EMERGENCY AUTOPATCH

How to use the autopatch when you wish to report an emergency (911 type call):

Key up and press 911.

The autopatch access code is NOT required for emergency speed dial calls.

The repeater will announce "speed call to 911," wait two seconds, and dial 911. The telephone will be answered by the City of Alexandria 911 center, because the repeater is physically located within the city limits. You should inform the 911 dispatcher that you are calling on a radio/phone patch and cannot hear and talk at the same time. If your emergency is not in the city, they have the ability to patch you to other jurisdictions (Arlington, Fairfax, DC, Prince Georges, etc.). You should briefly state the nature of the emergency you are reporting. Please be as specific as you can. The most important items are the nature of the emergency, location (street and closest cross street, inner or outer loop, etc.) and whether or not personal injury has occurred.

Remember that you must press your transmit key at least once each minute or the repeater autopatch will disconnect the call due to inactivity. If you hear a single beep while on the autopatch, it is a warning that the one minute inactivity timer is about to disconnect your call, or that the autopatch length timer is about to expire. You may transmit and press *1 to obtain additional time.

To disconnect the autopatch, key your transmitter and press #7. The repeater will announce "Autopatch complete, please ID." Transmit your FCC assigned call sign.

You may use the following speed dials, if they are more appropriate to your situation. All of these can transfer you to Fire, Rescue or another jurisdiction's non-emergency line.

910 - Alexandria Police Non-emergency (not life threatening - such as disabled vehicles blocking the roadway, or a fender-bender where no one is injured, etc.).

912 - Fairfax County Police Non-emergency

913 - Arlington County Police Non-emergency

914 - Virginia State Police Emergency and Non-emergency

Please remember that you should always use 911 when there is a threat to life or property. Those people are trained and paid to take the appropriate actions quickly. They also have the ability to rapidly transfer emergency calls to other jurisdictions.

Again, the above calls do not require the autopatch access code, and therefore can be used by any amateur.

With the autopatch access code, which is distributed only to MVARC members, you may access the autopatch with the autopatch code, followed immediately by 911 and you will be connected as outlined above. Press #7 to disconnect.
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