The Burnsville Burper gets BUSTED!

[n0mrr]

The "Burper", as called by members of the Twin Cities Repeater Club (TCRC), to be sentenced Tuesday, March 19, 2002.

The infamous Burnsville Jammer, otherwise known to the TCRC members as the "Burper" entered a guilty plea to obstructing the legal process because of his repeated interference with police andemergency radio communications on February 26, 2002. The Saint Paul Pioneer Press article describes his court appearance. He is scheduled to be sentenced in Dakota County Court March 19th.

The Star-Tribune article covered the same ground.

http://www.tcrc.org/articles/jammer.html
From The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Tuesday, February 26, 2002

BURNSVILLE

Man admits breaking into police radio calls

A Burnsville man pleaded guilty Monday to obstructing the legal process in connection with repeatedly breaking into police radio communications, sometimes urging officers to shoot suspects.

Aaron Howard Goldberg, 32, will be sentenced in Dakota County District Court on March 19. #Goldberg could not be reached for comment.

Since at least April 2000, Burnsville police and fire, along with several other public safety agencies, experienced unauthorized radio communications on their radio frequencies, according to the criminal complaint. #Burnsville officials documented about 25
incidents they believed were caused by the same hacker.

On February 4, 2001, a Burnsville officer heard a male voice on the air say "You betcha" and noted that the transmission was extremely clear, causing the officer to suspect that the source of the transmission was close by. #Just after hearing the transmission, the officer saw a car that was one of the suspected vehicles involved in the radio transmissions.

Officers observed the driver take a handheld radio transmitter and place it in front of his mouth. #At that moment, officers heard a male voice over the radio that appeared to have used an obscenity.

When stopped by police, Goldberg said he had broadcast on the Burnsville emergency frequency "more times than he could count on his hands," according to the criminal complaint. #When asked why he did it, "Goldberg stated that it was just stupid."

--Amy Sherman

Webmaster note. #Unfortunately, Mr. Goldberg is a ham, KBØTUJ

Editor's note: The status of Mr. Goldberg's amateur license, KBØTUJ, is a bit confused. The FCC database lists KBØTUJ as "active" however the following two enforcement letters are on file at the ARRL web site:

March 27, 2001
Aaron H. Goldberg
105 Chancellor Manor
Burnsville, MN 55306-4959
Subject: Amateur Radio License KB0TUJ
Notice of Requirement for Re-Testing

Dear Mr. Goldberg:
Pursuant to Section 97.519(d)(2) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. Section 97.519(d)(2), the Commission has the authority to re-administer any examination element previously administered by Volunteer Examiners (VEs). The Commission may either administer the examination itself, or under the supervision of a Volunteer examiner Coordinator (VEC) or VE designated by the Commission. Accordingly, we are requiring you to re-take the Amateur Technician Class examination (Element 2), under the supervision of the St. Paul, MN, office of the FCC, located at 2025 Sloan Place, Suite 31, Maplewood, MN 55117-2058. This examination must be completed on or before May 25, 2001. Please present a photographic identification and verify your current address when you appear. You must call me at 717-338-2502 to schedule an appointment. Pursuant to Commission rules, your license will be cancelled if you do not appear for re-examination.

May 11, 2001

Aaron H. Goldberg
105 Chancellor Manor
Burnsville, MN 55306-4959
Subject: Amateur Radio License KB0TUJ Notice of Cancellation

Dear Mr. Goldberg:

By letter dated April 22, 2001, you submitted your Amateur Technician Class license to the Commission for cancellation. We will forward your request to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Should you apply for an Amateur license in the future, issues surrounding allegations of radio interference to the Burnsville, Minnesota, Police Department may have to be resolved in order to determine your qualifications to hold an Amateur license.

[n1ztb]

May I recommend CANING as a possible sentence?

Erik N1ZTB
erik@netree.org

[AE4JO]

Another reason for toughening the requirements to become an Amateur licensee.Throw the book at him!!!

[n8ary]

The only thing this has to do with Amateur Radio is that he was an amateur operator. The interference really has nothing to do with Amateur Radio. Anyone can get equipment and information that can aid in causing this type of interference.

It's a stupid thing to do and I can't begin to think of why someone would try a stunt like that.

It's not too much different from the person or people who cause harmful interference to the 20 meter Maritime net. Recently, there was a boat that had sunk or was sinking and I heard at least three stations "tuning up" on the frequency while the coast guard was communicating with a nearby relaying vessel.

I just can't believe this guy was actually sitting there in plain view while he did this. It's too bad everyone who interferes with other services doesn't do that. It would be easy to clean things up, I think.

I agree with tightening the requirements for a license. I think eeveryone applying should be subject to a background check, a pyscological evaluation. It might also be a good idea to throw in a spelling and grammar exam as part of the process.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[aa1mn]

Dear kc0mpp,

You may wish to reconsider your comment about toughening requirements for amateur radio applicants, especially when it comes to the suggestion of spelling ... "everyone" has only one "e" at the begining of the word, not two!

Oops!!! #

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Just couldn't resist!!!

Sincerely,

Chuck
AA1MN

[VK7NCW]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (aa1mn @ Mar. 27 2002,18:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Dear kc0mpp,

You may wish to reconsider your comment about toughening requirements for amateur radio applicants, especially when it comes to the suggestion of spelling ... "everyone" has only one "e" at the begining of the word, not two!

Oops!!! #

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Just couldn't resist!!!

Sincerely,

Chuck
AA1MN[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hello aa1mn,If you are going to berate kc0mpp on his spelling,which is so obviously a typing error,then maybe you both should be berated on another spelling mistake.What does pyscological mean?It's not in my dictionary.He spelt it wrongly,you missed it,probably because you also thought it was the correct spelling.Surely the subject was about the misuse use of radio equipment and not on spelling mistakes. # # # # # # # # OOPS,sorry,just couldn't resist. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Paul VK7NCW Tasmania,Australia.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif KCØMPP:

Live aut thu speeln & gramor plouse! i dun dus thim gud.

73 de Craig............KCØGOA http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

For the masses, idiocy is much easier than intelligence.

[NF2C]

Another unbelievable act and unfortunately by a so-called ham operator!! I don't really know about toughening up our licensing as the majority (unfortunately) seems to be against that! But how about some real enforcement??? The FCC has no funds, SO GET SOME!! Especially in all these cases which can be proved! I for one was never against paying a small fee to maintain my ham license. I know I may get jumped on for that comment, but I would be willing to pay $10 or $25 per year, ONLY IF IT WERE USED FOR OUR RADIO SERVICE!!! What is it worth to you. I drove 2 1/2 hours three times to an FCC office in Bucks County Pennsylvania from Southern NJ to get what I got. I certainly am no better than the newer hams, but a problem surely does exist! Catch the violators and get something out of them!!
**Just my opinion!
73,
Murph

[N2RJ]

Boy is this dude stupid. #Ya don't mess with da po-lice.

[n1rkt]

Some food for thought here. As we all know but may not be willing to admit our hands have been cut off in regard to 10 meter operation and the CB trouble makers getting our equipment. Now the FCC regulations do nothing but drive up the prices for the 10 meter mobile that used to be a good deal for mobile ect. like the 2510's. This radio is now a crime to own or operate evn in its legal use. Now here is the real scvarey part what happens when the CB trouble discovers that 99% of the HF gear can be modified for 11 meters and 99% of the VHF and UHF can be worked to go anywheres, buttom line is the FCC will kill us to get at them! Watch out! When the FCC gave up legal control over 11 meters it went wild and out of check, kind of looks like the same route amatuer radio is taking. The ticket takes no real study to get anymore, the 2 meter bands in some parts of this country are worse than ch 19 on the chicken radio. I drive over the road and end up shutting the 2 meter off more and more all the time just to avoid listning to the HiPower CB of the elite. Bottom line is if we don't start policing ourselfs more the, it will be a crime to be a HAM! Don't mind the typo's I have had my head burried in the books for the last 72 hrs getting ready for my extra GOD HELP ME!

'73 Tracy N1RKT

[n0fkm]

I don't believe that Mr. Goldberg should ever get the chance to get an amateur licence again after the jamming. Even the jamming on the ham band has decreased since he was caught. He should find a new hobby like making license plates.

[Phineas]

When it comes to rules, rules are made for the honest people. A person that is going to break them will break them license or not. All you do by making it harder for people to get an amateur radio license is turn HAM radio into a country club. I will bet there are a few that #would like that very much....lol

The focus should always be on enforcement, not making it harder for the honest people. Rules and laws have never stopped criminals, just made more of them.

By the way, if I mis-spelled something just remember that I am the president of the K-M-A club.

Phineas
KC0LSC

[n0fkm]

MR. Goldberg was jamming public safety communications and for that, he should never get the chance to have an Amateur radio licence again. He should get some experience making licence plates if you know what I mean. He was also suspected of the jamming on the ham bands here in the Minneapolis area since the jamming has reached an all-time low after he was caught. The jamming of public safety frequencies is just that, Public Safety. He gave "Ham Radio" a bad name, and could have caused a life threatening situation by jamming.

[N5RLR]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (n1ztb @ Mar. 27 2002,17:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">May I recommend CANING as a possible sentence?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Caning? #No...a judicious application of a 2x4 upside
the head would get the point across. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[W5KRM]

The FCC use to be an agency that was revered and feared by the amateur community because they enforced rules and regulations and clamped down on offenders. Remember the reference to the "white van " with the antennas cruising a neighborhood, etc. ?

Well, due to budget cuts, etc., they have had most if not all of their teeth pulled. As a result, the ham population was forced to endure the likes ot WA4D(WA4-Dog), KV4FZ, Rain Coat Charlie, Wb2OTK, etc., etc. Some were busted, some are no longer licensed, etc. But, there are still a good number of losers out there who insist of having a captive audience to spew out their rhetoric to, idiots who do just at this loser did, jam police frequencies, repeaters, nets, DX operations, you name it.

It is up to us to become more involved. Report individuals suspected of jamming, etc., and keep on the Feds to take action, to at least investigate. They have been doing some enforcement, but it is a drop in the bucket. Lowering the standards by which to obtain a license won't help matter much either.

