Dealing with Pirates
G. Stanley Turnbull (WA6ST)
on
May 2, 2003
View comments about this article!
I have just received a card from a QSL manager [DJØFX, Walter Brenner] that was accompanied by a thoughtful form letter, from which I am extracting several ideas into separate postings, to make comments (if any) easier.
The subject here is one that I frankly have no experience with, but
I certainly endorse Walter's ideas, and I quote him [tidying up his English which, I hasten to say, is infinitely better than my non-existent German]:
"Since 1982 I have made 8 DXpeditions to French Polynesia, and it is frightening to hear the very bad situation on our ham bands... Those ever increasing frequency CB pirates invaded all our QRG [that's frequencies, folks; I admit I had to look it up to be sure] from 3.5 to 29.7 MHz. And they are loud, using ham equipment with kilowatt amps and auto antenna tuners!
"Those bandits were ruthless and when I asked them politely to move to their assigned QRG, I got very bad answers. The main problem is there is no law-enforcement on 12,000 islands in YB, BV, BD, 9M2 and South America, but a lot of corrupt people, so we have to defend our vested right.
"I think if one ham spots an illegal/intruder he should give this info to packet radio. Then hundreds of ops should tell the intruders to stop those illegal transmissions. I am sure it would help, because if they realize there is never a quiet QRG for them, they [will not] show up on our bands. But we have to tell them consistently to stop it! For months and years to come!"
He adds that "since 2001 even US fishing boats from Seattle use our QRGs for illegal unlicensed communication."
Now I confess that I just don't seem to hear pirates. And I admit to being a little dubious about his proposed remedy - but I don't see how it could hurt and can't think of anything better. So if you hear 'em, maybe you could give Walter's proposal a try.
73,
Stan WA6ST
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by G0MGX on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I agree with the idea, I often hear what I would call "suspect" transmissions on HF. However, if I know a station to not be a licensed amateur, then for me to transmit a message to that station would be in breach of my licence - right?
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by 9V1VV on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Stan,
An interesting post, but I do feel that Walter Brenner was being optimistic if he thinks the pirates in Indonesia will stop.
We in Singapore face daily obstacles getting through SSB pirates on all HF bands. They operate up to 5KW in all sections of the bands including the designated CW portions. On the lower bands, the only way to hope to work DX from here through the QRM is in the middle of the night when the Indonesians are sleeping.
Not only the Amateur bands, but ALL frequencies from 1.6 to 30 MHz, are affected.
The reasons are complex, and no efforts by radio amateurs will change matters.
I was involved in a large Indonesian Government project in 1996 as installation and commissioning engineer for 15 Marine Coast Stations, in locations accross the length and breadth of Indonesia from Sumatra to Irian Jaya and north to the Philippine border. It was a great adventure for me, and I have many tales to tell.
What is of interest here is that the radio operators in these remote islands would hold evening nets on SSB for the mothers and fathers, uncles and cousins, of young men working in other regions, usually in the cities where they had gone for work. Operators in the big cities such as Jakarta or Surabaya would arrange with these young men skeds for many islands all over the vast country, for a small fee of course. These larger city Marine Coast Stations often use up to 5KW PEP, free-running transmitters. The stations I was commissioning were only 600 watt, but they were also free-running 1.6-30MHz.
It is not only the marine radio operators that cause problems. The police, army and airforce bases work on the same lines. There are thousands of Japanese rigs out there free-running in the hands of as many operators all over the archipelgo, all using radio as a kind of community service, in a country where landlines and cellphones cost money and are far from reliable.
The operators are poorly trained or dismissive of the niceties of international regulations and procedures. For example, a common calling frequency is 10.000 MHz !! It's an easy figure to remember. The low portions of the amateur bands are fair game. The operators often remark on the "birds" tweeting (CW ham operators) but ignore them or force them off the air. I have heard a QSO between villagers in the coastal town of Panjang in southern Sumatra talking with their relatives in Yogyakarta on 9.750 MHz, right in the middle of a commercial band!
I do not see the situation changing in the near future. The pirate Indonesians will continue undiminished in number. There is no local authority in existance to challenge them. And the Indonesians are a gregarious people and thrive on chat and scandal. Radio is the medium for this.
It makes working the ham bands in southeast asia a real adventure at times.
The irony is that ham radio is now very popular in Indonesia. Take a listen on 7025 Khz to the Indonesian CW nets. Immaculate code! I wonder if the pirates are an embarrasment to these guys
73
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by K0BG on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Asking (telling) pirates to get off the frequency or go to their assigned frequency is like telling a drug addict to stop using; it just doesn't and won't work.
There is another hidden problem here as well. Before the US amateur population starts complaining about illegal operation and high power overseas, they need to clean up their own act first. Far too many DX chasers and contesters use illegal power, some in excess of 5KW. Add in all of the illegal CBers, the so called freebanders, and you can see why the FCC has asked the ARRL's OO network for help.
Alan, KØBG
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KU4UV on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
It would help if we put more heat on some of these companies like Copper Electronics and a few of the others that sell these "export" C.B. rigs that a retarded monkey could modify to operate anywhere from 26-30 MHz. A lot of the problems with the 10 Meter pirates comes from truckers and others who operate on the low end of 10 Meters trying to get away from all noise on the C.B. channels.
|
| |
|
FCC Powerless & Uninterested
|
|
|
by WB9GKZ on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Seems to me that any enforcement by FCC in this regard is non-existent.
Looks like all we see for "enforcement" are stories of
letters sent to licensed hams that may not identify at the correct time interval, SSB signal a bit too wide and other trivial "offenses".
Some hack CB truck driver that spent $200 at a truck-stop can use the 10-Meter band unimpeded as his private intercom. No enforcement here! Why?.....becasue the lawyers at the FCC don't know the driver's address to issue him a letter.
Doesn't make sense.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
What is really sad is that some of those that
the FCC has busted for freebanding lately have
had ham callsigns. I will only say that they have
ham callsigns because I do not consider anyone
that operates freeband to be a ham. Freebanders
are criminals.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
pERHAPS IF REILEY would stop wastung FCC resources sending advisory notices to HAMS using their legit call signs, pirites could be dealt with.
Instead the FCC likes to shoot fish in a barrel.
