User Instructions

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The repeater is open to any Technician class or higher Ham Radio operator. Please follow all FCC rules, we insist. The repeater features open autopatch, direct 9-1-1 connection to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, autodialers to several local Emergency Service Agencies, and is linked to other repeaters. All of the remote receivers require a 123.0 Hz CTCSS tone for access.

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Autopatch

The autopatch is open to any ham to use. To access the patch, ID and enter * and the phine number. Wait for the controller to dial the number and your party to pick up. Remember that the autopatch is half duplex you will not be able to hear the called party while you are talking. Long Distance and 10 digit dialing is not available without control operator assistance. To end the call, press #, and then ID. The autopatch will remain open as long as it is not used improperly. Here is a list of the emergency autodialers:

    911: Putnam County Sheriff's Office Communications Center
    912: Florida Highway Patrol
    913: Putnam County Department of Public Safety (EOC)
    915: CSX Transportation train emergency.
    916: Norfolk Southern train emergency.
    600: My home number
    601: My cell phone (best choice)

If you dial *-9-1-1, the repeater will not place the call. Putnam County uses E911. If you place an emergency call though this repeater using 9-1-1, the call taker would get my address on the ALI screen, causing confusion. The last thing I want is for someone to be in a wreck somewhere and have Rescue show up in my yard wanting to know where the wreck is. Be prepared to provide complete information because there is no call back number. Dialing #-911 will place a call to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office Communication Center on an administrative line (329-0800).

Please remember that FCC regulations state that the autopatch is only to be used when other forms of telephone service are not readily available. Calls cannot be of a topic that you have a financial interest in nor result in financial gain to either party. Calls cannot be work related. Exceptions are: You can call for roadside assistance if your car is disabled and you can call for an ambulance if you are sick. It is unclear to me if it is against the rules to order food on the autopatch, but that is not the type of phone call that can't wait until you get to a landline phone. Calls to your work to tell them you are late are not allowed. You are responsible for the conduct of the called person, just like any other third party situation. If the landline party begins to use profane language, key your mike. This mutes the audio from the phone line. Always tell the person you called you are calling from the radio. Also remember that "on hold" music is a violation.

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Linking system

As described on the main page, this repeater has a link to the W4IZ repeater in Jacksonville available. The remote base port of the controller is connected to the W4IZ link. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to call me on the radio. If it's late at night & it's urgent, call me on the patch @ 601.

The W4IZ 444.4 repeater is the hub of the Florida Crown Repeater Network. It is a UHF output of the VHF 146.7 repeater. The repeater runs in "quiet repeater" mode meaning that the only time the the CTCSS tone is encoded in the 444.4 transmit signal is when the repeater is receiving an incoming signal. Any other time that the transmitter is transmitting (ID, DVR messages, autopatch) it is in carrier squelch. This is done so that the W4IZ ID and other messages are not transmitted on other participating repeaters. What is important to note is that you should not just turn your radio on and start transmitting on the 145.37 repeater. Someone in Jax could be in the middle of an autopatch and you will never know it because I am not retransmitting landline traffic down here. Most autopatches are less than 3 minutes, so wait a little bit before making your call, ensuring that you won't pop up in the middle of someones autopatch.

Comments or questions ? Email me.