[n0oa]

Hmmm... The violator was a HAM. #The is probably only relevent because he was using a modified Amature Radio to committ the crimes. (It's pretty easy to remove the blocks on most commercially available amature radios these days).

It's kind of tough to make a case of more enforement when the FCC issues letters of cancellation. #But, maintains the person as active in the database. #(Although it does appearhis license will expire naturally in 2005) #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[KF4BOT]

I don't know what kind of idiot this guy is. Why would anyone want to jam a police frequency unless he wanted to get caught. He was even bold enough to do it right under their noses to be seen and heard by the police. Even Cbers know that the 4 things you don't interfere with is police, fire, hospital and aviation. And this guy was a ham! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[Gene475]

I agree with all those who believe that this guy just happened to be a ham. Anyone can get the equipment and modify it. Many stores have been forced to sell equipment to unlicensed people because they've been threatened with lawsuits if they don't. The freqs are easy enough to look up on the internet. You don't have to be very smart to do any of this.

It also doesn't take much to purchase or learn to operate DF equipment. Maybe you can put your hobby to some good use by tracking some of these people down and reporting them to the FCC. If enough people do the FCC might take notice and actually do something about it if they see we're willing to put some time and effort into protecting our own hobby. Once the evidence is there it's not that difficult to bring a case against someone.

Gene
KG4ENL

[Aerobat9]

Tighten requirements for an Amateur License ?? YES, YES,YES. #What are the present "testing procedures" unleashing upon the Amateur community ?? Let me give you an example. #Two recently acquired "Extra Class" licensees were monitored on a 2-meter simplex frequency, with the following QSO. #I will withhold their callsigns - they are not relative to this "travesty", the relativity lies only in the fact that these operators were taught ONLY to pass the examination, and they did. #These 2 stations are located 4 miles away from each other.
Stn. #1 this is Stn. #2 over.
Stn. #2 this is Stn. #1 over.
Stn. #1: Where do you want to go ?
Stn. #2: It doesn't matter to me, where do you want to go ?
Stn. #1: #It doesn't matter to me either. I don't think we can hear each other on 20 meters. Where do you want to go?
Stn. #2: It doesn't matter to me either. Where do you want to go ?
Stn. #1: #Lets go to 14320Khz.
Stn. #2: No ! #No! #That's in the General portion of the band, and we are Extra class now. #Let's go to 14219Khz.
Stn. #1: #I hear a pile-up on that frequency, with a "9A" station. #There's a big pile up, with lots of stations working the "9A" station. #Isn't that somewhere in Japan?
Stn. #2: #No, I don't know where it is, but, it's not in Japan. #Why don't you give him a call?
(Pause)
Stn. #1: #I just called that guy. #I don't know for sure what his callsign is, but I called him. #I can hear him, so why doesn't he answer me?
Stn. #2: #I didn't hear you calling him. #Just because you can hear him, doesn't mean that he can hear you.
Stn. #1: #Well, I really HOLLERED at him, and he didn't answer me. #I wonder why he doesn't hear me ? #My SWR meter is pointing at number 5 - do you think that I'm doing something wrong ?
Stn. #2: I'm not sure ! Did you tune your antenna ?
Stn. #1: I think so ! #The signal from the "9A" station is pushing my needle away past the middle of my meter. #If his signal is that strong, why can't he hear me ?

Comment from writer: Fellow hams, this became so disgusting, I couldn't bear to listen any longer. #Look around the bands, and see if you can find some "entertainment" like this !

[N5RLR]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Aerobat9 @ Mar. 28 2002,10:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What are the present "testing procedures" unleashing upon the Amateur community ?? Let me give you an example.

Stn. #1: #I just called that guy. #I don't know for sure what his callsign is, but I called him. #I can hear him, so why doesn't he answer me?...I really HOLLERED at him, and he didn't answer me. #I wonder why he doesn't hear me ? #My SWR meter is pointing at number 5 - do you think that I'm doing something wrong ?...The signal from
the "9A" station is pushing my needle away past the middle of my meter. #If his signal is that strong, why can't he hear me ?

Comment from writer: Fellow hams, this became so disgusting, I couldn't bear to listen any longer. #Look around the bands, and see if you can find some "entertainment" like this ![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The modern, "dumbed down" licensing regs have allowed
the technically clueless, "appliance operators" into our
midst. #But, I'm preaching to the choir, here. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[KF4BOT]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Aerobat9 @ Mar. 27 2002,11:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Tighten requirements for an Amateur License ?? YES, YES,YES. #What are the present "testing procedures" unleashing upon the Amateur community ?? Let me give you an example. #Two recently acquired "Extra Class" licensees were monitored on a 2-meter simplex frequency, with the following QSO. #I will withhold their callsigns - they are not relative to this "travesty", the relativity lies only in the fact that these operators were taught ONLY to pass the examination, and they did. #These 2 stations are located 4 miles away from each other.
Stn. #1 this is Stn. #2 over.
Stn. #2 this is Stn. #1 over.
Stn. #1: Where do you want to go ?
Stn. #2: It doesn't matter to me, where do you want to go ?
Stn. #1: #It doesn't matter to me either. I don't think we can hear each other on 20 meters. Where do you want to go?
Stn. #2: It doesn't matter to me either. Where do you want to go ?
Stn. #1: #Lets go to 14320Khz.
Stn. #2: No ! #No! #That's in the General portion of the band, and we are Extra class now. #Let's go to 14219Khz.
Stn. #1: #I hear a pile-up on that frequency, with a "9A" station. #There's a big pile up, with lots of stations working the "9A" station. #Isn't that somewhere in Japan?
Stn. #2: #No, I don't know where it is, but, it's not in Japan. #Why don't you give him a call?
(Pause)
Stn. #1: #I just called that guy. #I don't know for sure what his callsign is, but I called him. #I can hear him, so why doesn't he answer me?
Stn. #2: #I didn't hear you calling him. #Just because you can hear him, doesn't mean that he can hear you.
Stn. #1: #Well, I really HOLLERED at him, and he didn't answer me. #I wonder why he doesn't hear me ? #My SWR meter is pointing at number 5 - do you think that I'm doing something wrong ?
Stn. #2: I'm not sure ! Did you tune your antenna ?
Stn. #1: I think so ! #The signal from the "9A" station is pushing my needle away past the middle of my meter. #If his signal is that strong, why can't he hear me ?

Comment from writer: Fellow hams, this became so disgusting, I couldn't bear to listen any longer. #Look around the bands, and see if you can find some "entertainment" like this ![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
As long as the actual questions and answers are continued to be given out, this is what ham radio will have. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #Most 11 meter operators know more about radio than these jerks mentioned in the above post. I hope the idiot with the 5:1 SWR fried his finals. If he did, he probably can't figure out why. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

What I'm about to say may anger a lot of people, but the FCC should mandate a 1-year waiting period for a Tech to take the General exam, and another 1-year waiting period for the General to take the Extra exam. This gives a licensee some operating time to learn (more) about radio and operating procedure.

The tests are definately way too easy. I just got my Extra. I was ready for the test after going through the pool twice. I aced the exam. Its time to put an end to public question pools. Candidates should be required to learn the material and answer questions on a test that they haven't seen before. If you know the material, there's no reason why one still couldn't ace the test. When I went to High School and college, we didn't have question pools to study and memorize. We had to study all the material that we learned, not knowing which of it would be on the test. I remember my High School and college exams being an assortment of multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blanks and essay questions. On ham exams, you're given all the questions and answers ahead of time. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #Anyone who knows nothing about radio and electronics can be an Extra. Even a chimp can pass a test that way. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[ve7gun]

Hi all when I got my KB7GUN call I was tested by qualified hams did others buy theirs ?

[KF4BOT]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif0--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ve7gun @ Mar. 27 2002,13http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif0)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hi all when I got my KB7GUN #call I was tested by qualified hams #did others buy theirs ?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
It's not a matter of being tested by qualified hams. Anyone can memorize a bunch of questions and answers without understanding a thing. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif The 2 "Extras" having the above-mentioned QSO are living proof of that! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[KA7RRA]

I was 1st licences has a novice I took a class for it and pass. Then I wanted to upgrade to tec, So I bought me the Dick Bash book and bashed it. and got my tec Do any of you rememeber that book?? Like the book says if you read it 6 times the answers would jump out at you
Dave..

[KD5KUF]

As for caning, I think a fiberglass fishing rod or "whip antenna" would do fine. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I bought the "Now You're Talking" book and studied for six months before testing. Missed one question. I still take the book down often and review, to pick up things I've missed before. And I now have the start of a very good technician and better class library of reference books. I am 41 years old now but I didn't stop learning when they handed me a piece of paper in high school and told me I was educated. Education doesn't really even start until you get out of the "primer school" educational system. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif #Sometimes a "school of hard knocks" education is the best one you can get. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[N3TVQ]

Hey, you can still be a brilliant technician/engineer and a 20WPM code operator - pass any test, and still be the poster boy at a buttock convention... There are still social losers in our ranks !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[n7wsb]

btw - just out of wild curiousity - why does the FCC require people to retake exams? Just because they feel like it? Or because they suspect fraudulant dealings on behalf of the ve?

[KB4FOS]

A "burp" is either a gastronomic anomaly, or a symptom of "incentive licensing"...

You don't suppose, that in our rush to protect our bands with membership numbers that we skipped over the part about proficiency, courtesy, honor? I bet this bozo wouldn't know what a "part 97" is....

If the present, deregulation of amateur radio turns out to be anything like the 1970's fiasco with 11 meters (who needed a "part 95"?), we're bound to hear more stories of stupidity like this one. We used to take care of our own in this hobby with a solid "education" before a license was granted, but now, we just turn them out on the streets of RF like so many faulty chips coming off the assembly line. When one fails, we just red-tag it and send it off to be repaired, never realizing that the reason so many are failing in the first place is because we put production ahead of quality control.

