Thanks to all who replied to this. Yea, my take is the same - the linked system "owner" doesn't know what he's talking about and there's nothing illegal about using a remote base to listen (and retransmit elsewhere) *any* legal amateur communications.
And in case there was any doubt, this situation is one *I* was involved in. I never doubted for a second my position but though I'd share the experience so it might benefit someone when some yahoo takes an unsupported position. Ken
