Rules for using ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN repeaters?

[Evgeni]

What are the rules for using repeaters for those services?

Can they be use for regular ragchew when there isn't an emergency?

 

[mmckenna]

Depends on who owns the repeater. Repeaters, even ARES, RACES and Skywarn, are all run by individuals or amateur radio clubs. They own the repeater, they control what can/cannot be done on them.

 

[mikey60]

In most cases, those repeaters are open to normal use when there are no nets in progress. Obviously if something comes up while you are using those repeaters, you may be asked to cut your conversations short or move to a different frequency so that a net can be started.

It's rare that a repeater that's used for AREA, RACES or Skywarn is a closed repeater at other times, but it does happen in some cases.

Mike

 

[KA9QPN]

RACES is its own creature. By definition, RACES is 'owned' by an Emergency Management Agency. The Part 97 rules are very restrictive on that subject and you should only hear bona-fide RACES only traffic during drills not to exceed the time limit specified in the Rules, or an actual declared emergency. See FCC RACES Rules. As far as ARES and SKYWARN is concerned, I haven't heard a machine strictly dedicated to either use, at least not in N IL. As the Earlier poster noted: it's usually an 'at need' thing.

 

[N4DES]

What are the rules for using repeaters for those services?

Can they be use for regular ragchew when there isn't an emergency?

Utilization of a repeater is ultimately under the responsibility of the trustee (a single amateur radio licensee) who has the ability to say what or what not occurs on the repeater at a specific time, but there are no specific FCC rules in Part 97 that dictate the use of a repeater. Now trustee might be a member of a club and the club might set in place specific rules of operation to include closing a repeater to non-members, but the trustee is only responsible for making sure the repeater operates within the guidelines of Part 97.

As noted above, there are some specific rules for RACES, and those might be put into place during an activation but not for day-to-day operations.