In my neck of the woods the biigist problem are gypsi cabs and narcotraffickers using freqs just above and below 11M
These RADIOSCUM use hundreds of watts mobile. Use over driven power mics, and can be detected by an audio amp!I can be listening to CD on my Nakamachi
stereo, and these llegal ops distorted amplitude modulation find the first diode in any amplifier.
Imagine the power they must use to do that.
A few times I will see a car with an 11M whip when They come through my high end stereo amp.
They will blast though for about 5 blocks away from my QTH. I am never fast enough to get my digital video camera to zoom in on the plate #.
Even if I did, the FCC would not want to be bothered.
It is easier for the FCC to give advisory notices the HAMS that are in the sightest enfringement. Such as HI-FI SSB.
Maybe I should not use my legit call! I understand the FCC gave out notices for using non standard phonetics!
So I guess all we can do is ignore them. The FCC has been ever since ultra high power mobiles that operate from 26.000-28.050. Yes they use the CW portion of 10 meters.
Unless you have something like a Baretta 92F, you can not deal with pirates.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KA6VNU on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Yes....there are BIG problems on the ham bands...
When I hear pirates on the band, I like to send them
a SSTV test pattern (with my call sign of course)
I don't have an amp, but sometimes those "weird" sounds are enough...
de Walt
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WV2NY on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
You might not be able to stop it, but you could cut it back quite a bit if they were to stop making and selling CB radios with 10 meters on them. I work on a dock with trucks and more and more drivers are equipping their trucks with CBs that have 10 meters on them. These guys enjoy using 10 meters for several reasons. Most of these radios are putting out at least 35 watts, plus they, like us, are tired of the CB band garbage and their trying to get away from it. Not to mention they enjoy the range their getting with their new toy and Status Symbol. As long as the FCC is turning a blind eye to the problem, the problem will only continue to grow and get worse until, that's right, they surrender 10 meters to them because it would cost too much to fix the problem.
73' JOE WV2NY
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by N4SNL on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I also agree we should take back the bands and deal with pirates with heavy fines and confiscation of eqipment. They do it in Germany no problem. But most of the rest of the world especially the US, it is almost too late. The same thing is happening with music and video and you name it. When you allow people to sell equipment without a license and download things without cost and the list goes on and then tell them it's illegal to use it the way you are using it is really stupid to put it mildly. This has been happening for so long how can you put a stop to it? Kind of like giving an unloaded gun to a kid and then tell him not to put any bullets in it. So many people have or can buy radios, recorders, computer programs that tell you how to build things and where to get the parts, sell serveillance equipment and spy gadgets to anyone and the list goes on again where is it going to stop. It's a runaway system with no real consequences unless there is a murder or something drastic happens. Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to reprieve!!
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Yes true, those deluxe 10/11 meter mobile rigs are part of the problem.
However many of them are using the same or better HF
rigs than the average JOE Q. HAM. If you tune above 27.5, you will hear freebanders openly talking about their new ICOM, yaesu, and Kenwood!
What bugs me is that I wanted to buy a 400 watt HF solid state amp(THE SKYWALKER). It is only allowed to be sold in kit form in the U.S.A.
While these pirates are running up to 500 watts on AM
10-12 meters. The SKYWALKER will only be sold with a valid ham ticket.
How ironic, these guys can buy an 500W assembled amp.
I guess it is those for EXPORT only stores.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
One of the main issues is the easy access
to illegally modified radios. Look at http://www.copper.com/ . This company openly
advertises 11 meter modifications to 10 meter
radios. It's one of the options they offer on the
10 meter radio description page !!! Even though this company is in the United States, the FCC has not shut them down. Unless the FCC begins enforcement on
the sale of the equipment, this issue will continue to
get worse.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KG4OOA on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I don't think we will have much luck in dealing with pirates in Indonesia or other South Pacific or Indian Ocean areas. This is because there are no (thank God)international police.
The simple solution was taught to me years ago while on dury in the U. S. Air Force. I spent most of my life in radar operations and as such spent much time on HF, VHF and UHF radios (I was a GCI Controller and HF Radio Operator as an additional duty). One of the things we learned about was ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) or jamming and ECCM (Electronic Counter Counter Measures) or anti-jamming.
Our HF nets could only change frequence at the direction of the NCS and that only happened when communications were lost due to propagation. So running away from the bad guy was not the answer. We were taught the 3 Rs of ECCM. These were Recognize, Report and Read Through the ECM.
Recognizing these guys is fairly easy. Those of us that have heard them know what it is.
Reporting -- We, at the present, have no formal reporting system to anyone but listening to them may bring out facts that could be brought to the attention of Homeland Security or local law enforcement based on what is heard. Also, for the rest, Indonesia is a hot bed of terrorist activities as well as piracy. Use your heads.
Read through is the most important aspect. Rotate your antenna and use filters and use your ears. They work wonders. However this won't work if you run away from anything but 59 signals. You have to be willing to strain your ears. I am surprised at the number of QSOs ended because the signal went to 51 or 52 or even 42 or 43. Also give honest signal reports not just a canned 59.
I know this workes because the Soivets tried their very best to jam us constantly and a lot of it was more than 5KW. They sent CW. They talked over us. They used noise jammers. They even recorded us and played it back. The end result was we always got our traffic through even though it was hard at times. It was fun too.
Try it! You might have fun beating them.
73,
Bob,KG4OOA
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by G3SEA on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Obviously it is a very daunting task to identify all or any of these stations and prosecute them internationally.They know this and that's why it is getting out of hand.
For the International Ham HF bands to go the way of the domestic CB band would be a disaster.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KE4ZHN on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
This is an unfortunate problem thats not confined to just the freeband areas between 26-30 mhz. Many times I hear pirates on the amateur bands usually running the opposite sideband of the normally used one on that particular band and splattering down on top of QSO`s that are legit on the lower bands, namely 40-75 mtrs. These operators usually speak spanish and never ID with any callsign, foreign or US. Why isnt the FCC busting them? I realize some of these stations may be outside US borders, but many are not. Miami seems to be a haven for pirates here in Florida and they operate at will on any band they choose at any power they choose while Riley goes after "wideband" audio guys with legit calls!
