About the Fort 550 GMRS Repeater
The Fort 550 GMRS Repeater serves licensed GMRS operators in Fort Smith, Van Buren and the surrounding Arkansas River Valley. Operating on 462.550 MHz with D411N, the repeater provides an open regional communications resource for western Arkansas. Fort 550 is operated by trustee/control operator Chris, WRBK701.
Fort 550
Fort Smith / Van Buren, Arkansas
This repeater is operated as part of the Arkansas GMRS Repeater Group network.
View Official Repeater ListingRepeater Information
- County
- Sebastian & Crawford Counties
- Access
- Open GMRS repeater
- Provider
- Arkansas GMRS Repeater Group
- Status
- ON AIR
Fort 550 is an open GMRS repeater serving Fort Smith, Van Buren and surrounding communities in the Arkansas River Valley. The system provides a regional communications resource for licensed GMRS operators, residents and travelers in western Arkansas.
Repeater Coverage
- Primary Area
- Fort Smith • Van Buren • Arkansas River Valley
- Extended Area
- Surrounding portions of Sebastian and Crawford Counties under favorable terrain and operating conditions
- Possible Weak Areas
- River Valley terrain, hills, buildings and terrain-shadowed locations may affect coverage
Coverage varies with elevation, terrain, antenna height, radio power and local obstructions.
Community Information
Fort 550 can be used for local communication, radio checks, travel coordination and community information. Listen before transmitting, identify with your GMRS call sign and leave pauses so other operators can join the conversation.
Emergency Information
Yield immediately to emergency traffic. State your GMRS call sign, location and the assistance needed. GMRS does not replace 911 or official public-safety communications.
GMRS does not replace 911 or public-safety communications. Use the fastest available method to contact emergency services.
About Fort 550
Fort 550 is an open GMRS repeater serving Fort Smith, Van Buren and the surrounding Arkansas River Valley. Its location provides a communications resource for licensed GMRS operators in western Arkansas.
The repeater operates on 462.550 MHz with a +5 MHz offset and uses D411N DCS. The trustee/control operator is Chris, WRBK701.
Fort 550 Repeater Equipment
Fort 550 uses a Vertex VXR-9000 repeater operating at approximately 40 watts. The system uses a Wacom duplexer and 7/8-inch Heliax feedline.
Its DB404 antenna is mounted at approximately 110 feet. The system also has emergency power capability, helping provide additional communications resilience during power disruptions.
Using Fort 550
Program your radio for 462.550 MHz receive and 467.550 MHz transmit with a +5 MHz offset. The repeater uses D411N rather than an analog CTCSS/PL tone.
Listen before transmitting and identify with your FCC-issued GMRS call sign. Leave reasonable pauses between transmissions so other operators have an opportunity to join the conversation.
Fort Smith & Van Buren Coverage
The Fort 550 serves the Fort Smith and Van Buren area along with surrounding portions of the Arkansas River Valley.
Looking for other systems in the region? Visit our Arkansas GMRS Repeaters or Oklahoma GMRS Repeater page.
Actual coverage depends on terrain, antenna height, radio power and local obstructions. Mobile radios with properly installed external antennas may perform better than handheld radios in difficult locations.
Fort 550 is part of the Arkansas GMRS Repeater Group