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Where's the BEEF?

Discussion in 'Amateur Radio News' started by Guest, Aug 6, 2002.

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  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Remember back when people  actually watched their P's & Q's because they were afraid of the hefty fines that were involved?

    No more. The obscene things I hear on the Ham bands and the number of unlicensed operators using ham radio as a second CB band is staggering. The lack of enforcement on the Amateur Radio Bands is turning the entire hobby into one big joke. Local interference comities have absolutly no teeth or authority at all. And that's when you can get them off their duff's to even answer a simple E-mail.

    I'm begining to wonder if Mr. Hollingsworth even exsists. When I sent him an E-Mail it took three weeks just to get a one sentence reply. He said "I'm looking into it" and spelled the word "looking" wrong. Geez...

    There's been a freak here in Phoenix using my call sign, and other peoples call sign (including the owner of this web site, yes Fred he's been using yours too) on repeaters here in Phoenix for months that I know about, and others say it been for years! I've filled out the reports, I've sent in the tapes and what happens? Nothing... like always.

    They know the guys name, they know the guys address, they even know where he works. But still nothing ever happens. I went and knocked on the guys door (of course he was to afraid to answer it). But one has to ask then self why the Local Interference Comity or the FCC isn't doing this! And what's worse, all these bootleggers know that nothing is going to happen too. That's why they continue to do what they do. I guess the FCC just dosen't care about Ham radio one way or the other anymore.

    When the enforcement stops, then it turns into nothing more than another form of CB. And we all know what happened to CB. It died for this very reason. Normal people stopped using the band because of the foul language and abusive content. Are you going to sit by and let this happen? Well you are, you all are...you are sitting on your hands in your comfortable chairs while riff-raff and unlicensed operators take over your bands. Thank you Mr. Hollingsworth...for NOTHING.
     
  2. K2GOG

    K2GOG Ham Member QRZ Page

    not only do certain parties continue to break the law by using profanity and other vulger language on ham bands, regular citizens (non-ham) break the law on other "licensed" bands


    many people purchase GMRS handhelds and use them as "long range" FRS radios. some small retailers (no names) will also sell ham gear to those who are going "hunting" and need good radios..

    i work for radioshack, and constantly tell people that certain frequencies need licenses, such as Amateur radio and GMRs, and its the first time they are hearing this. i tell them about fines and Radio Direction Finding to prohibit interference to these bands, but they probably go purchase else where

    i think the FCC should actively enforce, or issue special orders to control ops of repeaters and HF net controls to actively persue the law breakers from interfering, or using other call signs.

    i know this will probably make a million people respond to this, telling me im wrong, or telling me all my errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar but this is my opinion.

    dont waste the band width to flame. contribute in a positive manor

    thanks
     
  3. K0CBA

    K0CBA Ham Member QRZ Page

    "He said "I'm looking into it" and spelled the word "looking" wrong. Geez..."
    Before you get such a knot in your tail about spelling, or maybe just a typo,  "COMITY" is COMMITTEE. ... both times.
     
  4. W5HTW

    W5HTW Ham Member QRZ Page

    </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kd7rhe @ Aug. 06 2002,02:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">No more. The obscene things I hear on the Ham bands and the number of unlicensed operators using ham radio as a second CB band is staggering.  The lack of enforcement on the Amateur Radio Bands is turning the entire hobby into one big joke.  Local interference comities have absolutly no teeth or authority at all.  And that's when you can get them off their duff's to even answer a simple E-mail.

    I'm begining to wonder if Mr. Hollingsworth even exsists. When I sent him an E-Mail it took three weeks just to get a one sentence reply.  He said "I'm looking into it" and spelled the word "looking" wrong. Geez...[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
    ... And Licensed hams using the ham bands for a second CB band -- or for a cell phone ...

    Aside from that, I find myself wondering about the "super dooper" FCC HF monitoring facility? WHAT do they monitor? They haven't monitored broadcast radio or television in years, since deregulation. They don't monitor hams. They don't monitor the military. I suppose they do watch two or three pirate stations, like the ones just below 40 meters, but gosh, a multi-million dollar monitoring station for that??? I can do it with 500 bucks. I guess they monitor a few Freebanders now and then, but only if requested and if "they are not too busy." Busy doing what? To whom? With what? All the FCC cares about these days is cellular phones. The've taken themselves out of the ham radio business. They don't pay any attention to CB, threw up their hands in disgust back in the late seventies and "let 'er rip." They deregulated marine radio and general aviation radio as well. And they still consistently outgrow their budget! With what? More file clerks? More management? Less response.

