W4IZ REPEATER SYSTEM

W4IZ OPERATING RULES

FCC Part 97.205 (e) states "limiting the use of a repeater to only certain user stations is permissible."   There is no rule which requires a repeater sponsor to let everyone use it.  Those who do not follow FCC rules and the rules set forth by the W4IZ Trustee will be disqualified from using the system and may be subject to FCC enforcement action.

(1) Each operator must provide station identification near the beginning of a communication or series of communications.  In addition, FCC rules require station identification at least every ten minutes and at the end of a communication. 

(2) No communications are permitted with persons not holding a valid Amateur Radio license except for transmissions in compliance with FCC rules on third party traffic and control operator supervision. For an unlicensed person to key a transmitter on Amateur Radio bands, the immediate presence of a properly-licensed operator is required.  This means that the control (licensed) operator is within a few feet.

 FCC Part 97.111(a)1 does not authorize communications with unlicensed operators.

If an operator fails to identify with his or her Amateur Radio call, consider that person to be unlicensed.    After a request for their call sign, do not communicate with or acknowledge any transmissions made by unidentified/unlicensed operators.  If you hear someone with a questionable call, you can verify via http://www.qrz.com 

(3) Do not discuss any details about jammers or jamming on the air at any time and do not acknowledge jammers in any manner.

Use procedures shown further down this page to assist in determining the location of an unidentified/unlicensed operator.  When input from observers is sufficient to identify a source of illegal transmissions, details will be filed with the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies for enforcement action.  Penalties for malicious transmissions can total thousands of dollars in fines and legal costs plus several years in prison.

(4) Communications must be non-commercial. Prohibitions have been relaxed by the FCC.  One may order fast food or conduct some personal business. But an operator is not allowed to benefit financially from using Amateur Radio. One could not use ham radio to dispatch employees of a profit-making business or to solicit customers. A non-routine call to one’s employer to convey that the operator will be late for work is probably okay but most other calls to an employer should be avoided.  It is permissible to disseminate information on personal gear for sale or trade on nets and during conversations.

FCC RULES & COMMENTS ON PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS

 SECTION 97.113(a)

(a) No amateur station shall transmit:

       (1) Communications specifically prohibited elsewhere in this Part;

       (2) Communications for hire or for material compensation, direct or indirect, paid or promised, except as otherwise provided in these rules;

       (3) Communications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer.  Amateur operators may, however, notify other amateur operators of the availability for sale or trade of apparatus normally used in an amateur station, provided that such activity is not conducted on a regular basis;

       (4)  Music using a phone emission except as specifically provided elsewhere in this section; communications intended to facilitate a criminal act, messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning, except as otherwise provided herein; obscene or indecent words or language; or false or deceptive messages, signals or identification;

       (5)  Communications on a regular basis, which could reasonably be furnished alternatively through other radio services.

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OPERATING TIPS

To facilitate cross band operation, the W4IZ Repeater System has only a very short delay (hang time) at the end of each transmission and no “roger beep."

It is good procedure to pause between transmissions for a second or two so that other stations may call.

Allow a second or two of lead time when you key your microphone before speaking. This allows equipment to engage at remote receiver sites.

To join a conversation, simply announce your complete call or suffix of your call during a break. You also may use the word “break” to join in.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Voice announcements concerning NOFARS activities such as meetings, testing sessions and group events are made around :15 after the hour with shorter announcements interspersed at other times. A digital voice recorder (DVR) is used for these announcements.

A DVR identification occurs at the top of the hour (except after midnight during early morning hours). When necessary, “live” announcements can be made immediately following the :00 hourly ID. Advisories can be announced by any user.

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1. HOW MANY TRANSMITTERS AND REMOTES DOES THE SYSTEM HAVE?

                                                   By Mike Davis, N4FOZ

The New Ham Advisor has received questions over the past years about repeater systems, how they function, and what makes them different in how they are used.

