WIN System Official Guidelines
Here are our WIN System Guidelines, or Rules. There are basically four rules here on the WIN System:
#1. Please follow the Golden Rule meaning that you should treat others as you would like to be treated.
#2. Please do not talk about politics or religion on the WIN System. Our experience has been that whenever these subjects, or any other controversial subject, is brought up on the air, it always polarizes whoever is listening. By polarizing I mean that whatever the controversy is, there will always be those on your side, and those on the opposing side or sides. That leads to differences of opinion or position on the matter, and that leads to polarizing, or folks taking sides on the issue(s). And that always leads to someone being unhappy, and leaving. There have been many, many repeater systems destroyed because folks left over talking about something controversial on the repeater. So, the best way to avoid fragmenting the System is to simply not bring it up on the air in the first place. Save those topics of conversation for when you are in person, face to face, and not on the air.
#3. Please don’t talk negatively about others, or other systems, on the WIN System.
#4. English is the requested language to be used on the Win System. To make sure that the system can be best utilized by the widest number of people, we request that only English be used as a common language on the Win System.
That’s it, for the rules anyway.
You might ask… Why do we need rules at all for repeater conduct or etiquette?
Answer: We tend to assume that everyone knows the generally accepted rules. But, that could be careless of us and unfair to those who want or need to have a clearer definition of our expectations and requirements. It can also create discord when repeater users offend others by unknowingly breaking some unwritten rule. Activities that may be an irritation, or even a flagrant violation, to one person might not be an issue at all to another. It’s probably best for us to be clear about the rules we really think are important.
We understand that everyone slips once in a while, no matter how hard they try. But, we expect all user’s of the WIN System to do their very best to follow these few simple and obvious rules of repeater conduct.
Correct operating procedure is a distinct characteristic of Amateur Radio. It’s important that you convey to the public, and to new hams, the image that Amateur Radio Operators are courteous, patient, and really know what they’re doing. A friendly style is great, but we also need to operate professionally.
WIN System Extended Rules
Now, we will list some extended rules. Amateur Radio regulations are largely self-enforced and we all need to work together towards these goals listed below:
1. Always identify according to the regulations.
You must identify your station according to the FCC rules 1) at the end of each communication, and 2) at least every ten minutes during a communication. We also request that before sending any DTMF commands, you must also identify your station, by announcing your call sign.
- Avoid lengthy conversations
Please limit conversations to 15 or 20 minutes. Then take a good long break, or move to another frequency. Other hams probably want to use the WIN System but might not be interested in the subject your group is discussing. None of us should monopolize the WIN System, even unintentionally.
It’s not enough to pause now and then and invite others to join in. Others just may not be interested in the topic. Be polite, and don’t be a “repeater hog.”
In addition, great time and expense was put into adding the IRLP and Allstar functions on the WIN System. In order for stations from across the world to check in from time to time, the System must be free. If you are monopolizing the WIN System, these folks can’t get in. Since these calls are unpredictable and random, you never know when they are coming in, so plenty of free time needs to be reserved to allow this function to work. Since these calls can be from friends, acquaintances, members on vacation, and future friends, these calls are to be given a priority. Think of them as company, and extend a strong welcome to them.
- Do not engage in political soap boxing.
Soap boxing, which goes hand-in-hand with overly long conversations, is when people carry on a conversation on the WIN System that is a thinly disguised ‘Broadcast.’ The subject is generally to “put down” an institution, group, or an individual for as wide as possible an audience. Of course it can be to gain support for a cause, person, or group as well. Both can be very objectionable to other WIN System users and listeners. Using the WIN System as a platform for soap boxing is unacceptable.
Conversations on the WIN System should be friendly ones. Do not make them negative commentaries on institutions, groups, or people. Avoid discussions on inappropriate subjects including politics, sex and religion! Don’t use the repeaters to “put people down.” Amateur Radio is not a broadcast medium – 97.113(5)(b).
Are we talking about censorship? No, not exactly. A person may have the right to stand on the street and say bad things about someone. They don’t have that same right when they are a guest in that person’s house. When using the WIN System, you are a guest operator of its radio stations. No one has any right to use the repeaters in ways that the WIN System management feels are objectionable.
- CB Lingo and excessive phonetics.
Amateur Radio operators find the sound of CB lingo worse than fingernails on a blackboard. The main thing to remember is to just talk normally. Talk just like you would to someone in person, face to face. There’s nothing different about talking over the radio. Using slang jargon just labels a person as an ex-CBer, or a CBer wannabe. The use of “10-4”, “Good Buddy”, “the first personal is” and the like, have no place here.
