INTRODUCTION
The W9LRT Repeater is owned by Les Turner and operated for the Marshall County Amateur Radio Club. The repeater system was installed to encourage interest in amateur radio, provide a platform to work with new-technologies, and provide a public service. When linked to the other two-meter club repeater, K9ZLQ in Culver, we enable hand-held emergency communications when normal methods are disrupted by natural or man-made causes.
The W9LRT Repeater is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and users MUST comply with ALL FCC rules and regulations. The repeater is part of the Amateur Radio Service. Amateur Radio is a hobby and should be fun. However, common sense requires some basic guidelines be followed.
Repeaters are not private. All traffic is public and may be heard by other amateurs, governmental agencies, or anyone with a scanner. TV and radio stations often monitor repeaters during emergencies. Your comments are a direct reflection of you as a person and of amateur radio in general.
In addition to FCC rules, the W9LRT Repeater has established operating procedures beyond those required by law. They optimize repeater use and define a quality level representative of Marshall County Amateur Radio Club.
If you have questions, contact us through any of the following:
Call for W9LRT on either Marshall County Amateur Radio Club Repeater:
(W9LRT-145.190 Bremen or K9ZLQ–146.670 Culver)
Email: Les Turner at les@w9lrt.com or w9lrt@k9zlq.com
W9LRT Repeater
404 Burket Lane
Bremen, IN 46506-1978
While not an exhaustive list, the following procedures establish a baseline for all repeater users to follow. If you follow these simple guidelines, you will be acting as a responsible member of the amateur radio community
1. Listen Before You Talk:
When first using the repeater, listen before you ‘key up’. Open the mic and pause a second before talking. This allows links to wake up so your transmission is not cut off at the beginning. When turning on your radio, check the volume to make sure you can hear the repeater. It is also good practice to ask if the repeater is in use. There may be a net in progress or someone may be waiting for another person to return. Simply ask “Is the repeater in use? This is <your call sign>”.
If a conversation is in progress, listening first allows you identify who else is involved and the topic of the conversation. It is considered bad practice to break into an existing conversation off topic.
With all the dual band/dual display radios available now, make sure you are set up to transmit on the desired band and/or frequency.
2. Own Your Mistakes:
Accidents are bound to happen! You may inadvertently transmit into an ongoing conversation because you forgot one of the points above. The best way to handle it is to simply apologize. Be a responsible operator and you will gain more respect. We have all been there.
3. Testing:
When testing, don’t ‘kerchunk’ the repeater without identifying! Use the following instead: "<your call sign> testing".
Do not use repeater frequencies for checking SWR or other types of equipment checks. Move to simplex or use a dummy load.
If you want a signal report from another amateur, simply ask. Example: “This is <your call sign>, can I get a signal report?”
4. Power Levels:
Use the minimum power level needed to communicate with the repeater. This helps reduce interference with adjacent repeaters on the same frequency. (Reference FCC Regulation 97.313a)
5. Station Identification:
When using the repeater, identify using your FCC issued call sign:
● when initially transmitting on the repeater (strongly suggested)
● every ten minutes thereafter (required)
● when you end your conversation or “sign off” (required)
When operating during a net or in a group, your call sign may need to be announced more frequently for efficient communication. If you are part of a large group (4 or more people), identifying during every transmission may be necessary to satisfy the FCC’s 10-minute identification requirement. Assuming each person talks for three minutes, 10 minutes will elapse before you get to your next turn.
When unsure, use the repeater identifier (CW or voice) as a reminder of when you should identify, and do so during your next transmission.
Transmissions intended for a general audience are considered to be ‘Broadcasting’ and not allowed in amateur radio or on the repeater.
When initially signing on the repeater, (not currently in use), it is only necessary to announce your call. To start a conversation, announce your presence on the repeater by stating, “<your call sign> listening”.
6. Demonstrations:
Occasionally, an amateur may want to demonstrate the capabilities of the repeater. The best method is to ask for a ‘demo’ as follows: "<your call sign> for a demonstration." Anyone listening to the repeater may answer back. If you answer a demo call, keep the initial response short by giving your name, call sign, and location. You may also ask for stations in a particular area to show the range of the repeater, such as, if the calling station is in South Bend, Indiana, they may ask for any stations in the Culver area, which is more interesting than demonstrating that they can talk to someone across the street.