Why are there literally thousands of "export" radios floating around the freeband areas and operating with little fear of being caught? Wouldnt it be a simple matter to have DOT officers (who already have law enforcement powers) confiscate illegal rigs when trucks pass through weigh stations? Im not suggesting that ALL truck drivers or ALL spanish stations are illegal, but a great many of the pirates seem to fit that criteria. Sure, asking DOT officers to confiscate gear sounds ridiculous, but why not? Clinton saw fit to allow police officers to investigate and even arrest bootleg cb`ers who get numerous interference complaints from neighbors, so what makes this idea so far out?
I agree with the poster who suggested that the FCC seems to prefer shooting fish in a barrel to actually going out and catching pirates simply because its easy to cite a legit ham. Granted, its a tall order to ask of the FCC to go after these thousands of pirates, but after all, they created this mess by deregulating CB in the first place! This double standard that exists now is totally unfair to hams who took the effort to get a legal ticket, only to be qrm`ed by some idiot who bought his gear in some truck stop and splatters all over the place! Meanwhile, the pirate does as he pleases, and if the legit ham were to retaliate, HE in fact would be cited for qrming the pirate! Its NOT legal for an amateur to willfully interfere with ANY communications, even pirates! I find this a bit strange. To me, it protects the lawless while penalizing the lawful.
Kind of sounds like some of our gun laws...but thats a whole different ballgame! The only way the bands will be cleaned up, is if the commission gets off its can and does its job! Hams are expected to be self policing, but does this mean we are supposed to play frequency cop for pirates too? This falls totally under FCC jurisdiction, NOT hams. And besides, how many times have I read where hams have turned in complaints on pirates only to be totally ignored by the commission? Hams send in tapes and monitoring evidence, and the FCC does nothing. Yet if someone complains about someone being too wide, or some minor infraction, they send out a letter ASAP to the so called offender. I dont support people breaking the rules, or condone it in any way, but it just seems to me that the FCC only sees fit to go after easy busts at every chance.
Recently, there has been a big flap over the wideband audio thing on 14.178. While Im NOT in favor of some of those operators running 6 kc wide just to sound good, this strikes me as inconsiderate on their parts. You can sound quite good only 3 kc wide if you work at it. But, I find it funny that Riley sent out letters to otherwise good hams based strictly on complaints from other 20 mtr. operators. Why will the commission take immediate action on a matter like this, while rampant pirating goes totally unchecked? Simple, its real easy to look up a call and send a letter, rather then actually go through the effort of tracking a pirate down with DF equipment.
One would think with the modern technology the FCC has at its disposal, it would be quite simple for them to track pirates though. Gone are the days of monitoring stations all over the US. Now,they simply fire up a satellite and track a signal in seconds. Why arent they using this capability more? You always read that the FCC is underfunded. Hmmmmmmm... once again I find this hard to believe! Look at your phone bill and notice all the FCC taxes on it. And your cable TV bill too. Where is this money going? Trouble is, the FCC has bigger fish to fry and ham radio is nothing but a nuisnace to them to enforce. They much rather would collect big money from cell phone companies and other big money interests then mess with some pirate splattering somewhere.
Once again, this just proves that the FCC isnt willing to enforce any rules they made that require any WORK to enforce!
Rich
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by W1NCH on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
"Meanwhile, the pirate does as he pleases, and if the legit ham were to retaliate, HE in fact would be cited for qrming the pirate! Its NOT legal for an amateur to willfully interfere with ANY communications, even pirates!"
Actually, this particular subject was discussed on other bulletin boards some time ago and Mr. Hollingsworth was good enough to clarify this for us.
Anyone transmitting a distress call has precedence over anyone else, even if an unlicensed/illegal transmitter interferes with a legal transmission. However, if a licensed amateur transmits over a pirate, then it is perfectly legal. In this scenario, the pirate is causing interference to a legally authorized transmission.
Besides, just who is the pirate going to complain to?
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by W5RB on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Maybe now that Riley's asked specifically for ham help in getting pirates off 10 , somebody in Manhattan will suggest to him that he get the cooperation of the Taxi Commission and yank the radios out of every medallion cab with a K-40 antenna .That'd take a hundred or more 24/7 pirates off the CW and phone segments of 10 in that area , and he could do it in a week.Any OOs paying attantion?
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by AC4UR on May 2, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Living in Florida I hear a lot of South American and Mexican stations using our bands illegally. The ten meter band is used a lot by freebanders and truckers, but they are the in the minority. I went back to 40 meters last winter and found the CW section being used by the same groups. Sometimes USB or LSB but usually the TX is having problems with carrier suppression. Some of the SSB signals are so distorted you can not make out words even though they are S9. I have searched on occasion and found just about every 5khz you will find one of these pirates. I hear them from 6 mhz to 29 mhz.
One comment in a discussion before was to run them off by keeping our frequencies very populated. During the CQ WW CW contest they were still there. I waited for quite awhile to work a ZL2 and still had to fight with SSB QRM from pirates. You can not run them off just by being on frequency. They are transmitting short haul and we are of very small concern to them.
