This guide is intended to provide an overview of the repeater
facilities of the Anne Arundel Radio Club (AARC)
and proper operating procedures. These facilities exist for the
advancement of amateur radio and service to the public during times
of need. The wide area of coverage provided by the AARC
facilities allow local amateurs an unsurpassed ability to communicate
with fellow amateurs.
Proper Operating Practices is a very
important section that outlines acceptable and unacceptable
procedures when using AARC facilities. Please be sure to
review the information on PEAK and OFF-PEAK usage.
The repeaters are monitored by control operators who are instructed
to shut down a repeater or any of its functions if the system is
operating, or being operated, improperly. Problems with any AARC
facility must be reported as soon as possible to the Repeater
Operations Coordinator or a club officer. Remember that volunteers
maintain our repeaters, so please do not expect immediate action on
every problem, every time.
Also remember that these facilities are for the use and enjoyment of
many people with a multitude of backgrounds, interests, or ideas.
The AARC operates and maintains five repeater systems in Anne
Arundel County. In addition, a 70 cm. repeater, located near
Annapolis, is run jointly with The Maryland Mobileers. Emergency
power is available to all repeaters. All repeaters are open, yet
special functions are usable by FULL club members only. Never discuss
access codes or the control operation of the repeaters on the air, or
with any non-member. Details on repeater frequency and offsets may be
found on the AARC Home Page.
The microprocessor in the repeater controllers utilizes delay lines
and audio processing to eliminate (mute) the transmission of received
squelch tails and DTMF tones. This provides access code security. The beep...beep...beep
is the cover tone.
From time to time it is necessary to activate Continuous
Tone-Controlled Squelch System (CTCSS) access (frequently referred to
as PL, Motorola's trademark term for subaudible tones, that stands
for Private Line) on the repeaters due to interference from other
stations. The CTCSS frequency is 107.2 Hz. If you have CTCSS
capability on your radio, it is suggested that you set it up and
leave it on. When CTCSS is on, a tail message to the repeater ID will
announce "PL 107.2" about every 10 minutes. The
courtesy tone will also be different than what is normally heard. The
repeaters transmit a courtesy tone 650 milliseconds after the
signal at the receiver has terminated, and reset the repeater timeout
timer. The transmitter stays keyed for about another four seconds
(called the hang time), and the tone indicates that another station
may transmit.
Club members are encouraged to welcome and assist transient amateurs
in using the repeater systems. Club repeaters are coordinated with
The Middle Atlantic FM and Repeater Council (T-MARC), and are
registered with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and
the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
The AARC allows public service organizations use of our
repeaters upon request.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has been
granted permission to use the 147.105 MHz repeater on the second
Tuesday of each month from September to May, from 1930 to 2030 local
time, for RACES communications exercises (as restricted by FCC
Part 97 rules). If Anne Arundel County RACES/ARES requires use
of the 147.105 repeater during this time (as determined by the
Emergency Coordinator (EC) or Radio Officer (RO) , MEMA
shall relinquish control of the repeater and use their alternate
plan. MEMA and Anne Arundel County ARES/RACES may use
the repeater at other times upon request and during emergency
situations, as determined by the ARES EC or RACES RO.
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All FCC regulations that apply to your station and the repeater must
be observed.
- Courtesy and proper operating practices are required.
- WAIT FOR THE COURTESY TONE after a transmission. Failure
to observe this practice can not only time-out the repeater, but
prevent others from entering the QSO or permitting a BREAK for
emergency traffic. - The hours between 6:30 AM to 8:00 AM (morning rush) and 4:30 PM
to 6:00 PM (evening rush) Monday through Friday (except holidays)
have been established as PEAK operating hours. QSOs between
two stations should be limited to ten minutes in length. A three
minute pause should then be allowed before continuing the QSO. If
three or more stations are active or a net control exists, the 10-3
courtesy is not applicable. The 10-3 courtesy is observed when
weather, unusual traffic, or other special conditions exist.
- Monitor the repeater for a short while (about 15 seconds) before
initiating a call, so as not to interfere with others using the
frequency. This also implies that if you and another station are
involved in a paused QSO and that pause lasts for more than 15
seconds, another station could initiate, make contact, and gain
access to the repeater. When coming on frequency for an Autopatch
when you haven't been monitoring for awhile, it is good practice to
identify and ask if the frequency is clear. - Learn the Autopatch procedures and practice them often. Practice
is best conducted during the wee hours, when usage and monitoring is
at a minimum.
- To protect the AARC station license trustee, control operators
have been appointed to observe the operation of the repeaters. They
have the obligation to disable any functions of a repeater being used improperly.
- PRIORITIES
- a. Emergency traffic has absolute priority over any other type
of communication. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT "BREAK"
OR "BREAK-BREAK" SHOULD BE USED. - b. Communications involving unusual weather or traffic information.
- c. Maintenance and administration of the repeaters.