7. Emergency Calls:
ONLY USE THE TERMS "BREAK", "BREAK BREAK", or “MAYDAY” in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
If an incoming station announces an emergency with a single or double "break", give them the repeater IMMEDIATELY for their traffic.
8. General Communications:
Organized activities such as nets or training drills have priority over routine conversations. You are expected to follow the directions of the Net Control Operator when these activities are underway.
When using the repeater, pause after the previous station drops to minimize inadvertent "doubling" (simultaneous transmissions) and to allow time for new stations to identify.
Communication should be in plain language, as talking on the phone. You may hear others using them, but "Q" codes are not needed and their use should be minimal. “Q” codes were created for CW and HF to facilitate quick communications. They are not needed on VHF or UHF.
"10" codes and CB "handles" are not be used. Ham radio is a different service than CB. Leave the CB lingo and phrases on 11 meters.
Phonetics should only be used when required or where ambiguity is to be avoided (minimal signal or emergency traffic for example).
Keep transmissions short and concise. This provides an opportunity for others to join the conversation or break in for emergencies. Communications longer than 3 minutes will time-out the repeater.
If you are within close proximity of the other party, consider moving the conversation to a simplex frequency. This makes the repeater available to those needing it for longer range communications.
9. Extraneous Tones and Identifiers:
Except when required for control or identification purposes, extraneous audible content should NOT be transmitted before, during or at the completion of a transmission. This includes, but is not limited to: Roger beeps, DTMF tones, or background music.
10. Content:
The following list is not all-inclusive, but establishes a baseline for behavior that is NOT PERMITTED on the W9LRT Repeater:
“Off Color” comments, sexual innuendo and ANY double interpretation of words. Codes and ciphers are NOT allowed per FCC regulations. If it can't be said in plain English, it shouldn’t be said over the repeater.
No commercial communication. You may identify your occupation and describe what you do. However, you are not allowed to sell your products or services on the repeater. Exceptions are made for non-commercial sales of amateur radio gear. Even those communications should be completed off-line to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Derogatory remarks should not be directed at, or made about any group (ethnic, racial, religious, etc).
This repeater is G-rated! We are actively training new amateurs in our local schools. Many show up on this repeater. If you wouldn't say it in front of your elementary school child, don't say it on the repeater.
Political, religious, and current-event related discussions are fine as long as everyone remains civil and stays within the guidelines above.
Any activity in violation of FCC rules or other Federal, state or local laws or ordinances (including, but not limited to: jamming, “stepping on”, broadcasting of music, unidentified carrier, etc.) is prohibited.
Proper operating etiquette is mostly common sense. While the above limits on content are not all inclusive, they help clarify the types of communications that are NOT appropriate.
11. Enforcement:
The FCC requires Control Operators monitor repeaters to insure compliance with the rules. Be mindful of our operating procedures to avoid being in violation of the rules and losing access to the repeater.
Users who violate the rules are warned after the first offense. Our policy is to act first and ask questions later. We try to contact violators off the air, rather than discuss any difficulties over the repeater.
If problems continue, additional steps will be taken, including revocation of permission to use the repeater. Additional steps may be taken as necessary.
The repeater Owner and Control Operators have the right and duty to shut the repeater down should a warning of an FCC rule violation go unheeded. They have the responsibility to protect the owner’s license and any activity on the repeater that results in the de-facto involvement of the owner.
FCC regulations and ARRL guidelines both state that repeater owners and trustees have the authority to limit repeater use to certain users, even if the repeater is listed as open.
FCC Regulation 97.205: “Limiting the use of a repeater to certain user stations is permissible.”
ARRL FCC Rule Book: “…a repeater does not have to be listed as being ‘closed’ in The ARRL Repeater Directory in order to have limited access.
The terms open and closed do not appear in the regulations at all. Listing the repeater as ‘open’ means you do not have to be a member of Marshall County Amateur Radio Club in order to use it. You must still follow FCC regulations and follow the rules specified above.
Thank you for reading the rules. We hope access to the repeater helps you further enjoy the hobby and meet some new friends with similar interests!