[K3PZN-List] Digital Stations Occupy Club Simplex

Tue Mar 22 16:31:31 EDT 2016

Hi John,

As a new Ham, I hope the following text may answer some questions.

Frequencies are available for all amateurs, whether simplex or repeaters.  Should there be a special need of a particular frequency, someone will make notice of such.  Special designations of certain frequencies are made for those who are participating in an event like ARES/RACES. The designations do not preclude anyone from using the frequency when there is no on going operation.  How does one know what is going on?  Simply by daily operation.  If no one comes on asking you to move because a frequency may be in use for an event, then everything is cool. No worries mate!  The way in which you and your friends are communicating is perfectly fine.

Maybe there should be some mention on the club web pages about the simplex frequencies that the CCARC uses when there are situations for ARES/RACES operations in the County. This would help radio operators to know what frequencies to monitor.  All counties have frequencies that have been "designated" for support of their ARES/RACES operations - repeater and simplex frequencies.  Publication of such usually goes out to ARES/RACES members.

Traditionally, radio operators using voice (analog) communications will listen to the frequency before using it to avoid interfering with on going conversations.  Common courtesy rules.

The reason for my excitement over the "digital" stations is not a general statement "against" all stations using a digital mode but that in my experience, most digital operation that I have encountered is either unattended automatic transmissions or digital voice transmissions in which the operators of these station do not listen to the frequency in an analog mode before transmitting.  These stations will not know if there is any other voice (analog) operations on frequency, thus "stepping all over" whomever else is on the frequency.  Also, should it be an uncoordinated repeater, we could involve T-MARC to look into moving the operation to a coordinated repeater frequency.

The impetus is common courtesy to protect the frequency for analog operations.  We could ask that they move their digital operation to one of the many other simplex frequencies, but should it be that those operators of the digital stations want to exercise their determination for use of the frequency - I guess the CCARC will just have to have ARES/RACES and club operations on another...

73 and relax,
Larry WX3F

---------- Original Message ----------
From: John Stephens <kc3fdl at gmail.com>
To: Carroll County Amateur Radio Club <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Digital Stations Occupy Club Simplex
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 08:23:17 -0400

Larry et al,

So not to rain on anybody's parade, but I do want to possibly engage a
conversation because I'm new to the hobby.  BTW, no, the digital noise is
not me.

I took a look at the CCARC web pages, and despite the apparent long
standing use of the simplex frequency, 146.475's use as a simplex
ARES/RACES channel is nowhere to be found.  In fact, it's affiliation with
CCARC is not even mentioned.

How is one to know if a frequency has a, shall we call it, a 'special
designation'?

And despite the special designation that it appears to have, as long as the
frequency is not currently being used in an ARES/RACES event, either
testing or actual, is not the frequency available for use by all amateurs?

And again, I ask because I am new to the hobby.  Myself and a few others
routinely simplex on a randomly chosen simplex frequencies.  We transmit in
both analog and digital (C4FM).  How do we or are we to know we aren't
stepping on a 'pre-designated special' frequency?  How do we know what 'The
Rules of Use' are?  It's my understanding that all frequencies are open to
all and common courtesy is the governing rule.

So, as a new ham, help me understand the reasoning and impetus behind
tracking down the offending parties and asking them to move their simplex
communications.

John / KC3FDL

--------------------------------------------------------
John L. Stephens // KC3FDL
KC3FDL at gmail.com
Latitude: 39.4927 Longitude: -76.8894
MHGL: FM19nm

On Mon, Mar 21, 2016 at 11:47 PM, Lawrence Solarczyk <wx3f at juno.com> wrote:

> CCARC:
>
> There are digital stations that have occupied the Club simplex frequency
> 146.475 Mhz.  The digital transmissions are not Yaesu Fusion digital, my
> FT-1D portable can not decode the transmissions.  It seems to me that the
> digital may be D-Star.  The transmissions are strong in Westminster with
> hint of activity coming out of the Baltimore area.  One of the stations
> transmits a CW ID, unfortunately for me, the ID happens quickly and my
> rusty cw just can't catch it.
>
> So, it would be nice if everyone could tune to 146.475 and try to get the
> CW ID of the stations and an approximate location with your beams.  If
> anyone has D-Star capability, try to gather station call signs.  CCARC has
> been using 146.475 as the Club simplex frequency for ARES/RACES operations
> for 30 years.  Having gathered station identification may help us to
> respectfully ask those users to move to a different frequency.  If it is a
> repeater operation, we may get T-MARC involved.
>
>
> 73,
> Larry WX3F
>
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