ICARC Repeater Users Guide
November 12, 07 by Iroquois County Amateur Radio ClubIROQUOIS COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Repeaters: 147.030 MHz, pl 103.5 & 444.625 MHz, pl 103.5
REPEATER OPERATOR’S GUIDE
One of the things you may have noticed about ham radio is how easily hams talk to one another. Complete strangers carry on cordial conversations that sound like they’ve been friends all their lives. This ease of communication is made possible, in large part, by the voluntary agreement to follow a set of general protocols in their communications.
On the VHF and UHF bands most communication is done on FM and usually through repeaters. Since only one signal can be repeated at a time, we must share frequencies, repeaters, and time in a structured way.
What follows is a set of general guidelines, composed using information gathered from books, fellow hams, on-air experience, and repeater guides established by other clubs. You will find some variation in policies and operating practices on different repeaters.
General Guidelines
Since we all share the repeater, it is necessary to ensure that others have a fair chance to take their turn. So……
1. Never deliberately interfere with the communications of another ham
radio operator for any reason.
2. When in a conversation on the repeater, always pause for a few seconds before transmitting. This allows for necessary interruptions such as emergency calls or for others to join or leave the conversation.
3. Don’t be long-winded. The repeater has a timer that will cut you off
after a couple of minutes.
4. Speak in plain language. “Q” signals, code words, or phrases like
“10- 4,” “what’s your 20,” or “first personal” really have no place on a repeater. Communication only works when everyone understands what you are saying.
5. Don’t jump into conversations for no reason. It is very annoying to cope with meaningless interruptions. If you just want to announce your presence, you can just as easily wait until the conversation is finished.
6. Use the minimum power necessary to continue a contact. This is an FCC rule. There is no need to use 50-60 watts to access a local repeater.
7. Be patient with people. Not everyone is going to behave as expected
and none of us is in any position to penalize anyone when they don’t.
8. Repeater signals often have a coverage area of thousands of square miles. Assume there is always someone listening, including non-hams who listen on scanners or other radios. Try to restrict conversations to topics you wouldn’t mind discussing in front of a group of people. The way you act on the air is the way YOU represent our hobby to other people.
Basic Operations
Some very general protocols are needed for starting and ending conversations.
To make a general call:
• Listen first to make sure the frequency is not in use.
• Say your callsign and “Listening” or “Monitoring”.
• If someone answers, you will hear them calling back to you.
• If no one answers, wait a few minutes and try again.
To call a specific person:
• Listen first to make sure the frequency is not in use.
• Say your party’s callsign once or twice, “this is” and your callsign.
• When your party answers, you will hear him calling back to you.
• If your party doesn’t answer wait about 30 seconds and try again.
• If there is no answer on the second try, finish by saying “Nothing heard” and your callsign.
To answer someone’s call:
• Say the other persons callsign, followed by “This is” and your callsign.
To join an existing conversation:
• Wait for the gap between transmissions and say your callsign. Do not use the word “Break”
• Wait to be invited into the conversation.
If you must interrupt a conversation:
• Say your callsign and wait to be acknowledged. Use the word “Break” only in an emergency situation.
• Explain the interruption and ask permission before proceeding.
• Always keep the interruption as brief as possible.
Don’t hog the repeater:
• Allow others to join conversations whenever possible.
• Others might want to have their own conversations rather than joining yours; give them a chance to use the repeater.
• Try to use a simplex frequency whenever possible.
• Always stand down to allow emergency traffic.
Never hijack a repeater:
• Don’t simply jump into a conversation. Say your callsign and wait for an invitation.
• Share time with other repeater users
• If you must interrupt a conversation to make a time-sensitive contact, make it as brief as possible to allow the existing conversation to continue.
Always release the repeater when finished:
• Say your callsign followed by “Clear” or “Listening”.
Round Table Conversations
Some repeater contacts will involve more than two people. People will join and leave as their time permits and some very interesting conversations can occur. These are best conducted in roundtable style, giving each participant a chance to speak in turn.
Nets
From time to time a repeater may be commandeered by emergency service groups who need to deal with severe weather or disaster situations. You must always surrender control of the repeater at these times.
“Check-in” nets may be conducted on a repeater for a variety of purposes, such as practicing net operations, giving various operators experience at being net control, and dissemination of ham-radio or club related news and information.
Handling Emergencies
While communications in disaster situations would be handled by a net, some emergencies happen randomly. Although rare in this age of cell phones, you may be called upon to deal with things like traffic accidents, fires, or medical emergencies where emergency services need to be called. It is important that these situations are handled correctly. People’s lives might depend on what you do at these times.
Initiating an emergency call:
• Set your radio to a frequency that is in use locally if possible.
• Set your radio for maximum power.
• Wait for a gap in transmissions.
• Say “BREAK BREAK, this is“ followed by your callsign, and “requesting emergency assistance”.
• Wait to be acknowledged.
• State the nature and location of the emergency.
• Remain on the frequency for further communications.
• Remain on the scene until help arrives.
When you hear an emergency call:
• IMMEDIATELY suspend all other communications.
• Acknowledge the breaking station and ask what he needs.
• Be sure to get the nature and location of the emergency.
• Contact the appropriate authorities and give them the information.
• Keep the frequency clear for the person with the emergency.
• Do not leave the frequency until the situation is handled.
If you are unable to assist:
• Say you are unable to assist.
• Ask if there is anyone on frequency who can assist.
• If there is nobody else… handle it!
NEVER call “Break” except in a real emergency.
Please note: You should not count on ham radio as an emergency radio service. It’s not set up for that. There are no designated emergency frequencies and there is no structured monitoring of any frequency. When seconds count, there is very real risk that your call will go unanswered. Use a cell phone whenever
possible to contact emergency services.
Remember
Under FCC regulations, you must identify yourself at least every ten minutes and at the end of your conversation.
Also, the FCC prohibits communications in which the operator or his employer has a business or monetary interest. Amateurs may, however, communicate information regarding amateur radio equipment that is available for sale or trade, providing it is not done on a regular basis.
Finally
While all these procedures and guidelines may seem a bit daunting at first, they soon become second nature and they do serve to make ham radio a much better way to communicate. In only a short time you’ll be glad you took the time to get this stuff down.
One more thing…
Repeaters are not public utilities. They don’t just “happen“. A repeater system, including radio equipment, duplexers, antenna, transmission line (coaxial cable), etc, can cost thousands of dollars to put on the air. They are made available and supported by radio clubs and by the generous donation of money, equipment and labor by individual people. If you are a regular user of a repeater and are not a member of the supporting club, please consider making a donation toward the upkeep of the repeater.
