Basic FARC Repeater Use Rules
The Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club repeaters operating
on 2 meters and 70 cm are primarily used to support community interests of
our club members, and in support of community
situations, (fires, earthquakes, traffic conditions, and other emergencies).
Rag chewing conversations (over 20 minutes) are discouraged because
many people monitor the FARC repeater for local information requests, emergency
alerts and traffic. They are usually doing something else while listening
to a certain frequency or repeater. Long winded conversations forces some
of these serious monitoring people to turn down their volume or lock out
FARC on their scanners and in turn may miss important information transmitted
later on. If you need to talk that long, take it to a simplex frequency or
land line. Checking for additional traffic that might be waiting and using
call sign identification often is also important. Fallbrook is a unique area
and quick response AR emergency communications are vital.
"Kerchunking" the repeater (keying up the repeater without your station
ID) is annoying to those who seriously monitor it, and
is an unidentified transmission that was covered on the Technician Exam.
Please always use good operating practices. If you key the repeater, ID yourself,
it's the correct way to operate on Amateur Radio.
Stations must ID each 10 minutes as per FCC requirement.
The Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club and its repeaters
are a family oriented system. Profane language is not acceptable under any
conditions. What might be acceptable language on CB Radio or in certain circles
of life styles are not acceptable on this system. We shouldn't have to define what words are unacceptable,
when in question use your best judgment. If your best judgment falls short
of reasonable mature judgment, we'll let you know. Always keep in mind
the repeater is listened to by all age groups, male and female. When using the repeaters always try to be respectful and
professional. You are responsible for hams public image. You never know who
might be listening, the general public, or public safety personnel.
Short conversations and humor are welcome and refreshing
as long as the primary purpose for emergency communications are not diluted
or become a distraction from our key purpose. You are asked not to use annoying
"street talk" phrases no matter how hip, slick and cool you are, i.e., the
repetitious tag "dude" being used is an example. CB type slang is not welcome
on the FARC repeaters, this is not Citizens Band Radio. Get in the
habit of plain easy to understand language so we can act quicker and more
accurately during an emergency. During events,
nets and emergencys keep transmissions concise "just the facts".
In accordance with FCC rules the control operator
has the final word and his directions must be followed or the appropriate
corrective actions will be taken.
The FARC Club Officers
Last update 08/17/2009
Also, store your mobile radio microphone on a proper hanger.
Microphones that are left on a seat or
stuffed in the center console can cause accidental pressing of the PTT,
(Push To Talk) button, causing jamming of a
repeater frequency. Most radios have a TOT, (time out timer), function the
helps with the stuck microphone syndrome,
by issuing a warning tone and shutting down the transmitter, so set yours
to two minutes or less.
Cross band repeating into a repeater should be used with great caution and
monitored closely, and always use a tone
squelch, also known as CTCSS or DCS on your cross band link, and use proper band
plan frequencies.
VOX, (Voice Operated Transmit), is not really compatible with a repeater
system and is far to easy to leave activated causing interference.
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