Operating Practices
The N7PIR Repeater Group manages a number of amateur repeaters in the Portland Metro area and beyond. The repeater system is privately owned by Garrett Lang AF7RF. This set of guidelines and practices have been established for use of the system. They are not intended to unreasonably restrict users, but rather to help ensure a pleasant operating environment for everyone. When using the N7PIR repeater system all users are expected to follow these practices. Failure to adhere to these guidelines could cause you to be asked to cease operation on this system.
- It’s a hobby! Have fun, use common sense, be polite and follow FCC rules including properly identifying at required interval
- The priorities for use of the system are:
- Emergency traffic has the highest priority for use of the system.
- Priority traffic
- Scheduled or other sanctioned Nets or Public Service events
- Routine local communications
- IRLP or Echolink
- The N7PIR Repeater System consists of multiple repeaters, most are high-level and the system has a large coverage footprint. Many of the repeaters are linked making it one big system. Please keep in mind your QSO will be heard over a wide area. Please do not monopolize the repeater system. Be conscious that others may want to use the system too and most will not interrupt an active conversation. Feel free to converse, but avoid lengthy “rag chews”. This is especially important during morning and afternoon commuting hours.
- If a user is behaving badly (e.g., jamming, foul or inappropriate language, etc.) follow these procedures.
- Please do not acknowledge transmissions from unlicensed stations or stations causing the interference.
- Do not discuss the repeater interference on the air. If you are being interfered with simply sign-off and leave the repeater without discussion or comment. Acknowledging the behavior encourages the jammer to continue.
- Email Control Operators with information that may help positively identify the responsible person. You can help by providing factual evidence. Use the website contact form.
- Be aware that Control Operators may be working the problem behind the scenes and taking action that you are not aware of. Please be patient as the process takes time. Help us and don’t exacerbate the problem.by antagonizing or threatening the responsible person on the air. Don’t retaliate by imitating their behavior.
- When using this system or any repeater it is important to communicate in a reasonably professional manner. The N7PIR System has been used in support of Search and Rescue and other public safety activities and is often monitored by public safety personnel. Avoid “CB-like” lingo such as 10-codes and slang such as “I’m gone” instead of clear.
- If your QSO can be conducted using simplex it is courteous to leave the repeater and switch to a simplex frequency.
- Pause briefly between transmissions. You don’t have to wait for the repeater to drop, but a short pause after the courtesy tone will let another station interject their call to join your conversation.
- Don’t interrupt an established conversation unless you have something of value to add.
- Use the word “break” only for urgent or emergency traffic, not routinely. If an operator uses the term “break” assume that they have urgent or priority traffic and relinquish the use of the system to them at once.
- Conversations should be limited to appropriate topics for amateur radio and be “G” rated. If you wouldn’t want your six-year old child to hear it, don’t say it.
- .Phonetics are not generally required on FM repeaters except in rare cases when repeating your call or other clarification is necessary.
- It is generally frowned upon to “Ker-chunk” any repeater. That means keying up your radio for just a moment so that the repeater transmits and you hear the “courtesy beep” afterwards. This is annoying to other users including the repeater owners and control operators and is actually a violation of FCC rules.
- If you don’t know how to do something ask for a Control-Operator or e-mail us.
- Please do not guess or use access codes or short-cuts from other repeaters on the N7PIR Repeater System. Be wary of well-meaning operators giving advice about the system. Often they are wrong. Instead, consult a Control Operator.
- Operating repeaters is not an inexpensive endeavor in terms of money and time. It is through your support and donations that we are able to maintain high quality repeaters. The N7PIR system operates thanks to users who contribute funds to help maintain the system and sites. Donations are very much appreciated. If you would like to donate please email Garrett (AF7RF) via our general contact web form and he’ll be glad to provide the necessary information. Thanks for your continued support of the system!
- Links for outside sites worth looking at:
http://www.qsl.net/riafmrs/Repeater_Etiquette.html
http://www.hamuniverse.com/repeater.html
https://www.seas.upenn.edu/~uparc/documents/RepeaterSystem_Etiquette.pdf