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  • Downloads
    • Forms
    • Minutes And Agendas
  • Band Plans
    • Station Definitions
    • 1.2 GHz Bandplan
    • 902 - 928 MHz Band Plan
    • UHF 430-450 Bandplan
    • ARRL 2 Meter Bandplan
    • Official ARRL Bandplan
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Western NY and S. Ontario Repeater Council

Western NY and S. Ontario Repeater CouncilWestern NY and S. Ontario Repeater CouncilWestern NY and S. Ontario Repeater Council

Guidelines

WNYSORC Repeater Coordination Polices and Guidelines

    

A. What is coordination? 

Coordination is a “gentlemen’s agreement” among Amateur Radio Operators to place repeater stations in a location that maximizes the utilization of our available spectrum while minimizing the potential for interference with adjacent and co-channel stations. 

For a repeater to be coordinated, it must meet the requirements of these guidelines and, additionally, must meet the guidelines of any adjacent coordinating council into whose territory the signal might reach. 

We recognize that repeater coordination is a voluntary process. We further acknowledge that the council has no power to actually assign any frequencies and that any radio amateur of the proper class may put a repeater on the air without benefit of coordination. In this document, the word “assignment” is used to describe a frequency or frequencies that meet the applicable standards for coordination. 

So, why should you seek coordination for your repeater? Coordination is good Amateur practice. If an interference question should arise between your repeater and one that is not coordinated, the FCC and IC have traditionally recognized the coordinated repeater and required the owner of the uncoordinated repeater to resolve the issue. 

    

B. Applying for a repeater pair 

WNYSORC membership is not required to request or maintain a frequency assignment. 

It is the applicant's responsibility to supply WNYSORC with an acceptable operating frequency pair. When a specific frequency pair is requested, an analysis is made to determine if the frequency might be usable with the conditions specified in the application. The Council will not be responsible for interference resulting from faulty search methods or conditions that are beyond control of the applicant or any WNYSORC official who may assist the applicant. If a specific frequency has not been requested, the Frequency Coordinator will attempt to identify an available frequency pair that may be usable by the applicant. However, the applicant is ultimately responsible for determining the suitability of the pair for the intended use. 

A request for a Frequency Assignment must be submitted in writing, on the Frequency Coordination Form. The form is available on our web site or from the Secretary-Treasurer. This form must be filled out completely or it cannot be processed and will be returned. A coordination fee, as determined by the Council, shall be submitted with any request for a new assignment. This fee is above and beyond annual dues and is normally non-refundable. WNYSORC membership is not required to request or maintain a frequency assignment. 

    

C. Coordination standards


Coordination standards include but may not be limited to the following rules: 


  1. The ARRL Band Plans for Repeaters will be utilized by WNYSORC. The Council on the 70cm band uses the "in high-out low" offset. In certain circumstances we may deviate from this Band Plan. This is the so-called local option. Any such deviation requires a vote by the Council.
     
  2. The minimum co-channel repeater-to-repeater separation is 100 miles or 160 kilometers.
     
  3. A 40 mile or 65 kilometer site-to-site separation between first-adjacent channel assignments will be used.
     
  4. For repeaters with open water in their path, the distance over water shall be calculated at 50% of the actual distance.
     
  5. Actual spatial separation requirements may vary and will be determined on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the ERP,  AMSL and topographic features within the coverage areas of the co-channel or first-adjacent channel repeaters. A propagation study may also be used to predict coverage and the resulting necessary separation required to minimize the potential for interference. Adjacent councils may require greater minimum separation. WNYSORC is bound by and must respect their guidelines on a reciprocal basis.
     
  6. If a repeater fails to meet the minimum separation, the applicant may seek a waiver from the co-channel or adjacent channel repeater. The form is available on our web site or from the Secretary-Treasurer.
     
  7. The licensee of a new frequency assignment will ensure that the planned repeater can be operated in the existing radio environment without causing interference either directly or indirectly to existing services. In making frequency recommendations, this Council will take into account existing radio operations either co-sited or within close proximity of the proposed repeater site, provided a frequency list is supplied with the application. However, it should be noted that there is no guarantee that without on-air testing a frequency will be usable, especially in a dense RF environment.
     
  8. CTCSS or DCS encode/decode is required for any new coordination. CTCSS or DCS is also required if an existing coordination is transferred or moved. While there is a suggested CTCSS tone for each geographical area, any standard tone may be used providing that it meets the approval of adjacent Councils.
     

Applicants shall supply WNYSORC with accurate data about their site, equipment, ERP and other requested information. Any subsequent changes must be submitted for reconsideration by the Council. 

    

D. ACTIVATION OF A REPEATER
The applicant will be notified, either by email or postal mail when the request has 

  been approved or denied by WNYSORC and/or the adjacent councils. 

Upon notification of a frequency assignment, it is expected that the applicant will have the repeater active within 180 days. A 180-day extension may be granted, if necessary, at the sole discretion of the frequency coordinator. The extension must be requested, in writing, either by email or postal mail, from the frequency coordinator. Failure to get the repeater on the air, even after an extension, may result in cancellation of the assignment. 

    

E. RECOGNITION OF ASSIGNMENT COORDINATION 


1. 30-Day Test Period 


The Council must be notified when the repeater becomes active. The first 30 days of operation is considered a test period. During this test period, sponsors of co-channel and adjacent channel repeaters may raise any interference issues related to the operation of the proposed repeater. The Council may modify or cancel the assignment to mitigate such issues. The repeater frequency assignment is considered coordinated if no objections to the proposed coordination are received during the 30-day test period. 

The repeater will continue to be recognized as coordinated as long as it is operational with the specifications stipulated on the coordination form, which is maintained in the WNYSORC database and the owner/trustee supplies this Council with updates annually. 


2. Annual Update 


This annual update must be submitted, even if there were no changes since the previous update. This update must be submitted on the Frequency Coordination Form. The form is available on our web site or from the Secretary-Treasurer. This form must be filled out completely or it cannot be processed and will be returned. 

Failure to submit this mandatory annual update may result in the cancellation of a frequency assignment. 

Copyright © 2023 WNYSORC - All Rights Reserved.

Darrell Kirby | Darrell@kirbysite.net

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