JaxJoe
SpectrumArc (http://www.joe.firstcoastonline.com/index.htm)

[KC0JSW]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif I normally do not post, but I had to say something. I am glad they caught this guy, and he needs to have the book thrown at him. I do listen to the local police channels and did hear this guy several different times. It one thing to be a jerk on the Ham bands(o.k. its not but stay with me) but any amount of playing with the Police only hinders their job performance and could put people lives in danger. People like this are the reason the Law Enforcement Officers bust your chops about have a rig in your car. Maybe instead of making more restrictions on getting a Ham license or having an annual due to keep a license, people should pass an I.Q. test. Common sense isn't so common! But to all the Hams out there who strive to make this a great thing to be part of, THANKS. Your the reason I got my license and am working to upgrade it!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

KC0JSW

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (VK7NCW @ Mar. 27 2002,15:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">He spelt it wrongly,you missed it,probably because you also thought it was the correct spelling.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
"spelt"http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

::smirk::

de AB8LR, Chris

[n5xm]

This has nothing to do with how hard or how easy our tests for Amateur Radio might or might not be. You think Electrical Engineers, or Electronics Techs aren't capable of crap like this? You'd better take another look at it if you believe that way. The difficulty of tests has nothing to do with character. Face it...you take ANY population of people, ANY group at all, and a small percentage of them are capable of something like this, and some of them are licensed radio operators. How you gonna change human nature? Tests are just fine as they are, thank you. What we need to look at is WHY someone would be motivated to do something like this. Some people just don't get it, period, and it has nothing to do with intelligence. You got a test for character? It's probably Unconstitutional to use it except in very narrow situaltions. I didn't make the law, so don't blame me.

[n2ea]

A Significant fine and forfeiture of the apparently
questionable amateur license is in order. With the
emphasis on significant.

I would advocate public hanging, just to cleanse
the gene pool, but that's probably a little excessive.

Would you guys in the cities follow this one and let
us know what happens?? There needs to be visible
penalty for this. Tnx.

n2ea

[NE5U]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KF4BOT @ Mar. 28 2002,19:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">As long as the actual questions and answers are continued to be given out, this is what ham radio will have. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #Most 11 meter operators know more about radio than these jerks mentioned in the above post. I hope the idiot with the 5:1 SWR fried his finals. If he did, he probably can't figure out why. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

What I'm about to say may anger a lot of people, but the FCC should mandate a 1-year waiting period for a Tech to take the General exam, and another 1-year waiting period for the General to take the Extra exam. This gives a licensee some operating time to learn (more) about radio and operating procedure.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

First, I would like to say that I agree with the quoted poster. A waiting period between license classes should be observed. We used to have one built into the system. I took all of the tests in one sitting and was completely lost the first time that I turned on my shiny new HF rig. The choice that I made was to listen and correspond with other HAM's off the air (none in my local area however) until I had a handle on operating procedures, etc. I mostly operate CW these days and most of that is mobile. Sometimes I check in to the MMS net too. I find that CW is the easiest and least stressful (to me) of the modes that I operate.

Second. Why does the illusion that the question pool and answers has only recently been available exist?! That is male bovine fecal matter! I have the first edition of a book printed in 1978 titled: Modern Amateur Radio License Study Guide for Novice, Technician, and General Class by William Hunter, K6QAT. ISBN-0-8306-9866-3 The book has every question and JUST THE CORRECT ANSWER to that question in it. Somewhere in a box I have the same thing for the Advanced and Extra class license. The internet based study guides and the question pools that I have seen and used had the questions AND all of the answers that come on the test not just the correct one. You have to know what you are doing to pass the test (photographic memories excluded. My memory doesn't qualify to be called photographic. Far from it.) or at least understand something of the theory of operating and the rules for operating. What you don't get, from any test, is HOW to operate. That's where we (HAM's) come up short. The ARRL has some outdated publications that are somewhat useful, but live, human help is what is really needed. Perhaps there should be a short course on how to operate that must be passed prior to increasing your license class or getting a ticket.

I agree that the current system is almost a gimmee but it's been that way for a very long time (as far as the question pool goes). The only significant, and detrimental, change was the lowering of the Code requirement. When I tested, I could have made it through the old General Code test. Today, I could handle the old Extra Code test. The old Code test would have forced me work my way slowly to all of the HF privledges that I now have.

Third- What a loser! What kind of person would WANT to interfere in public safety communications and be stupid enough to do it in front of an officer.

[W5HTW]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KF4BOT @ Mar. 28 2002,11:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What I'm about to say may anger a lot of people, but the FCC should mandate a 1-year waiting period for a Tech to take the General exam, and another 1-year waiting period for the General to take the Extra exam. This gives a licensee some operating time to learn (more) about radio and operating procedure.

The tests are definately way too easy. I just got my Extra. I was ready for the test after going through the pool twice. I aced the exam. Its time to put an end to public question pools. Candidates should be required to learn the material and answer questions on a test that they haven't seen before. If you know the material, there's no reason why one still couldn't ace the test. When I went to High School and college, we didn't have question pools to study and memorize. We had to study all the material that we learned, not knowing which of it would be on the test.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
But that's The Old Way. Today's "farm team" for ham radio is CB radio, and the training ground is 2-meter FM with the no-code Technician license. Neither of these teaches anything at all about ham radio, so when these students graduate to HF SSB, the only knowledge they have is what went on with 2 meters or 11 meters. It isn't their fault, actually, and I blame not a one of them. It is that we allowed ham radio to change years ago, with the introduction of the no-code ticket, the water that would eventually break the dam.

In The Old Way, the Novice was the entry level. (For many of us there was no CB radio yet, and our introduction to radio was ham radio first.) With that license, we were students, apprentices, learning how to operate, how to put up an antenna, etc. We made mistakes, we sought help from more experienced hams, and we got on the air and operated, learning procedures and techniques that were from ham radio, not CB. We had one year to find out if we even liked this hobby, and if so, to upgrade or quit. The incentive was there, and it has not been there since. Low power, crystal controlled, restricted frequencies, CW only, all of these taught us how to use our abilities to make contacts, not how to plug in a 2 KW amplifier to do the job for us.

We graduated. Upgraded. Became a "standard" class - General. Or we quit, never (according to the fules then) able to again hold a Novice Class beginner's license.

But Incentive Licensing forced many of us to upgrade. Why? I didn't miss those low band edge frequencies. But a new rung had been added to the ladder of accomplishment, a new goal, and so we went. It was about reaching the top, without having the top moved to the bottom.

Before you could even APPLY for an Extra class test, you had to have held a General or Advanced license for a minimum of two years. You weren't going to be an instant expert. Today a nonham can walk into a VE session and walk out -- Expert. (Extra.) That is ludicrous, and it makes the word "expert" have no value at all. You can't be an expert at anything until you've done it! That's why they have journeyman levels in commercial enterprise; and to get there, you have to be an apprentice.

But that's all past. We aren't going back. The future holds a one-class amateur radio service. After the Morse requirement goes away in perhaps a year and a half, there will no longer be any need at all for license class. We can all be "Amateur Radio Operator" and if we want to call ourselves "expert" so be it. The test can be a 20 question test on how to avoid getting killed while putting up an antenna, or how to recognize band edges (a moot point in the "farm team." )

Kind of like the test for a CB license in the early Sixties.

73
Ed

[AE6FJ]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kc0mpp @ Mar. 27 2002,18:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I agree with tightening the requirements for a license. I think eeveryone applying should be subject to a background check, a pyscological evaluation. It might also be a good idea to throw in a spelling and grammar exam as part of the process.

#http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I'm not pointing specific fingers, as I don't know this guy from adam, but it's usually the folk like this, saying how we should do this and that and the other before someone can get some sort of license, that will scream bloody murder when they're put through these same requirements.

Furthermore, Stop and think of the extra expense and time delay before licensing that would be required, if such things were put into place. Still further, if we're going to hold Technicians to this sort of standard, should we then hold Generals and Extras to a still higher standard, as they hold a higher license?

Yes folks, I realize that the comment I'm responding to was largely made in gest, however remember the old cliche... "Be Careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

[kb7ntl]

One more little thing. After reading all of these replies with a little more attention, it seems there may be some resentment towards the new licensing requirements. I agree with the comment that character cannot be tested at a VE session. Whether you take a year, or over ten (like myself) to go from novice to general, if you are an arse, you are an arse. Funny, but the people I find to be technically brilliant often lack in social skills. If you want to deny licenses to people because they came from a broken home, or have been divorced, then what comes next? Cloning the master race? Reading these makes me want to haul my butt down to the next session and get my extra. I have been studying, but I'm no techie. I have the desire and that's all I will ever need. So, no offense people, but we shouldn't act like elitists. What percentage of licensees are offenders? I believe in enforcement of the law, but I am not going to shoot any young man that comes around because he may have designs upon my daughter. Let's be real. Instead of ragging on the FCC, ARRL, and these bad eggs, go recruit one or seven good prospects.
Ask a local school teacher if you can set up shop in their science class. My last post was purely a sad attempt at humor, but the point, if any, is that charity begins at home. I have been proud to be part of this community, as you all surely are. This concludes my two cents (inflation) worth. Please do not take offense, just chew on it.

73 de K6NTL (prev KB7NTL)

[n8zux]

Well as soon as the FCC Will certify 136-174 Mhz. Digital Spread Spectrum Police 2-ways, and the Agencies buys that kind of Project - 25 Radios, the less you will hear reports on radio Jamming , Michigan State Police Went 800 Mhz. and DSS communications has for their part 5/8 or better of their communications is secured. I think that these 11Meter CB mentallity persons will get bored quick, thats the reason jammers are what else 11Meter C.B. operators missing 3/4 of their brain and totally STUPID !!! I think mostly undisiplined and have no purpose in life, if the FCC does cancell his license I would not know if that would stop his behaviour. maybe the FCC should find out if he's a Public Assistance collector, maybe getting his benefits cut off might make him think. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[wv2b]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (VK7NCW @ Mar. 27 2002,20:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (aa1mn @ Mar. 27 2002,18:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Dear kc0mpp,

You may wish to reconsider your comment about toughening requirements for amateur radio applicants, especially when it comes to the suggestion of spelling ... "everyone" has only one "e" at the begining of the word, not two!