- d. Nets.
- e. QSOs exchanging specific information such as directions, NTS
messages, etc.
- f. Autopatches. Note than an Autopatch does not supersede ANY
other communications unless it qualifies as an emergency.
- a. Emergency traffic has absolute priority over any other type
- Station identification is required at intervals not to exceed ten
(10) minutes. Note that you must only identify YOUR STATION,
NOT ANY OTHER STATION, unless you are handing off the QSO to that
station when multiple stations are participating. The practice of
calling out the other station's call sign and then giving yours is
considered redundant on repeaters. It is very important that you
hand off the QSO to another station unless only two stations are
interacting. Failure to do this creates confusion and doubled
transmissions which seriously degrade communications.
The officers of the AARC have placed very high priority on the
emergency preparedness of the facilities and member training.
Effective, efficient, timely communications during natural or
man-made disasters can SAVE LIVES. As previously mentioned above, the
AARC actively pursues formal association with the American
Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) and with the Anne Arundel Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) via the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
Simulated emergencies help train operators and test facilities for
the real thing. If you are not SPECIFICALLY trained in
emergency traffic work, please do not transmit during a real
emergency operation. To become involved with ARES/RACES
activities, please contact the club's ARES/RACES Coordinator
or the Anne Arundel County Emergency Coordinator (EC) / Radio
Officer (RO).
In order to enter a QSO in progress with non-priority traffic
transmit your CALL SIGN. This is sufficient to let others know you
are checking in and that you have non-priority traffic. Stations
checking in to a QSO should be acknowledged, and given a chance to
speak, as soon as possible. They may have traffic that, although not
of an emergency nature, is time sensitive. This could be trying to
catch a station before it secures, calling a station to coordinate
shifting to a clear frequency, or they might even have the answer to
the question of the moment!
If you have emergency traffic, BREAK-BREAK or BREAK
should be used to enter a QSO in progress. ALL stations must stand by
until completion of the emergency traffic, or unless specifically
called upon for assistance. Stations standing by should notify any
club officer if BREAK is used improperly. It is RESERVED FOR
EMERGENCY USE ONLY.
The club promotes good will and fulfills its charter by participating
in public service events such as fairs, 10K runs, bay swims,
Chesapeake Bay Appreciation Days, and assorted others. These events
are also great fun. You always get a good seat.
A net control operator runs a formal net during such events. Specific
instructions as to your location will be assigned by the net control
operator at the event. Bring sufficient battery power for longer
events as you are expected to remain on-station until released by the
net control. Since most events are worked using simplex
communications, higher power rigs are desirable. Public service
events are announced at club meetings, published in the club's
HAM
Arundel News, and posted on the club web page.
The AARC conducts several VHF nets using our repeaters on a
regular schedule as announced at club meetings, published in the
club's HAM Arundel News, and posted on the club
web page. These nets are conducted by an assigned net control
operator. Amateur radio operators holding an appropriate class
license are encouraged to participate. Check-ins are normally
requested in alphabetic groups categorized by call suffix. N2IBM
call suffix is IBM, placing it in the I group. WA3YLO
would likewise be in the Y group. Mobile stations are given
priority. Net control will ask for comments in call sign order after
the check-in procedure is completed. It is requested that you remain
on-station while checked into a net; however, the net control will
normally excuse you if specifically requested.
The purpose of these nets is to provide a means of passing traffic,
exchanging club information, and to provide net experience for new amateurs.
An Autopatch interconnection to commercial telephone lines is
available on several AARC repeater systems. This feature is
available to all club members enjoying FULL member status and holding
an appropriate class license (Technician or above).
Those without PL can still bring up the repeater with DTMF tones.
"441" will disable PL, allowing a call to be made. PL will
be re-enabled after 30 seconds, or you can do this manually by
entering "440."
Malfunctions
When a partial or full system failure is observed, note the time and
specific symptoms, and call any club officer, any control operator,
or the Repeater Operations Coordinator.
The current club officers and Repeater Operations Coordinator are
listed in the club's HAM Arundel News.
It is important to let someone know when problems are encountered.
Remember that the club has three independent repeater sites, so
switch to another repeater to report the problem. Every effort will
be made to correct the problem as soon as possible. PLEASE REMEMBER
THAT THE AARC IS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION.
Interference or Abuse
If malicious interference or abuse is encountered, it is important to
take note of all details of the incident. Listen on the repeater
input frequency to see if the interfering signal is close to you, and
record the time, date, location, and any possible identifying
characteristics of the interference.
One thing you don't want to do is provide the malicious individual
with the satisfaction of knowing that they have inconvenienced you.
Ignore the interference, shift to another frequency, or terminate
your QSO in an apparently normal manner. With no response from you,
an intruder will usually give up and go on to other mischief.
Then report the incident to any club officer as soon as possible.
It is hoped that you may never have to worry about this.
