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faq [2017/05/12 18:08]
kd6kpc [Is there a fee to register?]
faq [2019/12/14 10:49]
KD6KPC [Do you list GMRS repeaters?]
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 ==== Do I have to use a call sign to register? ==== ==== Do I have to use a call sign to register? ====
-Yes. This is an amateur radio web site and all regular users must have call sign. +Yes. This is an amateur radio web site and all regular users must have an FCC issued Part 97 call sign. 
  
 This is an open community. We use our call signs whenever we transmit on the air. Anyone can look us up and see who we are. Often, the radio operators who seek anonymity are jammers and trouble-makers, who are not welcome here. This is an open community. We use our call signs whenever we transmit on the air. Anyone can look us up and see who we are. Often, the radio operators who seek anonymity are jammers and trouble-makers, who are not welcome here.
  
-There are those that are very interested in amateur radiobut do not yet have a call sign. You are absolutely welcome here. What you are primarily missing are features that really only work if you are licensed and have a radio to use.+There are those that are very interested in amateur radio but do not yet have a call sign. You are absolutely welcome here. What you are primarily missing are features that really only work if you are licensed and have a radio to use.
  
 The administrator reserves the right to reject or cancel memberships to this site at any time, with or without cause or notice. The administrator reserves the right to reject or cancel memberships to this site at any time, with or without cause or notice.
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 ==== As the owner or trustee of a repeater, why should I share my information with you? ==== ==== As the owner or trustee of a repeater, why should I share my information with you? ====
-We are attempting to build an open access and free database of useful information for all amateurs. The deployment of the information is designed to help those with a legitimate interest in amateur radio a reliable and central resource to gather repeater information. We do not require anyone to pay any fee for use of the site and openly seek accurate information. We believe this is in harmony with the concept of amateur radio as a service organization.+We are attempting to build an open-access and free database of useful information for all amateurs. The deployment of the information is designed to help those with a legitimate interest in amateur radio a reliable and central resource to gather repeater information. We do not require anyone to pay any fee for use of the site and openly seek accurate information. We believe this is in harmony with the concept of amateur radio as a service organization.
  
 Beyond all of that, we believe that this site can assist travelers and new HAMs with the information they need to confidently enter the hobby in the area served. Travelers appreciate the ability to program reliable repeater data into their radios to increase the safety and pleasure of their trips. New HAMs appreciate a quick way to get the information they need to program their radios and start socializing. In this spirit, we hope that you will share your repeater information with us. Beyond all of that, we believe that this site can assist travelers and new HAMs with the information they need to confidently enter the hobby in the area served. Travelers appreciate the ability to program reliable repeater data into their radios to increase the safety and pleasure of their trips. New HAMs appreciate a quick way to get the information they need to program their radios and start socializing. In this spirit, we hope that you will share your repeater information with us.
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 However, we will not obscure the frequency, city (or nearest city), county, or state the repeater resides in. We will publish the known operational status of the repeater, usage rights, contact e-mail, and Web site of the repeater if it was obtained from publicly available sources.  However, we will not obscure the frequency, city (or nearest city), county, or state the repeater resides in. We will publish the known operational status of the repeater, usage rights, contact e-mail, and Web site of the repeater if it was obtained from publicly available sources. 
  
-Occasionally, we receive some demanding and rude requests from repeater owners ordering the site to obscure more information than the site policy permits. The U.S. Constitution safeguards the first amendment right to publish this data on the Internet, along with exact coordinates of repeaters and PL tones, which trumps a repeater's "right" to privacy as a repeater site has no right to privacy. Furthermore, amateur radio repeaters reside on publicly available radio spectrum and no frequency is licensed to any person for exclusive use. The general public, and certainly the amateur radio community, has a right to know that a repeater is operating on a given frequency, even though usage of said repeater by the owner/trustee is prohibited. +Occasionally, we receive some demanding and rude requests from repeater owners ordering the site to obscure more information than the site policy permits. The U.S. Constitution safeguards the first amendment right to publish this data on the Internet, along with exact coordinates of repeaters and PL tones, which trumps a repeater's "right" to privacy as a repeater site has no right to privacy. Furthermore, amateur radio repeaters reside on publicly available radio spectrum and no frequency is licensed to any person for exclusive use. The general public, and certainly the amateur radio community, have a right to know that a repeater is operating on a given frequency, even though usage of said repeater by the owner/trustee is prohibited. 
  
