Whether you program from the keypad or with a cable and software on a computer, every repeater channel comes down to the same four values. This guide explains them in general terms so you can apply them to any radio; your radio's manual covers the exact button presses.
1The four values in every repeater channel
Output frequency: what the repeater transmits and your radio receives.
Offset direction: whether the repeater listens above (+) or below (−) its output.
Offset size: 600 kHz on 2m; −7 MHz on 70cm, or −5 MHz on legacy pairs.
Access tone: the CTCSS tone, if the repeater needs one.
All of these come from the WIA Repeater Directory, which has Output, Input and Tone columns. Its CSV has the headers:
Output,Input,Call,Location,Service Area,S,ERP,HASL,T/O,Sp,Tone,Notes2Work out the offset from the directory
Rather than guessing from a rule of thumb, subtract the Output from the Input. On 2m Block A the input is 600 kHz below the output; on Block B and the Block C digital segment it's 600 kHz above. On 70cm, most repeaters use −7 MHz, but legacy pairs use −5 MHz (WIA band plan).
3Set the tone
CTCSS is a sub-audible tone your radio sends while transmitting to open the repeater. Set the radio's tone or encode option to the value in the directory. Most radios also have a tone squelch setting that mutes the receiver unless the same tone is present. DCS is a digital equivalent and is rare on Australian repeaters.
4Set the channel width
Use 25 kHz for 2m analogue channels, 12.5 kHz for 2m Block C digital channels, and keep 70cm channels under 16 kHz, as the band plan specifies.
5A sensible starter memory set
Your local repeaters, from the directory.
146.500 MHz: 2m national FM simplex call channel.
439.000 MHz: 70cm national FM call channel.
439.200 MHz: digital voice call channel.
145.175 MHz: national APRS (receive, to listen in).
145.200 MHz and 438.950 MHz: WICEN.
The usual call sign rules apply on every one of these channels: at the start and end of each transmission and at least every 10 minutes (class licence, clause 12).