Repeater Scoring APP & CSV Generator

Repeater-Scores.app is a FREE (No ads, no signup, NADA) web app built to help users better find likely busy VHF & UHF repeaters near them in the USA, Canada, and UK. It specifically improves the ICOM Near Repeater Search feature, which if you aren't familiar with, you owe it to yourself to check it out!

How it works: This web app utilizes RepeaterBook to derive a score for repeaters based on common indications of utilization. It's a score though, NOT a grade, and it's definitely not a competition. Our score merely indicates our best estimate if a repeater is more likely to be busy.

When using the web app, simply set a minimum score (we suggest 2 for filtering out low use or backyard repeaters) and the states you want repeaters for. The web app then builds an ICOM-5100, ID-5200, ID-52 or CHIRP importable CSV.

Minimum Score

Radio Output

Filename Suffix

Include D-STAR Beta

Include GMRS Beta

Support Guide

Read the ICOM-5100 support guide

Current Limitations

FM and optional D-STAR voice repeaters are supported for ICOM exports. CHIRP is analog-only currently.
ICOM does not support DCS repeaters in nearby repeater search.

Scoring Explained

Repeater scores are in the style of a "high score", NOT a grade or rating out of 10. Simply put, the more a repeater has going on, the more we assume folks are using it.
- EXAMPLE: The highest scoring repeater is currently a 15.5 from KB3AWQ out of Williamsport PA. If you wonder why your local repeater isn't high scoring, compare it to that one.
Scores add up from several signals, including regular nets, linked services like AllStar, EchoLink, or IRLP, linked repeater systems, broader stated coverage, wide-area operation, and public-service affiliations like ARES, RACES, or SKYWARN.
Coverage can matter a lot. A repeater with strong stated mobile or regional coverage can score well even if it has few other flags.
Repeaters that are more isolated from nearby sites can also receive a bonus, since they may be more valuable in sparse coverage areas.
Use a higher Score >= value when you want a tighter list of higher-confidence repeaters. Use a lower threshold when you want a broader list or are traveling through thinner coverage areas.
You can set a different minimum score for each state or province to keep dense regions selective while leaving sparse regions more inclusive. Leave a state score blank to follow the base score.
State counts update as you change scores or the selected radio. The total includes only checked states/provinces and accounts for automatic score increases needed to fit the radio's row limit. Counts use the scored data loaded with this page.
Data comes from RepeaterBook, so a lower score does not always mean a repeater is bad. It may simply have less detail available. Go submit an update on RepeaterBook!
If a file grows too large for the radio, the app automatically raises score thresholds until the export fits, and displays a message saying it did so.

Scoring Examples

A repeater with broad stated coverage and several weekly nets can score well even if it has no linked-service flags.
A repeater with AllStar or EchoLink, a system link, and public-service affiliations will usually rise quickly because multiple useful signals stack together.
A repeater with only one small clue, like a single net or a minimal description, may stay lower even if it is still perfectly usable on the air and well utilized. We're making a lot of assumptions
An isolated repeater in a sparse area can pick up bonus value because it may fill a coverage gap that nearby sites do not.

Scoring Shorthand

On the ICOM-5100 and ID-5200 exports, the Sub Name field uses a compact badge in the form ST/SXCWN to display the repeater score and relevant details that likely matter to you.
ST is the state or province abbreviation. Example: OR/ means Oregon.
S is the repeater score shown as a single digit. Decimal scores are floored, and anything above 9 is shown as 9.
X is the link slot: S for a system-linked repeater, L for other linked repeaters, and - for neither.
C is the connectivity slot: A for AllStar, E for EchoLink, B for both, and - for neither.
W means the repeater looks wide-area, either because RepeaterBook marks it that way or because the stated coverage is strong enough to qualify.
N means the repeater has at least 2 nets. A single net does not light that flag.
A dash like - means that flag is not present for that repeater.

Scoring + Data Shorthand Examples

OR/7SEWN is a repeater in Oregon with score 7 that is system-linked, has EchoLink, qualifies as wide-area, and has at least two nets.
OR/4-BW- is a repeater in Oregon with score 4 that has both AllStar and EchoLink and qualifies as wide-area, but it is not marked linked and does not have enough nets to light the N flag.
WA/4L-W- is a repeater in Washington with score 4 that is linked and wide-area, but has neither AllStar nor EchoLink, and does not have enough nets to light the N flag.
WA/1---- is a repeater in Washington with score 1 and none of the tracked badge flags present.

ID-52 Channel Names

The repeater list supports up to 2500 entries across 50 groups, shared by scored and D-STAR channels. If needed, score thresholds rise in steps of 0.5 to fit; D-STAR stays unscored.

For FM channels, the channel name puts the score first, followed by up to 11 characters of the location label, then the two link and nets/coverage flags. Spaces separate these parts: Score Location LU.

Score: 0–9. Decimal scores are rounded down, and scores of 9 or more display as 9. A missing or invalid score displays as -; a known zero displays as 0.
Link: S = system-linked, L = other listed repeater links, - = neither. System links take precedence.
Nets/coverage: N = nets, W = wide coverage, B = both, - = neither.
Nets means at least two listed nets. Wide coverage means the wide-area flag is set or parsed coverage is greater than 15 miles.
EchoLink and AllStar have no dedicated indicators and do not, by themselves, trigger L. The underlying score calculation is unchanged.
The location uses the existing channel label, falling back to city, and is shortened to fit the 16-character total. The callsign is not appended to the name, even when space remains; it is available in its separate callsign field.
For example, 8 Salem SB keeps the score and location first, with the activity explanation at the end. These are clues to potential usefulness, not live traffic measurements.

