repeater etiquette

[AC7LK]

I am seeking opinions regarding the proper role of a club in managing use of its repeater. A few users of our repeater are actually chasing others away by conduct that includes monitoring the frequency for hours at a time for the purpose of joining any QSO that occurs, establishing rag-chewing nets that go on for hours and poor operating habits including interuption,taking control of QSO's,endless station I.D.s and no contact reports as well as discussion subjects that many others find either inappropriate or inane. Prior attempts at correction have been met with charges of "repeater cops" or eliteism. All opinions are welcome.

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif In Noerhern Alabama, the repeaters on 2 meters are fairly well organized. Personally I have heard very little ( less than 1 full hours worth in 12 years ) of low repeater ettiquette, all are in fine condition. I have READ of some in other parts of the U S A, that have had their share of problems with abuse and users, music, sound effects, etc. #Some around here are in use nearly 24 / 7 over near Huntsville, while there are others less than 50 miles away #that only get "kerchunked " less than a dozen times a day, but get heavy use during "special events ". If you tune in the right repeaters around Huntsville, and the right folks are out on the road, you can recieve "smokey reports" ( and NO these aint truckers, either ). But all-in-all, North Alabama has some FINE 2 meter repeater operators, however since I got HF privileges, I spend FAR less time listening/talking on 2 meter repeaters than the past 12 years. #GOD BLESS THE USA ... kd4amg

[WB2WIK]

The purpose of a repeater is to extend the range of portable and mobile users. That's the only purpose of any repeater, there really isn't any other, and this is the reason they came to being back in the 1950's. The "range extension" verbage above comes from the Motorola press releases back then; it was true then as it is now.

As such, we must consider that however people would operate their own portable or mobile equipment and stations is exactly how they will operate through a repeater.

Repeaters are not there for base station users to chit-chat.

I make these points loud and clear at club meetings, via club newsletters and even on-the-air announcements prerecorded and loaded into the repeaters station ID system when a repeater is "taken over" by a few to the exclusion of the many. I cannot imagine anything else you can reasonably do.

WB2WIK/6

[K6UEY]

I would think if you have operators who misuse the repeater and show poor operating habits the best way to get their attention is by making an announcement as to why it is being done then shut it down.If the Club built and maintain the machine from their own costs and labor they have they right to say who does and does not use it . #Just like water seeks it's own level, the other members being deprived of the services will consult with the mis-fits and encourage them to adjust their behavior.
Miscreants are becoming more the norm every day in all walks of Society, #but even though the liberals have tainted the envoirment the majority opinion still rules.
ENJOY!!! It is later than you think ...... # 73, # ORV

[KD7UKT]

AC7LK,

Dunno what hardware you are running, but it seems the easiest way to deal with this, at least temporarily, is to set the repeater to require a subaudible tone for access, and then don't give the tone settings to those that are causing trouble. The reason it is temporary is that many radios (including my Icom W32A) can use what they call "tone scan" to listen to the incoming frequency of the repeater for the subaudible tone. However, it is entirely possible that the lids that are abusing the system are either too lazy or too poorly trained to understand how to do that.

Note that it is perfectly legal for the control operator (I am assuming it is you) of any station, including repeaters, to set conditions for its use. Requiring a subaudible tone is no different from picking and choosing which friends you let talk on your HT.

Other than that, I'd just make the point that the control operator (you, I presume) can take the station (repeater) off the air at any time and for any reason. If they keep abusing it, yank it!

By the way, I notice that you are a fellow "7"... where is the repeater at, if I may ask?

73

David, KD7UKT

[KA8NCR]

I miss the qso's I used to have on the way to work and on the way home with the local ham group. We'd all converge around 5-ish, spend 30 minutes on the topic du-jour and be gone as we all arrived at home.

Most of the guys have retired so they're not on the way home much anymore, and my work schedule is so erratic that now I get to listen to the continuous kerchunkers.

When this mobile rig needs replacing, I think I'll buy a new PC instead.

[W4CGP]

Tuning around the 26 repeaters in the coverage area of my 2M ham station quickly reveals a dead silence. Even less happens on 2M simplex. In general, people are well-mannered, with the long-winded hams staying to themselves.

Couple of things to think about.

Drive timers...they keep long-winded people from getting too long-winded. It works well if the courtesy tone and the drive timer aren't reset until a couple of seconds after a transmission is complete.

VOX sensors...keeps kerchunkers from actually keying up the repeater without talking. Audio is required to actually key the repeater up, in addition to a carrier. One particular example is a repeater near me with one of these...between a carrier, CTCSS, and VOX, kerchunks happen very little.

[KD5UJZ]

then you get the dtMF'ers.

