Question: When is a courtesy beep not a Courtesy beep?
Answer: When it is telemetry.
Any user that access the repeater network will be given a telemetry tone to let you know the status of the mountain top you are talking through. For example, you are talking through the Sulphur Mtn site, VHF or UHF, you let go of your microphone and you hear a “beep-boop“, (1633, 1209 hz) this is an indication that this site is on link (connected to other sites) and that the there is a link carrier delay (link hang time).
If you access the repeater network and you receive a single “beep” (1633 hz) this is an indication that this site is on link but there is no link carrier delay (link hang time).
If you access the repeater network and you receive no telemetry tone, this is an indication that the site you are speaking to is isolated and not linked to any other mountain top.
User telemetry is not transmitted down the link. For example, when you are speaking with someone that is coming to you through the Chatsworth Peak site, you will not hear telemetry from them. Telemetry is only to let the user know that status of the site they are speaking through.
Common telemetry tones you will hear:
“beep-boop” = site is linked, the link has a normal carrier delay (3 seconds)(Normal Operation)
“beep-boop-boop” = site is linked, the link has a long carrier delay (40 seconds)
“beep” = site is linked, the link has no carrier delay
“no telemetry” = site is isolated and not linked (no connection to any other sites)
You may hear other telemetry at times. These are indications of special condition initiated by a control operator.
Reminder, user telemetry is just to let you know the status of your particular mountain top site.
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