[PARC] September meeting
dmoes at nexicom.net
dmoes at nexicom.net
Sat Sep 12 17:11:29 EDT 2015
Dear PARC members
I hope that everyone has had a good summer. Fall is closing in and we
begin with our
first meeting for the fall. We have a few talks lined up for meetings
the will cover
remote operation, digital modes on HF, Slow Scan TV as well as some
other topics that
will interest all. We will have a Show and tell and perhaps another
sale.
At our first meeting we will discuss a few ideas to promote Amateur
Radio in the
community as a hobby including Jamboree On The Air and perhaps public
displays and a
special event station to be run on location. There will also be an
opportunity to order
name badges I will have full colour samples at the meeting and an
order sheet. Cost
will be $5.00 each. There will also be an oportunity for those
unable to make it to the
meeting to order them I will send a separate email in a few days with
the details and
sample images.
Here are some links to important documents. Be sure to read them
both.
73 everyone I hope to see you all at the meeting.
Agenda http://www.qsl.net/ve3dvy/agenda0915.pdf
Repeater Etiquette and Tips http://www.qsl.net/ve3dvy/ret.pdf
Club repeaters are
VE3PBO 146.625 - PL - /162.2 tone not required to use the
repeater
Short term linking available using Allstar network.
Permanent link to via Allstar
VE3CKL Linsay
VE3RTR Cobourg.
VA3PBO 444.572 + PL 162.2/162.2
System fusion automatic mode switching Analog and digital input
matching same mode on output. (hint program you analog rig with
CTCSS
tone squelch to eliminate the hash from digital transmission
VE3TJR 146.970 – PL 162.2/162.2
system fusion. Automatic mode switching on input analog FM only
on
output. (you will hear other station regardless of mode on any FM
tranciever.)
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Agenda September 15 2015
Peterborough Amateur Radio Club Meeting agenda
September 15 2015 7:30 PM in room 131 at Adam Scott
Secretaries Report and reading of Minutes from past meeting.
Presented by Devon VE3DEV
Treasurers Report:
Presented by the Treasurer, Barry VE3BLM
Activities:
Presented by the activities director, Barry VE3BLM
ARES:
Presented by Jim VA3CC
Technical:
Presented by Rick VE3IQZ
Web Site:
Presented by Harmen VE3EMA
New Business
Badge orders
Presentation
there is no presentation for this month
Prepared by David Moes President
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Repeater Etiquette and Tips
Peterborough Amateur Radio Club.
To our fellow amateur radio operators, both new and experienced:
Here are some helpful tips and points of Etiquette when using ours and
any other
repeater. Most of what is presented is just good operating tips and
not laws or
regulations. All licensed radio operators must comply with all
Industry Canada
Regulations at all times, Most of what is here is just common sense.
While we are seeing
wider area coverage and links with other repeaters, proper use and
etiquette is even more
important.
I have collected these tips and points of etiquette from various
sources on the internet
are not in any way directed at any one individual, and should only be
looked at as
suggestions to help us experienced hams to maintain good operating
practices and help new
hams become good operators on any repeater system. For the new ham, it
is a good idea to
listen to others -- see how they are using the repeater before keying
it up yourself.
Remember that a repeater is not a private line, but is a party line
that can be heard by
many other ham operators, others just listening and government
agencies and the media.
You might be surprised at how many are listening.
Things to remember on the air
Be Considerate: never knowingly operates in such a way as to infringe
upon the pleasure
of others. Remember that there are many people listening.
Keep it Clean: Keep humor and jokes polite. Although some jokes or
comments would be
funny within a small group of friends at the coffee shop, they may not
be appropriate on
the air. Also be carefull of inside jokes. To someone that may be
listening with no idea
of what you are talking about it may be understood and taken way out
of context. Don’t
make such jokes or comments that you would not say to a room full of
strangers. Even at
times when you think nobody is listening.
Loyalty: Offer encouragement and support to other amateurs, our local
club, Radio
Amateurs of Canada and ARRL.
Friendly: Offer slow and patient operating when requested, friendly
advice and counsel
to the beginner, kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for
the interests of
others. These are hallmarks of the amateur spirit.
Keep it short: When in conversation keep your transmissions short.
If you have a few
thoughts, say them then turn the repeater back to the other(s) in the
conversation.
Avoid repeating a point or thinking out loud or taking time to think
about what you want
to say while holding up the repeater. Talk as though repeater time
is precious. Don’t
think of the repeaters 3 minute time out timer as a guideline as to
how long to talk, it
is intended as a mechanism to stop the repeater when there is a
problem. Your actual talk
time should be much shorter.
To Make a Call: listen, listen, and listen to make sure the repeater
is not in use.
When you are satisfied that no one is using the repeater, key your
mike and wait about 2
seconds for any linked repeaters to wake up, then call the other
station using their call
sign once or twice followed by your call sign (e.g.: “VE3RB, VE3RB
this is VE3DVY”). Wait
for a reasonable period of time for the other station to respond to
your call. If you get
no response try again. If still no response is heard clear the
repeater by saying your
call sign, and clear (e.g.: “VE3RB clear”), in this way others
know you are finished and
the repeater is available.
Pause before you key up during a conversation: There a couple of
reasons to pause before
you key up. First so other stations, who may wish to join the
conversation, can make
themselves known, and also to let the repeater to reset. If you are
talking and it is getting more
than a minute or two say something like “I’m just going to drop
the repeater. Or “Resetting the
repeater” Release the PTT and pause for 3 seconds or so and key up
and finish your point.