    I complained about the very wide signals on 14295, of one guy on that frequency, who always splatters from around 14285 to 14308. He is at least consistent! A note from Riley said "send tapes" so I did, but that was during the time the FCC was not accepting packages! So where are my tapes? In some post office outside Washington waiting for the FBI/CIA/DEA/ABC/XYZ to decontaminate them?

    Ham radio is still a pretty neat hobby. But it has certainly changed from the days when we held our breath after letting slip a "hell" waiting for the pink ticket in the mail. I really don't think ham radio was intended for ordering pizza on 2-meters. Or checking on the kids at day care. That's utility communications, not a hobby. But the big thing is the interference, the guys who came over from CB with their "I'm gonna key down on you and you ain't gonna talk" crap, and the "Billy Bob said that," stuff.

    But then society has changed, and it's getting really hard to get a cop to a burglary, let alone an FCC pink ticket to a violation. Pay more for less service!

    73
    Ed
     
  5. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Well kd7rhe this is kf6irs and I would Like to say that there was this guy who was on the radio at 12:30am one night asking for anyone to remind him of his call sine, in exchange for vast royaltys and rewards.
    Thenwhen no one answered after :15 -- :20 minutes he started acting like he knew something of the FCC. then quit after an hour to 1.5 hour's.
    This was in mid june 2002 [​IMG].............................
     
  6. KC6UFE

    KC6UFE Ham Member QRZ Page

    Riley Hollingsworth may not be the only route to satisfaction, you can collect your evidence and file a complaint with the attourney generals office, as that is how our system works.
     
  7. VE6BUD

    VE6BUD Ham Member QRZ Page

    I think the big deal is that if the FCC had the resources to go after every freebander and every single idiot who violated procedure, it would be a lossy way of doing business.

    Take into account that it would cost about $10,000 to go after some freebander, track him down, figure out where he is and then nail him with a $1,000 fine. That's $9,000 down the tubes right there.

    Now you multiply that by hundreds, if not thousands of times and suddenly the FCC is paying big $$$$ to police the "Sacred" ham bands.. and for what? We aren't paying for them so why should they?
    The ISC (The Canadian version of the FCC) has basically given up on the ham bands because they know that there's no way that they can afford to enforce them. More to the point, they'll only typically go after freebanders or violators if they cause havoc with people who are actually paying for their frequencies. (Even hams&#33[​IMG]

    You also have to take into account that the airwaves are much more crowded than they used to be back in the 30's and 40's. Back then, you needed enough expertise to build your own piece of equipment. The realm of the ham radio was filled full of hackers, experimenters and engineers.

    Now, anyone can go buy their "Supertoaster 5000" VHF radio and push the "PTT" button to talk. That means that suddenly millions of inexperienced and unqualified people can get on the air without any fuss or muss.

    Let's face it. Today I can go out and purchase an entire HF station and VHF station from a distributor.. Everything from the Power supply right to the antenna. I don't have to even do any math to figure anything out. Just my 5 WPM CW and maybe a bit of the PTT on SSB, AM or FM and away I go.

    If you don't like it, you can do a few things:

    1. Stop your bitching first of all. It's counterproductive. I mean, I live in Canada, what am I going to do about some freebander that you are complaining about who lives in Florida?
    2. Start up a DF club and have some fun. Track down these people and add a little bit of spice in their lives. (Like doing spontaneous modifications to their radios with a crowbar! )
    3. DO NOT JAM! (That makes you just as bad as them and yes, I have heard that.)
    4. Don't be afraid to set a good example for everyone and not only show decent operating practice but do everything you can to let that person who is violating procedure know how lousy they are making it for everyone.

    Ideally, if you guys want to clean up the bands, the best thing you can do is "Play Elmer" and set a good example. Take a swearing op aside in RL and explain to them why using the radio like a CB is a bad thing.

    If all of you want the bands to be in tip top shape, why don't you start a petition to make it illegal for Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu to produce radios that transmit on the ham bands? That way, someone with clue would have to build their own radio and make the effort.

    I know that sounds stupid but it's almost like a rhetorical question. You like your FT-1000D don't you? You like your Cushcraft TH-6 on your 70 ft tower with your Henry 2K pumping out the legal limit, don't you?

    I've had hams bash me for not being "S9" on HF. Well, too bad if I can only run 50 watts off of a cruddy apartment antenna on 20m. I can't tell you how frustrating that is. I've never had a CB'er bitch at me for not being "S9". What kind of crap is that?

