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The full name of our association is the Suburban Amateur Repeater Association. To it's members and most 2 meter FM users it's just plain SARA. The Suburban Amateur Repeater Association's name was decided upon in 1965 when SARA's state charter was approved. At that time SARA's primary range of coverage was the Southwest Suburban Area. When SARA developed into a wider coverage machine and absorbed the Amateur One UHF repeater, the name remained the same.
The SARA system presently includes individual 2 meter and 440 transmitters located 3 miles north of downtown Chicago along the lakefront. The antenna's are approximately 780 feet above average terrain. SARA requires a PL frequency of 107.2 to activate the 2 meter system and a PL frequency of 114.8 to activate the 440 system. PL is required due to the intermodulation problem (mixing with other signals and coming out on the repeater's frequency) and not an attempt to keep anyone from using the repeaters.
The 2 Meter system operates at 146.880 (output) & 146.280 (input)
At the current time there are six receiver sites in the Chicago Metropolitan area. They are:
| Chicago Lakefront - Central - Diversey & Lake Shore Drive |
| Chicago Lakefront - North - Hollywood & Lake Shore Drive |
| Schaumburg - Higgins & Meachem |
| Homewood - At 186th & Halsted |
| Westchester - At 22nd and Wolf Road |
| Evergreen Park - At 95th and California |
The SARA 2 Meter system uses remote links to bring the receiver audio to the transmitter site. At the transmitter site a voting system compares each of the incoming audio signals and passes the signal that has the highest quality to the transmitter. The exciter is an Icom controlled by an Advanced Computer Controls controller that drives a Henry amplifier feeding a Decibel Products 9dB gain J-pole antenna.
The 440 system operates at 444.375 (output) & 449.375 (input)
Both the transmitter and receiver are at the same site. The transmitter and receiver are a single unit manufactured by Icom and controlled by an Advanced Computer Controls controller. A Henry amplifier feeding a Decibel Products 12 dB gain J-pole antenna completes the system.
Both repeaters share an Advanced Computer Controls digital voice recorder used for messages to the membership.
AUTOPATCH:
SARA has multiple Autopatch capabilities on each band. This permits the members to place non-business calls to any phone in the 312/630/708/773/815/847 area. The patch requires members to have DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) dialing capability in their radios. The Autopatch is activated by multi-digit access codes. Whenever it becomes necessary, these codes are changed.
AUTOPATCH: This is for general (non-business) use of the telephone over the airwaves. Operational from 6:00AM to midnight.
QUICK-CALL: For a one time charge the member receives an unique autopatch code. This code accesses a predetermined phone number requested by the member. This number may be changed at any time by request from a member. A QUICK-CALL number requires less digits to be entered, making it easier to use while driving. The one - time charge provides QUICK-CALL slots on both repeaters. Operational 24 hours a day.
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Provides a service which relays emergency requests to the proper authorities. Operational 24 hours a day.
DUES: Dues are paid on an annual basis and are due January 1st of each year. Dues are $30.00 per year. Dues notices are sent to members about the middle of November for the upcoming year. If dues are in arrears over 45 days you will be considered inactive and will not be issued new autopatch codes or allowed BBS privileges.
ACTIVITIES: SARA has scheduled meetings in October and November, a holiday party in December, dinner meetings 2 or 3 times a year and a free picnic in August. If additional business meetings are required the Membership will be notified by mail. The Wavelength, our Association's Newsletter, is published one to four times a year and provides members with information on current activities, the roster as well as ham radio news. SARA provides communications for various charitable and not for profit organizations throughout the year as well as Emergency communications when required
BULLETIN BOARD: SARA maintains a BBS for the membership. The BBS contains Amateur related files, files of interest, up-to-date rosters and a message center. Modem speeds from 1200 to 56k Baud.
MEMBERSHIP: If you wish to join SARA please complete the attached application and include the following:
Application form
Copy of current license
Check for $30.00. Made payable to: S.A.R.A.
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