[NLRS] HF Contesting

[tom ring]

The first thing I have to say is that I have taken a couple days to calm down 
from how I felt this weekend.  Because if I hadn't you all would likely have 
stopped reading by now.

There are a number of members that are serious HF contesters as well as the 
normal, for here, VHF and up.  I'm asking maybe for advice or solutions or 
maybe something else.

This weekend while Sandy was hitting the east coast there were also a lot of 
ships out there that depend on the Maritime Mobile Service Net and it's 
associated nets for weather reports and a place to call for help.

There was a contest this weekend.  I have no idea who ran it, nor does it 
matter.  Except for the fact that contestants in all contests repeatedly 
transmit on top of or within 2.5 KHz of the net.  Many refuse to leave or 
ignored repeated calls to leave from stations that I am absolutely sure they 
can hear.  These operators who are idiots, lids, sociopaths and especially not 
amateur radio operators as described in the part of the rules where we are 
described as a service, were endangering peoples lives.  And didn't care a bit. 
 Even when told they were doing it.  I am much less upset now than I was then, 
but I am still very very upset.  Obviously.  (I edited out quite a few things 
after reviewing the previous paragraph.)

I am asking for those of you with connections to use them to stop this.

First 14.300 is an ITU internationally designated emergency frequency.  That 
means to me that you aren't supposed to contest there.  It may not exactly 
state that, but it seems to be in the spirit of the designation. 

If the contest organizers would state something like "No contestant shall 
transmit with a carrier point frequency within 3 KHz of any designated 
emergency frequency which shall include 14.300, xx.xxx, etc.  The penalty for 
the first offense will be banning from the current contest results and a second 
offense ....".  Or whatever is appropriate but it had better be harsh as the 
people doing this don't seem to give a rat rear for anyone but themselves.

I would love to hear thoughts and other solutions.

Thanks,
tom
K0TAR

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Tom Ring K0TAR, ex-WA2PHW  EN34hx
taring at taring.org

What happens if a big asteroid hits the Earth?  Judging from realistic 
simulations 
involving a sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we can 
assume it will 
be pretty bad.
                - Dave Barry
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