[w3sy]

Keerist.... This all sounds so CB-ish.

Needless to say, there are certain operating practices that are not illegal, but are grossly inconsiderate. Monopolizing the repeater, failing to pause to see if anyone else needs to use the frequency, innappropriate discussions -- things like this do not violate FCC rules unless deliberate QRM or obscenity is involved.

Assuming we are dealing with ADULTS here, the repeater custodian should send written letters, in a matter of fact and non-emotional tone, to the offenders stating that their operating practices have become a problem. These people should be reminded that the repeater is a shared resource, and may not be monopolized by any one person or small group.

Any responsible adult should get the message right away to clean up his act.

If the offenders persist, the control op should pull the plug for a while to kick them off.

Beyond that, you should consult Riley for what, if anything, the FCC can do to further encourage these LIDS to wise up or take a hike.

Are the offenders dues-paying members of the club that hosts the repeater??

ac7lk: It all comes down to what the repeater was put up for. Is there a mission statement (or the like) where users can refer to it? I guess that I fail to see the problem. I assume that you're talking about a 2m repeater, which I've always thought was there for local hams to meet and chat with each other. So some of them get long winded and some are just lonely and want to talk to other hams. You should be proud that there are people using your club's site. Most (90%) of the repeaters in the Puget Sound area are dead quiet. The handful that do get some use are the interesting ones (Pilchuck, k7pp, to name a few.) If you are a club then schedule a meeting where the topic discusses how and what to talk about on the repeater and then send invitations to those hams that you don't feel are using your repeater correctly. It's not like there isn't another repeater to use if they don't like you club rules. Just make sure that you are actually representing the policy of the club.

All repeaters have their not-so-favored users. I'm an ops member of the ww7ra (146.62/442.65 103.5 Ch 13 tower) group and we have our share of interesting (and not so interesting) users too. It's all part of being tolerent of different styles and interests.. what ham radio is all about. If hanging out on your repeater is upseting you, just vote with your tuning control. From your location you should be able to work dozens of 2m repeaters and at least that many 70cm sites. Try hitting some of the VE7 sites up on Vancouver Island. I can work them all the time with just a Ringo Ranger on the side of the house. I'm a bit north of you but you should be able to get VE7VIC (146.84/100.0) at least. We both live in a very repeater rich area. I've been able to bring up a site on every 2m repeater pair from my home.

I guess what I'm try to convey is that you need to decide what you want out of ham radio, and then go find it. Don't just hang on one repeater pair or with one club and expect it to come to you. It's a big hobby that, with a little tolerence, offers just about any aspect of communications one could wish for. Some people find talking about inane subjects turns their cranks. If you don't enjoy that, then QSY.

Let me know how it turns out and give me a yell on the ww7ra repeater some time.

73

Joe

[kf4lne]

For $15 i put a 2M J-pole up 20 feet. Now, if we can show EVERYONE how to do this then maybe the repeaters can be used for what they were intended for.
Home Depot Price breakdown:

1/2 inch copper pipe - $3.78
Elbow and Tee - About 50 cents each
Solder - $1.98
10 ft chain link fence top rails - about $5 each

If you are going to use that almighty HT for your station, by all means at least get good 50+ watt amplifier with a RX amp and a decent bandpass filter to keep the pager sites out. RG 213 can be bought in ready made sections at most any CB shop. Now you have a decent station and can work simplex. For the more technically inclined you can go to the local Radio Shack, buy the FM stereo 6 el Yagi, remove one of the elements, cut the rest down to the measurements for 2 meters, make a simple balun from coax and put it on a rotor...now you have a better station. So, I ask, who needs a repeater? get a feel for simplex, save your money and get a multimode/multiband radio and enjoy radio.

Parts for copper J-pole - $6
30 feet of mast pole - $20
50 feet of Coax - $30

J-Pole Calculator and Instructions (http://www.hamuniverse.com/jpole.html)

[K6UEY]

Dan KF4LNE
What you are promoting has been the basis and tradition of HAM RADIO, to learn to use the facilities and material around you that fit into your particular life style to further your knowledge and enjoyment of HAM RADIO.
Unfortunately the Generation X have become accostumed to only having NEW Plug-N-Play Radios and have no interest in finding out what HAM RADIO is really all about. Most of us OF's have been through and enjoyed that phase, and I would suspect could talk about another dozen ways to make do with what you have around you, but after hearing so much " I don wanna " and all the crying and whining for so long, have reached the top of our tolerance level.
Keep up the good work Dan, even if you only reach 1 out there with the idea of what it is all about at least you are going in the right direction.
My compliments DAN to your unending efforts,

ENJOY!!! Maybe there is HOPE afterall..... #73, # ORV