User Information for local repeater access

There are no formal costs assessed to members to be a part of the network or local repeaters.  While local owners are free to manage their own repeater just as a traditional analog repeater system, money is not a part of the network plan.  All owners bare their own costs.  Some owners are able to supply radios at relatively very low cost as a courtesy to members and to generally to help promote Ham TRBO acceptance and growth.  But it is fairly expensive stuff and we all have a considerable investment in equipment.  But if you feel generous, we provide a PayPal donation page.  The page is not linked, so you must ask for it if you wish to learn more.  It exists (but is not linked) because some have asked or were willing to fund additional goodies for the network.
 

Most of DCI's general chatter takes place on IPSC Time Slot 1 on our "Comm 1" Talkgroup (TG ID #03777215).  "Comm 1" is used for most of our voice traffic across the network but DCI 1 is now used when only needing to talk to DCI repeaters.  All repeaters have IPSC Time Slot 1 enabled.  Time Slot 2 may be used as a local only, off-network repeater "channel" as the owner desires.  The owner may elect to place his Time Slot 2  on the IPSC network.  If so, members are subject to the same rules of operation as on Time Slot 1.

Some of our local repeater owners operate in a semi-open fashion and don't mind visitors.  Check with them first to determine any access requirements.  If you are able to program your own radios, then you can likely get your radio onto our network without any special information.  Please keep in mind that our open door is primarily for testing or touching base with the repeater owner on a temporary basis and not for routine use.

We have a fairly rigid requirement that all user radios conform to the DMR/MARC radio ID plan and the TRBO-6 Talkgroup plan.  We expect you to re-program your radio(s) or have it done by your local repeater owner or his designee if you are not able to manage that yourself.   We expect you to use the correct talkgroups on the appropriate Time Slots and not to use Privacy or any unpublished talk groups.

If you are a member of one of our local affiliated repeaters, then you have reciprocal operating privileges on any of our affiliated local repeaters.  All of our repeaters are open access anyway but we still encourage a new user or visitor to make contact.  All this information will be provided once you join if you wish to have it  as it can be handy when traveling.  We have a few nifty extras that will be rolled out soon.  One is "TRBO-Link", our implementation of Echo-Link access to the network, via PC or iPhone initially, primarily for security.

Our general rules are outlined in more detail once you join our network or via your local repeater owner.  We do want you to have some idea of our expectations before joining.  While this may seem onerous at first, it does enable us to maintain order on the network, reduce annoying network errors, expand our repeater and user base more efficiently and have a better experience playing TRBO with the maximum of enjoyment with a minimum of inefficiency.