Andrew Mayo wrote:

> May I suggest, as an interim measure, the method adopted by radio
> amateurs.  Every city has one or more 'repeaters'. These accept
> incoming calls on a particular frequency, amplify them and re-transmit
> on an alternate frequency. It is etiquette to call CQ (who's there, in
> essence) on the repeater input channel, and once contact has been made
> with one or more people, move to a mutually-agreed frequency, thus
> leaving the repeater free once more.

  And may I interject and query as to whether this is used in amateur
radio practice any more than it already is on this list?

  The above description is confused.  Repeaters are to facilitate
communication between stations not directly accessible to each other.
Their primary justification is to facilitate traffic between mobile
stations.  The technique Andrew really wishes to describe is a calling
channel.  Repeaters function as calling channels by default as they
become the most popular (yea; ONLY) channels.  Stations may or may not
be in a position to swap to another channel as they may need the
repeater for contact.  The commonest complaint about the local repeater
up here (rural, mind you) is "It's so dead!".

  In fact, the PICLIST already functions as a calling channel, very well
in my experience.  Those who don't wish to be heard publically post
direct, those who do, to the list.

  All this for the benefit of non-radio-amateurs.  I won't be telling
anything novel to active amateurs.

  Cheers,
        Paul B.