Oops!!! #

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Just couldn't resist!!!

Sincerely,

Chuck
AA1MN[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hello aa1mn,If you are going to berate kc0mpp on his spelling,which is so obviously a typing error,then maybe you both should be berated on another spelling mistake.What does pyscological mean?It's not in my dictionary.He spelt it wrongly,you missed it,probably because you also thought it was the correct spelling.Surely the subject was about the misuse use of radio equipment and not on spelling mistakes. # # # # # # # # OOPS,sorry,just couldn't resist. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Paul VK7NCW Tasmania,Australia.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hooked on fonics wirked fer me! even though I usta spelt things wrong. 73

[K4TIN]

I recommend caning....at the Dayton Hamfest! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

So, first I get dubbed the "hacker", now, the " burper", and what next? Oh, whoa is me, I am so dang hurt.

What really amuses me is that some of you people use my actions as a way to say, oh geez, this means we ought to make things harder to get an ameteur license. Frankly, my friends, that wont really make a darn bit of difference. And you will just alienate the hobby more.

Its not ME who makes some cops give hams with rigs who get pulled over suspicious. Its all the open talk about 'opened' rigs that I've heard hams on 2 meters talk about freely at meetings and even on the air! DUUUUHHHHH!!!!!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif Shouldn't you keep that kind of info on the 'down low.' And what the hell do you need an opened rig for anyway? To do the same crap I did? No? Ok, yeah right, whatever.

I know you wont believe this, but I consider myself a smart person, who did something really stupid!REALY STUPID,& NOT WORTH IT AT ALL!!!!!!

I am remorseful for this, and I AM truly grateful that nobody got injured as a result of such foolishness.

Let me also take this opportunity to clarify EXACTLY how I understand the status of my amateur license,as #of today, Saturday March 3O, 2002 at 3:OOpm CST. First of all, the reason I was notified to retest the first time, was, as understand it, an FCC system generated error, before they knew the particulars of this sitution. I did what the first letter told me to, which was to contact Mr Rollie Hollingsworth at the FCC to schedule a test time. Upon speaking to Mr Hollingsworth, he stated that the first letter was an error on the FCC's part, and that I should disregard it, as they were going to proceed with revocation. I asked him if we could handle this any other way. He, at that time, gave me the option of forfeiture, which I took.Which would explain the second notice of cancellation. I cancelled my callsign, kb0tuj, at my own free will.So before you all get WAY TOO ANALYTICAL about that part of it, thats exactly what happened.

Caning? Oh, boy, yeah baby, I might actully enjoy that
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif # Such dry humor we hams have.'Throw the book at him!' Well, you obiously have no underatanding of all the things that are looked at before a decision is made for punishment. Such anger and resentment. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif I sure hope none of you got so pissed off about me that you had to kick your dog, beat your wife, kids, etc, because you would be doing a bad thing too. Such emotion I have stirred here. Perhaps you should vent your anger DIRECTLY TO ME AT aarong105@hotmail.com, instead of blowing steam on some lame-o discussion board. #Please, spare me no details. Maybe you'll feel better. Or at least punch a pillow or something. What you also apparently do not understand is the sentencing date WAS NOT on March 19. So, I guess if you really want to put your two cents worth in, you'll have to find out when my REAL sentencing date is. Understand this; if I find out who has been threeating my life via phone calls, you will be serving more time than me, I can almost guarantee it. I have the sneaking suspicion its a ham. Gee, I wonder why. Just remember one thing, two wrongs don't make a right.

Oh, and another thing. All this crap was definately not worth it for me and my two kids, which I happen to have FULL legal and physical custody of, and ALWAYS will, no matter what.

Being completely honest and sarcastic free though, I challenge you to find it in your hearts to forget about this, and stop dwelling on the past. I will pay whatever price I have to, and move on with life. I hope you do too. Forgive and forget, then move on. I am truly sorry I have given hams a bad name with law enforcemet, and most likely will never bother trying to get my license again. I think everyone will be happier that way, right? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #

Well, lets see if some of you have the balls to tell me to my face, well sort of, let me rephrase that, see if some of you are man enough to tell me directly how I make you feel. Are you? Or are you too chicken?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif?!!!!!!!!!

Try to send me a virus or some stupid ####, and you'll prove to me how cowardly you really are!

Have fun talking up the airwaves with senseless BS,like the weather and equipment all the time. Its no wonder the FCC has threatened to take some frequencies. All they hear is cliquish nets, and people talking, WASTING airtime, with pointless B-S that nobody cares about. Which is why I began to get so turned off by two meters, at least here in the twin cities.

Oh, another thing, BEFORE you go accusing me of jamming some ham repeaters too, you'd better have some hard core evidence that I did. BECAUSE I DID NOT. Besides, If you are so darn sure it was me, and you are SOOOOOOOOOOOO smart, why couldnt you have caught that person? The cops caught me before you di because I was messing with them, not the two meter systems in the twin cities, so lighten up! That part wasnt me, and if you insist on dragging my name into that, then maybe we should spend some quality time in court together for spreading false rumours about me.Do you really have that much time on your hands? Didn't think so...

Have a nice life, and MOVE ON WITH YOU LIVES!1I KNOW I SURE WILL!!!!!!

Aaron # # aarong105@hotmail.com

[W1SAX]

We have an obscene hacker on our repeater and I want to know how to catch him in the act. #Anyone know what to do?
kc2hlo

[K4TIN]

Ex-KB0TUJ, Burper, Hacker, or whoever you are or were,
or whatever your status with the FCC; you admit interfering with police communications. The result could have easily been errors or confusion costing innocent lives. A perhaps smaller consequence of your actions
is the disgrace you have inflicted upon the Amateur Service.
Please pay your fine or do your time, then take up another hobby.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[ab9dz]

Whats the problem? They busted the guy.Case closed. No extra $ needed. There will always be idiots out there, no matter what anyone does.

[n7iqv]

After reading Aaron's post above..I nominate that post to illustrate the term "dummy load" in the next issue of the ARRL handbook...

In my professional capacity, I am frequently called upon to locate interference to public safety communications systems. It is difficult enough to isolate and identify the source(s) of interference, especially the innocuous hits caused by technical problems such as intermod or spurious transmissions from legitimate transmitters. The added harmful interference caused by misguided operators (be they hams or actual "bad guys") is inexcusable, taking people away from the necessary work maintaining critical radio systems to track down a bad apple.

In the Twin Cities case, it seems there was no lasting damage caused by the superfluous transmissions, but in some future incident this could cause injury or loss of life. This is the sort of thing that cannot be tolerated. PLEASE just stick the the proper bands, and let the public safety providers AND their support personnel do their jobs.

John N7IQV
Tucson AZ

[kb3hie]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Phineas @ Mar. 27 2002,06:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When it comes to rules, rules are made for the honest people. A person that is going to break them will break them license or not. All you do by making it harder for people to get an amateur radio license is turn HAM radio into a country club. I will bet there are a few that #would like that very much....lol

The focus should always be on enforcement, not making it harder for the honest people. Rules and laws have never stopped criminals, just made more of them.

By the way, if I mis-spelled something just remember that I am the president of the K-M-A club.

Phineas
KC0LSC[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I believe you have made the most accurate statement about this subject. The fact that this person had a License has nothing at all to do with what he was doing.

Just like other things ... if you take guns away from law-abiding citizens does not mean you will stop the crimenals from shooting someone!

Just A Thought! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

73's

[RIC]

I am not one to write to forms. I feel that if i open my mouth i just might put my foot in it. BUT what is wrong with this picture? First of all RESPECT!!!! I was taught from an early age that to get and maintain a radio license was a privilage not a right to freedom of speech. This is some of the problem today. Some new ham operators today feel it is their right to own a lecense. I waited till i was 42 to obtain a license im ashamed to have waited so long to get involved since my dad was a radio operator from the age of 11. But he taught me respect for the radio and the frequencies. And I agree we need to have more classroom time not for the technical alone but for the actual use of the airways. This is where the instructor must take over. I am fortunate to have had years of listining to the rules and the etiquete of a Ham operator. If i am wrong in my thinking feel free to correct me. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

RIC
KD5QFZ

[kf4lne]

hukt on foniks werkt 4 mee!

[n0mrr]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
Aaron,

The hobby of amateur radio enjoys freedoms with which comes responsibilities. Ham’s revel with great maffek glee when someone is caught doing the wrong things on the air. In part because seldom they get caught and also because hams differentiate themselves from other radio services because of it’s self policing of the bands. #To this, you have felt pains of the ham’s royal preverbal wouff-hong.

It’s a great pleasure to talk with other parts of the world, many countries have just a select few who can get on the air, while other countries have large numbers who are quite active. #These freedoms we enjoy could all go away if misuse were wide spread.

As for crank calls, and threats and the like. It sounds like the phone company would be quite helpful in addressing these issues. You share the same protections as anyone else and should exercise your rights. #Unfortunately, there are people who need to get a life and leave you alone, who believe that laws and judgments of courts should be circumvented.

As for your crime, when your actions were discovered, you openly admitted your guilt and seem to face your consequences. #Our country after 9/11 is much more focused on public safety matters. #As a result, Your actions likely will be one of many reasons for the Burnsville police and fire to upgrade their communications equipment at the expence of the taxpayer.

You should be commended for your straight talk on the matter and facing your peers. #Public open discussion and awareness truly works best in matters like this. #

Live, learn.... move on. #

CUL 73,

Russ - N0MRR

[w8bsw]

I don't think that tightening exam requirements will solve the problem of immaturity and stupidity. This man should suffer the punishment set forth by the FCC and the local authorities. #Maybe a suspension of his license for a certain period of time but not a revoking. He did admit his guilt and I pat him on the back for that. The ultimate punishment for his actions would be to find out that his immaturity and stupidity was the cause of hinderance to any emergency traffic that was being passed in reference to his family or friends.

-Brian,W8BSW

[KG4ROL]

[B][I]He should get the the book thrown at him. Interefering with public safety commucations. He should some time for that and the make ham radio plates for the situation he did and as well the goverment plates as well, that you see on patrol cars, fire trucks, etc. That should fit his crime.

