How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.

Now I am helping a friend set up an AllStar site that will be used initially by an ARC then hopefully will get even wider use. At present we are using a simplex base station radio at 25 watts. One of the club members has suggested that we need to be sending out an ID every 10 minutes while the station is being used. Is this correct? If so, how would I trigger that in AllStar? I have looked pretty closely at the rpt.conf file and have read throughout he documentation. I doubt that we want to turn on the beaconing. All other lines of code concerning links and morse code are are still at the default settings. Is there a line of code I need to uncomment or add to enable this feature?

Thanks of your help!

George,
K6GAZ

Do you have something similar to this in rpt.conf?
idrecording=|iW3SBA
idtime=600000 ; id interval time (in ms) (optional)
politeid=3000 ; time in milliseconds before ID timer

Also, in “duplex=” modes 0 and 1, if the transmitter is idle, it will not turn on the transmitter to send an ID.
Even if the timer is due.
It will send the ID if the transmitter is already up though.

Take a look at :
http://ohnosec.org/drupal/node/128
http://ohnosec.org/drupal/node/129
http://ohnosec.org/drupal/node/87

And on http://ohnosec.org/drupal/node/150 (undocumented features) I find the following

*rptinactmacro Macro to execute when inactivity timer expires rptinacttime Inactivity timer time in seconds (0 seconds disables feature)*

But I’ve never tried them to see if they work.

Robert A. Poff
Loganville, PA.

“Lieutenant, target the offending power boat and launch photon torpedoes”

Why set it up as a SIMPLEX node?? Do yourself a favor and set it up DUPLEX and as a RPTR. Simply use a pair of Maxtracs/Radius on UHF.With a Simplex node your locked out as long as its talking. Set up as a RPTR you can have it ID anyway you like…

¡¡¡

On Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 4:24 AM, George Zolla gazolla@san.rr.com wrote:

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.

Now I am helping a friend set up an AllStar site that will be used initially by an ARC then hopefully will get even wider use. At present we are using a simplex base station radio at 25 watts. One of the club members has suggested that we need to be sending out an ID every 10 minutes while the station is being used. Is this correct? If so, how would I trigger that in AllStar? I have looked pretty closely at the rpt.conf file and have read throughout he documentation. I doubt that we want to turn on the beaconing. All other lines of code concerning links and morse code are are still at the default settings. Is there a line of code I need to uncomment or add to enable this feature?

Thanks of your help!

George,

K6GAZ


App_rpt-users mailing list

App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org

http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

Is this a simplex node that is a “User” of a local repeater, or is it on a simplex channel?

Jim WB6NIL

¡¡¡

Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:25:07 -1000
From: wb6egr@gmail.com
To: gazolla@san.rr.com
CC: ralph@ralphhowey.com; app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org; wallyb1511@msn.com; kc5izr@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

Why set it up as a SIMPLEX node?? Do yourself a favor and set it up DUPLEX and as a RPTR. Simply use a pair of Maxtracs/Radius on UHF.With a Simplex node your locked out as long as its talking. Set up as a RPTR you can have it ID anyway you like…

On Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 4:24 AM, George Zolla gazolla@san.rr.com wrote:

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.

Now I am helping a friend set up an AllStar site that will be used initially by an ARC then hopefully will get even wider use. At present we are using a simplex base station radio at 25 watts. One of the club members has suggested that we need to be sending out an ID every 10 minutes while the station is being used. Is this correct? If so, how would I trigger that in AllStar? I have looked pretty closely at the rpt.conf file and have read throughout he documentation. I doubt that we want to turn on the beaconing. All other lines of code concerning links and morse code are are still at the default settings. Is there a line of code I need to uncomment or add to enable this feature?

Thanks of your help!

George,

K6GAZ


App_rpt-users mailing list

App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org

http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users


App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

JIm,

With the help of several answers I received, I think i have this figured out. I had my rpt.conf set up with the following default line of code:

duplex=0

According to Robert:

“Also, in “duplex=” modes 0 and 1, if the transmitter is idle, it will not turn on the transmitter to send an ID.
Even if the timer is due. It will send the ID if the transmitter is already up though.”

When I set the duplex=2, the ID came through. When I set it to duplex=1 and was receiving a TX at 9 minutes I also heard the ID.