One of the methods to identify a pirate station is to "finger print" their signal. Each transmitter has characteristics that make it unique. I worked for an agency many years ago that used this to positively identify any transmitter. (I would love to use this to find those lids tuning up on a DX pileup - hi)
Is this a curable situation? Very much so. There is no quick fix or over night cure. With planning, work and perseverance we could solve this issue. These discussions come up frequently as the problem is becoming a world wide concern. Most hams are frustrated as there doesn't seem to be an answer as to what to do about it. We blame everyone from manufacturer to the FCC. You have to look beyond the "one cause-one cure" thought process. I am also frustrated with pirate issue, but even more frustrated by the lack of creative thought in solving the problem. If anyone out there reading these posts works for the FCC or other government agency, give me a call.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KE6OUD on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I too, agree with most of the posts here on freebanders. I am a lic. Ham & a truck driver. I get really irate when another driver blows by me running 100 watts or better on his modified Galaxy (sold in truck stops)just to talk to his buddy 5 truck lengths away & tears up my stereo or worse, trying to watch a football game & the tv goes nuts while at a truck stop. I believe they need to yank all this illegal equiptment out of these truck stop "Super Stores" & ask the DOT at the inspection scales to help in the confiscation of said radios. Proof should be shown (Ham ticket) that the driver is in fact, a legal holder of a FCC issued lic. The DOT already grabs up any & all Radar Detectors & Police Scanners which are illegal in a commercial vehicle. I have asked several of these guys to go all out, study & get their ticket. Most replied, " Ain't got time driver, more fun this way!" Well, I figured out a long time ago that once my cb days were over, I met a better class of people on Amature Radio. Plus, I really don't think I would want these boneheads on my frequency. They're to stupid to pass a simple test just for 2 meters! But all in all, I DO write down the name of the company they drive for along with the truck number & send it off to FCC w/a complaint. No response yet! Untill next time, 73 Charlie KE6OUD
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Well kids, here we go again. The question as originally posted was in reference to pirates in general, but the response has turned out to be, as usual, pointed at the so-called "freebanders" U.S. 11m operators. I run 6m 2m 70cm 1.2g, with high gain antenna pre-amps and have NEVER had any significant interference on the road or at home. I am also an avid shortwave listener and MW dxer, and have NEVER had any notable serious interference from so-called "freebanders". Sure, every once in a blue moon a trucker will blow by and maybe I hear a brief burst as he passes directly in front of my house(situated 1/4 mile from the intersection of 2 state hwys and an interstate). I listen to 10m repeaters when the band is open, and have NEVER heard any freebanders interfering there. I had no problem hearing any of the RS satellites on 10 or 15m.
I've rummaged around the band above about 27.405 and heard little more than fairly decent sounding, courteous U.S. stations on LSB, and on USB, mostly South American stations blathering away there. What I'm saying is the glut of U.S. freeband pirates on 11m have nearly NO impact at all on the HF amateur bands, in my estimation based on receive only, yet seem to command the attention of countless licensed amateurs who seem completely fixated on them. What is up with that? My personal opinion is that it shows a level of resent and jealousy on the part of the licensed individuals who constantly harp and moan about the freebanders.
I'd venture to say the 20m, 40m, and 75m pirates pose a much bigger problem, yet get little attention from this forum. As for truckers interfering with mobile HF operators, how do you suppose it would be if the truckers were licensed, running full legal power on 20m right next to you on the highway? Is there some magic that would prevent the same type of interference you get from the 11m truckers, or is "licensed interference" somehow more acceptable? I'd go even farther to say there is a significant number of complaintants here who started out on CB freeband and using illegal power, and likely still frequent that band from time to time just to show off their station.
I've posted this idea before and will continue to do so. Let the 11m freebanders do their thing and go on about your rat killing on the vast remainder of the radio spectrum. They are really not hurting anything more that some ham's pride from time to time, when they successfully make daily QSOs with Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa running little more than glorified CB radios on a $40 fiberglass antenna.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
To the last poster, I am not fixated on freebanders.
However I have one that lives very close to my QTH.
I do get his transmitter byproducts all the way up to 20M.I guess if feels the more mic gain, the more DX
True, many freebanders are polite.
The frustration is with the FCC. They will be more than glad to send out citations to hams using their callsigns.
Meanwhile base and mobile illegal users do go on Ham bands.
The FCC is wasting tax payer money, going after Hams
that do not identify correctly or interprete SSB regs
allowing up to 3khz for SSB transmission.
Also we do have a homestead act. Would not the FCC resources be better spent going after illegal radio's and opereations.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KC5NYJ said "I'd go even farther to say there is a significant number of complaintants here who started out on CB freeband and using illegal power, and likely still frequent that band from time to time just to show off their station."
KC5NYJ, the last person I saw that made a statement like this in a thread eventually was found out to be
operating freeband. So I hope you are telling the truth about listening only. ANYONE who operates freeband is not a ham, whether they have a ham callsign or not. For those of us that operate CW and digital modes on 10 meters, this is a BIG issue. Since you do not operate HF, it would be difficult for you to
experience having your QSO interferred with by one
of these illegal stations.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by W9JCM on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Why would they care if all the freqs were being used? And that everyone was asking them to leave. Ha do you really think that would work. I say No. They want to make trouble. And the more you talk with them or to them and beg them to leave the more you will get the noise toys and the rude comments and the carriers. Ignore, Document and Report.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
"KC5NYJ, the last person I saw that made a statement like this in a thread eventually was found out to be
operating freeband. "
I see. So, it is immediately assumed that because someone voices an opinion that doesn't quite mesh with the "reason" asserted here, that person must be a part of the problem. Well, I can note that I post under my callsign because I have nothing to hide either in practice or opinion. I believe I made it perfectly clear that in my OWN estimation, based on countless hours of digging through QRM at all hours of the day just to ferret out faint broadcasts or utes on the commercial and international SW bands, which do, by the way, reside adjacent to or within the U.S amateur allocations, therefore qualifying for "HF", so-called "freeband" operators from any nation have not been a source of problems for me.
I can understand that in the event an illegal CB station is located in proximity of a licensed ham station and causing interference, it would seem fairly cut and dried for the ham to note the interference, record the frequencies and perhaps the audio, then present that information to the authorities.
Anytime you want to stop by and park out front of my QTH to monitor, feel free to do so. I'll provide the beer.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KC5NYJ said "I'd go even farther to say there is a significant number of complaintants here who started out on CB freeband and using illegal power, and likely still frequent that band from time to time just to show off their station."
KC5NYJ said "So, it is immediately assumed that because someone voices an opinion that doesn't quite mesh with the "reason" asserted here, that person must be a part of the problem."
The problem I have with what you said before was the
fact that you would even suggest that a "significant number of complaintants here" would be operating
freeband. Are you suggesting that a good portion
of those in this thread are freebanders ???
I would suggest that your opinion doesn't mesh
with any type of reason at all.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KL7XL on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I just stopped by the local marine supply and saw a pickup out front with a Shakespeare Marine VHF antenna mounted on it. Same model as I use on my Boston Whaler. A glance inside revealed a Marine VHF mounted on the dash.
The owner of the pickup is one of many local charter operators who use Marine VHF as a business land mobile type radio. They have these not only in their boats (legally) but also in their vans and pickups as well as the fishing lodge.
A few months ago as I was scanning 6 meters, I heard a very loud signal on 50.3. The person was saying "Test, Test" and whistling repeatedly, but giving no callsign. I realized this guy was using FM; I switched to that mode and answered with my callsign. I called again. No answer, and no further activity!
