W3BXW

Operating Guidelines

Please read, and pass it on...

Good amateur radio operating practices are encouraged. Unlike a single-site repeater, on this networked system your voice is heard in four or more states on the USA Eastern seaboard. Please think before you press the microphone button.

Whenever you access the BEARS system please remember to pause a moment between transmissions to allow others throughout the wide coverage area to join your QSO or to pass Emergency Traffic.

Do not use 11 meter lingo when talking on the system. Speak normally.

Some operating examples:

  1. Don't say, "The personal here is... " (use your name).
  2. Don't say, "Thanks for the comeback" (use "thanks for the call/answer").
  3. Don't say, "I've destinated" (use "I've arrived").
  4. Don't say, "I'm on the side" (use "I'll be listening").
  5. Don't repeatedly say "I hear that" or ""roger that" or "QSL" in response to every transmission/comment.
  6. Don't say your, or the other person's, call sign every transmission (only your call is required once every 10 minutes).
  7. Don't just kerchunk the repeater without saying your call (at least on the second kerchunk).
  8. Don't shout into your microphone.
  9. Key the microphone for at least one second before talking to give the link transmitters time to activate.
  10. Don't give one-word answers or comments.
  11. Don't say "listening" 10 times in 30 seconds.
  12. Don't break in on an ongoing conversation unless you know who all is in it, and you have something meaningful to contribute.
  13. When in a QSO with more than two people involved, if you don't have something meaningful to contribute, rather than mumble and pause and scratch your head while trying to think of something to say, simply pass it on to the next person.
  14. When in a QSO with more than two people involved, turn it over to someone by name ("go ahead Jim").
  15. When you sign clear, turn it over to someone by name or call (don't just sign clear because no one knows who should pick up).
  16. Use a mike hanger in your vehicle to avoid sitting on the microphone and inadvertently keying up the system with people all over listening to your conversation, and if your radio has a time-out timer please program it, 60 to 90 seconds is the norm.
  17. No audible signaling is required or permitted on the BEARS network, this includes DTMF ID signaling, Motorola MDC signaling and the ancient MODAT signaling. These devices merely add more "unwanted noise and sounds" to a system that is monitored by many amateurs on a daily basis, and is not required nor necessary to access the system. They serve no useful purpose, and as such are prohibited on any of the BEARS repeaters.
  18. It is not permissible to use your dual band radio to "cross patch" any of the BEARS repeaters to any other frequency. The system trustee, control operators and the users have no idea where they are being re-transmitted, and have no way of knowing if the re-transmission is interfering with any other users. Also since the system trustee has "no control" over the linking method (such as shutting the link down), they no longer have "control" of the system. In plain simple language "don't cross patch".
  19. "Q" signals were meant for CW transmissions, not voice. If you can't carry on a conversation without every other word being "QSL" then move your conversation to another repeater or simplex frequency. This isn't 11 meters, you won't impress anyone with your knowledge of a few "Q" signals. If you can't abide, then "QSY" !!

Use low power when operating on 444.200 and 147.300 MHz to get best performance out of the voting network .

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Last Revised 2007-11-15.

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