Jerks hogging the repeater.

[902]

Well on my repeater, no one will be shunned, even the mean old people

902, that is a cool story about your echolink experience

My QSOs - "So I said to those darned kids, 'GET OFF MY LAWN!!!' and then I shook my fist. That did it!" :lol:

When you the man, Jon, you make the rules.

BTW, always good to see a fellow Bergen County guy on here!

 

[prc117f]

Yesterday afternoon while driving down the highway, I tuned into a local repeater located in Torrington CT. The entire time I was on the highway (roughly 15 minutes), these two Hams held the repeater hostage. From what I could tell, they had been chatting for some time prior to be tuning into that repeater. Their chat was rather boring but after about 5 minutes without either of them pausing, I became agitated. Not once did either of them open the repeater up to any one else.

Does anyone else have this problem?

I think it is fair to say that if you are going to have a 20 minute + chat about your Condo associations tyranny and rules about curtains, bird feeders and such, you should either switch to a simplex frequency or use your cell phone so that other Hams like myself and the other guy who couldn't get a word in edgewise until one of you had to take a break to go to the ATM, could utilize the repeater.

By the way, that other ham sounded like a newer operator, I am sure he doesn't appreciate having you spell out your callsign using gibberish instead of the phonetic alphabet. I'd post your callsign but I'd rather not call you out in an open forum. I wrote it down anyway.

So please, understand that there are many Ham radio operators out there besides you and your pal. Be courteous and have some respect for other Hams.

Vhf repeaters are the equivalent to telephones for some, you are better off using the HF bands if you want to do Amateur radio stuff.

 

[prc117f]

15 minutes is nothing. On the system here we talk for HOURS, all throughout the day and sometimes it goes well into the overnight hours. And we talk about tyranny and HOAs frequently. But it's pretty easy for someone to jump in to the QSO as we leave long gaps and make a point to say why we're leaving those gaps.

Leaving gaps that are long enough for the carrier to drop so people using crossband repeaters to get in are sort of a policy and also practices being a considerate ham.

That said, the systems are privately owned and leaving gaps and allowing others is merely a courtesy and by no means a requirement. Part of the reason we set up our own is precisely so we can use it as much as we want without one of the hall monitor types getting in there and telling us to take a break.

You know with the Internet you can set up free conference calls to set up a round table discussing the merits of HOA's for hours.

 

[prc117f]

I feel the same way, I dont even know why I got a ham radio and my license. By me its pretty much all a bunch of geriatric old farts who are about to stroke out talking to whos left of their buddies who havent died yet about there doctor appointments that theyre going to be going to all week. They dont want to talk to anyone other than their buddies. Its called USING A TELEPHONE if your not going to entertain talking to new people. They are such a bitter bunch of old hags.... Im 24 and I think the next youngest person on ham radio is 71 ..... seriously though, the next youngest person I talked to was 45. No wonder ham radio is dying, because everyone using it is a bitter old jerk who hates technology and the world.. All this chatter about "the new radios" and how everyone who got there license recently are like ...less human or something... the only time they stop yapping and complaining is when they change their diaper. i have had some really nasty people come back and be like... YOUR NOT BILLY !???? and then they just dont answer you . if your not going to talk to random people just use a phone... i had my license for two months and there have been 2 people who were pleasurable to talk to... oh i cant forget about everyone and their brother talking about old radios ....my old radio was the best... and the tubes and the this and the that...i am thinking about getting a mototrbo radio and trying digital. im thinking that may weed out about half of the death bed crowd because of the fancy computer gizmos that are involved with using it. then again i dont know if i want to waste any more money just to talk to a bunch of miserable old hags.

You need to get on HF. The VHF and repeater operators are just 2 way radio operators, if you want to do amateur radio stuff you need to go into HF.

 

[R8000]

The VHF and repeater operators are just 2 way radio operators.

..... wow. Quite offensive for folks who just are not interested in HF. Or perhaps folks who are just interested in SAT work. Way to go bud... *golf clap*.

 

[rapidcharger]

You know with the Internet you can set up free conference calls to set up a round table discussing the merits of HOA's for hours.

I don't actually have enough bandwidth at home to do that. Can barely stay online as it is sometimes and that also means I would have to be near a computer or some kind of device that was connected to the Internet and I am often on-the-go and use portable radios and mobile in-vehicle radios to stay connected where hauling around a computer would be impractical or even illegal in the case of driving so that is why I use ham radio instead of that solution.

 

[rapidcharger]

..... wow. Quite offensive for folks who just are not interested in HF. Or perhaps folks who are just interested in SAT work. Way to go bud... *golf clap*.

