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    Washington Mailbox: VHF/UHF and Repeaters The Basics

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    Harold Pura
    The document discusses rules from the FCC's Part 97 that govern amateur radio repeaters. It addresses questions about where repeaters can operate, why they use separate transmit and receive frequencies, the definition of auxiliary stations, the use of crossband repeaters and autopatches, and remote control of stations. The key rules are that repeaters can only operate on VHF and shorter bands except for certain protected segments, auxiliary stations are needed to link systems, and control operators must oversee autopatches and remote operations.

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    Washington Mailbox: VHF/UHF and Repeaters The Basics

    Uploaded by

    Harold Pura
    21 views2 pages
    The document discusses rules from the FCC's Part 97 that govern amateur radio repeaters. It addresses questions about where repeaters can operate, why they use separate transmit and receive frequencies, the definition of auxiliary stations, the use of crossband repeaters and autopatches, and remote control of stations. The key rules are that repeaters can only operate on VHF and shorter bands except for certain protected segments, auxiliary stations are needed to link systems, and control operators must oversee autopatches and remote operations.

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    Washington Mailbox Prepared by John C. Hennessee, N1KB, Regulatory Information Specialist

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    9804093

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    The document discusses rules from the FCC's Part 97 that govern amateur radio repeaters. It addresses questions about where repeaters can operate, why they use separate transmit and receive frequencies, the definition of auxiliary stations, the use of crossband repeaters and autopatches, and remote control of stations. The key rules are that repeaters can only operate on VHF and shorter bands except for certain protected segments, auxiliary stations are needed to link systems, and control operators must oversee autopatches and remote operations.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    21 views2 pages

    Washington Mailbox: VHF/UHF and Repeaters The Basics

    Uploaded by

    Harold Pura
    The document discusses rules from the FCC's Part 97 that govern amateur radio repeaters. It addresses questions about where repeaters can operate, why they use separate transmit and receive frequencies, the definition of auxiliary stations, the use of crossband repeaters and autopatches, and remote control of stations. The key rules are that repeaters can only operate on VHF and shorter bands except for certain protected segments, auxiliary stations are needed to link systems, and control operators must oversee autopatches and remote operations.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Washington Mailbox

