[bars] Kerchunking repeaters

[Terry M. Stader - KA8SCP]

Recently a repeater user was having an issue trying to identify issues he was having hearing or being heard on a repeater. He stated, he hoped no one was upset about him kerchunking. I did explain to him that it was against the rules to not identify with his callsign no matter the length of a transmission or it’s purpose. It is often a question that shows up in the test pool questions as a matter of fact. 

This particular user was working with an FM analog repeater, the 146.955 repeater to be specific. 

So what about the repeaters using the digital modes? A question often heard “Isn’t my call sign being sent digitally?” With D-STAR and Fusion, a valid callsign is programmed in to the radio. In the DMR world, no call sign is transmitted, only an assigned numeric index. Each DMR user needs to obtain their own unique number. To see the CALLSIGN, the user would need to create a contact list that will convert the number to a callsign that will be displayed on their radio. 

Regardless the voice mode, digital or not, you are required to state your callsign by voice, following the every 10 minute rule or at the end of a transmission. A kerchunk, more than likely, is both the beginning and the end of a transmission, so technically, you are in violation of the rules if you do not ID.

The simple solution is, don’t kerchunk. If you are truly curious as to whether you can be heard by the repeater, place a general call out with your call sign. If you want to know if you can be heard and can hear others, state you are “testing”. Maybe you’ll have a great QSO?

Need to do an SWR and power check… use simplex, don’t try using a repeater…. and don’t forget to ID.

Want a reference to the rules in this matter? https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/97.119 or https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2014-title47-vol5/pdf/CFR-2014-title47-vol5-sec97-119.pdf

Fortunately, I haven’t seen this as a widespread problem on 146.955. Kerchunking DOES occur just prior the start of the “nets”. 

Because of the nature of many of the digital repeaters being connected to a collection of repeaters, the issue is compounded but still not a huge problem.

Every user of any of our repeaters should at least once, read the “The WB1GOF Repeaters Rules of Conduct“ as found at this link:
http://wb1gof.org/F_repeater/Rules/rroc.html

Hopefully, the owners/trustees of other repeaters you may use have their rules posted, not all do. Another good source of repeater operation can be found at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9804093.pdf

I hope this information is useful to some of our users. Questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.

Terry

Terry M Stader KA8SCP
WB1GOF Repeaters
http://www.wb1gof.org/repeaters/
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