Steve, thank you for your input on this very troubling topic. As well as
being the Net Control for the TEN-TEC 20 meter and 40 meter SSB Nets, I
am
also an Official Observer with the ARRL.
During the past decade as an Official Observer, I have personally seen
these kinds of "contests" get out of hand and deterioate every year.
There is a very selfish self-centered attitude on many of the
"contestors", with little and most times no regard for other peoples
rights and privileges when operating on the Amateur Radio Bands.
This is a hobby and with holding an Amateur Radio License, comes
responsibility, which seems to be "thrown out the window" when it comes
to
contesting.
As of Official Observer with the ARRL, I spend a lot of time monitoring
and I hear many "hams" bragging about the high power linear amplifiers
they use for contesting and will do whatever it takes to gain an
advantage
over their opponents.
We are not their opponents, rather we are legally licensed Amateur Radio
Operators and have the right to operate on certain bands. I received my
Amateur Radio License before the FCC in Philadelphia and have been a ham
operator for
35 years.
The FCC along with the ARRL has the overdue responsibility to come up
with
a plan for "contestors" to operate on a specific segment of the ham
bands,
especially away from emergency nets, which have been used to save
people's
lives.
The problem today is that there is little or no enforcement on the ham
bands since Riley Hollingsworth retired several years ago. There are
certain frequencies on 20 and 75 meters where fighting, profanity and
recordings are prevelant and have been going on since Riley retired.
Many act with impunity and these frequencies are far worse than anything
you will ever hear on the CB bands. It's time for "hams" to speak up by
contacting the FCC, ARRl and your Congressmen and Senators.
I receive emails from many ham operators in other countries asking me why
the FCC allows these things to continue. Unfortunately, I do not have an
answer for them.
If everyone on the ham bands would read the Amateurs Code and practice it
everyday, most of these problems would be eliminated. Thank you.
John, K3UR
http://www.qrz.com/db/k3ur
John D. Occhipinti, K3UR
Net Control, TEN-TEC SSB Net
http://k3ur.com
The Voice of Atlanta
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Vineyard" <willltinker@gmail.com>
To: <TenTec@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2012 9:21 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Re: 20 Meter TEN-TEC SSB Net Cancelled: Contest
Everywhere
I agree! There is no reason a contest has to take up the whole band,
especially the most popular and useful band. There should be room for
all in this hobby with no bullies.
Steve
tentecguy wrote:
I am not one to critique many things people do in this hobby, but
contesting is never done in a fashion which is conducive or respectful
to others on the band. It is a "free for all" most times with loud,
splatter filled signals and horrible operating practices. If you want
to appreciate how bad it really is, imagine this... I work 2 weekends
a month leaving only two in which to enjoy rare weekend excursions on
the bands. Imagine running down to your basement, firing up you radio
looking to rag chew with friends and hearing that crap everywhere.
Use the WARC bands you say? Well that's fine IF the person you like to
talk to can actually be heard on the WARC bands.. How about imposing
band segments where this can be done or limiting a contest to a
specific band. Well that wouldn't be fair now would it? Imagine how I
feel when every non warc band is polluted with operators who drop
themselves in the middle of a QSO or net like a drunken sailor.
Sorry to rant, but I am not much of a contester or rude operator, just
someone who wanted to make contacts this weekend only to have to
listen to a mosh-pit of lousy operators all weekend.