I will continue testing.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions to improve the system. BTW - We do plan to hook up a second radio and make it a real repeater.

George

K6GAZ

¡¡¡

On Mar 22, 2013, at 11:35 AM, Jim Duuuude telesistant@hotmail.com wrote:

Is this a simplex node that is a “User” of a local repeater, or is it on a simplex channel?

Jim WB6NIL


Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:25:07 -1000
From: wb6egr@gmail.com
To: gazolla@san.rr.com
CC: ralph@ralphhowey.com; app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org; wallyb1511@msn.com; kc5izr@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

Why set it up as a SIMPLEX node?? Do yourself a favor and set it up DUPLEX and as a RPTR. Simply use a pair of Maxtracs/Radius on UHF.With a Simplex node your locked out as long as its talking. Set up as a RPTR you can have it ID anyway you like…

On Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 4:24 AM, George Zolla gazolla@san.rr.com wrote:

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.

Now I am helping a friend set up an AllStar site that will be used initially by an ARC then hopefully will get even wider use. At present we are using a simplex base station radio at 25 watts. One of the club members has suggested that we need to be sending out an ID every 10 minutes while the station is being used. Is this correct? If so, how would I trigger that in AllStar? I have looked pretty closely at the rpt.conf file and have read throughout he documentation. I doubt that we want to turn on the beaconing. All other lines of code concerning links and morse code are are still at the default settings. Is there a line of code I need to uncomment or add to enable this feature?

Thanks of your help!

George,
K6GAZ


App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

_______________________________________________ App_rpt-users mailing list App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

You MOST CERTAINLY DO have to send an ID! It's this kind of attitude that generates unknown interference on frequencies improperly used!

73
Jim W7RY

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.
George,
K6GAZ

¡¡¡

_______________________________________________
App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

I forgot to add... By mysterious un -identified transmitters.

73
Jim W7RY

¡¡¡

-----Original Message----- From: Jim W7RY
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2013 8:26 PM
To: George Zolla ; app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Cc: Ralph Howey ; Chris Drummond ; Wally Baker
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

You MOST CERTAINLY DO have to send an ID! It's this kind of attitude that
generates unknown interference on frequencies improperly used!

73
Jim W7RY

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex
base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti
meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular
intervals.
George,
K6GAZ
_______________________________________________
App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

_______________________________________________
App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

Station identification is only required at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. Beaconing (IDing at intervals) is not required, but probably not a bad idea. If it is for personal use only, you might want to consider cutting the power and antenna to meet part 15 rather than part 97 and you won’t have to ID at all?

¡¡¡

— On Sat, 3/23/13, Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net wrote:

From: Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements
To: “George Zolla” gazolla@san.rr.com, app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Cc: “Ralph Howey” ralph@ralphhowey.com, “Chris Drummond” kc5izr@gmail.com, “Wally Baker” wallyb1511@msn.com
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2013, 3:26 AM

You MOST CERTAINLY DO have to send an ID! It’s this kind of attitude that generates unknown interference on frequencies improperly used!

73
Jim W7RY

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.
George,
K6GAZ


App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users


App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

Beaconing is illegal. The only place where I know it's required is in the UK. Any repeater or simplex node must identify every 10 minutes when in use, per FCC requirements.

Matt Roberts
n9gmr@me.com
Call Sign N9GMR
Allstar 28142
EchoLink 640860

¡¡¡

On Mar 29, 2013, at 5:20 AM, Bill South <wbs099@yahoo.com> wrote:

Station identification is only required at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. Beaconing (IDing at intervals) is not required, but probably not a bad idea.

Whoa Nellie!

On Amateur frequencies, you can’t throw the Part 97 rules out the window and just declare you are now under part 15, whether or not you lower power and use less antenna.

If people did that we would have repeaters full of bootleggers saying they were “part 15” and didn’t need no steenkin license.

And his personal base station has to abide some other rules as well, such as those concerning auxiliary operation, and repeater subbands, etc.

¡¡¡

From: app_rpt-users-bounces@ohnosec.org [mailto:app_rpt-users-bounces@ohnosec.org] On Behalf Of Bill South
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 5:21 AM
To: app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

Station identification is only required at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. Beaconing (IDing at intervals) is not required, but probably not a bad idea. If it is for personal use only, you might want to consider cutting the power and antenna to meet part 15 rather than part 97 and you won’t have to ID at all?

