This system is operating currently in Winthrop Washington on 462.675 Mhz, up 5 Mhz, PL 141.3 full encode/decode, known as the National Traveler's Channel. This repeater operates under the Open Repeater Initiative.  While we reserve the right to control access and use of this system by individuals or families who live in the area, we also encourage the legal use of this repeater.  Preference for use is given first to Emergency or Priority traffic, then to travelers needing area information or directions, then to normal users on a routine basis.

We wish to welcome the North Methow Valley community to GMRS.  This is a friendly system.  We want to grow our system.  We want to help Okanogan County to enhance their emergency or disaster communications capabilities.  We hope this repeater system will become another thread in their protective coat.  We are also Amateur Radio Operators (Hams) and we would encourage that you seek your Ham license also.  It's great fun, service to the community and a socially powerful endeavor.

This is a "not for profit" repeater group.  Currently costs are born by the system owner.  If you decide to become a regular user, then a written agreement (why?/sample) will be required, you may/will be given your own access tone and more information on the system and how your share of support shall be fixed  Cash is not necessary nor desirable but we are required to share the burden.  The FCC rules require no profit be made and that any fees or costs be shared equably by  ALL users.  We shall attempt to comply with the spirit of those rules at all times, as onerous as they may seem..

Your call sign is required (need a license?) at the beginning of each transmission or conversation until such time as you are given your own tone on the system or you and your users have become familiar voices to our control operators.  Then call sign at the end of the conversation or at least every minutes during a conversation.  Users involved in long conversations should be aware that others may be waiting for time on the repeater.

We are working on building a better system by way of expansion of repeaters and relocating our repeaters to hilltops that provide longer distances.  We will consider commercial comm space but likely due to typical site rental fees, that will be beyond our means for now.  But if you know of a reasonably high location, maybe someone's home or ranch that has a good view of the valley and is located somewhere along the Hwy 20 corridor from Mazama (Flagg) to Winthrop, toward Twisp (McClure).  In exchange for a location and power, we can provide you and family with your own tone(s) on the system and general use of the system.  If a telephone line or Internet connection is available, then we can make use of them in some fashion for auxiliary control but those are completely optional and would very seldom be needed.  Please contact us so we might discuss possibly sites.