As someone with zero interest in HF and uses VHF and UHF exclusively, mostly UHF and now pretty much entirely digital, the comment wasn't offensive to me. It Might have been offensive if it was offered by someone who had the slightest clue as to what they are talking about, however that does not appear to be the case.

 

[prc117f]

I don't actually have enough bandwidth at home to do that. Can barely stay online as it is sometimes and that also means I would have to be near a computer or some kind of device that was connected to the Internet and I am often on-the-go and use portable radios and mobile in-vehicle radios to stay connected where hauling around a computer would be impractical or even illegal in the case of driving so that is why I use ham radio instead of that solution.

This is why I think the FCC should carve out a CB band in the 220mhz section. open up 2Mhz and allow repeater operations. No license required.

This way people can set up repeaters etc.. and not have to deal with getting a license for general chitchat operations etc..

pop up a couple of repeaters in the neighborhood and get some Woxuns on the air.

 

[rapidcharger]

This is why I think the FCC should carve out a CB band in the 220mhz section. open up 2Mhz and allow repeater operations. No license required.

This way people can set up repeaters etc.. and not have to deal with getting a license for general chitchat operations etc..

pop up a couple of repeaters in the neighborhood and get some Woxuns on the air.

Ummmyeah I think I'll stick with 440. I like that band.
And I prefer my industrial and public safety grade subscriber hardware over Wuxins.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm sure the FCC values your input.

 

[frazpo]

You need to get on HF. The VHF and repeater operators are just 2 way radio operators, if you want to do amateur radio stuff you need to go into HF.

I am not sure if I would get his hopes up there. The bilge can just travel further on HF.

 

[SCPD]

repeater

A little confused here.
What makes you think you have priority to use the repeater over them?

And do they have priority?If its open,it should be shared!

 

[SCPD]

220

This is why I think the FCC should carve out a CB band in the 220mhz section. open up 2Mhz and allow repeater operations. No license required.

This way people can set up repeaters etc.. and not have to deal with getting a license for general chitchat operations etc..

pop up a couple of repeaters in the neighborhood and get some Woxuns on the air.

Yeah lets wreck another ham band for CB.
Hey wait a minute! Why dont hey use CB for chit chat or a cellphone?

 

[SCPD]

You need to get on HF. The VHF and repeater operators are just 2 way radio operators, if you want to do amateur radio stuff you need to go into HF.

Yeah but UHF,VHF equipment is much cheaper.You think HF frequencies are not hogged?HA.Its just the attitude of the operators.
HF radio $1400 (ts2000)
ugly antenna $300
coax 50 feet $50
power supply $200+



VHF/UHF $32.00 amazon


Do the math.

 

[R8000]

This is why I think the FCC should carve out a CB band in the 220mhz section. open up 2Mhz and allow repeater operations. No license required.

This way people can set up repeaters etc.. and not have to deal with getting a license for general chitchat operations etc..

pop up a couple of repeaters in the neighborhood and get some Woxuns on the air.

Sooo...You are proposing the FCC allow the general public to be able to install unlicensed repeaters up that will ultimately have modified/china amplifiers, no filtering and other "modified" equipment and spew second, third harmonic/IM spurs all over the place ? Sounds like a great idea (sarcasm).

Electrical Harmonics Calculator

Not to mention second, third order IM issues.

Properly engineered radio systems will filter their transmitter outputs, as well as receivers. The public safety systems I maintain run 110 watt repeaters. After filtering/combining I am getting 60 watts to the feedline...if I am lucky. Some channels only do 40 watts to the feedline. We filter stuff to prevent interference from others and creating interference to my own systems. We also filter our stuff so we are friendly RF neighbors to system above and below our licensed channels. I have a prime VHF simulcast site that has a 1,000 Watt Weather transmitter co-located on the same tower.....zero interference. Why ? Filtering.

It's pretty common to drop $10,000 in TX/RX filtering for a properly engineered public safety repeater site handling a few channels. There is a lot that happens in the background you are not aware of with radio systems that follow good engineering practices.

There is a ton of math, physics, engineering and planning that happens when allocating spectrum that the FCC has to consider. Most of this stuff is beyond the abilities of us on RR to understand or never even heard of before. There is a reason ham bands are where they are at for planned interference and harmonics.

We all know if the FCC allowed unlicensed repeater operation, folks wouldn't follow the rules, hang dirty, nasty amps on the things and not care about RF purity just so they can get another 100 watts of RF output.

 

[zz0468]

This is why I think the FCC should carve out a CB band in the 220mhz section. open up 2Mhz and allow repeater operations. No license required.

