4. OPERATING STANDARDS

4.1 General Operating Conduct

Operators using the Warren County RACES Repeater System shall:

·       Listen before transmitting to ensure the repeater is not already in use

·       Maintain courteous and professional communications

·       Avoid abusive, disruptive, or intentionally provocative behavior

·       Use plain language and standard operating terminology whenever practical

·       Use standard phonetics when necessary for clarity

·       Pause briefly between transmissions to allow emergency traffic or additional stations to enter the conversation

·       Avoid monopolizing repeater usage

·       Assist new or visiting operators when appropriate

4.2 Proper Identification

All operators shall comply with FCC station identification requirements under 47 CFR §97.119.

Each amateur station shall transmit its assigned FCC call sign at the end of a communication and at least every ten minutes during a communication.

Unidentified transmissions or transmission using unauthorized call signs are prohibited.

4.3 Directed Nets and Emergency Operations

RACES operations, ARES activities, directed nets, emergency traffic, and public service communications shall take precedence over normal repeater use.

During directed nets:

·       Operators shall follow instructions provided by the Net Control Station (NCS)

·       Transmissions should remain brief and relevant to the purpose of the net

·       Operators should avoid interrupting ongoing net operations unless emergency traffic exists

·       Operators should identify properly and maintain professional communications discipline

4.4 Courtesy Tones and Repeater Access

Operators should allow repeater courtesy tones and reset intervals to complete before transmitting.

Brief pauses between transmissions are encouraged to allow emergency traffic or additional stations to enter the conversation.

4.5 Emergency Traffic

Emergency communications shall always receive immediate priority.

Operators with emergency traffic may interrupt normal operations by using recognized emergency break procedures.

5. PROHIBITED USES AND CONDUCT

The following activities are prohibited on the Warren County RACES Repeater System:

5.1 Internet and Remote Linking

Unauthorized remote linking or internet-based interconnection of the repeater system is prohibited.

This includes, but is not limited to:

·       AllStar

·       EchoLink

·       IRLP

·       Similar internet-connected repeater or node systems

Such connections may only be authorized by the Warren County Office of Emergency Services and the designated control operators.

5.2 Political or Religious Advocacy

Discussions or conduct reasonably likely to disrupt normal repeater operations, create unnecessary conflict, or interfere with the professional and service-oriented purpose of the repeater system are prohibited.

This includes, but is not limited to, political advocacy, partisan discussions, religious advocacy, personal disputes, or other intentionally divisive subject matter.

These restrictions are intended to preserve the repeater system as a professional, service-oriented communications resource accessible to all licensed operators.

5.3 Harassment or Disruptive Conduct

The following are prohibited:

·       Personal attacks

·       Harassment

·       Threatening conduct

·       Intentional interference

·       Repeated disruptive behavior

·       Profanity or abusive language

·       Deliberate violation of FCC regulations

5.4 Unauthorized Use of the Linking Repeater

The 443.450 MHz UHF linking repeater is a closed operational system used solely for RF linking of the Warren County RACES repeater infrastructure.

The linking repeater is not open for routine public amateur radio communications.