Unless someone I haven't met just got to town, I am the only ham in Sitka active on 6 meters.
I mentioned this incident to a ham friend who used to have a marine electronics repair shop here, and he acknowledged the problem. He said many of the fishing boats have Icom 551 and 551D as well as 2 meter and HF rigs for "private" communications. In other words, they are using the ham bands with their partners to give them a leg up on other commercial fishermen.
In 1979 I flew as a crewman on a Coast Guard C-130 from Kodiak to Sitka. Our cargo was a FCC mobile van. Their job was to monitor communications locally for about a week before moving on to another location. Presumably, they used the info gathered for enforcement actions.
Time for the FCC to get back into enforcement!
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Perhaps. But then again, how would we know since some posters are afraid to use a callsign which might be used to locate their supposed legal station?
|
| |
|
Dealing with Intruders
|
|
|
by W8PT on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Technically, pirates are not the same as intruders. Sometimes you can hear (CW, SSB, RTTY, whatever) a station using a callsign not their own. They often will use an exotic or rare DX callsign that may or may not below to a valid station. This is referred to as a pirate operation. There have been infamous ones in the past; you may periodically see these popping up when new DXpeditions are scheduled to start.
Intruders, more correctly, refer to operators, be they commercal fisherman, cab drivers, CB'ers, whomever that (illegally) transmit in allocated frequencies where they are not permitted. Some have noted that they may also use excessive transmit power.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KE6OUD on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I've posted this idea before and will continue to do so. Let the 11m freebanders do their thing and go on about your rat killing on the vast remainder of the radio spectrum. They are really not hurting anything more that some ham's pride from time to time, when they successfully make daily QSOs with Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa running little more than glorified CB radios on a $40 fiberglass antenna. Via KC5NYJ......HHHHmmmnn
Really? I EARNED my right to the FREQUENCIES I use and I am in the process of upgrading. And for hurting my pride for being a HAM? You bet I am! And for the 11 meter users making QSOs, you can bet your pants that they are doing it with more than a $40 antenna & stock 4 watts out! Me thinks something is amiss here with your post but it is America. Free speech & all. Also strange is alot of "SKIP" is originating out of your area! If memory serves me right, 11 meters used to be an Amature only spectrum at some point. Illegal users abounded, thus making the FCC allocate it for Citizens Band only with a voluntary licence fee application. Then from 23 channels to 40. SSB included! Now, they are into 10 & 12 meters. Where is it going to end? ...Charlie
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KC5NYJ said "Perhaps. But then again, how would we know since some posters are afraid to use a callsign which might be used to locate their supposed legal station? "
If you are suggesting that most of us on this
thread are freebanders, then you are not in
touch with reality. Let me spell it out for you
again...ANYONE who operates freeband is NOT a ham,
they are a criminal. The only people who I have ever
seen suggest that hams would operate freeband are the
ones trying to justify their own illegal operations there. Is that what you are trying to do ???
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 3, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KC5NYJ, I found the following listings by you on
EHAM.
http://www.eham.net/classifieds/detail/62073
http://www.eham.net/classifieds/detail/60823
I had to search the web to find out exactly what
these radios are. I have found out that this
is CB radio equipment !! Why are you looking for
CB radio equipment on a ham radio site ???
This brings me back to my orginal question..do you
honestly think that most hams on this thread operate
freeband ???
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by W5ONV on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I have a good remedy when I hear things on the bands that I don't like or don't want to listen to. I turn the big knob in the middle of my radio called the VFO or if you don't know what that is,The Tuning Dial.It is real easy to do if you wake up just a bit.Give it a try ,it's real easy to do and quit griping and complaning about everything all the time.Go to another band or freq. if you don't like it and most of all WAKE UP bozos !! Just be a ham and be happy that you can be ! Please wake up !
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Radio- Methinks ye protest too loudly.
As for my listings, well, I suppose there is nothing wrong with collecting vintage radios of any kind, now is there? Especially fine equipment designed and manufactured by one of the most important amateur radio operators ever to grace the hobby. Evidently, your limited scope in the amateur hobby didn't allow the brand name to ring a bell. Ironically enough, I got a bite from those ads, and picked up a nice set from a fellow amateur operator.
If you'd like to know more about Don Stoner, SK, W6TNS, you should know he was the idea man behind Project OSCAR. Stoner outlined his concepts for an Amateur Radio space program in the February 1961 issue of QST. In his prophetic article, Stoner envisioned a two-phase project, the first to launch an orbiting VHF beacon transmitter into space, the second to launch an 'orbital repeater'.
An ARRL member, Stoner is remembered as a CQ columnist. He served in several editorial capacities including VHF editor, Novice editor, surplus columnist and semiconductor columnist. Stoner also wrote the 'In Theory' column in CQ-VHF magazine during 1996 and 1997.
Don Stoner, W6TNS, had no problem with CB radios. Evidently he was less a ham than you, Radio....
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KE6OUD said:
"..Also strange is alot of "SKIP" is originating out of your area! .."
Charlie, that has to be the most profound statement I've ever seen. I'm plan to have it framed and displayed in my shack, complete with credits...Heck, I might even offer copies for sale.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KC5NYJ, you keep avoiding the question.
Do you really think that most of the hams on the thread are freebanders ? That would seem to be the indication from your previous post. Are you unable, or unwilling to back up your previous statements ???
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by K1OU on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Which is more fun? Reading this article, or watching a couple of old ladies swing their purses at each other?
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
K1OU, I agree with you. I just get very irritated by
those like KC5NYJ that have this "everyone is
doing it...just leave them alone" attitude about
freebanding. Freebanding is just another type
of pirate radio.
KC5NYJ has stated "there is a significant number of complaintants here who started out on CB freeband and using illegal power, and likely still frequent that band from time to time just to show off their station."
So, KC5NYJ is accusing all of us of being freebanders.
That's an insult to all of us on this forum !!!
When I try to get him to explain his comment, he avoids
the issue...why ??? ...because he knows he cannot
defend himself...
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
RADIO123US said:
"..What is really sad is that some of those that
the FCC has busted for freebanding lately have
had ham callsigns..."
and subsequently said:
"..The only people who I have ever
seen suggest that hams would operate freeband are the
ones trying to justify their own illegal operations there.."
