WADG Repeater Policy & Usage Guidelines

The System
The WADG communications system currently consists of seven club operated repeaters, two remote bases and an IRLP link.

General Accepted Practices & Guidelines
All repeaters are open for all legal traffic. No one will be banned from the system, regardless of club affiliation or membership status.  Feel free to jump into conversations by saying your call sign, or the suffix in between other transmissions.

In the event of jamming or malicious interference, the system will be placed in a restrictive mode by a control operator and some or all auxiliary functions may be disabled.

Education, not intimidation is the recipe for good operating practices and procedures. Please listen to other amateurs, how they talk and listen to suggestions made by Control operators. Make sure you allow some dead air time between your transmission and the party you are talking to. This allows for other amateurs to break into conversations if needed.

Never give out system access codes over the air, if in doubt,  have the person wishing to obtain the codes contact a board member.

Use of Languages
Traffic through the repeaters in a foreign language is permitted, however identification must be in the English language. Exception is the Autopatch and the IRLP, English is the required language.

Commute Hour
During the morning and evening commuter rush hours, usually 7am to 9pm and 4pm to 6pm, please refrain from excessively long conversations and routine auto patches. Mobiles have first and primary access to the system during the commute times for priority or emergency traffic handling.

Follow FCC Rules and Regulations
Please identify every 10 minutes and after you finish your conversation.

Autopatch Use
Please monitor the frequency for at least 15 seconds, then identify with your call sign and intent to use the Autopatch prior to initiating a call. Upon completion of the call, please identify again to clear the system after receiving the hang-up acknowledgement.  REMEMBER: An Autopatch is third-party traffic and must be treated as such. If you experience a problem of any kind, or need assistance with the auto patch, call for a control operator.

Amateurs should always use other means of commercial communications if available before utilizing amateur radio communications. IE using the Autopatch when a call phone or landline is available.

Remember auto patches are treated like third party traffic, here are some highlights of what is permitted and not:

• No business calls, although it is permitted to call a business for personal reasons. Calling for a tow truck is ok but ordering a pizza is not. Checking of business voicemails are not permitted as this constitute a business use.
• When the party answers, please advise them that they are speaking over amateur radio. If placed on hold, music or other announcements are permitted.
• Be alert for profanity and please warn the offending party when profanity is used. Key the microphone to prevent unwanted dialogue from being aired.
• Please make sure the auto patch disconnects before leaving the frequency.
• All autopatch traffic must be in the English language.

The autopatch is open to all amateurs and may access the system from the assistance any of the board members, members or control operators.

IRLP Use
IRLP access will be available from 6am to 12:30am through the 147.300 repeater system. The IRLP is open to all amateurs and may obtain the codes to access the system from any of the board members.

When using the IRLP node, please pause 2 to 5 seconds after connecting to another node. During the conversations, pause and wait for other stations that might want to break in and talk. English is the required language. Please refrain from talking politics on the IRLP as other countries may be connected.