How a Repeater System works:

A repeater site receives and transmits using two frequencies (duplex). The signal comes into the repeater receiver on one frequency and is re-transmitted out on another frequency. If the incoming and outgoing signals were on the same frequency, the signals would clash. In most areas, including this one, a two-meter repeater output frequency is paired with an input frequency that is offset by -600 Khz. In our area, repeaters on frequencies of 147.000 Mhz and below use a negative offset. For two-meter repeater systems using frequencies above 147.000 MHz, the repeater’s input frequency is shifted up 600 Khz (+600 Khz or +.6 Mhz) above the output frequency.

By comparison, simplex (non-repeater) communication is accomplished by transmitting and receiving signals on a single frequency.

From that basic point, many things can be added to a repeater system. Not all systems have these enhancements, but for educational purposes they will be discussed.

Although there is only one main repeater transmit site, there can be many remote receive sites. Normally, receive sites are dispersed around a large city or area to help more stations access the repeater. To avoid multiple receivers competing with each other and making a multi-path mess, this type of repeater uses a “voter” module which detects the strongest signal input from the multiple receivers and "votes" it through the repeater. All other weaker remote receivers are ignored (voted out).

A repeater also may have “links.” These could include, as in the case of the W4IZ Repeater System in Jacksonville, a permanent link to the 444.4 Mhz W4IZ UHF Repeater. On this UHF band and frequency, the standard repeater shift or offset is +5.00 Mhz. In some systems, temporary or permanent links may be engaged to connect with outlying repeaters. This may occur, for example, when wide area coverage is needed. As one could imagine--maintaining, calibrating, and engaging links can be tricky, and problems can occur due to band conditions and interaction with other repeater systems.

A word about “PL or CTCSS tones:” Many have asked why a repeater would require an encode tone to access it. The answer is that there are many repeaters using the same frequency pairs. Usually frequency coordination groups require repeaters using the same pair to be separated by at least 75 miles or so. But, enhanced propagation conditions can cause even distant repeaters on the same frequency pair to interfere with each other. This causes “bleed over,” when a user brings up more than one repeater. To minimize this interference, repeater systems may support a sub-audible tone capability that is built into most user transceivers.

In the commercial world, Private Line (PL) tones, a Motorola trademark, made it possible for many user agencies to share a single repeater. A more generic name for this is Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS). The CTCSS/PL circuit in a user’s rig generates a tone that opens the desired repeater receiver as the transmission occurs. Repeaters using the same frequency pairs have different CTCSS tone frequency requirements which follow a pre-established system where tones are clumped in groups that are used in regions around Florida and the country. In Northeast Florida, most repeaters use a 127.3 Hertz CTCSS tone. In other areas, a different tone frequency is recommended by repeater frequency coordinators.

Next, let's discuss your signal:

Operators frequently confuse their signal into and out of a repeater. Again, a repeater is a duplex system and not simplex. As an example, if your signal is strong into the repeater receiver, the quality and strength of the sound you hear out of the repeater transmitter is merely based on the strength that the listener hears from that repeater transmitter. Thusly, if a poor signal is sent into a receiver of the repeater, the transmitted signal by the repeater may sound poor no matter how much power the repeater transmitter is delivering. This is a concept that is commonly misunderstood, with many operators faulting the repeater before thinking of other factors like signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal at the repeater.

Enough of the technical aspect for now. It is time to discuss operational standards and how Hams can help keep a repeater system healthy:

In almost every incidence, large, complex systems are expensive to build and maintain. These systems often are on public buildings or commercial towers. Respectful interaction and cooperation is essential in maintaining a working agreement and good community standard with all parties involved.

Using a repeater system has some differences with using simplex in the rules. FCC Part 97, which governs all of Ham Radio, makes it clear that the trustee, who is in charge of the repeater, has total control, and responsibility for the system. The repeater system trustee has the right, under Federal Law, Part 97, to deny access to anyone they choose at any time, and to silence the system in the case of mis-use or conduct not in the standards of the repeater. Most systems today require that an operator identify clearly, with their callsign, at the beginning of their conversation, every ten minutes, and at the end.

