eHam

eHam Forums => Repeaters => Topic started by: KM6XP on October 12, 2018, 09:44:00 AM

Title: Repeaters 101
Post by: KM6XP on October 12, 2018, 09:44:00 AM
So I am a new HAM, I just picked up a dual band FT70d,  I loaded a few repeaters and have just been listening.  So are these repeaters free to use? Do I need to pay dues?  I noticed the WinSystem network seems to be good with lots of coverage.  I did note they have a membership.

What about Fusion repeaters and other analog repeaters.

Thanks
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: KA4GFY on October 12, 2018, 02:01:40 PM
First off, welcome to ham radio.

There are some closed repeater systems.  Fortunately, they are far and few between.  The users of those systems will let you know its a closed system and you need to join the club in order to continue to use it.

Most other repeaters are open. but, it is considered very poor form, rude, etc, to use the system on a regular basis and not join the club that sponsors the repeater.  As for privately owned repeaters, offer the owner a cash contribution periodically or offer to help with the next maintenance project on the repeater.  Repeaters cost a lot of money to buy, operate, maintain and replace. 

Fusion, DSTAR, DMR and other linked repeaters not only have the issues above, but there is also a phone line that has to paid each month.  A commercial phone line isn't cheap.

Nobody like freeloaders.  Once you decide on a home repeater, join the club that sponsors it.

73,   
Rich, KA4GFY
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: KM6XP on October 12, 2018, 02:22:38 PM
Thank you very much for the information.
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: N8EKT on October 13, 2018, 07:12:20 AM
Since it is in fact illegal to charge for use of amateur repeaters, you are free to use any you can reach.
As with all non profits, amateur clubs are prohibited from
requiring compensation for services.
However, you may wish to donate your time or money to a local club in order to help with expenses if you have the means and it is always appreciated.


Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: W9IQ on October 13, 2018, 12:10:19 PM
Since it is in fact illegal to charge for use of amateur repeaters, you are free to use any you can reach.
As with all non profits, amateur clubs are prohibited from
requiring compensation for services.
However, you may wish to donate your time or money to a local club in order to help with expenses if you have the means and it is always appreciated.




Both of these assertions are false. The FCC has repeatedly held up the right for a repeater owner to dictate who can and cannot use an amateur radio repeater.

The notion that a non-profit must offer free services has no statutory or case law basis.

- Glenn W9IQ
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: KM6XP on October 14, 2018, 01:08:14 PM
Okay, confused a bit, but I will listen a bit more.  Been listening to WinSystem and Fusion. 

Sounds great, almost cheating compared to HF, lol.   The users seem to be wound up a bit too tight, lol, well at least last night. Lots of rules and plenty of folks to correct you.  Hopefully not the norm, I mean I agree with following the rules, but so folks just go out of their way to be the police.   

Will give it some more time, would like to have a repeater network for US or international communication.  Perhaps simplex would be easier.
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: ONAIR on October 15, 2018, 01:54:14 PM
Okay, confused a bit, but I will listen a bit more.  Been listening to WinSystem and Fusion. 

Sounds great, almost cheating compared to HF, lol.   The users seem to be wound up a bit too tight, lol, well at least last night. Lots of rules and plenty of folks to correct you.  Hopefully not the norm, I mean I agree with following the rules, but so folks just go out of their way to be the police.   

Will give it some more time, would like to have a repeater network for US or international communication.  Perhaps simplex would be easier.
  Have you tried EchoLink?  You can talk on repeaters worldwide!  www.EchoLink.org
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: KM6XP on October 15, 2018, 02:13:35 PM
No, I have not but I will check it out, thx!
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: KK6RPX on October 15, 2018, 07:50:03 PM
I would assume any repeater is open unless you are informed otherwise. Be polite, friendly and don't monopolize the repeater and most will welcome you. Stay away from religion and politics.

Another thing, if you come up on a repeater looking for a radio check or to say you are monitoring, give the frequency. If someone is not looking at their radio when you call, most likely it will go back to scan and they will have no idea what frequency you are calling on. We have a large recent crop of hams in my area who do that and it makes it tough to get back to them. Like most I have quite a few frequencies on my scan and am not about to try each to see if I can figure out where you are.

