7.240 - Amateur Embarrassment

[K2ODV]

This past Saturday morning (May 18, 2002), I had the misfortune of tuning to 40 meters at 7.240, where I was "treated" to the "finest" example of Amateur Radio rudeness I have ever witnessed.

Apparantly there was some dispute as to whether or not the frequency was occupied prior to initiation of a scheduled net. #The ensuing hour and a half was not entertaining.

There was a "lovely" combination of profanity (or at least language I didn't want my four year old daughter to hear), deliberate jamming, threats of "tape recording and sending to Riley", whistles, quotes that an amateur radio operator is "courteous" followed by more harassment, and other obnoxious behavior.

I certainly understand the frustration of having a QSO interrupted (if that's what happened, I didn't hear the beginning.) #But it would seem to me that the prudent thing to do was MOVE ON! #To continue harassing and interfering does nothing to help the cause. #It was embarrasing to hear the comments and conduct on 7.240. #We all get interfered with on occasion. #The proper and courteous thing to do is MOVE ON. #Go to a different frequency. GET OVER IT. #Sheesh.

And it seems to me that Amateur Radio only works when we all try to be courteous! #

Just one man's opinion,

73's all,

George
KB3GXK

[KC2JCA]

You know, there are jerks through out this hobby. Why give them this much attention?

[W0BKR]

Hi George,

It isn't just 7.240, but just about anywhere on amateur radio. Jerks will be jerks and they abound.

I was sitting in my shack, hoping and praying for a chance to work the ellusive P5, with my medicore set up since moving. Prior to the "DX" showing up (which he didn't again&#33, I heard one guy come on and aks "where's the P5", only to be answered by another unidentified station, "North Korea". That was followed by "a**h**e", which was then followed by FU, etc. And so it went. Wonderful.

Here is a "DX" opportunity that for many, hasn't happened yet, no documentation, yet accepted by ARRL, with a cult following of jammers and lids that have already worked it and don't want others to have the chance.

This isn't just 7.240, P5, it is any DX, any net, etc. The rudeness abounds just about anywhere. What you experienced is atypical of some "nets" that have "assigned" frequencies". I sure would like to see more enforcement instead of repeater issues being addressed.

GL and turnt he dial next time and get as far away from that crowd as possible.

[N7CPC]

Must have been like a bad accident. Hard to see why people complain about how offended they are by listening to something for an hour and a half.

If somethng on the radio, TV,in public or where ever offends me, I distance myself from it pronto.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning the bad Amateur practices of others. But if it bugged you that much, it seems to me you could have reviewed the manual for your rig and turned the dial.

Scheduling a net doesn't give you "special privilage" on that frequency. A net can't butt in and intentionally jam an exsisting QSO. First come first served.

Some nets solve this problem by operating 24/7. Usually with one or more cooperating nets. MMSN and Mid-Con for instance.

As to 40m, It's too dicey and seasonal to have an "established" schedule anyhoo.

Just my two tenths of a dollar.

73 de Craig....N7CPC

[K2ODV]

I think you guys might be misunderstanding my point...

If a frequency is in use, then good practice requires that you move elsewhere. #It doesn't matter whether you are a net or an individual wanting to call "CQ." #The frequencies are for all to share and belong to no one. #

HOWEVER, one act of rudeness or ignorance does not deserve another. #It's the old addage "Two wrongs do not make a right!" Someone should have been the "bigger" person and moved on. #The continued bickering, verbal assaults and taunting only degrade our hobby. #THAT is the point I was trying to make.

73's,

George
KB3GXK

[K3UD]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KB3GXK @ May 21 2002,06:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I think you guys might be misunderstanding my point...

If a frequency is in use, then good practice requires that you move elsewhere. #It doesn&#39;t matter whether you are a net or an individual wanting to call &quot;CQ.&quot; #The frequencies are for all to share and belong to no one.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
In theory, yes. In reality, maybe not.

Many nets will start up regardless of who is using the frequency as will K1MAN and other ARS #&quot;news service&quot; stations. The established &quot;roundtables&quot; on some bands start up whether on not the frequency is clear and if you try to fight you get what you heard of 40.

Beacons that are always on lock up their frequency although a case could be made that since they were on first the have the use..... but try having a simplex contact on a repeater output frequency, or on a repeater input frequency, especially on a &quot;closed&quot; repeater. Bad amateur practice? Yes, but who was there first?

Until the FCC begins to warn or site stations participating in nets or roundtables that took over an occupied frequency, (this was recently done by the FCC to a contest station) it will continue and you just have to work around them or get into a dispute with them.

73 George K3UD

[KB1GYQ]

Call me a troll if you like, but I want an answer to this question: how is amateur radio different from CB other than holding a piece of paper from the FCC?

I have to agree with Jim, YBP, about 7240. I&#39;ve been on that freq many times with my boys, the ####-a-roach group, when members of various nets will start qrming and/or trying to fire up a net on top of an existing QSO. What got the Roaches so active on that freq again after a relative quiet period was the bashing of one of their members by Richard &#39;Dick&#39; Sumner, K1ZZ. There are several questions the group would like to ask &#39;ZZ&#39; but he hasn&#39;t shown up yet. This card carrying member of the ham radio elite nit-picked Guy, KB1MP, for saying &#39;73s&#39; at the end of a QSO instead of &#39;73&#39;...and went on to call him degrading names related to the Citizens Band and driving a truck for a living. Guy is disabled due to being pinned up against a wall by a big rig accident and will be in pain the rest of his life. Unbelievable. But back to the point. The net members need to learn how to &#39;let it go&#39;, put their egos on hold regarding &#39;owning&#39; a particular frequency for net operation and QSY up or down. Anyone who can&#39;t find where the net is operating doesn&#39;t have the basic skills to be a licensed op in the first place.

[AB6ND]

Some people who are responsible and polite when met face to face become dangerous monsters behind the wheel of a car. It appears similar behavior takes place when some are behind a microphone. What a pity. 73 AB6ND

[N7CPC]

K3UD.........

Very good point reguarding the &quot;closed&quot; ( or open ) machines. Frequency coordination applies to interfeirence between two repeaters. Somewhat rude? maybe but do they by virtue of their &quot;coordinated&quot; frequency have sole claim to either frequency for private ( or public ) use? No they do not. I remember the time before FM and repeaters on 2m. We didn&#39;t have anything near the rediculas squables over the illeagle &quot;private&quot; and/or &quot;exclusive&quot; use claims made possable by frequency coordination.

Machines have their use. But by the same token, so does my daughter&#39;s &quot;woobie&quot;. Most people on the machines live closer to one another than the machine in question. Thus they should take a lesson from their own rants and raves and quit &quot;hogging&quot; the repeater and move off to simplex.

I&#39;m going to go take my pill now.

73 de Craig....N7CPC