73,

Chris, KG4ROL

Life sentence without the possibility of parole to
be served in supermax prison.

[n7wsb]

I get so sick and tired of people complaining about rules and regs for amateur radio exams. Here's a few facts about me - I got interested in amateur radio because of the Ward Emergency Communications Coordinator (for MARA net and a few local nets in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). I passed the no-code tech and began working up to general and extra (I'm almost there - I've got a csce for a general and extra license!). Since then I've recruited at least 4 other hams - who are all responsible operators last I checked (and most of them are no-code techs). In my duty as the ward emergency communication coordinator for Beaverton 2nd Ward - in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints one of my duties is to recruit new hams - one of the things I tell people is just read the book, the exam questions, pay 10$, take the test and you'll pass. Generally people won't even talk to me unless they have some interest in learning about radio. I believe you could hand licenses out to people on the way into church 90% of them would toss them out and never use them. If it weren't for me and people like me working my but off to get new operators on the air amateur radio would have died a long time ago - simple as that.

What some of you are proposing is making regs tougher - which may not keep jackasses off the air, but would certianly make it harder for me to upgrade and to help others get licensed - and what good is that?

One thing to consider - most illegal street racers I've run into around town all have perfectly legally obtained licenses where they had to take a written test and a driving test. Your worst high school teacher had to have at least a bacherlors degree and 12 months of teaching certification courses.

Yeah the tests are poorely written - Extra Class exam is half regulations and half electrical engineering. Any EE/Physics/Math test where the actual answer is more important (IE A, B, C or D) then how you got there isn't worth anything anyhow. I rather they concentrate on proper operating procedure, rules and regs, and safety then EE. Most hams I've met aren't interested in designing their own circuts - but they (the arrl/vec) seem to want you to know how anyhow.

Concerning most of those questions in extra class btw my brother in law who is first in his class in the EE program at BYU (hired recently at intel for his work in .18 micron rf devices) couldn't answer some of those questions right off the top of his head - like cable velocity, or antenna length calculations - who memorizes that stuff anyhow? Do what I did when I built a few antennas - like a good junior engineer - look the stuff up.

btw what harm is there in taking all the exams in one sitting? If you think you can do that (I couldn't) be my guest - you're probably intelligent enough to be a ham operator. I think most of this comes from (cw requirements probably comes from this too) basically one statement "I had to to do it - and so do you".

[NN6EE]

Dear N7WSB,

With your last dissertation, no wonder the FREE-BANDERS are winning!!! NOBODY WANTS TO WORK FOR ANYTHING NOWADAYS including Ham Radio privileges!!!
Remember when all of us older guys DIE OFF it's going to be you YOUNGER GUYS WHO WILL BE OLDER and then you'll be BITCHING about the same things we did earlier!!!

HISTORY ALWAYS WILL REPEAT ITSELF!!! LOOK AROUND NOW!!!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Happy Easter!!!

nn6ee/JIM

[n7wsb]

I never said that we should eliminate licensing - sure it needs reforms - but my main point is most hams go on and on like EVERYONE and their sister is just itching to become a ham. I'll tell you what life is like on the front lines - most people don't know it exists - and most could care less if the bandwidth is taken away for their car alarm or cell phone. Those I can convince to become operators are responsible operators because they put effort into becoming a ham.

A lot of amateur radio's abusers are people who took the time to learn all those ee principles, cw, and everything else. Becoming a ham is not easy - wasn't intended to be. Even a no-code tech license does require some study - and I too rather have dedicated people learning about radio rather then having people who want to jam repeaters or just screw around.

When I got my no-code tech I had lots of fun helping the club set up new repeaters, building antennas and studying for greater license classes.

Personally I think freebanders are a minority - I've never heard one (although I have an apartment antenna...). Most people I've talked to in the area agree that its a localized issue - although that isn't to say it isn't a problem that will just go away. These are guys who don't want to work for ham priveledges - who would be doing what they are doing if we existed or not - I don't see how it pertains to amateur radio (aside from the interference).

73 - happy easter :) - n7wsb

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (w6ibd @ Mar. 31 2002,15:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Dear N7WSB,

With your last dissertation, no wonder the FREE-BANDERS are winning!!! NOBODY WANTS TO WORK FOR ANYTHING NOWADAYS including Ham Radio privileges!!!
# Remember when all of us older guys DIE OFF it's going to be you YOUNGER GUYS WHO WILL BE OLDER and then you'll be BITCHING about the same things we did earlier!!!

HISTORY ALWAYS WILL REPEAT ITSELF!!! LOOK AROUND NOW!!! #

:(

Happy Easter!!!

nn6ee/JIM[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

[slash]

I THINK CATCHING OLD BURP,IS GREAT,A GOOD WAY TO GO ....MAX. FINE....

[KC9BDB]

littlebit--


>>>>
Another reason for toughening the requirements to become an Amateur licensee.Throw the book at him!!!
>>>>

WHAT? WHAT does testing requirements have to do with some jack-ass breaking in on Police radios??? Whether he was licensed or not, he's still the same idiot. Anyone can go buy a radio and modify it to TX those bands. I take offense to this; sounds like you are saying anyone with a Technician class license is likely to do this. I respect all of the older Hams who had tougher testing criteria than myself but I don't tolerate ANYONE who refers to the Technician bands as the "Glorified CB band".

Sorry - my 2 cents worth.

Mike
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[KF4BOT]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (n7wsb @ Mar. 30 2002,16:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Personally I think freebanders are a minority - I've never heard one (although I have an apartment antenna...). Most people I've talked to in the area agree that its a localized issue - although that isn't to say it isn't a problem that will just go away. These are guys who don't want to work for ham priveledges - who would be doing what they are doing if we existed or not - I don't see how it pertains to amateur radio (aside from the interference).

73 - happy easter http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif - n7wsb[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
N7WSB, you're a Tech. You're not going to hear any freebanders on VHF/UHF. If you want to hear freebanders, listen on the CW portion of 10 meters (28.000-28.3000 MHz). How about the "trucker channel" on 28.535 MHz! Plenty of foul-mouthed AMers with their roger beeps on the "trucker channel". If you want to hear even more freebanders, tune in to 27.415-27.995 MHz in the no-man's land between the Citizens Band and the 10 meter Amateur Band. When the band's open, this no-man's land is just teeming with activity! BTW, freebanders are not a "localized issue". HF propagation makes them heard world-wide.

[KF4BOT]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KC9BDB @ Mar. 30 2002,18:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">littlebit--
#

>>>>
Another reason for toughening the requirements to become an Amateur licensee.Throw the book at him!!! #
>>>>

WHAT? #WHAT does testing requirements have to do with some jack-ass breaking in on Police radios??? #Whether he was licensed or not, he's still the same idiot. #Anyone can go buy a radio and modify it to TX those bands. #I take offense to this; sounds like you are saying anyone with a Technician class license is likely to do this. # I respect all of the older Hams who had tougher testing criteria than myself but I don't tolerate ANYONE who refers to the Technician bands as the "Glorified CB band".

Sorry - my 2 cents worth.

Mike
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I read all the posts. I don't recall anyone insinuating that "anyone with a Technician class license is likely to do this". It has nothing to do with the class of license. We are all up in arms over the fact that the stupid "Burper" was a ham, period! I, for one feel that licensing requirements should be more challenging. I said so, and I stand by my statement. Everyone should have to know the material, instead of memorizing a pool of questions and answers given out ahead of time. That goes for the Technician exam, the General exam and the Extra exam. I also stand by my statement that there should be a year's waiting period to upgrade from Tech to General, and from General to Extra. As I said in an earlier post, it gives the operator time to develop better operating skills before upgrading. That way, morons who memorized the question pool, and know nothing about radio and proper operating procedure won't get on an Extra sub band with a 5:1 SWR trying to make a simplex contact with a DX station running split.

[kd5qlg]

There is an old saying "KEEP IT SIMPLE"
In life that may be true. But some things should be earned. Such is Ham radio. I tried 25 yrs. ago to get my ticket, but couldn't pass the code. Nov. got mt Tech. and am working with the W5YW tapes to learn the code.Seems alot easier now.
Now I hear that the code req. may be terminated. I fear
that if this happens all sorts of the type of operator listed in the post fron MI. will be all over the bands.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Hey guys, I sort of have to agree with Murph, catch the violators, and get something out of them! But, I have to disagree with his idea of a $15-25/year fee to maintain our licensing, in other words Murph, get ALL of the fines/penalties, etc out of the violators, and use those $$$$ to locate/prosecute the next violator(s), etc., ad infinitum!

[W5NIG]

...hmm.. everyone seems to have an opinion on what should be done with either this guy or the system but nobody seems to question wether or not the guy is even guilty. lol.

I find it 'odd' that someone interested in radio and smart enough to modify a radio wouldn't look around before keying up, let alone bother doing it in the first place.

Hey, maybe he is guilty but lets not get the rope out yet. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

...if I had a buck for every time the feds say they've caught a 'hacker' that broke in to this or that I'd be a rich man. The reality of it is they NEVER catch anyone but they have to find a 'patsy'.

Really now, would *you* hack into a computer system from your house? Not. You'd use a laptop, a free service like Netzero and a payphone.

...he's probably guilty as sin but I had to get on my conspiracy soap box http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

MiChAeL@

[KF4BOT]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KD5RBO @ Mar. 30 2002,22:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...hmm.. everyone seems to have an opinion on what should be done with either this guy or the system but nobody seems to question wether or not the guy is even guilty. #lol.

I find it 'odd' that someone interested in radio and smart enough to modify a radio wouldn't look around before keying up, let alone bother doing it in the first place.

