Curated from ARRL – Now that you found your repeater and are ready to transmit, here’s what you should consider next.
YOUR FIRST TRANSMISSION
Making your first transmission on a repeater is as simple as signing your call. If the repeater is quiet, just say “N1GZO” or “N1GZO listening” — to attract someone’s attention. After you stop transmitting, you will usually hear the unmodulated repeater carrier for a second or two. This squelch tail lets you know that the repeater is working. Someone interested in talking to you will call you after your initial transmission. Some repeaters have specific rules for making yourself heard. In general, however, your call sign is all you need.
Don’t call CQ to initiate a conversation on a repeater. It takes longer to complete a CQ than to transmit your call sign. (In some areas, a solitary “CQ” is permissible.) Efficient communication is the goal. You are not on HF, trying to attract the attention of someone who is casually tuning across the band. In the FM mode, stations are either monitoring their favorite frequency or not. Except for scanner operation, there is not much tuning across the repeater bands.
To join a conversation in progress, transmit your call sign during a break between transmissions. The station that transmits next will usually acknowledge you. Don’t use the word “break” to join a conversation — unless you want to use the repeater to help in an emergency. To make a distress call over a repeater, say “break break” and then your call sign to alert all stations to stand by while you deal with the emergency.
A further word about emergencies: Regardless of the band, mode or your class of license, FCC Rules specify that, in case of emergency, the normal rules can be suspended. If you hear an emergency call for help, you should do whatever you can to establish contact with the station needing assistance, and immediately pass the information on to the proper authorities. If you are talking with another station and you hear an emergency call for help, stop your QSO immediately and take the emergency call.
To call another station when the repeater is not in use, just give both calls. For example, “N1II, this is N1BKE” If the repeater is in use, but the conversation sounds like it is about to end, wait before calling another station. If the conversation sounds like it is going to continue for a while, however, transmit only your call sign between their transmissions. After you are acknowledged, ask to make a quick call. Usually, the other stations will stand by. Make your call short. If your friend responds, try to meet on another repeater or on a simplex frequency. Otherwise, ask your friend to stand by until the present conversation ends.
Use plain language on a repeater. If you want to know someone’s location, say “Where are you?” If you want to know whether someone you’re talking with is using a mobile rig or a hand-held radio, just ask: “What kind of radio are you using?” You get the idea.
COURTESY COUNTS
If you are in the midst of a conversation and another station transmits his or her call sign between transmissions, the next station in line to transmit should acknowledge the new station and permit the new arrival to make a call or join the conversation. It is impolite not to acknowledge new stations, or to acknowledge them but not let them speak. The calling station may need to use the repeater immediately. He or she may have an emergency to handle, so let him or her make a transmission promptly.
A brief pause before you begin each transmission allows other stations to break in — there could be an emergency. Don’t key your microphone as soon as someone else releases theirs. If your exchanges are too quick, you can prevent other stations from getting in.
The courtesy tones found on some repeaters prompt users to leave a space between transmissions. The beeper sounds a second or two after each transmission to permit new stations to transmit their call signs in the intervening time. The conversation may continue only after the beeper sounds. If a station is too quick and begins transmitting before the beeper sounds, the repeater may indicate the violation, sometimes by shutting down!
Keep transmissions as short as possible, so more people can use the repeater. Again, long transmissions could prevent someone with an emergency from getting the chance to call for help through the repeater. All repeaters encourage short transmissions by “timing out” (shutting down for a few minutes) when someone gets longwinded. The time-out timer also prevents the repeater from transmitting continuously, due to distant signals or interference. Because it has such a wide coverage area, a continuously transmitting repeater could cause unnecessary interference. Continuous operation can also damage the repeater.
You must transmit your call sign at the end of a contact and at least every 10 minutes during the course of any communication. You do not have to transmit the call sign of the station to whom you are transmitting.
Never transmit without identifying. For example, keying your microphone to turn on the repeater without saying your station call sign is illegal. If you do not want to engage in conversation, but simply want to check if you are able to access a particular repeater, simply say “N1KB testing.”
FIXED STATIONS AND PRIME TIME
Repeaters were originally intended to enhance mobile communications. During commuter rush hours, mobile stations still have preference over fixed stations on some repeaters. During mobile prime time, fixed stations should generally yield to mobile stations. When you’re operating as a fixed station, don’t abandon the repeater completely, though. Monitor the mobiles: your assistance may be needed in an emergency. Use good judgment: Rush hours are not the time to test your radio extensively or to join a net that doesn’t deal with the weather, highway conditions or other subjects related to commuting. Third-party communications nets probably should not be conducted on a repeater during prime commuting hours.
To complete this BEACON PATH on Mastering VHF & UHF Operation, complete Parts 1, 2 and 3 (articles) and Part 4 (overall video).