Many systems have "Control Operators", who assist the Trustee with the operation and monitoring of the Repeater.

In this area of the country, we are very lucky that our repeaters are “open.” Many systems in the United States, especially on the Northeast and West Coast, are “closed” and only certain operators or paid subscribers are allowed to use the them.

In earlier times, many systems had an “autopatch,” which is a connection to a local phone line. With the popularity of cell phones, use of the autopatch is becoming a thing of the past. You can check your local repeaters for autopatch capability. Most systems require membership into their organization to use it.

With all being said, it is easily understood why financial support, volunteers for maintenance, and good operating practices by users are all vitally important for a good repeater to survive.

Some good operational tidbits that apply to all repeaters:

“Quick keying,” also known as “timed keying,” hurts operation. It prevents other operators from participating, and it can impede linking systems by not allowing them to properly engage or reset.

Remember the practices of professional dispatchers and radio operators everywhere: Give your call and information slow enough to be understood and copyable by all listening. Since FCC rules prohibit communications with unlicensed operators, checking a suspicious operator's callsign on the Internet or in call books is always good practice.

The truth is, a repeater's trustee holds the license for the system. Possibly the trustee’s own license is on the line if the rules and proper conduct is not enforced, so one can understand why these points are stressed.

There has been an effort to curtail interpretive language on radio systems. In fact, coded or encrypted transmissions are prohibited by law. The use of alternative language phrases and 10 codes such as, “Home 20,” “Mojo at the Hojo,” etc, are not appropriate on a repeater system. Operators who use those terms will find few people will respond to them. There are certain quick references, that have been used in CW (Morse Code) operation for years, that some still use on voice as they were in CW many years ago. Even those are fading in deference to straight forward verbiage.

Radio nets (networks) that are conducted on a repeater system should have permission from the trustee in advance. Music, singing, business solicitation, swearing, operating while obviously inebriated, mocking or berating officials and community leaders, are to be avoided.

For any specific rules, please refer to the FCC Part 97, or the local repeater information. For the W4IZ Repeater, please visit www.nofars.org for several items of interest including W4IZ repeater rules and protocols.

All this information is intended to produce better, well informed Ham Radio Operators.

Let's keep our standards high!

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VHF  PUBLIC SERVICE EVENT OPERATING TIPS

By Steve Welsh, AD4E

1. Listen, listen, & listen some more. Certainly, we all get pumped-up during an event. The adrenaline is there. How else could we pull those long shifts?! However, it's so important to listen for stations that may need to provide critical information or break-in with an emergency. So, pause briefly between transmissions and allow sufficient time for another station to break-in if they need to. It's also important to keep the "pace" of communications at a consistent (non-hyper) rate.

2. Confirm that your radio is working properly. The goal here is to have our radio equipment in perfect working order-especially transmit audio. Clear audio will significantly improve communications efficiency. Periodically, ask for a report on how your radio sounds. Often times, speaking more quietly will enhance intelligibility; or, possibly a simple adjustment to increase microphone sensitivity (transmit deviation) will provide a real improvement too.

3. Wait briefly for repeater system electronics, hand-held battery save circuits, & scanning units to engage before speaking. Upon initial repeater transmission, approximately 100 to 200 milliseconds (one-quarter second) is required. This is especially applicable to systems that are "linked" or using remote receivers. No one will steal your microphone!

4. Don't acknowledge open microphones or malicious interference. More often than not, acknowledging these poor operators (LIDS) only exacerbates the problem-attention is what they want!

5. No need for "over" & "go-ahead". In most cases, it's clearly evident when a station stops transmitting.

6. A single call to a station should be adequate. For example, "WA4XYZ this is N4ABC" or "WA4XYZ, N4ABC" is preferred over "WA4XYZ, WA4XYZ, this is N4ABC". If they don't respond to the first call within a short time, a second call may then be warranted.