ID-52 Examples

8 Skyline SB — score 8, system-linked, nets and wide coverage.
6 Skyline SN — score 6, system-linked, nets.
5 Skyline LW — score 5, linked, wide coverage.
4 Skyline -B — score 4, no known repeater links, nets and wide coverage.
2 Skyline -- — score 2, neither link nor nets/coverage indicators.

GMRS Repeaters

GMRS receive tones and SKIP: ICOM Nearby/DR exports keep GMRS repeaters without a usable receive CTCSS tone (the repeater’s output tone, our RX), but mark them SKIP. This includes repeaters with only a transmit/access tone, which does not filter received audio. These entries remain in the CSV and imported repeater list. ICOM currently also prevents manual Nearby/DR selection of skipped entries; turn off SKIP under DV MEMORY > Repeater List to select one, which also enables scanning again. Entries with a usable RX tone remain enabled and use receive tone squelch. The DR list has one tone field, so GMRS monitoring uses the receive tone even when the access tone differs. Another station on the same frequency and tone can still open squelch. This rule does not change memory-bank or CHIRP exports.

Check Include GMRS to append on-air GMRS repeaters for selected US states. They have no scores or activity badges. ICOM exports use separate groups such as WA-GMRS; CHIRP appends them as FM channels. Restricted tones and incomplete frequency pairs are excluded. ICOM repeater lists omit DCS repeaters; CHIRP includes them.

GMRS and D-STAR keep their space if scores must increase to fit the radio. State labels show GMRS availability until you select the option, then show eligible counts. Click a label to jump to the checkbox. “GMRS unavailable” means no eligible repeaters or a missing cache; with GMRS selected, zero identifies a valid cache with no eligible repeaters. GMRS is for monitoring on these stock ICOM amateur radios.

D-STAR Repeaters

Check Include D-STAR to append all on-air 2m/70cm D-STAR voice channels for your selected states. They appear after the score-sorted channels in separate groups such as OR-Dstar. D-STAR has no scores, thresholds, or activity badges, including on the ID-52. A dual-mode repeater may have both an FM and a DV channel.

State labels show DSTAR availability until you select the option, then show eligible D-STAR counts. Click a label to jump to the checkbox. “DSTAR unavailable” means no eligible repeaters or a missing cache; with D-STAR selected, zero identifies a valid cache with no eligible records. A listed repeater does not guarantee a working Internet gateway.

If the radio fills up, D-STAR channels keep their space and only score cutoffs increase. Select fewer states if D-STAR alone exceeds capacity or the export needs more than 50 repeater groups.

System Names

Known linked systems can appear at the end of a channel name, such as Salem-PEAK. The location is shortened as needed to keep the full system suffix. Suffixes are omitted when the selected channel-name limit is below 10 characters, or when the complete suffix cannot fit. ID-52 exports keep their score and activity indicators before the system suffix.

Country-specific links to this page

United States

Canada

United Kingdom

Frequently Asked Questions

This section is here to answer common questions, explain tradeoffs, and address the usual objections before you spend time building a CSV.

I'm with ARES/RACES/WHATEVER, why would I want to get rid of repeaters?!?

You can take this list, set the scores to 0, import everything, and now you simply have that much more information in front of you. If you're serious about your emergency capabilities and not just cos-playing emergency operator, the more information you have at your fingertips without having to resort to online tools, the more capable an operator you are.

Why not just import every repeater?

You absolutely can. Set the minimum score to 0 and the app will include everything available for the selected states or provinces. The scoring system is meant to help travelers and operators prioritize what to try first, not decide that lower-scored repeaters should disappear. On some radios, like the ICOM-5100, including everything can overload nearby repeater search results with low-score repeaters and make stronger, broader-coverage, or busier distant repeaters harder to spot. You will need to find what works best for you.

Does a low score mean a repeater is bad?

No. A lower score often means there is less detail available, fewer listed nets, or fewer obvious activity signals in the source data. Some perfectly good repeaters may score lower simply because their listings are sparse or not regularly updated.

What does the score actually try to measure?

The score is a practical ranking heuristic. It looks at signals like listed nets, linked services, linked systems, coverage claims, public-service affiliations, and a few other indicators that may suggest a repeater is active, useful, or worth trying first when you are in unfamiliar territory.

Why do some wide-area repeaters still not rank especially high?

Coverage is only one input. A repeater can claim broad coverage and still land in the middle of the pack if it has few other activity signals. That is intentional. The goal is to reduce cases where a very large coverage claim alone overwhelms everything else.

Is this meant to replace RepeaterBook?

No. This app is meant to supplement RepeaterBook, not replace it. Every generated row links back to the underlying RepeaterBook listing so you can review the source details, sanity-check the score, and make your own decisions.

Repeater Scoring APP & CSV Generator

Choose states & provinces

GMRS: monitoring and transmitting

Frequently Asked Questions