Operating Practices
It is a good idea when you are new to the repeater to listen and become familiar with its operation before using the system.
If you wish to initiate a contact on the repeater, simply use your call sign, then indicate that you are monitoring. If a station is listening and wishes to QSO they will respond.
The primary purpose of the MRA repeater systems is to provide emergency and public service communications to the community. If there is an emergency net utilizing the repeater, please refrain from conversation unless you are involved in the net or have emergency traffic.
Identify legally. Remember the FCC requires that we ID at the end of a transmission or series of transmissions within 10 minutes. Also remember to ID at least once every 10 minutes during a QSO.
Be sure to leave pauses between transmissions to allow possible emergency traffic to break-in. Also keep in mind that the repeater timeout timer is set for 2 minutes. Long transmissions will indeed timeout the repeater. (Timeout timer resets upon release of your transmission).
CTCSS/PL requires up to one second to decode. If you key your mic and talk too soon, you will cut off the initial portion of your transmission. It is recommended you pause one second before speaking.
If you wish to break in on a QSO in progress, simply use your call sign. If you have emergency traffic, use the words "break break".
Be courteous. While in a round table conversation, give equal airtime to others.
Unless when used for emergency communications and exercises, cross-band operations on MRA repeaters is discouraged. However, if required, it is highly recommended that a CTCSS/PL tone be utilized on your uplink receiver. This prevents intermod/interference from keying your transmitter and tying up the repeater system. Never leave a radio in cross-band mode when left unattended!
The KØMSP station licensee is legally responsible for the content aired on the KØMSP repeaters. Keep in mind that the licensee has the right to refuse anyone access to the system for any reason.