    Prepared by John C. Hennessee, N1KB, Regulatory Information Specialist

    VHF/UHF and Repeaters The Basics


    The most popular amateur band is 2 meters, and the fastest-growing license class is Technician. It isnt surprising that frequency
    coordinators, ARRL officials and ARRL Headquarter staff members, receive many questions concerning Part 97 rules and
    regulations as they govern repeaters, including auxiliary stations, crossband linking, autopatch operation and the recently
    implemented RF exposure rules.
    Everything amateurs need to know about applicable FCC rules can be found in Part 97, but the relevant "pieces" are scattered
    throughout Part 97. Its up to individual amateurs to apply the correct rules for particular systems.
    Of course, its difficult to understand the rules if you dont have them in front of you! The FCC Rule Book, published by the
    ARRL, includes almost 200 pages of interpretation material as well as a complete updated copy of Part 97. The most recent edition
    of The FCC Rule Book is the Tenth edition, third printing. It is available for $12. ARRL publications are available from your local
    ARRL dealer or directly from the ARRL. Mail orders to Publication Sales Department, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
    06111-1494. You can order toll-free at 888-277-5289; fax your order to 860-594-0303; or send e-mail to pubsales@arrl.org. Check
    out the full ARRL publications line on the World Wide Web at http://www.arrl.org/catalog.
    Q: How does the FCC define a "repeater"?
    A: A repeater is "An amateur station which simultaneously retransmits the transmission of another amateur station on a different
    channel or channels [97.3(a)(37)]." Part 97 does state that "Limiting the use of a repeater to only certain users is permissible
    [97.205(e)]." The frequencies used by repeaters belong to the public, but the actual repeater is private property. Sometimes, a
    repeater is closed to eliminate intermod problems from nearby amateur and/or nonamateur stations.
    Q: Where may repeaters operate?
    A: All frequencies used by repeaters, including secondary inputs, "may receive and retransmit only on the 10 m and shorter
    wavelength frequency bands except 28.0-29.5 MHz, 50.0-51.0 MHz, 144.0- 144.5 MHz, 145.5-146.0 MHz, 222.0-222.15 MHz,
    431.0-433.0 MHz and 435.0-438.0 MHz segments [97.205(b)]." Thats why you never hear repeaters (including secondary inputs) on
    the HF bands (with the exception of the 29.5-29.7 MHz segment). The VHF and UHF exceptions protect weak signal and satellite
    segments that are highly susceptible to interference.
    Q: Why do repeaters have different transmit and receive frequencies? Why cant they operate on one frequency?
    A: Actually, they can. The FCCs amateur repeater rules were written with older analog voice systems in mind. These systems
    require separate frequency channels for transmit and receive, for technical reasons: the repeaters transmitted signal prevents it
    from hearing other signals on the same frequency, and in fact it takes careful engineering for a repeater to hear signals on a
    different frequency in the same band. A newer digital technique known as TDMA permits the use of the same frequency for both
    transmit and receive more than 100 times per second. How the FCCs rules might apply to amateur TDMA systems has not really
    been tested, but the FCC generally encourages amateurs to try new techniques.
    Q: My dual-band H-T is capable of acting as a crossband repeater. Is this legal?
    A: Yes, but even though it is a low-power device, it must conform to all repeater rules. You must "plug in" the necessary Part 97 rule
    sections including sections on auxiliary operation [97.3(a) and 97.201], control [97.3(a), 97.103, 97.105, 97.109] and telecommand
    [97.213]. Identification requirements also apply and you must be sure not to cause harmful interference to coordinated repeaters.
    Any time a permanent repeater is planned, the area frequency coordinator should be consulted to make sure that it wont cause
    interference to existing repeaters. Your frequency coordinators name and address can be found in The ARRL Repeater Directory,
    or by contacting ARRL HQ.
    Q: Whats an auxiliary station?
    A: An auxiliary station is "An amateur station, other than in a message forwarding system, that is transmitting communications
    point-to-point within a system of coordinating amateur stations [97.3(a)(7)]." It is essentially a closed system. Auxiliary stations,
    which usually control repeaters, may only transmit above 222.15 MHz except in the 431-433 MHz and 435-438 MHz segments
    April QST: Washington Mailbox - April 1998 QST - Page 1
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    [97.201(b)]. All operators of the system must be authorized control operators who can implement all control commands. An average
    user wouldnt have access to these commands. For a detailed look at the many uses of auxiliary stations in linked systems, see
    QST Apr 1996, page 108.
    Q: Whats "telecommand"?
    A: FCC defines telecommand as "A one-way transmission to initiate, modify, or terminate functions of a device at a distance
    [97.3(a)(39)]." A repeater must have a radio or wireline link between the control point and the station so that the control operator can
    perform his or her duties. If radio is used, the control link must use an auxiliary station [97.213(a)]. Radio and telephone links can
    fail, so the FCC requires that transmissions be limited to three minutes in the event of a malfunction of the control link [97.213(b)].
    Thats why time-out timers are used on repeaters.
    Q: Can I use my H-T to remotely control my 2-meter home station, thereby extending the range of my H-T?
    A: Sure, but an auxiliary station must be used. Dont forget to identify all links.
    Q: Why cant I access the autopatch of my local repeater at night?
    A: Repeaters can be controlled automatically, however, FCC rules state that "No station may be automatically controlled while
    transmitting third-party communications. [97.109(e)]." An autopatch must be remotely (or locally) controlled and there must be a
    designated control operator present. Many repeater controllers have a "day mode" and a "night mode." When the "day mode" is
    activated, a designated repeater control operator is present. When the "night mode" is "up," a control operator is not always
    available. Remember that each amateur is the control operator of his or her own station, but not necessarily of the repeater station.

    April QST: Washington Mailbox - April 1998 QST - Page 2


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