— On Sat, 3/23/13, Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net wrote:

From: Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements
To: “George Zolla” gazolla@san.rr.com, app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Cc: “Ralph Howey” ralph@ralphhowey.com, “Chris Drummond” kc5izr@gmail.com, “Wally Baker” wallyb1511@msn.com
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2013, 3:26 AM

You MOST CERTAINLY DO have to send an ID! It’s this kind of attitude that generates unknown interference on frequencies improperly used!

73
Jim W7RY

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.
George,
K6GAZ


App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users


App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

Please point me to the part 97 rules that state beaconing is illegal.

73
Jim W7RY

¡¡¡

-----Original Message----- From: Matt Roberts
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 5:38 AM
To: Bill South
Cc: app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

On Mar 29, 2013, at 5:20 AM, Bill South <wbs099@yahoo.com> wrote:

Station identification is only required at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. Beaconing (IDing at intervals) is not required, but probably not a bad idea.

Beaconing is illegal. The only place where I know it's required is in the UK. Any repeater or simplex node must identify every 10 minutes when in use, per FCC requirements.

Matt Roberts
n9gmr@me.com
Call Sign N9GMR
Allstar 28142
EchoLink 640860

_______________________________________________
App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

Actually, he CAN operate Part 15, but it is not as simple as saying, “reduce your power to X milliwatts”. Part 15.109B is a table for intentional radiators which shows that in the range of 216-960 MHz he must not exceed 210 microvolts per meter, measured at a distance of 10 meters. To comply with this, he must factor in not only the power of the transmitter, but loss of transmission line as well as gain of antenna for over all ERP viewed as a complete system. The table in Part 15.205 restricts operation to only spurious emissions in certain frequency ranges, but 2 meters and 70 centimeters are not listed and therefore not restricted from Part 15. Quoting directly from the ARRL web site …

In the amateur 2-meter band, for example, these regulations would permit an intentional radiator to run a transmitter power of about 4 nanowatts into a half-wave dipole, resulting in a field strength of 150 microvolts/meter at a point 3 meters away from the dipole center. To relate this to receiver S unit readings (50 uV at 50 ohms = S9 and an S unit = 6 dB), a 144-MHz field of 150 microvolts/meter would result in an S9 meter reading if 2.2 dBi gain antennas were used on each end (half-wave dipoles in free space). Of course, this is only 3 meters from the source. If the source were located 30 meters away, the signal would be about an S6. On 3.5 MHz, the permitted field strength is 30 microvolts/meter at 30 meters distance. A field of this strength would give an S9+15 dB reading to a half-wave dipole on 80 meters.

N5ZUA

¡¡¡

==========
----- Original Message -----
From: Ralph
To: app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

Whoa Nellie!

On Amateur frequencies, you can’t throw the Part 97 rules out the window and just declare you are now under part 15, whether or not you lower power and use less antenna.
If people did that we would have repeaters full of bootleggers saying they were “part 15” and didn’t need no steenkin license.

And his personal base station has to abide some other rules as well, such as those concerning auxiliary operation, and repeater subbands, etc.

From: app_rpt-users-bounces@ohnosec.org [mailto:app_rpt-users-bounces@ohnosec.org] On Behalf Of Bill South
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 5:21 AM
To: app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

Station identification is only required at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. Beaconing (IDing at intervals) is not required, but probably not a bad idea. If it is for personal use only, you might want to consider cutting the power and antenna to meet part 15 rather than part 97 and you won’t have to ID at all?

— On Sat, 3/23/13, Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net wrote:

From: Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements
To: “George Zolla” gazolla@san.rr.com, app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Cc: “Ralph Howey” ralph@ralphhowey.com, “Chris Drummond” kc5izr@gmail.com, “Wally Baker” wallyb1511@msn.com
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2013, 3:26 AM
You MOST CERTAINLY DO have to send an ID! It’s this kind of attitude that generates unknown interference on frequencies improperly used!

73
Jim W7RY

I am new to AllStar but I have great little home AllStar node with a simplex base station radio set at 5 Watts. No one else has ever connected and i ti meant just for my use. As such I do not send out a station ID at regular intervals.
George,
K6GAZ

A voice announcement providing information about the repeater (callsign, PL tone, etc.) would fit as permissible one-way communications. That some would still call a “beacon.”