*Is RADIO123US suggesting he himself might possibly be attempting to justify something?
RADIO123US also asked:
"..KC5NYJ, I found the following listings by you on
EHAM....Why are you looking for
CB radio equipment on a ham radio site ???.."
*Radio- Perhaps a better question might come from me, in the form of "Why are you stalking me"? Do I need to keep an eye out for you?
RADIO123US then stated:
"..This brings me back to my orginal question..do you
honestly think that most hams on this thread operate
freeband ???.."
*Radio- Just how a listing looking for a particular vintage CB radio might bring you around to a question concerning illegal operations on 11m is simply beyond comprehension. CB radios are and have been for some time a perfectly legal item. In fact, if you'll just type in "CB radio", "Dak", or any number of other related terms into the EHAM Classifieds search engine, you'll find many other hams who are interested in trading these items. Perhaps they, too, fail to meet your standards of Amateur Radioism. How unfortunate.
In any case, if you must have closure or resolution to help quell those urges to further investigate my every move, thought, comment or operating mode, let me take this opportunity to:
Offer an apology to others who might have taken personal offense to my earlier post. It was simply an off-the-cuff comment, and not meant to denigrate or malign. Let it suffice that I believe there are some hams who break the rules sometimes, and perhaps there are some hams who have broken rules or will break rules or have at one time or another contemplated having the slightest propensity to break rules who also happen to participate or have participated at one time or another in this forum or other forums. Sorry, but that's the way I feel. No Soup For Me.
now...someone, please take a look behind the hedge and tell me if he's still there.....
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
"Offer an apology to others who might have taken personal offense to my earlier post. It was simply an off-the-cuff comment, and not meant to denigrate or malign"
Apology accepted...that's all I was looking for :)
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Yes much Pirate activity is in NYC.
Next time I am in a yellow cab,with a CB+++ I will report the medellian number.
Besides even if they are running a "stock CB", it is against TLC regulations.
I do not ride GYPSIE cabs unfortunitly. Gypsy RUN ALL SORTS OF POWER!
I Have noticed when ridding Yellow cabs, I ask what kind of CB are they using. They usualy turn the thing off, and will not speak to me the rest of the trip.
It maybe a infestesimal contribution, but it is better than nothing!
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 4, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
RADIO!@#US-
http://www.eham.net/data/spotlight/images/e9acc168d18d9f6dfec4c5faf53973ed.jpg
Isn't that a Browning CB and Siltronix Model 90 vfo sitting there???? You don't suppose....naawwwwww..no way. It must be a "10m Radio"
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIO123US on May 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KC5NYJ, I have no idea what your point is here.
Why are you posting a picture of N9WQ's shack ???
Just for the record, I do not share your affection
for CB radio.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC5NYJ on May 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I didn't say that. I meant to say, or should have said that one doesn't necessarily need to be a "CBer" or have a "CB" mentality(whatever that is) to be enamoured with the cool upper scale gear that was manufactured for that service back in the heyday.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Could not believe it myself. I did once buy an antenna from COPPER.com, two years ago Worked well 10-20 meters.
Could not believe the array of so called 10 meter radio's. No mention of FCC licence required.
Some of thier high end radio's specs. output of 50 watts.
To Add triple insult to injury, they had something called an ultra-power mic. I guess the ULTRA is band splatter?
Why do all their 10 meter radio's have a channe1 40
displayed.(DAH!)
Too bad in a way. If a legit ham wanted 10&12 meters
all mode, one can purchase an all mode 10-20watt for
about $120
The poster idea sounds good to me. It is like when
a Deli is busted for selling drugs, A bright orange sticker is put on the store.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KC8VWM on May 6, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I think that for one thing we should stop calling them "Pirates".
Pirate describes them as some sort of folklore character (less the eye patch and wooden leg) who is sailing the radio frequency spectrum in search of his DX bounty.
There are many fictional novels that display this type of character as almost "comical" or funny in nature.
In general this character representation is not taken very seriously.
For example,
"Arrrrr laddy .. ya goin to walk me plank and you will be spittin barnicles"
So then most of us usually get a little chuckle out of the way the pirate characterizes himself in this case.
The situation is how can anyone take the idea of "Pirates" on the airwaves seriously then?
I think it would be better to characterize this person more in line with the modern day computer hacker.
Computer hackers are well known to be sought after by many authorative figures in society while "Pirates" are generally only considered an inconvenient nuisance.
My food for thought,
73's
KC8VWM
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 6, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I agree Pirate is not a good description. There are REAL pirates that hold up privite craft at gun point.
No wooden leg or quaint lauguage. Just a Mach 10 or
UZI, and a get off the boat or else.
How about RADIOTRASH, RF SCUM, or freebone head.
There are all sorts of great deals on a site.
Full 1 kilowatt solid state, under $500.
One problem 10 meters only(Homer simpson saying DOH!)
They do sell 2M and 440 amps. I guess that is the legal loophole.
I would not mind buying such an amp that covered 20 meters only. However I would not want to give money
to company that is root cause of the problem.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by W9WHE on May 6, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
If a DX summit posting resulted in DOZENS of hams from around the world demanding they move and making pirate communications impossible on the ham bands...they WOULD move elsewhere.
Let's face it, if we make it painful enough to operate in the ham bands...they WILL go elsewhere.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by W9WHE on May 6, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
If a DX summit posting resulted in DOZENS of hams from around the world demanding they move and making pirate communications impossible on the ham bands...they WOULD move elsewhere.
Let's face it, if we make it painful enough to operate in the ham bands...they WILL go elsewhere.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by K9CSM on May 7, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I think we we are being far too polite.Lets face it:A 'Pirate' is one that transmits on a frequency and then leaves that freq. without identifying. Common example of that is heard all too often on all the HF bands. Certainly licensed operators would not transmit what we're all witness to on these bands EVERY DAY!
Secondly, what is this talk (on this subject) about Indonesia, China, and the like? If we could effectively clean our own front steps we'd have the problem 95% resolved. Simply get into a sensible
roundtable (maybe even controversial) discussion and see how many 'Pirates" you can count!
Ben Piller, K9CSM
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WORLDWIDE390 on May 7, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I just wanted to tell YOU GIRLS that lots of you HAMS are and were Cbers .
