THE
METRO AREA REPEATER ASSOCIATION WDØHWT REPEATER SYSTEM 146.25/.85 AND 449.800/444.800 MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN |
MARA Rules of ConductAdopted by the MARA Board of Directors on November 13, 2015 Why do we need rules at all for repeater conduct or etiquette?
No one likes a bunch of arbitrary rules, but when you have a shared resource, like a wide coverage range repeater they become necessary. We tend to assume that everyone knows the generally accepted rules. But, that could be careless of us and unfair to those who want or need to have a clearer definition of our expectations and requirements. We understand that everyone slips once in a while, no matter how hard they try. But, we expect all users of the MARA repeaters to do their very best to follow these simple and obvious rules of repeater conduct. The 25/85 repeater covers a very large area that is listened to by many. Your operating practices reflect directly on how other people view amateur radio. The rules are pretty basic: 1) Identify with your call sign when you first come on the air. Make sure you ID once every 10 minutes, and at the end of the contact. Ignore stations who break-in without identifying. If you do not identify when you first come on the air, the control operators do not know if it's a legal station or bootlegger. 2) Do not monopolize the repeater. Keep your transmissions short and thoughtful. During drive times try to keep your transmissions to 60 seconds or less. A long monologue may prevent someone with emergency traffic from using the repeater. Remember that repeaters have timers that will cut your transmission short if you talk too long. 3) Do not interrupt existing conversations unless you have something meaningful to add. Interrupting is just as impolite on the air as it is in person. 4) Yield existing conversations to emergency traffic and recognized activities, such as RACES, Skywarn, net operations, etc. 5) Leave your CB lingo next to your old 11 Meter rig. You worked hard for your amateur license. Listen a lot and learn how to sound like the licensed amateur that you now are. Phrases and 10 codes used on 11 meters such as "got a copy?", "the personal here is...","10-4", etc. are not considered good operating practice. 6) Be clear and concise. Speaking in riddles or misleading language is poor practice. Amateur operators are supposed to be good communicators. 7) Do not use the word "break" to join a conversation. It is not considered good operating practice and in some circles the word "break" is reserved for announcing emergencies. If you simply want to join in, just transmit your full call sign. 8) To initiate a contact, simply indicate that you are on frequency. "KZØZZZ listening" is the usual sort of message if you aren't calling a specific station. If no one comes back to you, no further transmission on your part is necessary. When you're done with you QSO, sign of with "KZØZZZ clear and listening" or just "KZØZZZ clear". 9) Watch your language; our repeaters are "G-Rated" 24 hours a day. Even "mild" obscenities are not good operating practice. This includes suggestive phrases, and suggestive phonetics. 10) Ignore jammers and others who try to disrupt the repeater's normal operation. Without any reaction from the repeater users, they will have no audience and probably go away in short order. If you are someone who is the subject of frequent interference, it may be a sign that you are aggravating people with your operating habits. 11) Never argue with a control operator over the air. Control Operators police the club's repeaters as they deem necessary in order to protect the club's call sign. If you disagree with the actions of a Control Operator, you should write down your grievance and contact the Officers and/or Trustee. What gives the Board of Directors, Trustee, or Owners the right to tell someone how to operate? All repeaters have rules. These rules often go beyond Part 97. And, users who refuse to comply with the repeater's rules can be told to stop using the repeaters. This is entirely at the judgment of the repeater owners or trustees. FCC Rule 97.205(e) says, "...Limiting the use of a repeater to only certain user stations is permissible." There are no qualifications - ifs, and, or buts - to this rule The ARRL says it clearest of all: "A repeater is not a public utility - you don't have a "right" to use it. When you are using someone else's repeater you are, in effect, a visitor in the owner's station. So, you could conduct yourself accordingly. If you use that station in a manner that the owner finds objectionable, that person has every right to revoke your privilege of using it!" (Source: The ARRL's FCC Rule Book) The Metro Area Repeater Association operates two amateur repeaters in the Minneapolis / St. Paul Metro Area. |
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