[FARC] ARRL Book

[Kirk Talbott]

Bob,

Speaking of operating procedures I heard something interesting on HF 
yesterday and wanted to run it by everyone and get their opinion on whether 
it was proper operating procedure or even legal.

On 20 meters, I heard a booming station (S9) from California talking to 
others I couldn't hear.  I heard a breaking station come in and ask if the 
frequency was in use and the California station said yes.  A few minutes 
later I heard a DX station start calling CQ on the frequency along with 
several others wanting to come in.  The California station kept repeating 
the frequency was in use, and that he had been using the frequency for about 
an hour.  Other stations finally left the frequency and the California 
station had it all to himself and his group again.

Then the California station did something I thought was questionable, 
procedurally.  He said to another station in his group, "I'm going to sign 
off now so I'm handing the frequency over to you."  What this an attempt to 
hold the frequency to keep anybody else from using it?

I could tell from the replies to his group that the California station was 
not a net control as he wasn't using net control protocol, taking checkins, 
or using any other type of formal or informal net procedure.  He also wasn't 
a special event station, contester, or any other kind of special use 
station.  He just had the biggest amplifier on the block, the strongest 
signal, and was ragchewing with the others in his group and didn't want to 
give up the frequency.

Anyone else ever heard of this type of operating procedure?

KB3ONM
Kirk


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Moroney" <windbrkr at erols.com>
To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [FARC] ARRL Book


> OK, Kirk, glad you found it useful.  I don't believe it's available any
> longer, at least not through the ARRL.  Too bad, imo.  (The book is
> "Help for New Hams" by Doug DeMaw W1FB, in case anyone else on the list
> is wondering.)
>
> Some of the information, particularly on station equipment, was a little
> dated even when I bought it, and the author, W1FB (sk), had a fairly
> brusque, even gruff writing style, so all of that may be why it was
> dropped from their book offerings.  Still, there are many nuggets of
> both common sense and wisdom between the covers, especially on matters
> of good Ham operating procedures and courtesy, to get new Hams started
> in the right direction, or at least give them a perspective a bit
> different from what they might come up with on their own, just from
> listening on HF and the repeaters.
>
> I'm not in any rush to get it back, so feel free to pass it along to
> anyone else, Ham or not, who might get something out of it.   (I would
> like to get it back eventually, though.)
>
> 73, Bob K9CMR
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Kirk Talbott wrote:
> > Bob,
> >
> > Thanks for the book.  It's a good read and down around my non-technical
> > level.  Is a great book for me and anyone thinking about becoming a Ham.
> > I've just about finished it.  If it's still in print I'll probably pick 
> > up a
> > copy of my own to use as a reference.
> >
> > KB3ONM
> > Kirk
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