IARU becomes custodian of operating standards booklet

IARU becomes custodian of operating standards booklet

Over the last eight years, the booklet 'Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur' has become a respected work describing the best standards of operating on the amateur bands

Translated into most major languages, the booklet by John Devoldere, ON4UN and Mark Demeuleneere, ON4WW, is a valuable reference work for all radio amateurs.

The booklet can be found at
http://www.hamradio-operating-ethics.org/

Mark and John recently contacted IARU, explaining that they felt it appropriate for IARU to become the custodian of the booklet into the future, with the scope to adapt and update it to ensure it remains relevant and current.

The IARU Administrative Council accepted this offer with gratitude to John and Mark for the work they have put into the document. On May 5th 2016, Mark and John met Don Beattie, G3BJ, President IARU Region 1, in Brussels to officially hand over the document. IARU will now carry forward the work in future years to ensure its continuing relevance and currency.

IARU http://iaru.org/


http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/may/iaru_becomes_custodian_of_operating_standards_booklet.htm

 

Uh....is this a Gutenburg(sic) bible?

IMO, to elevate a set of idealized guidelines as a treasured artifact of dubious provenance, is silly.

There's a lot of useful stuff in there for new operators, and a lot that is arbitrary and slows down the operating process. You can't define human nature for humans, you can only point out what works, not what it should be..

The best way to get good operators is by example. Lacking direct mentoring, YouTube videos are useful. A highly rubriced booklet is an anachronism for new ops and they won't read it, let alone use it.

My favorite: "Always be a Gentleman"--- GL if you are a woman! There is an undercurrent, IMO, of sexism and northern European bias. Also, manners differ in different cultures, there is no calibration for that here.

FOC would have been a more appropriate place to donate this 'important' booklet, which few know about and is rarely, IMO, read.

Your opinion may differ and probably does...

73
Chip W1YW

 

Chip

You will note the IARU mandate is " to adapt and update it to ensure it remains relevant and current." As you say it has a lot of useful material and while perhaps not as well known in North America is has a substantial following in many other countries.

73

Tim VE6SH

 

While the document has a nice sentiment and some good information, there is also incorrect information.

[edit for clarity]

 

What a crock of BS. I'm only supposed to discuss topics related to ham radio? These nitwits can stuff it...

 

Noticed that along with the reference to .....
"Use the one and only international spelling alphabet"
This conflicts with FCC regs in the US which allow for the use of phonetic alphabets but does not REQUIRE a specific alphabet.
97:119(b)(2) By a phone emission in the English language. Use of a phonetic alphabet as an aid for correct station identification is encouraged;

Was this document distributed to all members of the IARU for comment and published in places like QST where it could be reviewed prior to implementation if yes I may have missed it.

There appears to be some useful information but how or if it applies to the Amateur community worldwide may be in question.

 

It does not conflict with the FCC rules. An actual conflict would be where the guidelines recommended you do something that the FCC rules prohibit.
The FCC rules most definitely allow one to use the ICAO/ITU/NATO phonetic alphabet -- they just don't require you to do so. This operating standards booklet is intended to go beyond the actual rules, and recommend practices that are a bit more specific than the regulations.

That booklet is chock full of recommendations that are not required by the FCC rules. That's fine, and that's its intent. If you want to know what's legally required, you go read FCC part 97, and don't bother with the booklet.

 

There's bound to be a bit of European bias as the book was written by two Belgians.

There's a whiff of "not invented here" about some of the posts in this thread.

 

That's actually how the regs read in some countries. Only topics related to ham radio.

 

Correct, which is why a document that includes regulations that only apply to SOME countries should not be a universal document.

 

My thoughts exactly.
However, I do have the utmost respect for ON4UN. So, I guess it does have some symbolic merit. I don't get the "custodian" part though. Oh well.

 

Cute. but mostly BS.

 

The book is not and does not pretend to be a regulatory document. It contains suggested guidelines. As such it is in the same category as various band plans, it proposes; it does not impose.

If you find errors or think you have better ideas, communicate with the IARU. That would be more constructive than unhelpful expressions of sour grapes.

 

Actually, the booklet discusses "ethical" practices. Maybe it's more like "common courtesies" for hams. As a new ham, I find it very useful and informative.

For those who only operate within the US, it's probably not of interest. All you really need to know are your national regulations. Out here in the rest of the world, it's nice to have some operating "courtesies" for use between countries, especially where not everyone is a native English speaker.

 

Are you suggesting that prior to this publication courtesy was so lacking between countries that the people in those countries required "Courtesy Police" to give them instruction on how to be courteous and had no capacity to figure it out for themselves? A bit insulting I would say. And what does being an "English speaker" have to do with courtesy or anything else related to the hobby?