7. No need for "WA4XYZ clear"

The underlying theme to all this is to keep the frequency open & be efficient with your communications. Speak clear & at a reasonable rate. Unless you have important information, (e.g., a weather report) to pass along or are being called, there is no reason to be transmitting. Also, less chit-chat means less listener fatigue. Although our hobby is called "amateur", we can be "professional" in our operating technique.                                                                                                          

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SOME HAM RADIO HUMOR

A “Lid” is defined as a poor Ham Operator.  Over the years, various tongue in cheek articles have been written with two purposes in mind; to bring out some of the habits we all hear on the radio and to stimulate thought for the improvement  of operational standards.

This list will be kept up and we hope that all of you can add your favorite additions to the list in the future.  These comments are not intended for any one Ham nor Group.  It seems to happen everywhere!

Your Icom 706 power deviators can’t seem to control the mic gain no matter which band they are working.

You say a record number of “There” or “You know” in one minute, then spend the next minute trying to beat your new record.

Instead of waiting to join in a QSO with ‘on topic’ comments, you just jump in with what you want to say and disregard the group.

Break into a QSO, call your pet friends and then leave everyone else out.

Quick key so no one can join, acting like it is a telephone, by timing the repeater drop.

Doubling seems to be the rule.  Roundtables are out..3 people can find a way to stay in order.(?)

“Jim – Juliet, India, Mike” sounds so cool on FM

Give your call, then try for more air time with words like “For ID”, “For license preservation”, “in accordance with the Federal Communication Part 97 regulation of the United State of America”

Time out the repeater because you are in love with your own voice.

Get on a net and talk for 5 minutes off the subject because you have a captive audience.

You don’t make formal calls anymore.  Simply break in with your comment and don’t identify.  Everyone should know who you are anyway.

Always smack your lips when you talk, so everyone will know your are trying to operate while eating.

You don’t ID at the beginning of a QSO, as required by most repeaters.

When you enter a QSO, be sure to change the subject immediately.

When the repeater sounds a little strange to you, but you don’t check your own equipment first, you let everyone know the system has problems.

Give your call as quickly and as slurred as possible.  It confuses who you really are and whether you actually do have a license.  Everyone knows your voice by now anyway.

Shy away from new hams trying to make their first contact on the repeater.  After all, no one wanted to talk with you the first time.

Give no precise nor meaningful reports when in an emergency traffic net.  Such statements as, “It’s raining up a storm”, “It’s blowing hard”, and “I think it’s dark outside”, “The place is a mess”, and the ever present “The sun’s shining now”, really contributes to the informational path.

Key up the repeater at least 5 times before saying anything.  Then you have more fun and know your radio works.

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Several variations of the article below have been published in newsletters and magazines.  Some of it is tongue-in-cheek.  Both this article and Steve's tips above contain suggestions. Operating procedures vary from one person to another; one net to another and from one repeater to another.  If you hear a procedure that you feel violates rules of FCC or W4IZ, please contact the trustee via n4uf@nofars.net  

HOW TO SOUND LIKE A LID

Step One: Use as many "Q" signals as possible. Yes, I know they were invented solely for CW and are totally inappropriate for two meter FM, but they are fun and entertaining. They keep people guessing as to what you really meant. I.E. "I'm going to QSY to the phone." Can you really change frequencies to the phone? QSL used to mean, "I am acknowledging receipt", but now it appears to mean, "yes" or "OK". I guess I missed it when the ARRL changed the meaning. It is also best to use "OK" and "QSL" together. Redundancy is the better part of Lid-dom.

Step Two: Never laugh when you can say "HI HI". No one will ever know you aren't a long time CW rag-chewer if you don't tell them. They'll think you've been on since the days of Marconi.

