Are any of you familiar with the ham radio nonprofit Intertie in the San Antonio area?
Patricia Colley, KI7IEE
Bexar County ARES EC
I’m not familiar with them, but here’s their webpage
Their parent company:
When i get home, I’ll email a contact who can provide information on Intertie and Armadillo networks.
J C
Patricia…
This will give you a very up close and oh wow type of understanding about Intertie.
http://www.cactus-intertie.org/membership.html
John Ralston - KØRVB
Bexar County ARES AEC Skywarn
NCS Bexar County Skywarn Net
NWS Certified Skywarn Spotter
ARRL Member
Ten Ten 763Ø3
CoCoRaHs
OM 7626
HamShack Hotline 5437
Thanks for your responses. I look forward to learning more.
The thing that initially caught my eye is their Legal notice, which specifically mentions emergency communications.
“Intertie was incorporated in 1984 as a non-profit corporation “for the purpose of establishing, maintaining and operating F.C.C. approved amateur radio stations, with the further requirement that these stations be interconnected where possible, such that a network of interconnected stations results, said stations to be available to stimulate research and development in any communications authorized in the Amateur Radio Service, also to provide disaster and other emergency and non-emergency communications services…Said corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes…””
Every group getting a 501C3 uses that in their description but Intertie nor Dillo has really handled any emergency traffic.
Armadillo and Intertie are privately owned closed link systems…users have to apply to join, yearly fee is around $100/yr iirc, and be referred by current members…I am not a paying member but have been associated with them since their inception (and have all the Cactus and Intertie associated codes though the book I have is in need of updating), when they bought out the old Texas Intercity Relay System (TIRS) in the 1980s that the TXVHFFM Society was trying to build out for emergency use using specially designed DTMF controlled logic controllers (non uP) back then…there is a partial description of it in the OLD SMALL ARRL FM and RPTR handbook (the red and black cover).
Chris WB5ITT
Trustee W5APX
Ex WR5AOK
WRXZ789 GMRS
(Society of Broadcast Engineers Vice Chairman and Frequency Coordinator, SBE134 SE TX and SW LA)
Intertie linked repeater system has been use for emergency communications many, many times. EmComm responders are given access to the system as requested. The Intertie linked radio system is a viable tool that is available to support EmComm when needed!
73,
Dale
W5WI
RACES Regional Radio Officer 1B
Intertie Member
Hi Patricia,
I do know a little bit about Intertie.
J David Overton, W5JDO
Hi David, I’m curious to what degree their network is available for emergency communications, and to whom.
We have a few viewpoints here and JC Smith has promised to put me in touch with one of the teeth in the horse’s mouth. 
I welcome any experience or insights you’d like to share.
There is contact information on the Intertie webpage send the a request directly to the organization. K Johnson K5ZZT a member of I2
Patricia,
Call me tomorrow and I will give you contact information for someone to talk too
David O W5JDO
(432) 553-5597.