What is the Armadillo Intertie?
The Armadillo Intertie System is a system of UHF repeaters interconnected with full-duplex links. The system was built by a group of friends who wanted a radio system that was reliable and had coverage across many areas of Texas. It has grown over the decades into one of the premier private amateur radio networks in the country.
The system is connected to the Cactus Intertie System, which covers large portions of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and beyond. Together, these affiliated systems form one of the largest private linked UHF repeater networks in the United States.
Private, Member-Operated
The Armadillo Intertie System is privately owned and operated, managed by Armadillo Intertie, Inc., a Texas non-profit corporation. Membership is by invitation only — the system is members-and-invited-guests only. All members are considered control operators of the entire system due to the complexity and interconnected nature of the network.
The group values members who do more than just use the radio. Technical contributions, financial support, participation in group activities, and a professional approach to an amateur avocation are hallmarks of Armadillo membership.
A History Worth Knowing
The Armadillo story began in 1980 with the experimental Texoma link — a 220 MHz repeater perched on the roof of a 30-story dormitory at Texas Women's University in Denton, connected to the DFW repeater network. From there, the group pushed south through the Cedar Hill and Moody sites to establish statewide coverage. The History section documents those early pioneering installations in photos and first-hand accounts.