Please also remember that on a linked repeater system not all the
repeaters reset at the
same time so allow for a at least a 3 second pause after the courtesy
tone for all the repeaters to
reset their respective time-out timers. Try to develop a habit to
leave a pause all the
time.
To join a conversation or make a quick call: If you are listening and
the repeater is in
use, when there is a pause in the transmission, key up saying your
call sign. The other
stations should acknowledge your call sign. When called upon ask if
you. Don’t use
words like Break, Contact or Recheck. Get attention using only your
call, even during a
net. Although during regular use you should leave a pause after the
previous stations
transmission, when trying to jump in don't hesitate. jump in fast
enough so that your heard
before the next station already using the repeater starts.
Use simplex whenever possible: When possible make contact on the
repeater and if you are
close to each other switch to one of the common simplex frequencies.
Be sure that the
frequency is clear. First listen and listen some more. If nothing is
heard then ask “is
the frequency is in use?” then your call. If nothing is heard ask
again. If there is
still no answer make your call and carry on your conversation. Using
simplex could also
applies to groups that meet regularly as well if close enough to each.
pick a frequency
and have fun.
Local recommend frequencies 146.580 and 146.550
Round Tables: If it’s a conversation between three of more people
it’s a round table or group.
Know your place in the round table and always pass the conversation to
the next operator
in order. If someone asks you a question, answer it on your next turn
In the round table,
rather than jumping in before your turn. This prevents someone from
being left out of a conversation. (Something
we are bad at here.) At the end of your slot pass it on to the next in
order by saying
their name or use their call then yours. Example: “….it raining
here but not bad. Over
to you Jeeves” or for better identification, say the call of the
next in the round
table. Example: “VE3RB and the group, this is VE3DVY” If you need
to have a separate two-
way conversations, and there are multiple people on the repeater, go
to another repeater
system or use a simplex frequency if possible. There used to be a
group on
VE3RTR after the weather net in the morning that would keep a
perfectly ordered round
table regardless of the number in the group. Between that and the
polite and good humored
conversation It was a pleasure to listen to such a properly run
conversation.
Looking for someone to talk to: If the repeater is quiet, and you are
looking for
someone to talk to, listen for a couple of minutes to hear if the
repeater is in use and
then key up with your call sign and say listening or monitoring.
(e.g.: “VE3RB
listening” or “VE3RB monitoring”).
Don’t Ker-chunk. I often hear brief transmissions with no
identifier. Its often
someone testing range or to see if their radio or repeater is working,
particularly
before net time. By law you must identify. If you need to test, key
the mic and say
your call and “testing” If you hear others doing this there is
no need to answer
unless the station asks for a response.
When do you need to identify your station? You need to Identify with
your station call
sign at the beginning and end of each conversation and at least once
every 30 minutes in
Canada. Please use the ITU phonetic alphabet if someone isn’t sure
what your call was.
Don’t just repeat its letters multiple times. Otherwise the use of
phonetics, generally
speaking is not necessary. If you are in a round table discussion you
may need to Id more
often, so others know you are there and to help facilitate a smoother
more efficient
discussion.
Signal Reports: You can ask for a signal report to find out how your
signal is into the
repeater, like “How am I making the repeater.“ the report should
be somewhere between
full quieting , A little noisy, you are picket fencing. Your signal
broken up and I
can’t make you out. Remember that you are talking through a
repeater and that the S
meter on the other stations radio means nothing as to how your signal
is getting to the
repeater. So using signal reports like “five nine” is not useful.
You can’t see the s
meter on the repeater so there is no way for you to know its readings.
Also if the
other party says you’re not making the repeater and can’t make you
out, try increasing
power or moving closer or to higher ground, or just id and end
transmission. Trying
over and over again without increasing power, making adjustments or
moving will just tie
up the repeater with broken signals that can’t be understood and can
be frustrating for
you and the other stations.
Emergency Calls: If you have an Emergency Call, then in plain English
when there is a
pause in transmission say “Emergency” and your call sign. The
other stations will let
your Emergency Call through. Be as precise as you can with the nature
of the Emergency,
its location, and be prepared to provide additional information as may
be required.
Please remember to keep a safe distance from the emergency so you
don't become a part of
it. Potential for an emergency call although rare is one more reason
to leave a few
seconds after the last transmission before you start talking
Using Jargon, Q-Signals, and Phonetics: Speak using plain English.
The Q-Signals were
developed for use solely on CW (Morse code). The use of phonetics,
generally speaking is
not necessary. Most signals are strong out of the repeater and can be
heard quite well.
If another station cannot quite hear your call sign they may ask for
you to say it
phonically, in which case use of the ITU (International
Telecommunication Union) phonetic
alphabet should be used. It can be quite confusing to hear a station
identifying using
“King One Denmark France Sweden”. Try “Kilo One Delta Foxtrot
Sierra”, and for the record
“K” is “Kilo” not “Kilowatt”.
Conclusion: There are many resources for repeater etiquette that can
be found. Repeater etiquette is
mostly common sense and courtesy towards others. Keep in mind that
Industry Canada
requires the Repeater Trustee and Control Operators to monitor the
repeaters to insure
Compliance with the rules. I hope that you find these guidelines
useful and that you fun
on the repeaters.
Peterborough Amateur Radio Club
www.ve3pbo.ca 2015
David Moes
VE3SD
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