Home
Weather Center
Weather Safety
Training Material
Reporting Criteria
Newsletters & Links
Support & Donations
Video Gallery
Join MidWest!
About MidWest
Repeaters
Storefront
Media Point
Contact Us
Members' Area
Counties at a glance:
Weather Center
Weather Safety
Training Material
Reporting Criteria
Newsletters & Links
Support & Donations
Video Gallery
Join MidWest!
About MidWest
Repeaters
Storefront
Media Point
Contact Us
Members' Area
Counties at a glance:
Ham Repeater Guidelines
Back to Repeater Page
- Listen, Listen, and Listen One of the best ways for new hams to become accustomed to the hobby is to listen to those who have been around a while. Always listen before you begin a new QSO. Be considerate! There might just be someone else using the repeater.
- Identify Properly Make sure and identify properly. (FCC Part 97.119) Requires each station to identify at the end of a QSO and every 10 minutes during each QSO.
- Kerchunking Transmitting without identifying is considered illegal. Please do not "kerchunk" the machine. If you are wanting to test out your equipment do it legally by giving your call followed by the word "testing" (Example WX9TRS testing...).
- Language on the Repeater Bad language of any type including swearing, off-color jokes, and/or any other inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Don't air your dirty laundry over the repeater. If there is something that you would like to say or voice about the clubs business or if you have a problem with another member, then contact the people that need and want to hear it! Remember that others are listening!
- On-Air Operation The repeater is here for everyone's enjoyment and use.! When you hear a QSO going on over the repeater, don't be rude and just break in unless you have something to add to the conversation that is worth while. If you have a legitimate emergency, wait for the user to finish and break in just before the courtesy tone sounds by saying "break" or "emergency" and then your call. Users are expected to yield to any and all emergency traffic!
- Organized Activities An organized activity such as a MidWest SSTRC net or a training drill of any kind will take priority over any other regular/non-emergency repeater use! When you know a net is about to begin, then stay off the air so that "net control" can call the net.
- One-Way Traffic One-way traffic (e.g. repeater to simplex) is discouraged because it needlessly ties up the machine. Remember, one way broadcast messages (from one station to a non-responding or unlicensed station) are illegal. Simplex operation on the repeater output frequencies should also be avoided since it prevents others from using the machines.
- Signal Quality Into The Repeater Sometimes, for any number of reasons, you might not have a good signal into the repeater. It might be a temporary condition (you're mobile and too far from the repeater; that 5 watt HT with a rubber ducky inside the car just isn't making it from 60 miles away) or it might be a longer-term problem. In any case, if you realize that you don't have a good signal into the repeater, it's good amateur practice to stop transmitting until you're able to have a better signal.
- Criticize off-air Remember that there is almost always someone listening to the repeater. Sometimes it's a fellow ham, sometimes it's a prospective ham listening to a scanner. If for any reason you feel that you have something to say to someone that you might not want someone to say to you over the air, don't say it on the radio. Instead, find a private communications channel (telephone, email, meeting in person) and work things out that way.
- Authorized Nets Only Nets may not be conducted without the prior approval of the repeater owner(s) or control operators. The only entity currently authorized to conduct a net at this time is MidWest SSTRC Inc.
- You Agree As stipulated by the FCC the Repeater Control Operators and owners are charged with insuring the proper and legal use of their repeater. A repeater is a privately owned entity and the owner(s) and control operator(s) may create and enforce rules and guidlines as they see fit. Failure to follow these rules and guidlines could result in your being banned from the repeater.
Remember that interrupting someone is no more polite on the air then in person. Also, using the word "break" is considered something used for urgent or emergency traffic. Do not use it just to join the conversation.