KBARA
The 2M FM amateur repeater on Kamiak Butte began in the early 1970s on 146.13/73 MHz. The original
builder and control operator was Gary, K7VED of Pullman. The control operator was Gary, K7VED of Pullman.
Gary's employer, Radio Television services of Washington State University allowed him to place the
repeater and duplexer inside the KWSU-TV building. The radio equipment was a GE MASTER II. The antenna
was a Super StationMaster at approximately 150 feet on the KWSU-TV tower. The Northwest 2M FM band-plan
changed from 30 kHz spacing to 20 kHz spacing in the early 1980s; the repeater frequency moved to the present
146.14/74 MHz. Also at this time, a repeater group was started to support Gary in his efforts to maintain the
repeater. Dan, K7MM, incorporated the organization with the State of Washington under the name Kamiak Butte
Amateur Repeater Association. Original members include Art, WB7AUK, Jo Ann, KA7SUZ, and Cheryl, K7OMM.
Gary moved to Spokane for a job change in mid-1980.
Art became the repeater's main control operator and the callsign changed to WB7AUK/R. Art was instrumental
in securing a long-term commitment from WSU regarding site space for the amateur operation on Kamiak Butte
via a letter of understanding from the Whitman County Sheriff's office for emergency use in case of disaster.
KBARA has expanded in repeaters and is linked to the Evergreen Intertie.
Today, the KBARA system consists of several amateur radio repeaters that are linked together to cover an area
from southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Oregon, and from western Montana to central Washington. The
KBARA system can also be connected to the Evergreen Intertie, an interconnected group of repeaters located in
the northwestern United States and western Canada.
Historical content from Daniel Ransom and Bob Lemon
