Although GB3KD has the ability to link with other systems, that is not its sole purpose. If people sometimes want to use it as an ordinary (unlinked) repeater, please respect their right to do so. Likewise, please respect those who wish to have internet-linked QSO's. There is enough room for all of us, if we behave considerately.
Your DTMF command sequences can be heard by everyone listening to the repeater and any linked systems. It is good etiquette (and probably required by your licence) to announce your callsign and your intentions, for example "G9XXX checking status", or "G9XXX disconnecting the link". And please don't over-use the DTMF commands - GB3KD is not a Playstation!
Before you issue any "connect" commands, it's a good idea to check the repeater's connection status (by dialling 08), because it may have been left connected by the previous user. They may have forgotten to disconnect, or driven out of range, or perhaps they were listening for a call. Or there may be someone listening in from the Internet.
If you connect GB3KD to another repeater or gateway, please give some CQ calls to let people know you are there.
Some repeaters and gateways announce your callsign to the RF users when you connect and disconnect, some do not. The announcement may be missed the first time, or it may not be very clear, or it may not be made at all if there is a QSO in progress. It is very irritating for RF users to hear people connecting and disconnecting without ever stating their intentions.
Please mind your language. Your words may be re-broadcasted onto RF somewhere else, and may therefore be putting someone else's licence(s) at risk.
Please do not have excessively long overs if the repeater is linked. Most gateways have a timeout shorter than GB3KD's, to protect their transmitters and users, and if your over lasts more than a couple of minutes they are likely to get disconnected.
Please respect GB3KD's 3 minute talkthrough limit. Whilst 3 minutes may not sound much to the speaker, it is a long time for someone to wait to break in.
Whilst we welcome activity on GB3KD, please remember that others may wish to use it. If you are ragchewing, please leave frequent gaps for others to make their calls, especially at peak times such as rush hours.
Please respect the fact that breakers may wish to call someone else, without necessarily joining your group. Rather than asking "Does anyone else wish to join the QSO?", ask instead "Does anyone else wish to use the repeater?"
If you hear a Morse "C" (dah dit dah dit) or "I" (dit dit) instead of "K" (dah dit dah) between overs, it means the repeater is linked to another station via the internet. Please leave ample gaps between overs to allow users of other repeaters and gateways to speak or issue commands. A couple of extra seconds after the "C" or "I" should be sufficient.
If you or your QSO partner initiated an Internet link, please disconnect it when you have finished using it, otherwise you are tying up resources unnecessarily.
Before issuing the disconnect command, please announce the fact that you are disconnecting the link, otherwise people on the remote system may not be aware that you've gone, and may continue calling you unnecessarily.
If the repeater was already linked when you came on, please leave it connected unless you have a reason for disconnecting it (e.g. if it's causing QRM or if you want to link somewhere else, or you want to use the repeater in unlinked" mode). There are no hard rules about this, it's all about being polite and respecting the needs of others.
The sysop endeavours to strike a balance between linked and unlinked operation. Linking increases the chances of getting a QSO, or having something to listen to. On the other hand, some people may prefer the repeater to be quiet all the time. If you feel the balance, or the choice of linked systems is wrong, please let us know.
Repeaters cost money to install, maintain and upgrade. Regular users should consider joining the repeater group, or supporting the repeater in some way (see support page).
Etiquette for Internet Callers
If you connect to GB3KD from the Internet, your callsign is not announced on air, but people in QSO will know someone is listening. If you want anyone to talk to you, please identify yourself and state your intentions, for example give some CQ calls or say that you only wish to listen.
GB3KD has a timeout of 3 minutes. You may be disconnected if your overs exceed this time. If you persistly fail to respect GB3KD's timeout, you will be automatically banned from connecting to it.
Please don't call the sysop unnecessarily. It's not *her* repeater, and if she answered everyone who connects to GB3KD-R, she would never get anything else done :-( The repeater's VDU is usually turned off, so it is pointless leaving text messages for her.
Remember that your text messages can be seen by other computer users, but not by ordinary RF users. If you want everyone to hear that web address you're trying to publish, use speech.
Your text messages *are* broadcast to packet-radio equipped users, so please mind your language. If you use bad language you will be disconnected and banned.
