The use of a repeater is fairly common to repeater users in North America, but may be a rather foreign and unfamiliar term for others around the world.

The use of the repeater refers to the openness of the repeater's operator towards allowing users on the repeater. The three types of uses are:

• Open. This repeater is open for all to use.
• Closed. This repeater can only be used with the permission of the repeater operator(s).
• Private. This repeater required a paid subscription to operate the repeater.

Closed on Private repeaters are omitted from the Repeaterbook app.

Many parts of the world have never heard of this concept. A “closed” repeater is not one that is no longer functioning, but rather the use of the repeater is restricted.