Hey, maybe he is guilty but lets not get the rope out yet. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

...if I had a buck for every time the feds say they've caught a 'hacker' that broke in to this or that I'd be a rich man. #The reality of it is they NEVER catch anyone but they have to find a 'patsy'. #

Really now, would *you* hack into a computer system from your house? #Not. #You'd use a laptop, a free service like Netzero and a payphone. #

...he's probably guilty as sin but I had to get on my conspiracy soap box http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

#MiChAeL@[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The guy is guilty. He admitted to doing it, and even admitted that it was stupid. My opinion of the "Burper" is that he isn't stupid or ignorant. He's a sicko that is starved for attention, like a serial killer. Like the serial killer, this burper was out to taunt the police until caught. Also like a serial killer, he wanted to get caught. Thank goodness, he only got his kicks by acting stupid on the radio rather than killing people. At any rate, he could use some psychiatric help. The most hard-core menace on CB radio wouldn't dare mess with the police like this sicko did.

[kb0vwj]

:) :( :D :p ;) ??? :0 :angry:

I have read your complaints and needed to add my coments to the list.

I was first learned on the childrens band and it was a great elmer that taught me the ways of Ham radio!

I started as a no-code tech and have after 6 years completed my general written exam. This month I will pass my 5 words and become a general.

I work as a telecommunications technician and have been doing this for 15 years.

I had been in radio during the ARMY and fell in love with radios.

I hear how doing this or that will change everything.

DON'T KID YOURSELF!

I worked with an ELMER and he gave me direction and points to work off. He showed me the fine art of ham operations. He helped me along with all my studies.

If you want to end these problems then you need to get more involved and become an ELMER to a newly licesenced operator and encourage good operating pratices. Whining about these things isn't productive. Get productive and take a newbie under your wing and show him the fine art of operating.

KBØVWJ

[Gene475]

I am among the large number of people here that do not see how making the licensing exam more difficult will change much of anything (it still takes a little time to sit down and memorize a few hundred questions and occasionally some understanding sneaks in too). There are plenty of unlicensed operators and pirate radio stations that do things like this. The information is readily available and so is the equipment. This wasn't the result of bad licensing procedures. This was the result of a smart person doing a stupid thing. He even admitted it was stupid. He's been to court, paid his debt to society, and hopefully will learn from his mistake. Get over what he did and think about how to make ham radio better instead of elitist and exclusive.

What makes better operators is experience and friendly elmers willing to offer advice and assistance (maybe even to a CBer -- some know as much or more technically speaking that many hams??!!??). What discourages stupid operating practice is knowing that there are hams that enjoy using their DF equipment enough to go out and track down people that want to create problems. If you want the hobby to expand and you want to prevent the gov't from selling off more freqs then you're going to have to do something about it rather than gripe, complain, and yell at people that have less than perfect operating practice. Even someone who just enjoys a good discussion over the radio during his commute has something to offer.

Gene
KG4ENL

[Gene475]

I am among the large number of people here that do not see how making the licensing exam more difficult will change much of anything (it still takes a little time to sit down and memorize a few hundred questions and occasionally some understanding sneaks in too). #There are plenty of unlicensed operators and pirate radio stations that do things like this. #The information is readily available and so is the equipment. #This wasn't the result of bad licensing procedures. #This was the result of a smart person doing a stupid thing. #He even admitted it was stupid. #He's been to court, paid his debt to society, and hopefully will learn from his mistake. #Get over what he did and think about how to make ham radio better instead of elitist and exclusive.

What makes better operators is experience and friendly elmers willing to offer advice and assistance (maybe even to a CBer -- some know as much or more technically speaking that many hams??!!??). #What discourages stupid operating practice is knowing that there are hams that enjoy using their DF equipment enough to go out and track down people that want to create problems. #If you want the hobby to expand and you want to prevent the gov't from selling off more freqs then you're going to have to do something about it rather than gripe, complain, and yell at people that have less than perfect operating practice. #Even someone who just enjoys a good discussion over the radio during his commute has something to offer.

Gene
KG4ENL

[KG4ROL]

Read more of the reply's of this article, and some good ideas came out of this. First, it's a good idea to catch people like this and make them the penalty and send the penalty money to support the Ham Radio. Second, to keep the test the same (even though it change and easier for people to get the license). The test that I took for Tech. had to study for. Yes, it's the simplest test compared to the other ones, due to no morse code, and the question pool are little harder. Yes, he omitted to it, he needs to pay for it though. Yes, this is a hobby, but we have a set rules and regulations to obey for this hobby. To keep this hobby organized. Just like any other club or a big hobby like this. If, that certain person doesn't brakes certain rules and regs. they should be dealt with that certain situation. It's just like you speeding and getting pulled over and getting a suitable punishment for that situation.

Just want to add more to this topic,

Chris, KG4ROL
73

[N3HGB]

Pilots and sailors use HF-SSB without any license test. If you go to the Islands people use marine SSB and VHF for all communications from taxicabs to laundrymats. There is no attempt at any kind of licensing at all. None of these services even come close to the bad behaviour of hams. We seem to have a problem, mainly here in the USA, of people who know all their rights and none of their responsibilities. No amount of testing keeps people from being a######s

[hartdaniel]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
I dont like seeing these incidents. I am relieved the subject was caught before he could cause a real disaster. #I doubt taking any license away will stop the abuse. Nor would I think making it harder to get one would have prevented it. This person needs help!

Thanks for reading!
Dan Hart
KE3WH
Chester County Police dispatcher

[KC9BDB]

I hate to say it but had the FFC not lowered the testing criteria, there would be no new Hams.. bottom line. Morse code either comes to you, or it doesn't; there is no medium. Personally I could see tougening the written test beyond the current "memorize" multiple guess format and eliminating the code all together. I think the bulk of one's intelligence can be extracted from technical data rather than CW anyway.

WHo knows? The argument will go on forever! Either way, Ham radio licensing and level of skill has nothing to do with this story. This guy is a jack-off wether he's a CB'er or an Advanced. Doesn't matter.

[N5RLR]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KF4BOT @ Mar. 31 2002,19:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">N7WSB, you're a Tech. You're not going to hear any freebanders on VHF/UHF. If you want to hear freebanders, listen on the CW portion of 10 meters (28.000-28.3000 MHz). If you want to hear even more freebanders, tune in to 27.415-27.995 MHz in the no-man's land between the Citizens Band and the 10 meter Amateur Band. When the band's open, this no-man's land is just teeming with activity! BTW, freebanders are not a "localized issue". HF propagation makes them heard world-wide.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Believe it. How about "Radio Truck Two-One-One"
on 27.555 MHz, the "Greatest Show On Wheels?"

The guy claims to be in western Pennsylvania and
booms into Dallas sometimes 5/9.

Just couldn't resist... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Wow, the guy actually had the gall to key up on police frequencies and advise the police to shoot the subjects. I know its probably crass to make light of this, but come on, what a nut. He wins points for guts i guess, but the intelligence of his actions ranks up there with tanning your head next to your microwave antenna... LOL

Paul G-
KC8SQC

[KC0AKT]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Greetings all. #This is just my two cents worth in #regard to this individuals harmful interference. #I am a police lieutenant and in the last twenty four years, I have had the opportunity to arrest three individuals for the same type of crime. #I mention this for the reason that none of the three were in any way, shape or form involved as amateurs. #All three were under age 25, two of them had acquired, i.e. stolen, commercial radios and had modified them to the police bands and one had acquired an old used two meter radio from a pawn shop. #When questioned, all three were just having "fun" to see if they could do it and didn't think that they could get caught. #Needless to say, the judge did not see the humor in what they did. #It is unfortunate that this individual was a amateur and it does give a black eye to those of us who operate our radios properly. #This is also a reason for why many of our departments are going to encrypted transmissions. #Additional FCC testing requirements will not put an end to this, but our continued self policing of our bands will help. #No matter what regulations are in place, there will always be those who try to beat the system and do things like this "just for fun". #Lets try not to over-regulate ourselves out of our hobby. #Those of us who abide by the regulations will always be here, and those who do not, licensed or unlicensed, will eventually be caught.

73's all,

Mike #KC0AKT

[n7wsb]

You're right I'm a tech, but I do have 2 csce's for a general and a extra class license - just need to pass the CW test and I'm extra class (simple... as that). I've been working on upgrading for quite a while now and I do have an Icom 730 - and it has a working am detector. Maybe 10 meter propagation sucks lately, but I tuned into those frequencies using my resonate 10 meter dipole - even the trucker channel throughout the day and I haven't heard anything (did hear a few beacons though).

I believe you that they exist - and they are a problem - I just said I've never heard one on the air :(.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KF4BOT @ Mar. 31 2002,19:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">N7WSB, you're a Tech. You're not going to hear any freebanders on VHF/UHF. If you want to hear freebanders, listen on the CW portion of 10 meters (28.000-28.3000 MHz). How about the "trucker channel" on 28.535 MHz! Plenty of foul-mouthed AMers with their roger beeps on the "trucker channel". If you want to hear even more freebanders, tune in to 27.415-27.995 MHz in the no-man's land between the Citizens Band and the 10 meter Amateur Band. When the band's open, this no-man's land is just teeming with activity! BTW, freebanders are not a "localized issue". HF propagation makes them heard world-wide.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

[KF4BOT]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (n7wsb @ April 01 2002,16:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You're right I'm a tech, but I do have 2 csce's for a general and a extra class license - just need to pass the CW test and I'm extra class (simple... as that). I've been working on upgrading for quite a while now and I do have an Icom 730 - and it has a working am detector. Maybe 10 meter propagation sucks lately, but I tuned into those frequencies using my resonate 10 meter dipole - even the trucker channel throughout the day and I haven't heard anything (did hear a few beacons though).

I believe you that they exist - and they are a problem - I just said I've never heard one on the air http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KF4BOT @ Mar. 31 2002,19:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">N7WSB, you're a Tech. You're not going to hear any freebanders on VHF/UHF. If you want to hear freebanders, listen on the CW portion of 10 meters (28.000-28.3000 MHz). How about the "trucker channel" on 28.535 MHz! Plenty of foul-mouthed AMers with their roger beeps on the "trucker channel". If you want to hear even more freebanders, tune in to 27.415-27.995 MHz in the no-man's land between the Citizens Band and the 10 meter Amateur Band. When the band's open, this no-man's land is just teeming with activity! BTW, freebanders are not a "localized issue". HF propagation makes them heard world-wide.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Don't get the wrong idea. I wasn't putting you down for being a Tech. I just thought that because you were a Tech, that you probably didn't know what was going on with the HF bands. Best of luck to you on passing the code exam. If you want it bad enough, you will do it. I'm living proof of that. BTW, the IC-730 is very familiar to me. I own one. As for 10m, it depends on what time of day you're listening. Most activity is during the morning and late afternoon. During the doldrums of the day (noon-3 or 4) you could hear a pin drop on the band.