Some would call a beacon? Sounds like an interpretation of the rules by someone. Perhaps you?

73

Jim W7RY

¡¡¡

From: ALERTradio ERC | N0PCO

Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 9:02 AM

To: Jim W7RY

Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

On 03/29/2013 09:57 AM, Jim W7RY wrote:

Please point me to the part 97 rules that state beaconing is illegal.

73
Jim W7RY

§ 97.203 Beacon station.
(a) Any amateur station licensed to a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be a
beacon. A holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be the control operator of a
beacon, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held.
(b) A beacon must not concurrently transmit on more than 1 channel in the same amateur service frequency band, from the same
station location.
(c) The transmitter power of a beacon must not exceed 100 W.
** (d) A beacon may be automatically controlled while it is transmitting on the 28.20–28.30 MHz, 50.06–50.08 MHz, 144.275–144.300
MHz, 222.05–222.06 MHz or 432.300–432.400 MHz segments, or on the 33 cm and shorter wavelength bands.**

Another one of those yes but no situation courtesy of the FCC. Since the beacon is automatically controlled announcing the availability of the repeater / link and in most cases the repeater / link is not operating on a frequency within the groups listed under 97.203(d) the beacon would not be legal.

97.111(b) would be a good place to check regarding one-way communications

(b) In addition to one-way transmissions specifically authorized elsewhere in this part, an amateur station may transmit the following
types of one-way communications:
(1) Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station;
** (2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing two-way communications with other stations;**
(3) Telecommand;
(4) Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications;
(5) Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code; and
** (6) Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins.**
(7) Transmissions of telemetry.
A voice announcement providing information about the repeater (callsign, PL tone, etc.) would fit as permissible one-way communications. That some would still call a “beacon.” Then going back to 97.203(d) if the same were to be done with CW it would not be permissible unless there was already traffic on the repeater then it would just be a plain old identification.


They like to make the rules complicated so they can make more money off of people when Major Whoops shows up.

Have a great day.

Mars - N0PCO
ALERTradio ERC Technology resources for public safety.
www.alertradio.net | www.asteriskradio.net | www.darnsimple.net
DARN SIMPLE Telecom going beyond just static. telecom.darnsimple.net

And what you have cut and pasted below is a station operating as a beacon station. Not a repeater station sending “CW (modulated interrupted tone) or voice” by frequency modulation (FM).

Beacons are used for propagation determination on 10, 6 and 2 meters. Although I have never heard a 2 meter beacon station. Have you ever heard a beacon station on 10 or 6 meters? When 10 meters has propagation, I can hear 100s of them.

A beacon station transmits A1 (CW). Not F3 (FM) or CW by modulated FM.

73

Jim W7RY

¡¡¡

From: ALERTradio ERC | N0PCO

Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 9:02 AM

To: Jim W7RY

Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

On 03/29/2013 09:57 AM, Jim W7RY wrote:

Please point me to the part 97 rules that state beaconing is illegal.

73
Jim W7RY

§ 97.203 Beacon station.
(a) Any amateur station licensed to a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be a
beacon. A holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be the control operator of a
beacon, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held.
(b) A beacon must not concurrently transmit on more than 1 channel in the same amateur service frequency band, from the same
station location.
(c) The transmitter power of a beacon must not exceed 100 W.
** (d) A beacon may be automatically controlled while it is transmitting on the 28.20–28.30 MHz, 50.06–50.08 MHz, 144.275–144.300
MHz, 222.05–222.06 MHz or 432.300–432.400 MHz segments, or on the 33 cm and shorter wavelength bands.**

Another one of those yes but no situation courtesy of the FCC. Since the beacon is automatically controlled announcing the availability of the repeater / link and in most cases the repeater / link is not operating on a frequency within the groups listed under 97.203(d) the beacon would not be legal.

97.111(b) would be a good place to check regarding one-way communications

(b) In addition to one-way transmissions specifically authorized elsewhere in this part, an amateur station may transmit the following
types of one-way communications:
(1) Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station;
** (2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing two-way communications with other stations;**
(3) Telecommand;
(4) Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications;
(5) Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code; and
** (6) Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins.**
(7) Transmissions of telemetry.
A voice announcement providing information about the repeater (callsign, PL tone, etc.) would fit as permissible one-way communications. That some would still call a “beacon.” Then going back to 97.203(d) if the same were to be done with CW it would not be permissible unless there was already traffic on the repeater then it would just be a plain old identification.