Step Three: Utilize an alternative vocabulary. Use words like "destinated" and "negatory". It's OK to make up your own words here. I.E. "Yeah Tom, I "pheelbart zaphonix" occasionally myself."

Step Four: Always say "XX4XXX" (Insert your own call) "for I. D." As mentioned in Step One, anything that creates redundancy is always encouraged. That's why we have the Department of Redundancy Department. (Please note that you can follow your call with "for identification purposes" instead of "for I. D." While taking longer to say, it is worth more "LID points".

Step Five: The better the copy on two meter FM, the more you should use phonetics. Names should be especially used if they are short or common ones. I.E. "My name is Al... Alpha Lima" or "Jack.. Juliet Alpha Charlie Kilo." If at all possible use the less common HF phonetics "A4SM... America, Number Four, Sugar Mexico." And for maximum "LID points", make up unintelligible phonetics. "My name is Bob... Billibong Oregano Bumperpool."

Step Six: Always give the calls of yourself and everyone who is (or has been) in the group, whether they are still there or not. While this has been unnecessary for years, it is still a great memory test. You may also use "and the group" if you are an "old timer" or just have a bad memory. Extra points for saying everyone's call and then clearing in a silly way "K2PKK, Chow, Chow."

Step Seven: Whenever possible, use the wrong terminology. It keeps people guessing. Use "modulation" when you mean "deviation", and vice-versa.

Step Eight: If someone asks for a break, always finish your turn, taking as long as possible before turning it over. Whenever possible, pass it around a few times first. This will discourage the breaker, and if it is an emergency, encourage him to switch to another repeater and not bother you.

Step Nine: Always ask involved questions of the person who is trying to sign out. Never let him get by with just a "yes" or "no" answer. Make it a question that will take him a long time to answer.

Step Ten: The less you know on a subject, the more you should speculate about it in the roundtable. Also the amount of time you spend on the subject should be inversely proportionate to your knowledge of the subject even though you have no damn clue.

Step Eleven: Always make sure you try to communicate with only a handheld and a rubber duck antenna. Also, make sure you work through a repeater that you can hear very well, but it cannot hear you. This will put out a kind of "LID mating call": "Well, Joe, I can hear the repeater just fine here. I wonder why it can't hear me?" You will score maximum LID points if you are mobile, and with the radio lying in the passenger seat.

Step Twelve: If you hear two amateurs start a conversation, wait until they are twenty seconds into their contact, and then break in to make a call, or better yet to use the auto-patch. Make sure you keep the repeater tied up for at least three minutes. This way, once the two have re-established contact, they won't even remember what they were talking about.

Step Thirteen: You hear someone on the repeater giving directions to a visiting amateur. Even if the directions are good, make sure you break in with your own "alternate route but better way to get there" version. This is most effective with several other "would-be LIDs", each giving a different route. By the time the visiting amateur unscrambles all the street names whizzing by in his mind, he should have moved out of the range of the repeater. This keeps you from having to stick around to help the guy get back out of town, later.

Step Fourteen: If an annoying station is bothering you, make sure your other "LID" buddies have a "coded" frequency list. Even though "CODES" are strictly forbidden on Amateur Radio, it's really neat to practice "James Bond" tactics.

Step Fifteen: Always use the National Calling Frequency for general conversations. The more uninteresting, the longer you should use it. Extra points are awarded if you have recently moved from an adjacent frequency for no reason. Make sure when DX is "rolling" in on 52.525 that you hang out there and talk to your friends five miles down the road about the good old CB days!

Step Sixteen: Make sure that if you have a personal problem with someone, you should voice your opinion in a public forum, especially a net. Make sure you give their name, call, and any other identifying remarks. For maximum points, make sure the person in question is not on the repeater, or not available.

Step Seventeen: Make sure you say the first few words of each transmission twice, especially if it is the same thing each time. Like "roger, roger" or "fine business, fine business". I cannot stress enough about encouraging redundancy.

