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Immutable Repeater Ground Rules.
1) Never jam the repeater input – intentionally or otherwise – period. Jamming the repeater is a both an FCC violation, and a community no-no.
2) Ker-chunking the repeater without identifying yourself (with your appropriate call sign) is both an FCC violation and a no-no.
3) Repeatedly “test-ker-chunking” the repeater – even with proper ID – is silly, rude, and also a certifiable no-no.
4) We can all forget sometimes, but repeated failure to identify is a problem. By FCC rules and regulations, transmissions into the repeater MUST be identified either per transmission, or at the end of ten minutes during on-going nets and/or conversations. And upon the last transmission of any conversation. In short, play it safe, and always terminate with station identification.
5) Bad language and ill will is expressly forbidden. If it’d get your head smacked by your grandmother, or your mouth washed out with soap, it absolutely isn’t appropriate language for the repeater. Swearin’ up a blue streak will get you banned, and perhaps a personal visit from an unofficial “Committee.”
6) The repeater and the club is all about service, friendship and fellowship. Ergo, plain meanness, chronic crankiness, belittling or hurtful comments etc. should be kept parked firmly under your hat, and never let out on the air. If it’s that ugly, and you really think you have to say it, please wait until you can find the courage to say it directly to the recipient’s face.
7) NEVER – EVER – discuss nor disclose anyone else’s private business or family matters, unless you have their express and current permission and blessing to do so. This includes and applies to anything which might fall under HIPAA regulations. See link below for further information, but the bottom line is, if medical people can’t talk about it in public, neither should we.
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/health-care/patient-privacy
8) If a conversation or exchange starts to go sour or ugly, the best rule of thumb is to sign off and don’t participate. Publicly taking sides or adding unneeded comments into an unpleasant situation just escalates the problem. Better to let the problem die from lack of oxygen.
9) Never drop a digital transmission into an existing analog conversation. Not only is that nasty raucous digital noise a complete buzz-kill, but doing it more than once is a sure-fire way to get black-listed and generally avoided.
10) PRIORITY OR EMERGENCY TRAFFIC ALWAYS HAS IMMEDIATE PREFERENCE. No exceptions here!
11) Per FCC rules and regulations, One-way transmissions (aka broadcasting) is no-no.
12) Per FCC rules and regulations, Transmitting music is also forbidden.
13) Per FCC rules and regulations, any sort of commercial traffic, or content of and/or related to pecuniary interest is verboten.
Now, with those out of the way, let’s look at …
Protocols and Practices.
Getting started: Calling protocols are as follows:
1) First, always listen a bit before transmitting. Long pauses in existing QSOs are possible.
2) If the channel is indeed clear, key your mic for a second, then unkey for a second to check for unintentional doubling. As weird as it seems, most of us have an internal clock that pretty much matches everyone else’s., and we tend to pause alike.
4) Re-key the microphone, then wait about a three quarters of a second before you start speaking.
This will give the repeater and your recipient’s equipment time to open the squelch. Conversely, also wait another second after you finish speaking to unkey your microphone. That will avoid inadvertently chopping off the last of your transmission.
5) In Amateur radio, when calling on the repeater, you say the call sign of the station you are trying to reach first, followed by your own call sign.
6) If there is no response, wait 10~15 seconds before repeating your call.
7) Typically, three calls are sufficient. If they haven’t answered by then, they are likely busy, indisposed or not monitoring. Wait a half hour, and then give it another shot.
8) Extended QSOs are nice, but the repeater should be allowed to fully drop between transmissions. In order to avoid “Quick-Keying”, after every few transmissions, allow some extra time between transmissions for others to join you or make priority traffic calls. Also never get lulled into thinking there aren’t (at any given time) at least a half-dozen other people monitoring your conversation … and potentially taking mental notes. These people may not be hams. Scanners can be purchased by anyone.
9) When more than two are having a QSO on the repeater, establish (or follow an existing) rotation. You don’t have to remember the whole thing, just who comes before you, and who comes after you. The rest will pretty much take care of itself. If someone needs to step out of line for a quick response, just let that happen, and then pick up the rotation where you left off.
10) When participating in a group QSO, try to remain somewhat on topic. If the general discussion is about HF amplifiers and feed lines, breaking in with an awkward anecdote about the gorgeous pink hair-dye your spouse uses on the family gerbil likely won’t be well received.
11) Remember that at 0430 in the morning, repeated ker-chunks and loud announcements of, “So and such monitoring” are likely to be danged near as welcome as a temperamental skunk at an upscale garden party.
12) Launching into assorted screeds, rant, raves or otherwise timing out the repeater is considered bad form and is generally looked down upon.
13) We all get a little bored now and again, but perpetual radio checks and testing loses all it’s very limited supply of charm very quickly. Announcing that you’re monitoring once or twice is fine, but that gets old fast, too.
14) And to round out the list, if you know you’re skirting the edges of reception, and will be or are reported to be too noisy to copy, give it a rest until you get closer and/or into a better position.
Okay. That’s a good stopping point for now. If you have a beef with any of this, or would like to add something I’ve missed (which could be quite a lot), please feel free to post it below.
Thanks, folks. 73.
– 30 –
Dan
I just got an excellent suggestion from Mark (W5PTX).
Including it here. Please see:
The Radio Amateur is
CONSIDERATE…He/[She] never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.
LOYAL…He/[She] offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, the IARU Radio Society in his/[her] country, through which Amateur Radio in his/[her] country is represented nationally and internationally.
PROGRESSIVE…He/[She] keeps his/[her] station up to date. It is well-built and efficient. His/[Her] operating practice is above reproach.
FRIENDLY…He/[She] operates slowly and patiently when requested; offers friendly advice and counsel to beginners; kind assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the marks of the amateur spirit.
BALANCED…Radio is a hobby, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.
PATRIOTIC…His/[Her] station and skills are always ready for service to country and community.
– adapted from the original Amateur’s Code, written by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928
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