[kc0lql]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (littlebit @ Mar. 27 2002,17:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Another reason for toughening the requirements to become an Amateur licensee.Throw the book at him!!![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Not to be too cynical, but tightening the licensing requirements will not do anything to solve the problem!

There would still be idiots out there, only they'd be smarter idiots - less likely to get caught.

99.99% of new hams follow the rules, and there is no reason to hurt them because of someone else's bad judgement. Think of it this way: How many hams did NOT interfere with police frequencies today?

There is no need for knee-jerk reactions that would not solve the problem. We have enough of those going on already! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kc0msq]

Aaron,
You are still foolish and ignorant. Your complaints about 2 meters being filled with stupid conversations is inane and a poor excuse for your behavior. Amateur Radio is a hobby - so of course people are going to be talking about their hobby. What did you expect, disserations on quantum entanglement? When you didn't like the content of the local repeaters did you try to add something interesting to the mix? No, you went and interferred with police transmissions. What an unrelenting jerk you are. I'm glad you are no longer a Ham.

Sorry folks, but I had to get that off my chest. I just got my ticket recently, and so far without exception I have only met friendly, helpful hams on the local (twin cities) 2 meter and 70 cm repeaters. Now I'm sure that eventually I'll meet a jerk or two that will break in to conversations and not use a callsign, or use profanity, but that will be the rare exception, not the rule. Aaron's scathing indictment of the 2 meter community here is just self-justifying balony.

As a software engineer and an electronics hobbiest I probably could have passed the element 2 test without studying (and probably the element 3 as well), but I wanted to be a good Ham, so I studied. I still did not ace the test, but I felt like I deserved my ticket when I passed. I'm planning on getting my general, but I'm not in a hurry. I want to become a member in good standing with the community and take time to study for the test before I ask for General privleges. As you can tell, I take my hobbies seriously. What's the point in putting in a lot of time if you don't? For me, this makes them all the more rewarding. Maybe that's why some people just jump from one hobby to another and never get much satisfaction out of them...

Paul.

[KG4RYT]

I FORGOT WHAT I WANTED TO SAY http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
OH , THATS RIGHT,THROW THE BOOK AT HIM http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[zoofer]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KC0AKT @ April 02 2002,11http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I am a police lieutenant and in the last twenty four years, I have had the opportunity to arrest three individuals for the same type of crime.

Mike #KC0AKT[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
A little off-topic, but...

Shortly after I upgraded from Novice to General WAY back in 1977, I was driving around Orange Park, Florida #yakking with my buddies on 2m FM when I was pulled over by a city police officer who accused me of illegally transmitting on police and fire department frequencies. He knew I was guilty because he heard my transmissions on the Radio Shack scanner he had mounted under the dash of his patrol car while observing me talking into a microphone at the same time http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Being only 17 years old and scared to death, I called for help from my 2m friends and several showed up at my location soon after, trying in vain to convince the officer that the problem was with his scanner. After almost a half-hour, we all drove down to police HQ and - after chatting with the dispatcher (who didn't hear anything unusual on her frequencies) and the city's radio tech - I was allowed to leave. The police officer was never really satisfied that I wasn't actually transmitting illegally on their frequencies.

W0VP

[n8ary]

COME ON- IT'S A HOBBY. LIGHTEN UP ABOUT THE TESTING. IT DOESN'T TAKE ANY LICENSE TO BREAK THE LAW. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[WD5W]

Ok, I have to agree with others who have stated the obvious. It really doesn't matter what licensing restrictions we have, there are going to be morons on the bands that give us all a bad name.

For instance, take the example of K1MAN. This guy is an Amateur Extra who shows to be licensed in the call sign databases since October 17, 1995, before the current licensing structure existed. This was one of the "worthy" Amateur Extras because he had to pass the 20 wpm code test along with the written tests. This guy broadcasted one way transmissions, caused deliberate interference, failed to identify his transmissions, left his station broadcasting when he was not at the control point, sent out "Felony Compaint Affidavits" to those who compained about his behavior or failed to relinquish frequencies to him that were already being used and a whole host of other things. He is NOT exactly a shining example of what an amateur operator should be. Clearly, he's a lunatic. BUT, he passed his test under the older "more stringent" rules. Didn't seem to weed him out, did it?

How about N2NGY? He's another Amateur Extra, also licensed before the rules change. He was sent an enforcement letter because he was caught broadcasting music on 3.832 Mhz. He should have known better, shouldn't he?

Then there's W2OT, an Amateur Extra showing in the ARRL database as licensed October 5th, 1999. He also received a letter from the FCC about broadcasting music on 3.832 Mhz on the same date as N2NGY (were they having a party or what?).

The last one I want to mention is N3GRQ, a General licensee who shows up licensed March 3, 1999. He has also been notified for causing interference to the emergency management communications systems of two Pennyslvania counties, to the Pennsylvania turnpike radio system (almost can't fault him for that) and for interference to SKYWARN nets and a repeater.

All of the above are from just the FCC enforcement letters showing on the ARRL web site for the period ending February 9, 2002. Granted, there are a LOT of amateur operators out there, more who are good operators than those who are bad. The point is, just because these guys all had to pass more stringent tests, they still violated the rules. I have to agree with the previous post that having more stringent tests will not weed out the idiots, it will only give us smarter idiots. This really has nothing to do with knowledge. As has been noted before, this has EVERYTHING to do with character and there really IS no test for that. The only possible test for character would be getting a license based on someone elses recommendation that you are a person of good moral character...and we really don't want that kind of "good ol boy" system in ham radio, do we? If you think ham radio is cliquish now, just pass legislation mandating a character reference as a requirement for a ham license.

No, the answer is not in stricter tests. Please understand, I'm not in favor of dumbing down the tests either, but I AM in favor of weeding out the bad seed. Those with bad characters are going to get in the hobby, one way or another, no matter what licensing structure exists. The way to ferret them out is go ahead, grant their license and then let them hang themselves. That WILL require action by the FCC to fine them, revoke their licenses, confiscate their equipment, whatever. But that's really the best way to deal with these bozos...otherwise, we wind up keeping fine, upstanding citizens out of the hobby while complaining that the hobby is on the decline, worrying about the ITU and FCC giving our frequencies away because nobody is using them.

Soapbox disengaged.

73's
Wayne

[m1avv]

Anybody can get a handheld transceiver and some are already wide banded for transmit.
Tougher exams can't separate "bad" people from "good" people. If they could then wouldn't there be no speeding motorists because they could all pass a driving test. People who break licencing regulations are not stupid, they just don't agree with them and decide to take the risk, I don't know why an individual would decide to make noises on a police channel but there must be some reason other than he forgot to switch his brain on that morning.

[kb7ntl]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ab9dz @ Mar. 30 2002,18:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Whats the problem? They busted the guy.Case closed. No extra $ needed. There will always be idiots out there, no matter what anyone does.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Well put.

When I grow up I want to join the DX police.

Shoot those guys who mess up and make a mistake.

Take their dignity and lambaste them publicly. (kidding)

Do we need to lighten up?

I've had my share of trouble with interference as a net manager, in the past. They get caught. They get sentenced. They pay the price.

Giving them attention is what they want.
Good job.

I'll admit to a couple mistakes operating. Is anyone perfect?

I take exception to the ham who compared these types to those who make operating mistakes.

Not even the same ballpark.

Those who complain, I hope they can perfect cloning.
Then you can have perfect hams just like you to talk to.

Of course, you won't have anything to complain about.

I am sorry, and I hope nobody takes offense, but I believe (in MY own opinion) that a plethora of whining makes our "art" less desireable than the occasional reprobate who uses the equipment maliciously. I know if I looked in here before I pursued the hobby, I'd think "wow, what a bunch of grouchy old bitter farts".

Don't get upset. If you are, then I guess this pair of shoes is for you.

I am saying, in a typically rambling manner, is that this hobby, as is our country, is made up of individuals. We are all essential to the sum. Check your polarity and ask yourself which way you lean.

Whining won't destroy anything. But it wont build anything either.

Agree or disagree with me if you like.

I've said my piece.

Now, to go practice operating split, or whatever I need help with.

73


P.S. There are some good posts here. Very realistic. You know who you are.. hi hi

[kb9pet]

Well well as far as toghening requirements that wont resolve it.However it is people like this who give us a bad rep..Revoke this guys license?....... absolutely yes!
unfoutunately there are many people out there even amatuers who do not use good sense.It is not the licensing protocol that needs changed...I say good for the courts excellent job the more cases that are prosecuted the more clear the message gets across to would- be violators.

[ky7f]

One of the posts here mentioned "never hearing any freebanders on 10m". Monitor 28.305 Mhz for a while. Many times, this frequency sounds just like 27.185 Mhz, bristling with tons of overlapping AM carrier whines. Occasionally, you can actually make a legal SSB contact on 28.305, but you'd better be running a little power to get thru all the garbage. Occasionally, a potty-mouthed freebander will come on and tell you to get off his frequency, even though you have full legal access to it. (I guess I may have been interfering with a 'Worked-All-
Truckstops QSO Party' in progress...sorry guys!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif. Occasionally, you'll get to hear freebanders providing sound effects like barking dogs, meowing cats, mooing cows, the re-broadcasting of music, and the ubiquitous heavy reverb with echo. There's a freebander that recently has been putting his infant daughter on the air...you get to hear her say, 'mommy', 'daddy', and lots of really cute cooing. Many times, if you just listen, you'll get to hear some really good conversation topics! (For example, the freebanders don't worry about what kind of wx it is, or what kind of rig you have. Instead, you'll hear discussions about the latest condx at various truck stop bathrooms, graphic sexual topics, the location of police on the highway, etc.) Another good frequency that pops-up on occasion is on 28.060Mhz. I've had several instances where freebanders (in all cases they were potty-mouthed truckers...sorry guys, but it's true and I have the tape recordings to prove it) get on with massive AM carriers when I'm in the middle of a DX 2xQRP CW chat. Also, listen-in on any of the frequencies between 28.100-28.200Mhz when the band is open and you'll get to hear 'em. Have your rig in SSB/CW Mode, tune the band, and listen for the AM carrier. I guess this would be my recommended "Beginner's Guide To Learning Freebanding".