Have fun and hope to catch you on the air.
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: KD2E on November 06, 2018, 06:57:54 PM
Free to use, but the expectation is that if you are on there all the time....you will help pay for its' operation.
But heck.....if you're on there all the time, you probably want to join the repeater club and participate in events with the guys anyway!
Title: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: AD4U on November 10, 2018, 07:32:44 AM
I own 3 repeaters 53.210, 146,670, and 444.975. All three repeaters are GE Mastr retired commercial units. When you add the cost of the repeater, controller, duplexer, antenna, hardline, power supply, maintenance, and maybe tower rent, etc, the cost will exceed several thousand dollars for each repeater.

All of my repeaters are "open" to anyone and everyone. Once in a while someone slips a couple of dollars to help me keep them going. That is appreciated. However I would keep the repeaters on the air, even if no one "helped".

Enjoy HAM radio. It is a great hobby. Over the 50+ years I have been a HAM, I have made many friends, who have become "life long" best friends.

Dick AD4U
Title: Re: Repeaters 101
Post by: K4EMF on May 06, 2021, 03:54:39 PM
                                       Tones
444.8875    +5 MHz       CC0                    

146.6850    -0.6 MHz 167.9 / CSQ       

After a quick search I'm still trying to find what CC0 and CSO mean reference repeater tones.
Anyone?
 
Title: Re: Repeaters 101
Post by: W9IQ on May 06, 2021, 04:12:52 PM
CSQ generally means carrier squelch i.e. no tones needed.

CC0 means color code 0 i.e. a DMR repeater.

- Glenn W9IQ
Title: Re: Repeaters 101
Post by: K4EMF on May 06, 2021, 05:11:31 PM
CSQ generally means carrier squelch i.e. no tones needed.

CC0 means color code 0 i.e. a DMR repeater.

- Glenn W9IQ

Once again, thank you Glenn.
Title: Re: Repeaters 101
Post by: W9IQ on May 06, 2021, 05:17:27 PM
My pleasure. Enjoy the contacts.

- Glenn W9IQ
Title: Re: Repeaters 101
Post by: K0UA on May 06, 2021, 06:14:56 PM
Another set of acronym's you will see as reference to the old analog tones

CTCSS:  Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System.
PL: Private Line (Motorola)
Channel Guard  (General Electric)
Quiet Channel   (RCA)

All four terms mean exactly the same thing and are interoperable.

There is also a group of "digital" tone sequences, One Example is DPL Which is Motorola's old name for Digital Private Line.   These are NOT interoperable with the analog tone systems. But the voice is still analog and only the tone encoding is digital in this case.

  None of these are to be confused with the digital voice formats;  DMR, System Fusion, P25, D-Star etc.

If we haven't confused you yet, it is NOT for lack of trying.  :)
Title: Re: RE: Repeaters 101
Post by: K6CPO on May 07, 2021, 12:58:42 PM
Okay, confused a bit, but I will listen a bit more.  Been listening to WinSystem and Fusion. 

Sounds great, almost cheating compared to HF, lol.   The users seem to be wound up a bit too tight, lol, well at least last night. Lots of rules and plenty of folks to correct you.  Hopefully not the norm, I mean I agree with following the rules, but so folks just go out of their way to be the police.   

Will give it some more time, would like to have a repeater network for US or international communication.  Perhaps simplex would be easier.

The WIN System has a reputation for having a low tolerance for those with poor signals or poor operating habits (usually new people unaware of convention and rules.)  I have heard the system owner/founder verbally berate new hams on the air for having bad signals instead of trying to help them out.  The owner is also know for arbitrarily sending out bill for membership to those who spend some time on the system

My recommendation is to avoid the WIN System and find other repeaters to use.  If you are in Southern California, there are more than enough to go around.
Title: Re: Repeaters 101
Post by: K6JH on July 29, 2022, 06:22:39 PM
In the Southern California area most repeaters are coordinated by SCRRBA. Check their lists.

 http://scrrba.org/BandPlans/OpenRepeaters.html (http://scrrba.org/BandPlans/OpenRepeaters.html)

Two meters is coordinated by Tasma. They have a similar list.
 https://www.tasma.org/repeaters/2m-repeaters/ (https://www.tasma.org/repeaters/2m-repeaters/)

Definitions:
Private - don’t try it, you’ll get scolded off. ;)
Closed - gotta be a member.
Open - available to all hams.