[FARC] ARRL Book

[Bob Moroney]

Yes, soon after I sent that email off to the reflector, I recalled that 
you were the guy who brought the copy of QST to a recent FARC meeting. 
Duh. 

In addition to the more gentle, neighborly sort of self-policing you've 
heard, you may also have heard some Hams become even more belligerent 
if/when someone dares to make even the most innocuous comment about 
their operating habits.   (I believe psychologists call this 
"adolescent" behavior, but I would advise against ever telling one of 
these folks that their behavior is "adolescent".  The usual reaction is 
for them to "ballistic", thus of course proving the accuracy of the 
diagnosis.)

If you're interested, you can get involved in the "Amateur Auxiliary of 
the FCC", and become an "Official Observer".  Some details on this 
program, if you haven't heard of it, are at 
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/am_aux.html .  I've met a few OOs, 
and they were all great Hams and all-round good guys; of course, like 
being a cop on the street, they get a glimpse of some of  the less 
savory aspects of Ham Radio, so it probably takes an extra level of 
dedication to get involved to that extent.  Most of us will simply tune 
away from the nasty stuff, but the OOs will sift through the muck, 
listening (and in the case of ATV, fax and digital modes, looking) for 
clues to who/where the bad guys are.

73, Bob K9CMR 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kirk Talbott wrote:
> Thanks for the links Bob.  Yep I'm an ARRL member.
>
> I've been hearing a lot of interesting operating behavior on HF, but for the 
> most part everybody follows the rules and observes operating courtesy.  I've 
> also heard on HF that when an operating "jerk" is on, sometimes he'll be 
> rapidly called to task by others on the frequency, so the hobby has a 
> built-in method of policing itself.
>
> KB3ONM
> Kirk
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob Moroney" <windbrkr at erols.com>
> To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 3:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [FARC] ARRL Book
>
>
>   
>> Check out these links.  They deal with precisely what you observed:
>>
>> http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/06/01/100/?nc=1
>>
>> http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/05/01/1/
>>
>> My take is that the CA guy was not doing anything illegal, but he may
>> have been exhibiting the jerk-like "road rage" sort of behavior that
>> Hollingsworth mentioned in his talk at Dayton.  Maybe it's the Ham
>> equivalent of driving a Hummer and expecting everyone to get out of your
>> way for that reason alone.  And he definitely seemed to be exhibiting
>> the "frequency squatting" sort of behavior Sumner mentions in his article.
>> Do you belong to the ARRL?  If so, you can subscribe to various email
>> newsletters that often contain useful/interesting nuggets like those
>> linked above.  If not, you should consider joining.  I've been
>> forgetting to mention this as often as I should, but the FARC gets to
>> retain a portion of your ARRL membership dues if you join or renew
>> through the Club.  It's only $2 for a renewal, but a whopping $15 for a
>> joining member.  There are plenty of direct and indirect benefits
>> derived from ARRL membership, so it's worth thinking about.  And the
>> renewals can add up, too - $2 here and $2 there, pretty soon you're
>> talking $4!
>>
>> 73, Bob K9CMR
>> ========================
>> Kirk Talbott wrote:
>>     
>>> 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
>>>       
>>>