Print

[KK7KGG]

Hey everyone, I'm a new Ham so sorry for the noob question but, I'm curious. There's a 10 meter FM repeater I like to listen to but as a Tech license holder, I don't have FM privileges on 10 meters. However, I can access the repeater through Echolink. So my question is, am I allowed to use the repeater through echolink since I myself, wouldn't technically be transmitting on FM? And what about if I accessed it through a linked 2 Meter repeater? Thanks

[W2UIS]

Yes.

[K4GTE]

You can listen to anything. Transmitting on any frequency which you do not have privileges for , by any method, is a violation.

[W9IQ]

Yikes! Hit the books, guys.

10 Meter Repeaters

From the current General Class question pool:

Q: When may a 10-meter repeater retransmit the 2-meter signal from a station that has a Technician class control operator?
     A: Only if the 10-meter repeater control operator holds at least a General class license

If the technician is transmitting on a frequency authorized for Technicians, even if the repeater output is on a frequency not authorized for technicians, the technician may use the repeater. The control operator of such a repeater must be a General class licensee or higher in the case of a 10 meter output otherwise the repeater is not legal in the first place.

EchoLink

The station that is hosting the EchoLink connection is generally considered the control operator of that station. The person connecting via EchoLink may use that station up to the privileges of the control operator by using the station call sign of the control operator. EchoLink is generally configured to automatically transmit the call sign of the control operator at the required interval when it is active. Thus a Technician class licensee may use the EchoLink connected station of a General class or higher control operator that is transmitting on 10 meters. The control operator must be at a local or remote control point.

- Glenn W9IQ

[W2UIS]

When I posted yes I was saying it was ok to operate as you stated, not that it was a violation.

[K4CQO]

This discussion's "yes it is OK" seems too simple.

For the Echo Link to repeater, while the control operator owns the connection to the repeater, I doubt that he/she is actually at the repeater. Also, if you are using it and use your callsign, that would seem to be a violation -- but OK to use the repeater's call sign which it needed every 10 minutes of operating time.

When I read this, I initially thought the statements would allow a person accessing a remote station and use any frequency allowed by the remote station. I think that remote operators do have controls that limit access based on license class, but the discussion seemed to make this operation muddy.

[K4GTE]

FCC Part 97 does not distinguish between radio-radio or radio-internet-radio transmissions.

[KK2DOG]

That's exactly how I used to "cheat" when I was a Tech. 

[KD9PQB]

Not trying to be a smart adz but the general test is easy.  All of the questions and answers are online and this site has a great practice test feature.  I studied and drilled on practice tests for less than a month and I aced it.  Then you won't have to worry about work-arounds.

[KK7KGG]

Not trying to be a smart adz but the general test is easy.  All of the questions and answers are online and this site has a great practice test feature.  I studied and drilled on practice tests for less than a month and I aced it.  Then you won't have to worry about work-arounds.

Yeah I know, the repeater is hundreds of miles away, and I probably couldn't reach it with my current setup anyway. I am planning on going for my General as soon as I'm able though. My question was more out of curiosity than anything else. I've been listening to the repeater since way before I became licensed but I'd never thought about talking on it until the other day when I heard the owner mention that it was an echolink repeater. It made me wonder. So I looked up the info and found that it was also linked to a few 2 meter repeaters. I probably couldn't hit those repeaters either, but like I said, I'm more curious about the rules than anything else. Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond and help a newbie become more informed.

[AA7IS]

They're (VE's) literally handing out Extra tickets like candy no excuses not to jump on the easy train while it's still running full speed.