Best in the Hills: Jaén’s Quiet Revolution in Digital Radio

JAÉN — Tucked within the olive-groved heartland of Andalucía, the provincial capital of Jaén is better known for Renaissance architecture and golden oils than digital packet radio. But in recent years, a subtle yet firm transformation has taken place. Under the leadership of José Antonio Moreno Montero (EA7KZ), the URE Sección Provincial de Jaén (EA7URJ) has become an unexpected laboratory of radio innovation.

From Analog Hills to Digital Peaks

At the Universidad Popular on Avenida Andalucía 45, the local radio club might seem like another community group. Yet from its modest social headquarters, signals now beam far beyond provincial borders. Thanks to strategic installations in Sierra de la Pandera and Sierra Mágina, Jaén now maintains a VHF R2 repeater, a UHF RU92, and D-STAR capabilities—all delivering digital and analog connectivity across a broad terrain, from Cáceres to Camas.

Unlike many rural sections in Spain struggling with relevance, Jaén has embraced the hybrid era: analog tradition enriched by digital experimentation. The D-STAR repeater (438.650 MHz) stands out as a case in point—transparent to digital frames, backward-compatible, and reportedly accessible with just 2.5 watts of portable power.

Repetition Without Bureaucracy

One of the more symbolic changes—though perhaps only appreciated by Spanish operators—is that licenses no longer need manual renewal. It's a quiet victory over bureaucracy, and a sign that the local section is aligning with modern expectations of accessibility and automation.

Meanwhile, on forums and magazine covers, Jaén’s volunteers have made themselves known. Their repeaters featured on the front page of URE’s national magazine in March, following successful installations at the Axión station on Pico Almadén. Not bad for a group whose core members still gather on Friday evenings to swap stories and solder tips.

The View Ahead

URE Jaén is a microcosm of what Spain’s amateur radio community could become: grounded in geography, committed to public service, and agile in embracing change. From APRS tracking to cross-protocol interoperability, EA7URJ operates more like a start-up than a hobbyist club.

The hills around Jaén might be ancient, but what travels through them now—on UHF, VHF, D-STAR, and Echolink—is anything but.