 Try pleading, begging, or a simple please and we will be more willing to work with you! Requests phrased any other way may be ignored. Try pleading, begging, or a simple please and we will be more willing to work with you! Requests phrased any other way may be ignored.
  
 ==== Do you list GMRS repeaters? ==== ==== Do you list GMRS repeaters? ====
-No, we do not. We thought about this carefully and even started building out an interface for it.+Yes, we do.  
 + 
  
-What we found is that GMRS owners often times do not have the same goals as amateur radio repeater owners. Many GMRS owners create small radio networks to operate farms or for family use and do not want outsiders on their systems. They also want to lock down all listings of their repeaters so only they can modify them.  
  
-This does not follow the Repeaterbook.com model. Furthermore, there seems to be other resources available that offer this service. Though not as robust and built out, their services seem to be adequate for that community. Repeaterbook.com will continue to focus on the amateur radio community. 
  
 ===== Contributing ===== ===== Contributing =====
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 Repeaterbook data exports have been certified by CHIRP, RT Systems, and G4HFQ. The recommended method for exporting the data is to use the corresponding Export menu option. This will create a file that you can import directly into the software. Repeaterbook data exports have been certified by CHIRP, RT Systems, and G4HFQ. The recommended method for exporting the data is to use the corresponding Export menu option. This will create a file that you can import directly into the software.
  
-The CHIRP and RT Systems software itself have an option to download directly from Repeaterbook.com.+The CHIRP and RT Systems software itself has an option to download directly from Repeaterbook.com.
  
 ==== Why don't I see the option to Export? ==== ==== Why don't I see the option to Export? ====
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 First, search for the repeater listing you want. You should see 'Export' on the menu. Choose 'CSV' as that file type can be opened by Excel. First, search for the repeater listing you want. You should see 'Export' on the menu. Choose 'CSV' as that file type can be opened by Excel.
 +
 +==== Why are there sometimes a difference in the number of repeaters in the search result and export? ====
 +Repeaterbook.com contains data on repeaters that operate on analog, digital, or both emission types. Not all radios are able to decode digital transmissions and not all programming software programs are capable of programming radios that can decode digital signals (ie, CHIRP). Using CHIRP as an example, CHIRP is not known to have the capability to program any DMR or D-STAR radios. For this reason, if the user attempts to download a list of repeaters where some are digital-only, they will be excluded from the CHIRP export to eliminate the need to weed these repeaters out of the list before programming a non-digital radio. If CHIRP later is capable of programming a digital radio, these repeaters can be added back in the export.
  
 ==== How do I export to the MCP-4A (Kenwood) programming software? ==== ==== How do I export to the MCP-4A (Kenwood) programming software? ====
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 ===== Legal ===== ===== Legal =====
 ==== If someone vandalizes a repeater site after finding the coordinates on your site, aren't you liable? ==== ==== If someone vandalizes a repeater site after finding the coordinates on your site, aren't you liable? ====
-Many of us are repeater owners and we always cringe when we hear about repeaters that are damaged or vandalized. We know that there are outdoor enthusiasts that come across repeaters and cause so much havoc for their own fun.<br>+Many of us are repeater owners and we always cringe when we hear about repeaters that are damaged or vandalized. We know that there are outdoor enthusiasts that come across repeaters and cause so much havoc for their own fun. 
 We really would hope that Ham Radio operators are above using RepeaterBook to try to locate a repeater and inflict damage upon it. However, we know that it certainly can happen, but are we liable? We really would hope that Ham Radio operators are above using RepeaterBook to try to locate a repeater and inflict damage upon it. However, we know that it certainly can happen, but are we liable?
 The short answer is no.  The short answer is no. 
faq.txt · Last modified: 2023/12/21 09:23 by KD6KPC