Step Eighteen: If you hear a conversation on a local repeater, break in and ask how each station is receiving you. Of course they will only see the signal of the repeater you are using, but it's that magic moment when you can find a fellow "LID", and get the report. Extra points are awarded if you are using a base station, and the repeater is less than twenty-five air miles from you.

Step Nineteen: Use the repeater for an hour or two at a time, preventing others from using it. Better yet, do it on a daily basis. Your quest is to make people so sick of hearing your voice every time they turn on their radio, they'll move to another frequency. This way you'll lighten the load on the repeater, leaving even more time for you to talk on it.

Step Twenty: See just how much flutter you can generate by operating at handheld power levels too far away from the repeater. Engage people in conversations when you know they wont be able to copy half of what your saying. Even when they say you’re un-copyable, continue to string them along by making further transmissions. See just how frustrated you can make the other amateur before he finally signs off in disgust.

Step Twenty - One: Use lots of radio jargon. After all, it makes you feel important using words ordinary people don't say. Who cares if it makes you sound like you just fell off Channel 19 on the citizen's Band? Use phrases such as "Roger on that", "10-4", "I'm on the side", "Your making the trip" and "Negatory on that".

Step Twenty -Two: Use excessive microphone gain. See just how loud you can make your audio. Make sure the audio gain is so high that other amateurs can hear any bugs crawling on your floor. If mobile, make sure the wind noise is loud enough that others have to strain to pick your words out from all the racket.

Step Twenty -Three: Start every transmission with the word "Roger" or "QSL". Sure, you don't need to acknowledge that you received the other transmission in full. After all, you would simply ask for a repeat if you missed something. But consider it your gift to the other amateur to give him solace every few seconds that his transmissions are being received.

Step Twenty -Four: When looking for a contact on a repeater, always say your "listening" or "monitoring" multiple times. I've always found that at least a half dozen times or so is good. Repeating your multiple "listening" ID's every 10 to 15 seconds is even better. Those people who didn't want to talk to you will eventually call you, hoping you'll go away after you have finally made a contact.

Step Twenty - Five: Always use a repeater, even if you can work the other station easily on simplex ... especially if you can make the contact on simplex. The coverage of the repeater you use should be inversely proportional to your distance from the other station.

Step Twenty - Six: When on repeaters using courtesy tones, you should always say "over". Courtesy tones are designed to let everyone know when you have un-keyed but don't let that stop you. Say "over", "back to you" or "go ahead". It serves no useful purpose but don't worry, it's still fun!

Step Twenty - Seven: Use the repeater's autopatch for frivolous routine calls... especially during morning or evening commute times. While pulling into the neighborhood, call home to let them know you'll be there in two minutes.... or, call your spouse to complain about the bad day you had at work. After all, the club has "measured rate" service on their phone line so they get charged for each autopatch call. Your endeavor is to make so many patches in a year that you cost the club at least $20 in phone bills. That way you'll feel you got your money's worth for your dues!

Step Twenty - Eight: Never say "My name is ....." It makes you sound human. If at all possible, use one of the following phrases: a) "The personal here is ..." b) "The handle here is..."

Step Twenty - Nine: Use "73" and "88" incorrectly. Both are already considered plural, but add an "s" to the end anyway. Say "73's" or "88's". Who cares if it means "best regards" and "love and kisses." Better yet, say "seventy thirds"! (By the way, seventy thirds equals about 23.3).

Step Thirty: If the repeater is off the air for service, complain about the fact that it was off the air as soon as it's turned back on. Act as though your entire day has been ruined because the repeater wasn't available when you wanted to use it. Even though you have never paid a penny to help out with the upkeep of it.

These easy steps should put you well on your way to “LID-Hood". I hope these helpful hints will save you some time in your quest to sound like the perfect "LID". I should also note that these steps need not apply to simplex operation, as nobody really gives a crap because that HTX-202 isn't going to get out too far with just a rubber duck.