Repeater Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) For W4BWW/R QST
The repeater owner will have the final say on any repeater system operation and/or user access, as allowed by the FCC.
This Policy may be reviewed periodically and revised and changed upon owners will.
Users are responsible for reading, understanding, and adhering to this Policy.
Conduct on the repeater will be governed by this Policy. Questions may be sent to bobwwj555@gmail.com.
Amateur Radio Operators are required to be “self-policing”. Each user is expected to do this in their best ways:
- By ensuring that their own conduct of operations is above reproach
- Exhorting and challenging other operators to use their best practice on the air in a positive manor.
Please Review FCC Regulation Part 97 to fit your process for how you see fit (this is america land of the free).
Warnings will be in email format, and public forum manor to others I hold in regard as their job is to help hold my bias to help me remove it. (I think this is a method in the bible for conflict resolution)
We are a team of Radio friends! Their will be few warnings and then at some point unknown, the team will concur and W4BWW will turn it off, with help deciding by the consulting Hams and will be off the air waves. Their job is to make me honesty and help us all promote ethics and integrity. Teams make mistakes, but don’t let that fool you into doing anything in hate.
W4BWW Repeater Etiquette:
1. Always identify yourself according to the regulations. This means every ten (10) minutes and at the end of your transmission. This is an FCC requirement. It never hurts to give your station’s call sign more than less. It helps other users know you are there if they are listening. When checking into a net or making an initial call, it is helpful to use phonetics this is a courtesy.
2. Avoid lengthy conversations without pausing occasionally between transmissions. This in no way means keep the repeater quiet. On the contrary, the repeater is on the air to be used and owner is very happy when it is busy. It does, however, mean that we all should remember to leave pauses so others can get in if they need to use the repeater.
3. Always yield the frequency to a breaking station (any station with emergency traffic). The pro sign “break” has a very specific meaning on ham radio. So if you hear it, then give them the frequency. If you use it, remember the importance of its use. No screaming wolf if there isn’t one. Ham radio has saved many lives and you never know when it may need to save yours. Ignore if not used in emergency, some people don’t fit in and have to be unique.
4. Yield existing conversations to recognized activities: Weekly Nets, ARES, public service events, etc. if unsure ask. I am open to alot.
5. Do not engage in political soap boxing or views on religious matters. These subjects are very personal to others listening and should be avoided. Do not engage in any personal antagonisms. Keep in mind that some conversations are best held in private. Hate speech or derogatory remarks directed at any person or group (political, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, etc.) are never allowed on on the above repeaters. Please keep that stuff to yourself, nobody wants to hear your personal rants over the airwaves. Do not assume some one else is ranting.
6. Selling items OTHER than ham related equipment is not allowed, nor is conducting any business. This is not only our policy, it is prohibited by the FCC. As Amateur Radio operators, we are prohibited from gaining any pecuniary benefit from our operation of our amateur radio stations. When in doubt take it off the air. This includes using repeater to remind of simple work issues letting the other work guy know about what you forgot to bring. Letting everyone know your job state is ok I think. Beyond that becomes grey area, like promoting facebook pages or google that this. I am probably guilty here… just tell me Ill retract my self. We are human.
7. All of the owners repeaters are “G Rated” 24 hours a day. Watch your language. Sometimes slips happen. That being said there is a complete difference between an inadvertent slip and an intentional act. Avoid adult subjects. Many hams have children in the home and amateur radio is open to all ages. Blood, gore, wound details, and sex are to be very very limited and are very questionable discussions in public.
8. If you hear stations jamming or interfering do not make any comments, ignore them! Do not antagonize those interfering! This is not going to make them stop. Contact the owner, trustee, or control operators via email or telephone to inform them of what is happening with dates, time, and nature of interference. IF you hear 11m stations on the 10m find them educate them on why it this is what it is.
9. Please practice the golden rule, provided you understand it. It will help you in life.
Neat review called REPEATERISMS. Not fully rules today, but good guides to honor the older ones before us.
Do your research into good practice, I find their isn’t one standard but respect for the #9 above though I still don’t fully understand.
Another great read is on my checklist….
We can work together.
This being said:
The repeater is recorded 24-7, The truth will be harder to hide this way. I don’t even like having to think about this stuff but tis what it tis.
HAPPY “HAMMING“. haha
73,
W4BWW