OK. Well then list some specific cases of pirating heard from them. Is it everywhere or coastal, or what, so far? I would think if they had any altitude at all, they could be heard for quite a long ways. Sounds like so far we have a general threat but no specifics. But stuff happens. I recall when a second unit movie crew was nearby, they were using ham UHF FM freqs at the site. This has been decades ago and I don't recall what I did about it, if anything.
1. BAOFENG radios are cheaper than any "blister pack" FRS radio. You can "drop" a fair amount of $30 radios, from the sky, before it starts to hurt financially. 2. These hobbyist are right about one thing....they do, will and CAN operate without any threat of being caught or penalized. It's the O-K Coral on the amateur bands. What's the 'average' we read about monthly, in QST....ONE ham getting nabbed and fined? Let's look at our own ranks....how many thousand Allstar, Echolink or other "digital nodes" are operating illegally? Sitting on simplex frequencies, Nation Simplex frequencies, repeater outputs, satellite pass-band frequencies, etc....or operating in the 2 meter band where "linking" is forbidden! They don't qualify for unattended operation...as they're not repeaters, satellites, beacons or digi-peaters. 3. Let's get ready, team! The League is proposing technicians get "gifted" HF privileges! Let the real fun begin! We're already getting hammering the in the Philadelphia area with illegal operations on repeaters....what'll stop illegal V/UHF-ers from migrating "south" onto the HF bands?! Make purchasing amateur radios contingent on providing a LICENSE!
I read many allegations of illegal operation and the 2m band being overrun by these "unlicensed" Paramotoring or PPC (Power Parachuting) enthusiasts, so I guess this means actual recordings of unlicensed operation on the 2m band to validate this must be readily available to hear all over the place right?
I bet the fcc and faa will get more involved when one of them becomes a crispy critter on some power lines because they were playing with the radio and not paying attention to their flying.
I hope they fine these guys and enforce the rules. One $10,000 fine usually solves the problem with the offender and it would be extra income for the FCC.
Well, if I hear them, I may just be inclined to ask their grid square and request/give a signal report.
The FCC could care less. Issues about unlicensed operations using Baofengs, hams operating outside their license frequency restrictions, foul language on 3850, 3910 and 7200 and many more frequencies, jamming DX operations. Local VHF and UHF deliberate repeater interference. The list goes on. Getting support from the FCC? HA! Barney the Dinosaur would produce better results. Yes, we are "self policing", but who backs US? Who takes it the next step? No one. The perpetrators know they can get away with it, so the antics continue. Yes, turn the dial, or shut down for awhile until it dies down. Call that "enjoying" amateur radio?
So true, but it never happens. Why? Because there is no "they" in your post. "They" SHOULD be the FCC. But like with powerline interference, band intruders, licensed amateurs using foul language, no call signs, intentional jamming, playing music, noisy LEDs, noisy grow lamps, etc., "They" are for our purposes fictitious cartoon characters. Not worth the air they breathe or the garbage cans they feed from. ARRL is right up there with them.
Ya know, I just love bird hunting but my eye-sight is poor. Who knows what just might fall out of the sky....
Sounds more like he is advertising than complaining with that long list of place one can go to do this.
It's just a bunch if hype to get everyone excited here in the forums. It's exactly the type of post that generates pages and pages of comments. Look, here's another one hahaha! Who cares if they use a cheeeepo ht to chat while in the air. Heck, maybe they have some top of the line ht's.. who are we to assume? Many others like hunters and hikers are doing the same thing. I know of many hunting clubs who bought packs of radios for use in hunting.. I'm not the FCC, and I don't even hear them so there's nothing I can (or should) do about it.. Do you go and call the cops on every driver who exceeds the speed limit? Just as some smug hams have told me that life's too short for QRP, I say life's too short to worry about such trivial things as looking up places to fly a powered parachute in every damn state in the US and posting it to a forum. Get a life
Hmm, very interesting (Sgt.Schultz)... Lol I do not own 2mtr or 70cm radios any longer - strictly on HF these days. Got rid of all 2/70 equipment many years ago. Amen...
There have been some very interesting responses to this post, here's a different approach. A ham friend of mine got involved in paragliding, he discovered the group of people he was flying with was using 2 meters illegally. He called a local club and organized a one day learn and test day. I don't recall the exact number but I know they licensed over twenty people that day. SO put away the shotgun shells and the nerf launchers and approach these people, let them know what they are doing is against FCC regulations and see if they would be interested in taking a one day licensing class. It will take some effort on your part but it will be worth it for everyone in the long run.