Proper Kerchunking

Recently, on one of the email reflectors associated with repeater owners, someone asked how to deal with kerchunkers on the repeater. The term kerchunk means to key up the repeater to see if it is there. It just takes a quick push of the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button on the transceiver to bring up most repeaters, resulting in a kerchunk sound. … Continue reading …
Bob Witte, KØNR, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Colorado, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

4 Responses to “Proper Kerchunking”

  • Matthew Walker, N7TOX:

    Technically, kerchunking is borderline. It’s not an attempt to initiate a QSO, and it’s arguable whether it’s useful in verifying the proper operation of your station or not.

    But only rules lawyers are going to have an issue with someone that properly IDs at least. And hey, you can always just call for a radio check. Now you’re trying to initiate a QSO, and you’re fully within the letter of the regs. 🙂

  • I’ve wanted to build and operate a repeater just for kerchunking – no QSOs, just kerchunking. I would set the transmit timeout to something like 1 second. It would probably get more activity than some repeaters I hear.

  • Tom Kb3hg:

    This is Kb3hg, Test. kerchunk! You irritate ops either way, just trying to be polite I ID and maybe strike up a conversation. it won’t matter much after tonight anyway 12-21-12 the world ends today. ;p

    Tom

  • Emily Taylor:

    I somtimes kerchunk. I don’t excessively do it. Just once when i want to go on a new repeater or if i am using the ht and moved somewhere else. If i hear im hitting it than throw a callsign out.

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