    What I'm saying is that a ham who complains about the bands being full of crap and then goes to push the PTT on his ready made rig has made no more effort to get onto the air than a CB'er.. the only thing that is different is that you aren't swearing.

    Think about it.
     
  8. KB2KAB

    KB2KAB XML Subscriber QRZ Page

    [​IMG] I think it's a shame that Ham Radio has come so far,and yet is being denied it's rightful place as a recognized hobby. If you should mention anything about Ham Radio to anyone, they say what is Ham Radio. And most of the time they feel that it is not worth the time or effort, to get thier ticket. And most of the time they say, C.B. is cheaper. This is the MOST unfortunate part. We as Ham Radio Operators do not do enough to enhance the hobby. Sure we complain that there are not enough people using the freq's, but we do nothing to go out there agrressivley and try and get more people to know and enjoy this HOBBY! Ihave 2 children, they see me on the radio everyday. My 9 yo wants to try and get her ticket soon. We as H.R.O.'S should go out to Schools, Hospitals, Cub, and boy & girl scout troops ETC. and show them what Ham Radio is about. The only way to STOP the vulgarity is to teach at a young age and then you would see that this type of behavior would stop. We also need more operator's, if ham radio is to keep it's range of freq's. This is not only about poor radio skills, or language. It brings in a host of problems that as H.R.O.'S we must take in hand now and try to make the hobby more user friendly and MOST OF ALL MORE FAMILY ORIENTATED. Then and only then will you get the radio to sound like it used to be. I hope in the near future that har radio becomes a very well know hobby, just like any other hobby, BUT WITHOUT THE ANSWER, OF, WHAT IS HAM RADIO! [​IMG]
     
  9. KG6CEK

    KG6CEK Ham Member QRZ Page

    I am a new ham. I just earned my General ticket approximately 2 weeks ago.
    It took me quite some tiem to do this. When I was 11 years old I was a "short
    wave listener." I am now 58 years of age. FINALLY, after 47 years I decided to
    become a ham, something I yearned for for 47 years. When I was a kid I remember sitting in the shack
    of W6FKZ and staring, glassy eyed, at all of the wonderful Collins equipment. Roy Raguse was very
    proficient at CW and he did wonder with his "bug."

    So I finally got my license. As a new tech licensee I was eager to get on the air on the 2 meter
    repeater here in Palm Springs. This aspect of Ham Radio was not as fullfilling as I had hoped and I, therefore,
    proceeded on to the General license. I must admit that some of the language (and useless bickering) was
    certainly shocking both on 2 meters as well as the HF bands.

    I must also point out that in MOST cases the operators on 2 meters as well as the HF bands conduct themselves in a VERY responsible manner. Ham radio, like any other hobby, is what you make of it. In my
    case I will ignore the poor operators and conduct myself in a way that will illustrate to others just how
    much fun this great hobby can be.

    AFTER 47 YEARS I FINALLY MADE IT AND I'M GONNA HAVE A BALL!!!

    73's


    Don
     
  10. N5XM

    N5XM Ham Member QRZ Page

    It's real easy to complain when you don't know what the heck you're talking about.  I've been involved with the Official Observer program for 3 years, and it amazes me how people want to complain, but they do not want to help with getting a LEGAL chain of evidence against offenders that will stand up in court.  The FCC's attorneys are just like attorneys in the real world...they want to try cases they can win, and whiney complaints, without proper chain of evidence, without times, locations, names, and witnesses just won't work, and Riley knows this.
    Contact your Section Manager and complain.  Ask the Section Manager for the e-mail address of the Section OOC, the Official Observer Co-ordinator.  Use the system the way it was meant to be used.  You think Riley doesn't care?  You oughta see how much paperwork is on his desk, how many people call him and e-mail him, people with good intentions, but people who don't have a clue how the system is intented to work.  Sorry, folks, this is the sad truth.  The bottom line is that it is easy to point a finger, and hard to get off your butt and do something.  Put the system to work properly, and maybe something will get done.  Another thing to remember is that the FCC has many other fish to fry besides Amateur Radio.  This is the truth, like it or not.  We are supposed to Police ourselves.  Join the ARRL.  Even if you don't agree with everything they do ( I don't ), at leat they have some clout in Washington.  That's more than I have.  People will say they hate the ARRL, and don't believe a single thing they say.  I used to feel that way, then I figured out that that was exactly the reason they needed me!  The ARRL needs people that don't toe the party line, people that think for themselves, but people that love radio. I wish things were as simple as people think they are, but they aren't.  This is a difficult issue, and name calling, finger pointing, and mud slinging does nothing but obscure the issue, mispelled words or not.
     