(By the way, I am not bashing truckers with this. I work mostly cw and frequently work truckers on the road who do cw...great guys and great mobile cw ops!! Unfortunately, most (but not all) of the freebanders I hear are truckers.). Have fun monitoring and hope this helps!!

KY7F

[mimsy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (NF2C @ Mar. 27 2002,22:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Another unbelievable act and unfortunately by a so-called ham operator!! I don't really know about toughening up our licensing as the majority (unfortunately) seems to be against that! But how about some real enforcement??? #The FCC has no funds, SO GET SOME!! # Especially in all these cases which can be proved! # I for one was never against paying a small fee to maintain my ham license. #I know I may get jumped on for that comment, but I would be willing to pay $10 or $25 per year, ONLY IF IT WERE USED FOR OUR RADIO SERVICE!!! #What is it worth to you. #I drove 2 1/2 hours three times to an FCC office in Bucks County Pennsylvania from Southern NJ to get what I got. #I certainly am no better than the newer hams, but a problem surely does exist! Catch the violators and get something out of them!! #
**Just my opinion!
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #73,
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Murph[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I didn't think of paying annually for the license. It would be reasonable, However all the other users don't pay such fees. If you are going to be "Fair" all applicatants would have to pay an administation fee.

On the other hand, People don't like paying the government another fee. sigh.

[ncs4my]

while I would never encourage or support this kind of activity it is just one more example of how little power the FCC really has. The police here in my town splatter their signals all over two meters and weather freq's. Even after I have repeatedly informed them and the FCC of this still at least twice a day or more I can't get weather information when I need it. If the situation were reversed, as "the burper" shows, they would be all over me like stink on manure.

[KB1HWH]

HI there,

You know after reading some of the responses by SOME individuals, it would come across as some guys don't want ANYONE new in this hobby what so ever. I was under the impression that this was just that, a hobby. Where people with all kinds of backgrounds can come together and create a service that's the main line for innovation, protection, and good clean fun. Without new guys, well the hobby would just die out. Just because the questions for entry level are simple, doesn't mean that anyone who passes them are a moron. Some of us are working real hard to make it and advance in this hobby. In fact, speaking for myself, I know I am working real hard right now get my general under my belt so I can use CW. And if the entry level test was as difficult as the extra class license, I'd still study extra hard for it to get into it. I, however, certainly don't agree in making the entry level test any harder. I do believe in however the FCC taking more severe steps for enforecment. These priate broadcasters not only hinder effective and safe public safety communitcation, they are hurting those of us who are scanner buffs, who are going to lose out when everything is digital and our pockets are empty! OK Anyways back to my point, I hope there isn't a soul among us here who thinks that just because someone is just a new no code tech class licensee, he isn't a "real ham", because that attitude alone would turn me and several others, who are in this hobby legally and legitimatley, away.

OH and by the way, its much easier to just learn the material than it is to just learn the correct answers to a question pool. When you know the stuff, the answers jump out at you anyways.

Unless your like me and freeze at taking tests, even when you know the material.

ok :Rant mode off:

--MIKE

[Doctorwho]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif More background checks just what weary americans need

AKA KN4OO

[k0zl]

Time to get the old Wouff Hong out, and let 'im have it! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

73!

Bill K0ZL

[KD6SWR]

I remember my old CB days... when I was scared to death to take my Grant in for repair, just in case it was modified and illegal.... #turns out it was !
and the store owner was a ham, told me I could do one of two things... stand in the corner and wait for the authorities, or "take this book home and study it, there's a test next month and your taking it. I'll make some calls and get you an Elmer, until then stay off the CB and study that book." #Man was I scared... #but I studied my butt off and here I am now... recently upgraded to Gen and loving HF (I also can't abide VHF on up, just like CB) the only thing I dislike about HF is the buttheads, we all know who most of them are, and through fox hunts and direction finding techniques, we can get pretty dang close the their QTH... I was having a ball with my first CW QSO, until ....... # yeah you guessed it # #7.135 became an AM broadcast station, by by WB9YJE too much QRM to copy
Do we have to put up with this kind of thing?
what happened to being scared of loosing your home and cars? #
Where are the enforcers we all hear very little about?
I've cut more than one wire on a jamming station in my time, and RG-8 with a couple hundred watts behind it sparks pretty good... might not be legal for me to do that, but damn does it feel good to get a couple days of good DX and no QRM....
got my eye on another station, being a pain, kinda like the guy this article was about... snip snip
Whew, that was long winded...
73's and take care CUAGN
KD6SWR
Gareth

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kb7ntl @ April 07 2002,11:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ab9dz @ Mar. 30 2002,18:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Whats the problem? They busted the guy.Case closed. No extra $ needed. There will always be idiots out there, no matter what anyone does.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Well put.

When I grow up I want to join the DX police.

Shoot those guys who mess up and make a mistake.

Take their dignity and lambaste them publicly. (kidding)

Do we need to lighten up?

I've had my share of trouble with interference as a net manager, in the past. They get caught. They get sentenced. They pay the price.

Giving them attention is what they want.
Good job.

I'll admit to a couple mistakes operating. Is anyone perfect?

I take exception to the ham who compared these types to those who make operating mistakes.

Not even the same ballpark.

Those who complain, I hope they can perfect cloning.
Then you can have perfect hams just like you to talk to.

Of course, you won't have anything to complain about.

I am sorry, and I hope nobody takes offense, but I believe (in MY own opinion) that a plethora of whining makes our "art" less desireable than the occasional reprobate who uses the equipment maliciously. I know if I looked in here before I pursued the hobby, I'd think "wow, what a bunch of grouchy old bitter farts".

Don't get upset. If you are, then I guess this pair of shoes is for you.

I am saying, in a typically rambling manner, is that this hobby, as is our country, is made up of individuals. We are all essential to the sum. Check your polarity and ask yourself which way you lean.

Whining won't destroy anything. But it wont build anything either.

Agree or disagree with me if you like.

I've said my piece.

Now, to go practice operating split, or whatever I need help with.

73


P.S. There are some good posts here. Very realistic. You know who you are.. hi hi[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I agree , some young person see's all the name calling on QRZ and might possible get turned off to Ham Radio before he starts. I know I would of had reservations if i owned a computer when i got my first license(who knew).
I wasen't expecting to cause so much trouble by becoming a ham so i try to keep a low profile.I hope I spelled all my words correctly i would hate to be called a moron for a spelling error. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

P.S. I need all the pratice i can get too.

[n0pfy]

The paper announed today that the guy was sentenced to 120 days in jail + 60 days of home monitoring and 5 years probation.

Full story is at http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/2253454.html

[n0mrr]

This was reported on the TCRC website as follows:

Tuesday, April 23, 2002

Burper gets 120 days
Aaron H. Goldberg, the Burnsville hacker also known to TCRC members as the “Burper,” was sentenced to 120 days in jail, 60 days of electronic home monitoring, and five years of probation by the Dakota County court on April 23,2002. He is also prohibited from having “any radio or computer software” that is capable of transmitting.

Mr. Goldberg, KBØTUJ, plead guilty in Dakota County Court on February 22, 2002 to obstructing the legal process in connection with breaking into police communications during 2000 and 2001.

Mr. Goldberg was called “The Burper” by TCRC members because of his habit of making vulgar sounds on various repeaters including the 147.21 machine. Articles relating this information appeared in the April 24, 2002 editions of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis StarTribune.

[aa2pr]

If it were up to me ,and i caught you intentionally doing this. I would take your license forever. Police communications are vital to safety and protection of all citizens and non citizens. they risk their lives every day http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[kf6lil]

That's one of the reason's why that police agencies are switching to digital communication's. Give that person a fine.Look do not modify your radio's or unless you get into army/mars. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[soontobe]

There are some strong feelings expressed in this thread: Should licensing prerequisites be tougher, or not. More code, less code, no code. Tough calls. I’m not a licensed amateur radio operator yet. Working on it. Yes I’m using the questions pool to guide me. I’m going through it cold and compiling the subjects I don’t have knowledge of and then I find reference material to learn the answer. But that’s me. I don’t do well with memorizing disjointed facts and figures. I also plan to learn code, even if the requirement is dropped. But like I said, that’s just me. I like a full experience when I get involved in an interesting activity.

I don’t think the dilemma at issue is the technical qualification of an individual to hold a class of license. As has been stated in previous posts, it is one of attitude and character. Like or not folks, the modern person of this generation seems to have been taught that spending a great deal of time to gain rewards is passé. In my chosen field, aviation, the days of apprenticeship are but a memory. Applicants demonstrated the required skill and knowledge to become certificated pilots. A certificated pilot indeed, but by no means an airman. Technical skill alone can lead you into peril. Airmanship that can keep you clear of it was to be gained during apprenticeship. But that’s another story.

Amateur radio is in a similar place in its history. The growth that was spurred by the change in licensing requirements is outpacing the resources once adequate to apprentice novice entrants. Because the novice may very well have an Extra Class license with full access to the all the amateur bands. It was much easier to monitor new entrants when they were limited to a small corner of the band. The concept was probably a sound one. The new entrant was low on skill and knowledge so he was limited while he learned. How amateur radio arrived at this place isn’t all that important. Whining about it won’t change it. And the ARRL is not likely to support a return to more stringent requirements. The reality of it remains that folks that have the intelligence to memorize a question pool, pass a 5 WPM code test can become Extra Class operators but may lack the wisdom to seek guidance concerning the conduct of their privileges? As one gentlemen sa