How
do you make a call on an Amateur Repeater?
First,
LISTEN AND LISTEN SOME MORE...... to make sure that the repeater is
not already in use. When you are satisfied that the repeater is not
in use, set
your transmitter power to the minimum and increase only as needed to
make contact with the repeater,
begin with the callsign of the station you are trying to contact
followed by your callsign. e.g. " N4??? this is N3???".
(The N3??? is your callsign). If you don't establish contact with the
station you are looking for, wait a minute or two and repeat your
call.
If
you are just announcing your presence on the repeater it is helpful
to others that may be listening if you identify the repeater you are
using AND your callsign. e.g. " This is N3??? listening on the
84 machine or you could also say This is N3??? listening on 146.84
Dallas or the location of the repeater if known. This allows
people that are listening on radios that scan several repeaters to
identify which repeater you are using.
If
the repeater you are using is a busy repeater you may consider moving
to a simplex frequency (transmit and receive on the same
frequency..... see more below), once you have made contact with the
station you were calling. Repeaters are designed to enhance
communications between stations that normally wouldn't be able to
communicate because of terrain or power limitations.
If
you can maintain your conversation without using the repeater, going
"simplex" (both stations on same frequency in a different
part of the band) will leave the repeater free for other stations to
use that can't establish simplex communications!
Repeater
Etiquette
and
Reporting
Emergencies
The
first and most important rule before using a repeater is to LISTEN
FIRST. Nothing is more annoying than someone that "keys up"
or DOUBLES in the middle of another conversation without first
checking to make sure the repeater is free. If the repeater is in
use, wait for a pause in the conversation (watch your S meter and
wait for it to drop indicating the repeater is listening) and simply
say "Emergency, Emergency, Emergency", and wait for one of
the other stations to acknowledge your call. If for some reason you
are not heard, then repeat the 3 "Emergencies" again...then
if you are still not heard, try another nearby repeater.
This
is not CB radio!
Don't
use CB lingo on any ham band such as 10-4, what's your 20,
etc.....don't say BREAKER!
Using
the words BREAK, or BREAK, BREAK or BREAK, BREAK,
BREAK or any combination of them on Ham radio can be
misunderstood by an operator depending on his experience.
The
word "break" or combinations of it carries many
different meanings in the ham community and in the English language.
According
to THE EMERGENCY COORDINATOR'S MANUAL Edited by Steven Ewald, WV1X
and
Published
by The American Radio Relay League, Inc.,
Quote
from the "General Procedures
section....http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%2520Service/ECMANUAL.PDF
"16) The word "break" is never used UNLESS there is an emergency."
Then further down in the manual, it appears to contradict or discourage the use of the word/s BREAK in the above statement:
"Note:
The practice of using "BREAK" or "BREAK BREAK" to
announce distress traffic should
be strongly discouraged;
it
has no universally understood meaning.
So
rather than have confusion...use plain language!
SO
HOW DO YOU REPORT or ACT ON AN EMERGENCY ON A HAM
BAND?
Many
hams use the wording, "BREAK, BREAK, BREAK", (the word
"break" repeated 3 times in a row). This is accepted
practice on the hf bands where noise may be a problem but on
repeaters, usually noise is not a problem, so using "plain"
language such as "EMERGENCY", REPEATED 2 OR MORE TIMES can
be used to announce that there is an emergency and the frequency is
needed to relay vital information....if you hear an "Emergency"
call during your conversation with another station....stop
transmitting,
listen....and then acknowledge the station calling the
emergency and let them have the frequency immediately!
Don't delay them
by saying something on the order of "Stand by breaker" and
then carry on your conversation with your contact. Seconds
wasted doing this may COST a life! Listen
to them carefully and write down the details of their emergency.
They will give you the details of the emergency. Then pause for a
moment and wait before you go back to him.......many other hams who
heard the emergency call may be responding ALL at the same
time.
If
someone "beats" you to getting back to him, let him take
over. Do not break into the conversations UNLESS there is a need
for a relay. Under certain situations due to distances involved with
mobiles and repeaters, you may be able to hear a mobile BETTER than
the repeater on the input frequency of the repeater. It is a good
idea to monitor the input if possible if the station reporting the
emergency is having trouble getting into the repeater. You may be
closer to him than the repeater and can hear him better!
Whether
or not the station reporting the emergency is a base station OR
mobile, try to monitor the input of the repeater if there is
difficulty in the emergency transmission.
IF
YOU ARE REPORTING AN EMERGENCY:
When
using VOICE, use the international standard "MAYDAY"
or universally
understood
"EMERGENCY" to announce traffic of life-or-death
importance.
The
procedure should be:
1.Select
the repeater frequency.
2.
Wait for a space between transmissions if the repeater is busy.
3.
Key your mic and state..."Emergency, Emergency, Emergency"
unkey.
4.
Wait for a response from the repeater users. If you get no response,
try another repeater.
When
you do make contact, state your call sign and give as many details as
to the emergency as possible. Don't
panic, speak slowly
and clearly
so
the details will be understood the first time! Always give
details as exact and specific. Give the details of the exact LOCATION
of the emergency using enough description of the location so it can
be found easily by first responders. Don't say....on highway 60 and
leave it at that. The emergency vehicles need exact locations if at
all possible. Remember, seconds or minutes saved equal lives in many
cases!
Give
number of "victims" if possible. Is there is fire involved,
downed power lines, immediate road blockage due to wreckage creating
further dangers? DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS.
The
person on the other end of your transmission is most likely copying
the info to paper so he can relay it to the appropriate authorities.
Help him hel