  11. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Here it goes again. Mostly about the CB'ers on 10 meters. You know, I here more spanish speaking folks than anything else.
    What really gets me is that the only people that use 10m are local ops at night, wouldn't want that skip to get in your way OM, and the diehard contesters. The band opens up and they are all down on 7.255 to see what so-and-so is gonna say next. You all are upset cause someone is on your band, but there is a point to the instant radio theory. You all complain that it is too easy to get a license and get on the air, when actually the real problem is it's too easy to get a radio, an antenna tuner, an antenna, and a 2 3-500z monster. I will say there was once a fear of using 10m unlicensed but now the only thing to fear are the people(hams) that follow the unlicensed chaps around and harrass them to get off their precious band(which is against the rules too), instead of doing the hamateur thing and just ignoring it and moving on with their life or in the least bit logging it and sending a PAPER letter to the FCC about it. Mr. Hollingsworth probably gets so many emails from whinny hams(and Aaron H. Voobners) that he probably has message rules on most that send them to the can with a canned answer reply. I really don't blaim him for that. All the emails with sniveling would drive me up the wall.
    So my addition to the whole issue is this. Quit stalking people and start doing something about your band. The Internet has enabled a lot of idiots with the ability to email but the real issues get taken care of by snail mail.

    My $.02

    N7UIC
     
  12. KF4LNE

    KF4LNE Ham Member QRZ Page

    I don't think it should be illegal for commercial mfg's to make ham band radios, but it should be illegal to buy/possess any communications gear you dont hold a valid license for and it should be illegal to sell this equipment to unlicensed persons, both should carry a heavy mandantory fine and jail time with no way out and businesses who sell to unlicensed persons should be shut down. By the way, what did the FCC do with the $2.3 million they got earlier in the year when they sold 96.5 out from under the station (WZLS) who had been there for years?  Did they spend it on nice, shiney new DF gear or give some wank in an office a nice new desk? Unlicensed people most likely get on the ham bands because it takes a bit more skill to get on the public safety bands. I know my way around everything from 49MHz GI-Joe kid radios to megawatt TV transmitters and it STILL took me 3 days to find the local PD PL tone and a few hours to find the tone for the taco bell and mcdonalds drive thrus. bear hunters around here use VHF marine channel 10, 11, 12 (400 miles from the nearest ocean) Recently someone around here has been playing music on the local EOC channel 1 and for a while every night at 11 : 00 someone would play a sound bite from "south park" on the county frequency. With all the new radios that can be modifyed to cover 136-174 and 400-500 with the PL/DCS scan anybody can look up on the internet and see whos got what frequency. it wont be long before someone decides to jam the studio-to-transmitter links that still operate in the 150 and 450 MHz range.
     
  13. KG4ROL

    KG4ROL Ham Member QRZ Page

    If you or we want to do something about this we should get a website up and running. To do what- to go let local goverment know about or let you and your group to do something about it. Depends on that situation. We earned the right to be on the HAM air waves. Don't let these pirate stations and/or license that give us a bad name to take over, like with CB's.

    Just want to drop a 2 cents idea.

    73's,
    Chris, KG4ROL
     
  14. W6TH

    W6TH Guest

    Yes, times have changed I "imagine", I "think so", "could be", strangely enough though, I do not hear the goings on, that is mentioned on this thread. Please inform me as to where I can hear all of this profanity, illegal use of calls, and so forth, and etc. I am quite interested.

                               Thank you,
                                  73,
                                  Vito   W6th
     
  15. KB2KAB

    KB2KAB XML Subscriber QRZ Page

    [​IMG]  [​IMG] Please let me know what you are talking about? Ham radio is free but not for use by some fly by night operator who has no regaurd for any rules. So by saying this, If I wanted to just talk on an fm station or am, i should do it because it is free. That makes no sense at all! We are talking about people who have no right to be on these freq's. that are set for people who did take time and effort to read and learn about a hobby, take a test, EARN the RIGHT to be on the air! Please ham radio is bad enough. What you are saying is to let everyone on the air because it's free--I do not think so! IF YOU WANT TO BE ON THE HAM RADIO WAVES THEN TAKE A BOOK READ ABOUT THE HOBBY, AND EARN THE RIGHT TO BE ON THE AIR! I DID!  AND SOS DID OTHERS. [​IMG]
     
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