The FCC isn't going to be the primary for amateur enforcement unless you interfere with public safety or other services. The ARRL VM program will send you an advisory notice and serious cases will be followed up with the FCC for further action. For example if you jam repeaters or nets repeatedly, they will forward evidence including recordings to the FCC and the FCC will follow up with you in bad cases.
My favorites are the ones that scream "It's ham not Ham or HAM or hAm or HAm.. It's not capitalized... REEEEEEEEE" I intentionally capitalize it to set them off on forums.
Noted that all amateur repeaters in Aus are public but what is considered etiquette? If I join one of the four clubs in my city/region would/should I still be welcome on a repeater operated by a different club? Let's assume all the clubs have repeaters but maybe the best one from my QTH isn't the club whoose meeting locations suit me?
as an "OM" being over 60 and doing this hobby for the best part of 40 years - I have seen it all from on-air spats to the implosion of the WIA (federal v NSW) - we are all responsible for the carriage of the hobby.This includes calling out bad/illegal behaviour. Not doing so harms us all.
Truckers run 2M radios all the time without licenses, commercial fishermen too, and they love 10M, CB is practically all done outside of the regulations. The regulators are not to be feared.
Hi Hayden, there are basically no local enforcement personnel except in capital cities here in Aus any more, so all you can do if you are getting interference is leave a comment or send an email to ACMA. And yes, there are a few jerks out there who claim a repeater for themselves, but on the flipside there are plenty of organised nets on repeaters and anyone who was ragchewing is generally very quick to stop when the net controller breaks in and lets them know. Unfortunately for our locality one of the repeaters has had a clandestine transmitter set up just on the edge of the squelch margin playing music. Can't wait until lockdown ends so I can help chase it down....
Define 'gatekeepers.' If you are constantly 'jamming' the FM station down the street, that is _willful intent_ and is illegal. If someone - ANYONE is self-appointed their own belief of regulatory authority, that is also wrong but might not be illegal unless and until an illegal activity occurs. Some 'cranky old fart' has ZERO authority to operate any repeater not for PUBLIC use if it's on public frequencies. That would be ILLEGAL. That same 'cranky old fart' should also get the strongly worded letter and/or knock on the door.
There are far more ways to stop people from using their expensive equipment than there are ways to get them to buy and use it. This hobby needs rebranded, reinvented and re-legislated.
The term "Ham Radio" is absolutely uninspiring and a total turnoff these days. It is older than "8 track tape" and most people don't even know what that is. Our hobby must be renamed first to something cool sounding, relevant, inspiring and attention grabbing. Band plans also need loosened up to allow techs voice privileges in MOST portions of the lower bands and perhaps limit them at first to power restrictions. Then, after say a year without complaints lift the power restrictions. Why would someone want to spend over a $1000 for a radio and another $300 for an antenna that they can't talk on? Get rid of most of the restrictions, rebrand the hobby and rename it to something else, to anything without the word "ham" in it. KF4ULD
The FCC isn't going to be the primary for amateur enforcement unless you interfere with public safety or other services. The ARRL VM program will send you an advisory notice and serious cases will be followed up with the FCC for further action. For example if you jam repeaters or nets repeatedly, they will forward evidence including recordings to the FCC and the FCC will follow up with you in bad cases.
My favorites are the ones that scream "It's ham not Ham or HAM or hAm or HAm.. It's not capitalized... REEEEEEEEE"
I intentionally capitalize it to set them off on forums.
Just as long as you don't call us/them bacon radio operators lol.
Good information for the new folks. Thanks
Thanks No Code
Noted that all amateur repeaters in Aus are public but what is considered etiquette? If I join one of the four clubs in my city/region would/should I still be welcome on a repeater operated by a different club? Let's assume all the clubs have repeaters but maybe the best one from my QTH isn't the club whoose meeting locations suit me?
You should be welcome on any repeater regardless of club or who owns it
as an "OM" being over 60 and doing this hobby for the best part of 40 years - I have seen it all from on-air spats to the implosion of the WIA (federal v NSW) - we are all responsible for the carriage of the hobby.This includes calling out bad/illegal behaviour. Not doing so harms us all.
and Key Masters!
It's a massive lock on that gate
Truckers run 2M radios all the time without licenses, commercial fishermen too, and they love 10M, CB is practically all done outside of the regulations. The regulators are not to be feared.
I just have one question for Ham Radio DX - are you related to Ringo Star?? Cuz you sure look like him! LoL Sorry, had to ask.
Maybe his long lost cousin!
Hi Hayden, there are basically no local enforcement personnel except in capital cities here in Aus any more, so all you can do if you are getting interference is leave a comment or send an email to ACMA. And yes, there are a few jerks out there who claim a repeater for themselves, but on the flipside there are plenty of organised nets on repeaters and anyone who was ragchewing is generally very quick to stop when the net controller breaks in and lets them know. Unfortunately for our locality one of the repeaters has had a clandestine transmitter set up just on the edge of the squelch margin playing music. Can't wait until lockdown ends so I can help chase it down....
Just helps the RF Direction Finding skills hey. Good on you Scott hope you’re doing well in lockdown and good luck finding that transmitter
Nice video! KC9QVE Marion,IN
Thank you Tony for watching! 73
RF Badgers what's happening...?
👁
Define 'gatekeepers.' If you are constantly 'jamming' the FM station down the street, that is _willful intent_ and is illegal. If someone - ANYONE is self-appointed their own belief of regulatory authority, that is also wrong but might not be illegal unless and until an illegal activity occurs. Some 'cranky old fart' has ZERO authority to operate any repeater not for PUBLIC use if it's on public frequencies. That would be ILLEGAL. That same 'cranky old fart' should also get the strongly worded letter and/or knock on the door.
There are far more ways to stop people from using their expensive equipment than there are ways to get them to buy and use it. This hobby needs rebranded, reinvented and re-legislated.
The term "Ham Radio" is absolutely uninspiring and a total turnoff these days. It is older than "8 track tape" and most people don't even know what that is. Our hobby must be renamed first to something cool sounding, relevant, inspiring and attention grabbing. Band plans also need loosened up to allow techs voice privileges in MOST portions of the lower bands and perhaps limit them at first to power restrictions. Then, after say a year without complaints lift the power restrictions. Why would someone want to spend over a $1000 for a radio and another $300 for an antenna that they can't talk on? Get rid of most of the restrictions, rebrand the hobby and rename it to something else, to anything without the word "ham" in it. KF4ULD