And that MOST of the 11 meter "freebanders" are not your typical Cbers, they want a better atmosphere, they don't want to deal with Joe troublemaker and they don't want to Talk to a bunch of pompous HAM operators like most of you on this site. You people should be worried about what would happen if you policed your own. Joe "no arm" ham cop will cry to Hollingsworth about you doing a phone patch or you wanting to better your TX audio quality..HA!....(as he is monitoring you on some old outdated set of Drake Twins) Look you people should be darn glad that the HF Bands are in use at all, cause the FCC are just waiting to sell them off to the highest bidder!. BTW : I bet my 1000mp and Henry 5K classic with my DBX Audio rack puts a few of your stations to shame.
We are taking over! And we are just starting! HA HA HA
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KB9ERU on May 7, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Thanks to all.
This is REALLY GOOD cheap entertainment. Nothing like watching a bunch of purses swinging...
Here's what I used to do before the OO's were called to monitor illegal activity on 10m:
I piped my computer generated RTTY into the MIC jack of my rig. Then, after tuning up on the "illegally occupied" freq, I began to call CQ in really long strings. Then I called a bunch of friends that I thought I could strike a QSO with, but luck would have it, they just weren't there to answer.
Then I noticed that the "pirate..Arrrr" moved. My VFO seemed to find them, and, making sure that there was not any "legitimate" communications going on, I called again, and again.
I usually repeated until they dropped below 28.0.
Setting the mark at 1700 Hz worked wonders!
They are not much for CW or PSK, but nothing REALLY shut them up like RTTY.
Food for thought.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WORLDWIDE390 on May 8, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hey all of you ARRL Puppets, I'm getting tired of a bunch of ham operators slamming Cbers.
We Cbers have better things to do than JAM 10 meters (like KB9ERU does). If being a HAM consists of getting off your buts just long enough to open your package from AES and then putting your new gray box on the bench and talking, then I want no part of your kind! You see, us "Cbers" do what you hams don't do, and that is "Experiment" Yep you heard me! How many of you guys can build a 600hp 396 Chevy motor, put on a little giggle gas, 6 AC alternators and some big honk'n glass and kick out 30KW?
Not a one of you can even get off your buts long enough to keep your 1982 Skylark road worthy!
Come on over to Sugarhouse Park in beautiful Salt Lake City Utah(just off I-80) on Saturday July 5th 2003, and check out our annual 27.025 Superbowl KEYDOWN. You will then see some real radio stations. Just look for some REAL big Antennas.
So wash up those Mayonnaise stained 60s dress shirts of yours, and check out what real radio station is all about!... Rev. Dr. GroundPlane out!
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KE6OUD on May 8, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Sounds like a good place & time for the FCC to have a ball at too! :)
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 8, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
A note in history. Major Armstrong(a HAM)invented the superhetrodyne radio, as well as FM STEREO.
During world war II, the allied forces had a great tactical advantage, FM modulation. No ignition noise.
The NAZIES used AM. Every time they wanted to talk from the jeep or tank, they had to turn off the engine.
Hams have done public service since ham radio's inception. Where were you freebanders after the US was attacted 9/11. Many HAMS risked there lives are lost time from work providing emergency communications.
I am not going to stoop low and say...who is swinging a perse now!
My attitude towards FREEBANDING is live and let live.
Most of you are OK. I just do not like having 1000watt
11M AM mobiles blasting through my stereo!
I do not like NARCO-TRAFFICKERS and TERRORISTS using
any frequency be it HAM, 11M or FREEBAND. I think you feel the same way.
Many hams are not elitist. Many would be more than glad to help you pass the test and get your HAM ticket.
This way you can have your cake and eat it too.
You have 6meters, 2meters,440, and up to microwaves.
If you like to experiment, you can do it legally
with a no-code tech ticket. You can still have your CB
just stay within FCC limits. With a Ham ticket if you like POWER, you can have POWER legally.
Most hams including myself however do not like echo
reverb, and distortion. Is that being elitist, I think not! When you do crank up a power microphone and use a CB has excessive power, some of you transmit byproducts could interfere with emergency communications. You do not want to do that! CB's channel 9 is useless in some area's
If hams were so elitest, EHAM would censor you.
Did they, no. Some hams did start out with CB.
So you can get no code ticket or you can still FREEBAND
Just remember that the FCC sometimes gets lucky and does catch FREEBANDERS.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KG4OOA on May 8, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
You suggested that "Freebanders" "Pirates" or whatever you want to call them are only poor misguided souls that a little bit of Elmering will help. I am sorry but I respectfully disagree with you. They are outlaws! The reason that they are what they are is because they think they are above the law! In some of the ranting posts that came off of this forum today shows me the same attitude as I have seen displayed by criminals, biker gangs and all other sorts of social miss-fits.
Think about it. The I didn't know I needed a license don't hold water. Even a idiot reading the posts could surmize that some sort of license is required to operate on ham bands and it appears that they have a rudimentry understanding of reading and wrtiing the English language.
I don't give a rats about what is done on 11 meters as long as they stay there. The problem is they don't stay there!
I know that I will be called an elitist! Thank you. The elite is the best and I am proud to do my best I am not ashamed if you call me that. It is what we all need to strive for.
Bob,KG4OOA
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by KB9ERU on May 8, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Ok ladies, it seems that I have caused a few purses to swing, and I am bored, so here goes...
1) IF you can find ANYWHERE in Part 97 that calling CQ is illegal, I might turn my head far enough to see your point of view, that is, IF you were licensed.
2) I am licensed. I sat down, studied, was tested, and was granted a license from the FCC. Now if some "wanna-be" that is unlicensed shows up on the frequencies dedicated for amateur use (and is not transmitting any distress traffic), I am not going to let him/her interfere with my wanting to occupy the frequency. That is not jamming. Some tune up on y'all. Some send SSTV test patterns. I call CQ. Like it or not, that's pretty much how it is.
3) Mr. Hollingsworth was good enough to clarify this for us, er, Hams:
Anyone transmitting a distress call has precedence over anyone else, even if an unlicensed/illegal transmitter interferes with a legal transmission. However, if a licensed amateur transmits over a pirate, then it is perfectly legal. In this scenario, the pirate is causing interference to a legally authorized transmission.
