We at the Arlington Amateur Radio Club seek to serve our community. We would like to keep our repeaters open to the entire amateur radio community to use. With this said, we still must comply with FCC rules and regulations. The following repeater etiquette has been established. Please follow or do not use our repeaters.
1. Always identify yourself according to the regulations. This means every ten (10) minutes and at the end of your transmission. This is not only AARC’s policy; it is also required by our license. It never hurts to give your station’s call sign more than less. It helps other users know you are there if they are listening.
2. Avoid lengthy conversations, pause between transmissions. This in no way means keep the repeater quiet. On the contrary AARC put the repeater on the air to be used and we are very happy when it is busy. It does, however, mean that we all should remember to leave pauses for those to have their say.
3. Always yield the frequency to a breaking station (any station with emergency traffic). The pro sign “break” has a very specific meaning on ham radio. So if you hear it, then give them the frequency. If you use it, remember the importance of its use. Ham radio has saved many lives and you never know when it may need to save yours.
4. Yield existing conversations to recognized activities: Weekly Nets, RACES, Siren Testing, etc.
5. Do not engage in political soap boxing or views on religious matters. These subjects are very personal to others listening and should be avoided. Do not engage in any personal antagonisms. Keep in mind that some conversations are best held in private. Hate speech or derogatory remarks directed at any person or group (political, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, etc.) are never allowed on ARRC repeaters. Please keep that stuff to yourself, nobody else wants to hear your personal rants over the airwaves. AARC is firm on this policy, you will be warned and if you continue you may be asked to leave the repeater.
6. Do not use CB lingo/language or phonetics excessively. This is FM, not like HF so we all can hear you loud and clear.
7. Selling items OTHER than ham related equipment is not allowed, nor is conducting any business. This is not only our policy but is also a prohibition against our license. As Amateur Radio operators, we are prohibited from gaining any pecuniary benefit from our operation of our amateur radio stations. When in doubt take it off the air.
8. Watch your language; the repeater is “G Rated” 24 hours a day. Sometimes slips happen. That being said there is a complete difference between an inadvertent slip and an intentional act.
9. If you hear stations jamming or interfering do not make any comment, ignore them. Do not antagonize those interfering! This is not going to make them stop; it also puts your license at risk as well.