Also, please don’t use phonetics for every letter you need to say. For example: “The name here is Hollingsworth, Hotel, Oscar, Lima, Lima, India, November, Golf, Sierra, Whiskey, Oscar, Romeo, Tango, Hotel, QSL?, the home QTH is in Manchester, Mike, Alpha, November…….”
You are talking on an FM repeater, not a noisy station in Europe on 20 Meters. Just talk normal.
- Yield the frequency to a breaking station
When attempting to break into a conversation on the repeater, please follow this procedure. If you have an Emergency, interrupt the conversation by saying “BREAK – BREAK”. The talking stations should immediately recognize this as an Emergency, and turn the WIN System over to you. If you just desire to join the conversation or make a comment, interrupt by simply giving your call sign, or say “comment” or “information.”
Regardless, if you’re in a conversation, when a calling or breaking station interrupts, yield quickly since you never know if they have an emergency or not.
- Our repeaters are “G-Rated” 24 hours a day.
You never know who may be listening. Even late at night, there are generally people listening to the WIN System, including non-hams. This is important to understand for several reasons.
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- Our repeaters serve many purposes. One of the most important is the exposure it gives the hobby to the community. Any scanner can be used to listen to our repeaters. That’s good – It’s actually the most visible aspect of our hobby. It’s one of our most effective forms of publicity.
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- We want non-hams to know that Amateur Radio is an interesting hobby and a good group of people to get to know – something clean and educational – something they would want their kids to get involved in. Kids may or may not listen late at night, but their parents do.
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- Think about CB. The government tolerates the language on CB partly because they only use a few kilohertz of spectrum. It’s not a huge waste. Amateur Radio, on the other hand, uses a lot of valuable spectrum. There needs to be a noticeable difference between Amateur Radio and CB. Don’t let our activities on the air become a weapon in the hands of people who want to discredit us. Let’s all do our part to give Amateur Radio a positive image.
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- We want any ham that listens to us to think of us as good operators, not idiots. Any time we talk on the WIN System, we are ambassadors for the hobby. Have you ever noticed how you like to listen to some repeaters, but sometimes you find a repeater that makes you roll your eyes and twist the knob? We can keep or lose good people because of what they hear on our repeaters.
Our rule is simple: absolutely no obscene, indecent or profane language at any time.
7. Do not cause intentional interference, to the repeater, or conversations on the repeater.
What gives the WIN System the right to tell someone how to operate?
All repeaters have rules. These rules often go beyond Part 97. And, users who refuse to comply with the repeater’s rules can be told to stop using the repeaters. This is entirely at the judgment of the repeater trustees.
Rule 97.205(e) says, “…Limiting the use of a repeater to only certain user stations is permissible.” There are no qualifications – ifs, ands, or buts – to this rule. This isn’t just the right to close a repeater. Please operate in a professional manner and obey the rules.
- Selling items OTHER than ham related equipment
Obviously selling any ham equipment is allowed as long as it’s not done on a regular basis as a business. But conversations advertising, or selling vehicles, toys, other non ham related equipment and discussing prices is absolutely unacceptable on the WIN System and will not be tolerated.
9. Allstar and IRLP conduct
- Allstar nodes should be connected to the Win System Main Hub 2560 unless directed to another Hub by a Network Controller.
- All Allstar & IRLP nodes are required to have a PL input tone enabled while connected to the Win System Hub.
- Your node should not be connected to any other nodes with the exception of nodes registered to the same station, while connected to a Win System Hub.
- Never interconnect other large networks to the Win System.
- Do not connect to the Win System with technologies that result in sub par audio.
- It is required that your “stat reporting” on Allstar is enabled. Non reporting nodes are likely the first to be disconnected and/or blocked if network trouble is found.
- If you schedule an automatic connection to our Hub, please schedule the connection 10 minutes before a planned net, if that net is your connection reason. Please make sure all current outside connections are disconnected before you connect to the Win System Hub.
- Do not schedule a forced re-connection to the Win System Hub while already connected. IE, do not force a connection to an already connected node.
- Allstar node owners are highly recommended to have a valid email on QRZ.com for Network Controllers to contact you with any issues that may arise when connected to the Win System.
IRLP Sub-Channels
WIN System IRLP Channels: 9100 – 9109.
Use of Reflector sub-channels is encouraged. You do not need specific permission to use any of the general use channels. If you would like to discuss the use of a 9100 reflector channel on an on-going basis, contact Steven Taylor, K6UFX.
Current channel assignments:
9100 WIN System, 24×7
9101 General Traffic
9102 General Traffic
9103 General Traffic
9104 General Traffic
9105 General Traffic
9106 General Traffic
9107 General Traffic
9108 General Traffic
9109 Alaska net, 24×7