This way people can set up repeaters etc.. and not have to deal with getting a license for general chitchat operations etc..

pop up a couple of repeaters in the neighborhood and get some Woxuns on the air.

What's with this fascination with unlicensed operations? There is spectrum available for several licensed services, and getting licensed is stupidly easy.

The unlicensed cb band is a useless cesspool. Why would the FCC make more?

 

[Project25_MASTR]

As someone with zero interest in HF and uses VHF and UHF exclusively, mostly UHF and now pretty much entirely digital, the comment wasn't offensive to me. It Might have been offensive if it was offered by someone who had the slightest clue as to what they are talking about, however that does not appear to be the case.

Well said. Just because I have the ability to operate HF doesn't mean I have any interest in it. I'm a repeater FM guy. Hex editing, tuning duplexers, engineering (quality) repeater systems. That's where the fun in it is for me.

 

[zz0468]

Vhf repeaters are the equivalent to telephones for some, you are better off using the HF bands if you want to do Amateur radio stuff.

You have a very limited world view of what ham radio is about.

 

[Token]

You need to get on HF. The VHF and repeater operators are just 2 way radio operators, if you want to do amateur radio stuff you need to go into HF.

That is quite the condescending tone there.

“VHF” is just for 2 way radio operators? Well, every ham (except those running beacons) are 2 way radio operators.

Want to do real cutting edge stuff in ham radio? Then VHF and UHF are your friend. Space communications? EME? New and interesting digital techniques? New modulation techniques? All are most typically done at VHF and UHF, at least first. Want to play around with new antenna designs, or to learn about how element spacing and variation in a Yagi impacts performance? It is almost always easier to work those up at VHF or UHF frequencies and then scale them to the bands of interest.

Don’t get me wrong, HF is fun. I spend far more time on HF than on VHF or UHF, but even so, HF is still just 2 way radio operation, the distances are just longer and the conditions more variable. You will find hams in hour long rag chews on HF just like on VHF and UHF.

And when you get right down to it, except for emergency communications, repeaters are basically there so people can indulge in relatively reliable and clean 2 way discussions. And what is wrong with that?

If a repeater is high traffic then of course you should take that into account. If you are going to take part in a long conversation break frequently and see if others want to use the repeater also. But if no one else wants to use the repeater, and simplex is not an option, then what is the problem with talking for an hour about your HOA limitations? Should it set there empty and unused instead?

T!

 

[prc117f]

What's with this fascination with unlicensed operations? There is spectrum available for several licensed services, and getting licensed is stupidly easy.

The unlicensed cb band is a useless cesspool. Why would the FCC make more?

Simple, All the Ticket holders (On paper) who really got the ticket for general chitchat on repeaters, would not have to bother. They would just buy 220mhz repeaters and 30 dollar woxuns and can discuss HOAs 24/7 with all their friends.

Not only that, the entire neighborhood could jump in since no pesky exam is needed.

Then those who really want to do HAM stuff, get the licenses, those who just want to chitchat, get the equipment and go for it.

Less clutter on the ham band for general chitchat cellphone like use.

Taxpayers play plenty, they have every right to a small sliver of bandwidth where they can set up a repeater and hand out a bunch of 30 dollar HTs in the neighborhood for chitchat use.

 

[prc117f]

That is quite the condescending tone there.

“VHF” is just for 2 way radio operators? Well, every ham (except those running beacons) are 2 way radio operators.

Want to do real cutting edge stuff in ham radio? Then VHF and UHF are your friend. Space communications? EME? New and interesting digital techniques? New modulation techniques? All are most typically done at VHF and UHF, at least first. Want to play around with new antenna designs, or to learn about how element spacing and variation in a Yagi impacts performance? It is almost always easier to work those up at VHF or UHF frequencies and then scale them to the bands of interest.

Don’t get me wrong, HF is fun. I spend far more time on HF than on VHF or UHF, but even so, HF is still just 2 way radio operation, the distances are just longer and the conditions more variable. You will find hams in hour long rag chews on HF just like on VHF and UHF.

And when you get right down to it, except for emergency communications, repeaters are basically there so people can indulge in relatively reliable and clean 2 way discussions. And what is wrong with that?

If a repeater is high traffic then of course you should take that into account. If you are going to take part in a long conversation break frequently and see if others want to use the repeater also. But if no one else wants to use the repeater, and simplex is not an option, then what is the problem with talking for an hour about your HOA limitations? Should it set there empty and unused instead?

T!

I am not including those folks, they are doing HAM stuff. But there is quite a bit of Chitchat operators on VHF/UHF that would be better served if the FCC created an unlicensed chitchat spectrum allowing repeaters (even linked via IP) for general public unlicensed use.