A repeater provides a finite resource. With the exception of certain digital voice repeater technologies, a repeater provides only a single communications channel. In general, open repeaters are made available with the intent that, as a limited resource, it will be used and shared fairly and cooperatively. Many repeaters have policies or rules that specify how the repeater should be used in terms of the duration of conversations, either at all times or during parts of the day such as during drivetime or evening "prime time" operating hours when repeaters tend to be busiest. Find out what the repeater's rules and policies are and adhere to them.
Always be mindful that other stations may be waiting to use the repeater. Unless there is an emergency, most amateurs tend to patiently wait to use the repeater. If stations are breaking in to make calls during the course of a lengthy conversation, that should be a strong hint that the current conversation is running long. Merely leaving a pause for other stations to break in, or even inviting other stations to break in, is not a substitute for limiting the duration of a conversation on a repeater. Many, if not most, amateurs are too polite to break into a conversation, and may be reluctant to do so even when invited. Quite simply, the onus is on those in communication to know when to end a conversation due to either its duration or having run its course. The burden should not be on the stations who are waiting to have to resort to breaking in to get air time.
Unless you own the repeater, or you are a member of the club or group that owns the repeater, you are a guest. Open repeaters are made available to the general amateur population by the owner as a privilege, not a right. Monopolizing a repeater, either by regularly engaging in lengthy conversations, or by starting or joining multiple conversations in succession over the course of a short period of time, or frequently or rapidly answering the Monitoring Call of stations without giving others an opportunity to respond are all poor practices. Unless otherwise expressly permitted, open repeaters should not be used as "hang-outs" by a small number of guests.
A repeater consumes a lot of its owner's time and money. High-quality repeater equipment comes at an equally high price. Commercial-grade antennas and feedline are very expensive to purchase, and the cost of installing them on a commercial tower is typically even more. The initial outlay for a quality repeater installation comprised of commercial-grade equipment with antenna and feedline installed by professional riggers can easily be well into the five-figure range. There are operating expenses including utilities, site leases, insurance, and repairs. Building repeaters and keeping them on the air and operating at peak performance takes a lot of dedication, time, expense, money, test equipment, knowledge, and skill.
Even if a repeater is considered “open”, it is still private property. Your FCC license allows you to operate your own station, but does not convey any right for you to use someone else's station, including their repeater station(s). As a guest, considering all of the money and effort that has gone into affording you the privilege to use the repeater, it should be obvious that respecting the wishes of the repeater owner, and following the rules and policies of the repeater, is the very least you can do. If the repeater is owned by a club and you regularly use the repeater, consider becoming a member or making a donation, if for no other reason than to help defray a small portion of the ongoing operating costs.
