OK, here is where it really gets fuzzy for me: ยง97.213 Telecommand of an amateur station. ....... (b) Provisions are incorporated to limit transmission by the station to a period of no more than 3 minutes in the event of malfunction in the control link.
Does that mean that the link must be active at all times? Otherwise, what would provide an indication to the repeater that the 3 minute time interval should start? The link going away? OR does it magically divine that it is no longer under the control of a "control operator"? If the link truly has to be active to be in control then, a dialup connection would not seem to fit the requirements nor would an RF link that is not transmitting at all times. The only thing that seems to fit the bill would be a pair of wires, telco or otherwise that directly connect to the repeater at ALL times!