They like to make the rules complicated so they can make more money off of people when Major Whoops shows up.

Have a great day.

Mars - N0PCO
ALERTradio ERC Technology resources for public safety.
www.alertradio.net | www.asteriskradio.net | www.darnsimple.net
DARN SIMPLE Telecom going beyond just static. telecom.darnsimple.net

You know folks Just use some common sense.

If your gear is in operation and has active traffic, ID it, CW or Voice make no difference.

if it is a Simplex Node, same rule applies if it has active traffic, ID it, choose your method CW or Voice.

if it is a Repeater Node and has activity, it should ID at the proper intervals. and again choose your method, CW or Voice!

Plain and simple if you or your gear transmits RF in the HAM bands, ID it

if it is a digital mode make sure you have it ID in the mode it operates in. other wise use CW at proper intervals.

yes the rules are there for us to use as a guide. Use common sense folks

it is so simple. No need to have the Lawyers or ones who think they are one, interpret every little thing.

I did not mention exact intervals because every country and local around the world has different rules.

But you have to ID, it is just being a good operator.

This thread has gone on far too long JMHO & 2 cents worth!

¡¡¡

–
Thanks in Advance

Bob Brown, WØNQX

Kansas City Metro Area

http://sm0kenet.net

http://byrg.net

http://kcdstar.byrg.net

http://w0nqx.blogspot.com

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

–

On Fri, Mar 29, 2013 at 1:31 PM, Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net wrote:

And what you have cut and pasted below is a station operating as a beacon station. Not a repeater station sending “CW (modulated interrupted tone) or voice” by frequency modulation (FM).

Beacons are used for propagation determination on 10, 6 and 2 meters. Although I have never heard a 2 meter beacon station. Have you ever heard a beacon station on 10 or 6 meters? When 10 meters has propagation, I can hear 100s of them.

A beacon station transmits A1 (CW). Not F3 (FM) or CW by modulated FM.

73

Jim W7RY

From: ALERTradio ERC | N0PCO

Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 9:02 AM

To: Jim W7RY

Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

On 03/29/2013 09:57 AM, Jim W7RY wrote:

Please point me to the part 97 rules that state beaconing is illegal.

73
Jim W7RY

§ 97.203 Beacon station.
(a) Any amateur station licensed to a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be a
beacon. A holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be the control operator of a
beacon, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held.
(b) A beacon must not concurrently transmit on more than 1 channel in the same amateur service frequency band, from the same
station location.
(c) The transmitter power of a beacon must not exceed 100 W.
** (d) A beacon may be automatically controlled while it is transmitting on the 28.20–28.30 MHz, 50.06–50.08 MHz, 144.275–144.300
MHz, 222.05–222.06 MHz or 432.300–432.400 MHz segments, or on the 33 cm and shorter wavelength bands.**

Another one of those yes but no situation courtesy of the FCC. Since the beacon is automatically controlled announcing the availability of the repeater / link and in most cases the repeater / link is not operating on a frequency within the groups listed under 97.203(d) the beacon would not be legal.

97.111(b) would be a good place to check regarding one-way communications

(b) In addition to one-way transmissions specifically authorized elsewhere in this part, an amateur station may transmit the following
types of one-way communications:
(1) Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station;
** (2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing two-way communications with other stations;**
(3) Telecommand;
(4) Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications;
(5) Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code; and
** (6) Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins.**
(7) Transmissions of telemetry.
A voice announcement providing information about the repeater (callsign, PL tone, etc.) would fit as permissible one-way communications. That some would still call a “beacon.” Then going back to 97.203(d) if the same were to be done with CW it would not be permissible unless there was already traffic on the repeater then it would just be a plain old identification.


They like to make the rules complicated so they can make more money off of people when Major Whoops shows up.

Have a great day.

