Amateur Radio Relay Group, Inc.

P.O. Box 91213           Portland, OR  97219

www.arrg.org                                   k7rpt@arrl.net

           

ARRG Repeater Operating Practices

ARRG, a non-profit corporation, was incorporated on October 5, 1977 by the State of Oregon.      ARRG was formed to encourage and foster mutual interest in amateur radio communications and provide public service (by providing such communication when required as a result of normal communication means being disrupted by natural or man made causes), operates several radio repeater stations to enhance the quality of communication available.

Licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, the club repeaters and the users of said repeaters MUST comply with ALL FCC mandated rules and regulations. IN ADDITION, beyond the minimum required by law, ARRG has established operating procedures, to optimize the use of the repeaters and to define a level of quality which is representative of all the club members.

While not all inclusive, the following procedures establish a baseline for all repeater users to follow.

  • Station Identification- All stations are required to identify themselves, upon initially transmitting on the repeater and every ten minutes. In addition, when operating in a net or "roundtable" one's call should be announced more frequently if needed to facilitate efficient communication.
    • When initially coming on the repeater, when not previously in use (verified by LISTENING for a few minutes PRIOR to transmitting), it is only necessary to announce your call. If you are trying to contact a specific station, you should announce … "K7XXX from WA7XXX".
    • If the repeater is already in use, please wait for a pause between stations to announce your call. ONLY USE THE TERM "BREAK" OR "BREAK BREAK" In times of emergency (break), or life threatening (break break).
    • All stations using the repeater should pause after the previous station drops to minimize inadvertent "doubling" (simultaneous transmission) and to allow time for new stations to identify.
    • For those stations using the repeater, upon the announcement of a new station, the next station in rotation should acknowledge the new station AND turn it over to them and indicate who they should turn it over to keep the rotation intact.
    • If a station announces a single or double "break" the repeater is to be given to them IMMEDIATELY for their traffic.
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  • Use of Plain Language – Communication should be in plain language. "Q" codes and "10" codes are not required and their use should be minimized. Similarly, phonetics should be reserved for those instances when they are required (minimal signal/emergency traffic for example).
  • Simplex vs. Repeater – If you are close enough to another station to hear them directly AND it is only the two of you communicating, move to a simplex frequency. It is not only courteous... IT IS REQUIRED BY THE FCC. Transmitting on the repeater OUTPUT frequency, while the repeater is operating is prohibited.
  • AutoPatch – When using autopatch (on those repeaters where it is available) always keep in mind, you are on a big party line. Always inform the called party of this fact to avoid embarrassment (to all). Again, only use the autopatch for its intended purpose... if you can use a telephone, please do so.
  • Content – While certain topics and vocabulary are not "illegal" for commercial broadcasting, ARRG, as the operator of the club repeaters DOES prohibit those communications which are in poor taste or a waste of the repeater facility. While the following should not be considered all inclusive, it will establish a baseline for behavior which is NOT PERMITTED by the club on ARRG Repeaters:
    • "Off Color" comments, sexual innuendo and ANY double entendre. Remember, use of codes and ciphers is NOT permitted by FCC regulations. If it can't be said in plain English, it probably should not be broadcast on the repeater.
    • Commercial communication – you can, certainly, identify you occupation... however, if you are, for example, a car salesman, you CANNOT try to sell your wares on the repeater.
    • Derogatory remarks directed at any group (ethnic, racial, religious, sexual etc).
    • "Bathroom Humor" – If you wouldn't tell the joke to your ten year old child, don't tell it on the repeater.
    • Any activity in violation of FCC rules and/or any other Federal, state or local laws or ordinances (including, but not limited to: jamming, "stepping on", broadcasting of music, unidentified carrier etc). Note: intentionally transmitting simultaneously with another station ("stepping on") is prohibited by FCC regulation…even if the intent is good natured kidding among friends... It is still illegal.

Proper and legal operating etiquette is 95% common sense. While the above limits on content are not all inclusive, they should make clear the type of communication which is NOT appropriate. In general, if what is being said could be construed as embarrassing or hurtful by a listener, it is probably NOT permitted. Always err on the side of caution. When in doubt... DON'T.

Anyone who violates the above will be warned after the first offense. 

Portions of these two pages are reproduced with the permission of the

Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club.     Visit them at:  http://www.limarc.org