[Milsurplus] QRMing the MilRadio Net

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 1/22/07, David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> Mr. Hollingsworth had to get involved with the 3878 barbarians
> when they made it plain they were going to run-off anyone on AM.
> Don't know how much good it did; they're still there...

None from what I can tell here in the northeast. They're on most night
bragging about their lineeeeearr amps and running folks off. Riley
wants recordings to accompany complaints. The 'he said' he said'
approach doesn't work well in today's legal world, not to mention the
financial limitations in their ability to monitor stations in a mostly
'hobby' radio service that brings no revenue into the coffers.
Commercial concerns keep them busy.

> Recently, I helped circulate an email calling on Extra
> ops to come down to 3685- then  in the middle of
> 50 KCs of quiet spectrum- to start an AM calling freq
> away from the QRM and antagonisms of 3880.
> Right after the email was circulated, a group of half
> a dozen SSB ops set up shop on 3686.5 KC
> (a fractional freq in the middle of 50 KC of quiet??),
> blatantly saying they had seen the email and that they
> were going to "discourage the so-called window"
> by parking there and complaining to Mr. Hollingsworth
> about "deliberate AM interference."
> They've already "turned me in," they claim.

Yep, this happens on the AM reflector also, which is why most folks
have taken to not mentioning specific frequencies of operation or
confining themselves to same. With the current band conditions, we
just mention 40, 75/80, or 160 if we want to meet up. Many just get on
and call CQ.

> So is this "deliberate?"
> You bet it is.
> Most of the SSB ops in the "gentleman's agreement"
> window know what they're doing and
> they either don't give a damn, or actively seek a conflict.

Exactly why we shouldn't box ourselves in ever again. AM is thriving
down below 3800, the Canadians have used 3710-3730 for more than a
decade. Many of use go down there and spread out. Big problem so far:
SSB ops claiming frequencies for "nets" (ragchewing, really, just like
everywhere else. Once they use it a few times, they see it as their
frequency. Nets are a bad idea for the most part, because of this. It
gets people into the 'I can't move' mentality, not unlike the for AM
ghetto did for to AMers. Hard to have a gentleman's agreement when
only one side recognizes it. And what ever happened to moving if 'your
frequency' is in use? Nets used to have alternatives just for this
reason. Radios have gotten easier to tune, not harder.

> I don't understand, especially with the band expansion,
> why some people can't allow those with other interests
> just a little room to live.  I don't see AM ops on 3920,
> or 14.335, though my license certainly gives me the right.

Unfortunately, this kind of thinking is what landed us in the mess
we've been in. The BEST thing you can do is get on a clear frequency
and operate. This will encourage others to do so, and hopefully get
those who claim frequency ownership to re-learn what that big knob in
the middle is for.

> But my biggest frustration is the AM ops!
> I understand the immoral, selfish SSB barbarians.
> But most AM ops go hide; they'd rather roll over
> and play dead, hoping it will all go away or
> that "Riley will handle it."  WRONG.
> I don't want a war, nor do I want to
> "let Riley handle it."  I want people to politely but
> firmly insist that they have a right to operate
> and get active (and strong) enough to stop this mess.

This is what I've been warned about with my impending move to 4-Land,
a.k.a. SSB heaven. I've heard from many AMers down there that the SSB
guys won't let them operate anywhere but 3885. Funny, my license
doesn't say anything about seeking permission, certain groups owning
certain frequencies, and so on. It must be too old. (o:  So if that's
what happens to AMers, they have no one to blame but themselves. Get
on the air, run some power, and deal with the reality of today's
amateur radio bands. You don't have to be rude, just firm. And ON THE
AIR, of course. Makes me laugh to hear all of the AM signals when the
Collins or southern AMI groups have a net, loads of wonderful old rigs
that you won't hear again until the next net. Some need to be led by
the mic cord, I guess....

> If we roll over and hide from these school-yard bullies,
> we can expect the same thing cowards always get.

'Self-policing' is how we are seen and expected to act. If your
license allows you to operate on a given frequency and it's not in
use, operate there. Failing to do so only reinforces the mindset that
AM has no place on the band, or belongs in the AM ghetto only. It also
reinforces perceived ownership issues.

Don't fall into the 'AM Window' mentality again. As soon as you assign
yourself to a frequency or group of frequencies, you place a target on
your back for the knuckle draggers to aim for. They don't need to have
good aim, either: just throw on the processor, crank up the gain, turn
on the lineeear and let the birdshot fly. The arguement that people
'need a place to look for us' doesn't fly. People need to break the
grease loose on their tuning knob, after powering the rig up of
course. When in doubt, switch on the BFO (CW/SSB buttons) and listen
for a heterodyne.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