4) Radio cop eh? I would have really expected a better insult than that. Especially one who isn't licensed.
That's a BIG ROGER 4 Come-on.
Yep, I used to be a CB'er, then I grew up.
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 8, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
You got it wrong. I never said thy we all misguided souls in need of elmering! Do not put words in my mouth!
I do not see it as a total black or white issue.
I am do not like the fact that FREEBANDING EXIST's.
But it does. Unfortunitly no one can save the world, much less stop all illegal transmission.
Some FREEBANDERS are TOTAL MISCREANTS! NARCOTRAFFICERS are RF scum. Illegal GYPSIE CAB
RADIO's, should be ripped out of the DASH.
I have talked to many fine hams on 440 that made the
transisition. One of them is a cop I know. He never went over legal limit on 11M. He was into SSB. Had a nice shack.His radio manner was excellent, due to using his MOTOROLA SABER on the job. He knew he could do better. I was glad to elmer him.
He did hear and read a GREAT DEAL OF NARCISTIC attitude from HAMS. He was actually intimidated by some of the attitudes.(He does not like to let people know he is on the job) He said why should I become a Ham, only to to be able to COP A TUDE towards his CB friends! Yeah he still talks to his cb friends.
Visa-Vi freebanders, when I said live and let live, it is at the expense of them being caught by the FCC.
That is when the FCC is not to busy giving out letters for HI-FI SSB, and not using the official air force phonetics, I personally like using the official phonetics.
If you listen to local police frequecies they do not use the airforce phonetics.Instead of KILO they use KING. Instead of delta, they use DAVID. More Biblical
less military.I know 4 phonetic alphabets, from different services and jobs. I do use the officail phonetic alphabet on Ham radio. If I do that in the news business, I am considered a space cadet nut.
If a CBer that wants to get thier ticket, should I COP A TUDE! NFW! I am very selective to who I will elmer.
I have found many good hearted hams on 440. They came from CB. NO,IT IS NOT MY BUSINESS TO ASK ABOUT THIER CB
EXPERIENCE! They do their share of public service work.
They hate the fact they are a no code tech. They are going to upgrade if I take an interest.
One of my tactics is when they call one the telephone, I will only talk in morse code for a few minutes, untill they say they will learn the code. If a cop a tude about about there lack of cw, they will not be motivated.
The ones that are decent people, I do elmer. You got a problem with that?
The more you bash the FREEBANDERS, The more they will
pester you. Unless you are willing to go out with a DF device, you do not accomplish a single thing!
I have sent in my share of complaint letters to the FCC
They will hopefully catch the depraved ones.
So when I said live and let live, you took it out of context
I have to deal with ELITISM at the university I attend.
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIOWEENIE on May 9, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hello Phineas--
What are some good phonetics for your call? Can you think of some good ones for "K. M. A."??
Cheers,
--RW
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by N0NYA on May 9, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
i do believe eventually we can lose 10 meters (and even 12 for that matter)...
dont think it can happen?
well go to walmart and buy you a 22 channel 'FRS' radio...
yep, they talk on GMRS and the FCC loves them.. unless you get a 15 channel radio, you will see nothing on them about GMRS liscensing
want another example?
ok VHF 'dot' frequencies.. once apon a time you had to have a liscence for them, well the problem got so bad that now 5 channels are open to the public and called MURS..
so a recap, GMRS is threatended, and they took 5 business frequencies and made them public...
what makes you think hams are any different?
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by RADIOWEENIE on May 9, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
KC5NYJ--
You are certainly not listening in the right places. If you want to catch pirates, 10m is DEFINITELY the place to do it. Try 28.0 to 29.0 MHz either sideband-- and AM. And if you are around an interstate highway then keep "your 10m ears on" at 28.xxx MHz, gud buddy. You WILL hear pirates. Guaranteed.
73 de,
--RW
|
| |
|
RE: Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by N0NYA on May 9, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
forgot one other thing.. the problem isnt just with hams and such..
i know of atleast one motorola authorized radio shop that has programmed 800mhz maxtracs to an arbitrary frequency for a hunting club.. seems the hunting club wanted a private channel and this guy thought that 800mhz would be really private...
now before you scream that the FCC will nail them, remember they have been in operation for YEARS!
Also, anyone can buy a maxtrac on ebay and a 20.00 programming cable, pop into your local website and boom, you are anywhere you want to be..
bottom line? Enforcement begins with the governing body incharge of it.. ie FCC?? hello FCC?? hmm must be too busy selling off spectrum to care..
|
| |
|
Dealing with Pirates
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on May 9, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
GMRS/FRS is strange. The some of the channels are shared. Motorola makes their combe radio's legal.
One the shared channels the power is cut to 500mw, on the gmrs they go to 1-2 watts.
No other manufacturer does this.
Some h-t's will provide up to 3 watts on FAMILY RADIO SERVICE. I hear ultra bad CB like activity. Cursing,making threats, and just plain old jamming with all the tone do-hickeys
embedded in the radio.
A friend of mine with kids asked me which one should I buy. I told them the low power ones with speech scambling. The Motorola 6200 series. This way the kids no not hear all the insanity, or some pervert can't find the kids.
There are plenty of GMRS repeaters as well. They sound like hams, but they are not.
It is a good thing these radio's cannot be "OPENED UP"
to transmit anywhere else.
I never thought I would see a day where one could purchase a quality UHF H-T for under $20.
When I ws a kid we were lucky to have a 3 channel 100mw walkie talkie on cb.
Back then GMRS was called class E CB or something like that. The h-t's were single channel for $500
On GMRS I hear lots of what sound like drug deals,
and other sleezy stuff. I here plenty of CB sounding stuff. Parents should think twice about buying an unencryted FRS. It would make for an all too effective canner for pedophiles.
I hope GMRS will quench the thirst for those that want high power UHF. One is supposed to file with the FCC for $75. Maybe the FCC should drop the fee, so all of these 1-25 watt uhf radio's will be accounted for.
A manditory sub audable cw I.D. should be built in.
If not GMRS with scrambling can be used by skells.
Supply and demand. There is a lot of demand.
Like another poster said I hope the day does not come when the FCC will make part of 10Meters some type of service. A | |
