What can you do when you hear someone improperly using our repeater? This is a very difficult question, and no answer is likely to be completely satisfactory in all cases. A simple mistake should be handled differently from willful misconduct. What you say might also be somewhat different if the operator is a friend, vs. someone you have never talked to before. The key to a successful result is to focus on the prime objective, which is to get the operator to stop what he is doing. That is most likely to be accomplished if you consider the following:
If the operator is doing something which he knows is wrong, he is likely to become hostile when he is corrected. Do not get into an argument. If the operator has made a mistake, or is not aware of what he is doing, he is likely to be embarrassed. Do what you can to help him save face. You might say:
"I have been listening for a few minutes and I notice that you are not familiar with the operating procedures our club has established for this repeater. I would like to invite you to one of our meetings so you can get the details of our club rules which are in compliance with FCC regulations. I don't think we need to go into it here, but there are several members that are listening in the background right now, and we would appreciate it if you would stop what you are doing until you have a chance to learn more about us."
If he accepts your comments and complies, the problem is over. Help him avoid any further embarrassment by again inviting him to come to our club meeting, then change the subject immediately. If the offensive operation involved someone else, you chatting with him for a few minutes about some neutral topic may provide a cooling off period and help avoid hurt feelings. Depending on the circumstances, it may be just as well to politely sign off with him, then QRT and hope that he does the same.
If he claims that he does not know what he has done that is out of line, you might try to explain it briefly. That can be tricky because you might fall into discussing the very thing that was offensive in the first place. He might be claiming ignorance on purpose, just to pull you into an argument. Watch out for that and avoid being drawn into a long discussion. If he feels that his manhood has been challenged and he immediately comes back with a hostile response, you may have a problem on your hands. You might then consider something like this:
"The FCC has charged us as licensed Amateur operators to police the use of our frequencies. I don't think you understand how seriously we consider these matters. An officer of the club will contact you by mail or by telephone with more information."
At that point, it is probably best to sign off and QRT. If he has not responded properly by now, he is not going to change easily and any further discussion would probably be a waste of time. In any case, do not get into an argument, do not prolong the conversation, and by all means avoid sinking to his level of misconduct.
When the operator comes looking for our "Rules of Conduct", what will he find? The following is taken from various sources, including FCC rules and regulations, ARRL Handbooks and other publications, and some plain common sense:
USE OF REPEATER:
Repeaters are authorized by the FCC, and designed specifically for the purpose of providing communication between stations which can not contact each other directly. FCC rules state that transmitted power shall be limited to the minimum level necessary to maintain reliable communication. FCC rules also state that one-way communications (broadcasting) is not permitted on Amateur frequencies.
From these basics, it follows that: After making an initial contact on a repeater, ground stations with proper antennae and adequate power should always communicate directly on a simplex frequency.
Avoid using the repeater for prolonged conversions. Switch to a simplex frequency whenever possible.
Do not use either of the repeater frequencies (input or output) as a simplex frequency, except in the case of repeater failure, or at the direction of a control operator.
When using a repeater, preference should always be given to mobile and HT operators. Listen carefully to be sure there is no emergency traffic before using a repeater. Always allow breakers a chance to make a contact. If anyone is in need of help, either contribute directly to their assistance if you can, or QRT and allow someone else to handle the situation.
Repeater channels must always be considered an open public highway. Someone is always listening! Never say anything you would not say standing in public, in a classroom, in church or in court.