Mars - N0PCO
ALERTradio ERC Technology resources for public safety.
www.alertradio.net | www.asteriskradio.net | www.darnsimple.net

DARN SIMPLE Telecom going beyond just static. telecom.darnsimple.net


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By beaconing I simply meant a station ID at some given interval even if no traffic has come thru; symantics I guess. Beacon IDs have been done for decades on packet, so I can’t imagine it would be illegal to ID your Asterisk station (simplex node or repeater) at given intervals even if there has been no traffic on it. Lot of analog repeaters do interval IDs.

¡¡¡

— On Fri, 3/29/13, Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net wrote:

From: Jim W7RY w7ry@centurytel.net
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements
To: n0pco@alertradio.net
Cc: app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Date: Friday, March 29, 2013, 6:31 PM

And what you have cut and pasted below is a station operating as a beacon station. Not a repeater station sending “CW (modulated interrupted tone) or voice” by frequency modulation (FM).

Beacons are used for propagation determination on 10, 6 and 2 meters. Although I have never heard a 2 meter beacon station. Have you ever heard a beacon station on 10 or 6 meters? When 10 meters has propagation, I can hear 100s of them.

A beacon station transmits A1 (CW). Not F3 (FM) or CW by modulated FM.

73

Jim W7RY

From: ALERTradio ERC | N0PCO

Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 9:02 AM

To: Jim W7RY

Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] How to turn on AllStar ID Requirements

On 03/29/2013 09:57 AM, Jim W7RY wrote:

Please point me to the part 97 rules that state beaconing is illegal.

73
Jim W7RY

§ 97.203 Beacon station.
(a) Any amateur station licensed to a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be a
beacon. A holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be the control operator of a
beacon, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held.
(b) A beacon must not concurrently transmit on more than 1 channel in the same amateur service frequency band, from the same
station location.
(c) The transmitter power of a beacon must not exceed 100 W.
(d) A beacon may be automatically controlled while it is transmitting on the 28.20–28.30 MHz, 50.06–50.08 MHz, 144.275–144.300
MHz, 222.05–222.06 MHz or 432.300–432.400 MHz segments, or on the 33 cm and shorter wavelength bands.

Another one of those yes but no situation courtesy of the FCC. Since the beacon is
automatically controlled announcing the availability of the repeater / link and in most cases the repeater / link is not operating on a frequency within the groups listed under 97.203(d) the beacon would not be legal.

97.111(b) would be a good place to check regarding one-way communications

(b) In addition to one-way transmissions specifically authorized elsewhere in this part, an amateur station may transmit the following
types of one-way communications:
(1) Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station;
(2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing two-way communications with other stations;
(3) Telecommand;
(4) Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications;
(5) Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code; and
(6) Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins.
(7) Transmissions of telemetry.
A voice announcement providing information about the repeater (callsign, PL tone, etc.) would fit as permissible one-way communications. That some would still call a “beacon.” Then going back to 97.203(d) if the same were to be done with CW it
would not be permissible unless there was already traffic on the repeater then it would just be a plain old identification.


They like to make the rules complicated so they can make more money off of people when Major Whoops shows up.

Have a great day.

Mars - N0PCO
ALERTradio ERC Technology resources for public safety.
www.alertradio.net | www.asteriskradio.net | www.darnsimple.net
DARN SIMPLE Telecom going beyond just static. telecom.darnsimple.net

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As with some other things, this boils down to definitions. Since we are talking legalities under the FCC rules, we need to use the FCC’s definitions, even if we, the greater amateur community, call something by a different name.

Both beaconing and transmitting information bulletins are legal, but both are used differently, have different results, and have different applicable rules. Use the appropriate definition when determining the legality of your, or another’s, station.

This same drawn out argument could occur when someone “broadcasts” a message to a group of amateurs. As written that would be illegal because of the use of the word “broadcast” which according to the FCC is transmitting information to the general public, something we are not allowed to do. Meanwhile what is really happening is that station sent an information bulletin, even though almost no one would call it that.

Brett KQ9N

¡¡¡

On Fri, Mar 29, 2013 at 6:21 PM, Bill South wbs099@yahoo.com wrote:

By beaconing I simply meant a station ID at some given interval even if no traffic has come thru; symantics I guess. Beacon IDs have been done for decades on packet, so I can’t imagine it would be illegal to ID your Asterisk station (simplex node or repeater) at given intervals even if there has been no traffic on it. Lot of analog repeaters do interval IDs.