The other problem is the majority of the time they are not handling
emergency traffic but instead playing frequency cops. In the audio clip
that was recently sent, the NCS talks about an emergency but there was no
emergency. They are there just in case there is one.
If there was a real emergency, I bet the frequency would have been
available. Holding a frequency in hopes of a problem would be similar to
fire departments sending out engines and having them stationed along
interstates just in case.
As another pointed out there are far better means to report a maritime
emergency today than a 20m net. Have they helped in the past, yes. If I
had an emergency the last place I would go would be 20m on a major contest
weekend. I would go to another band where communications would be much
easier.
>From what I understand people use this "net" as a crutch and avoid
purchasing the proper communications equipment for their boats. The
question is whether amateur radio should be the first line of communication
or maybe the last.
If the FCC and IARU would like to set aside frequencies outside the normal
SSB bands I would support that.
We do not need or want to set the precedent that one group has "ownership"
of a frequency. The FCC has been quite clear that nobody owns or has any
more right to a frequency than the next guy. If you get on 14.300 or any
other frequency for that matter, at 4am and nobody is using it, then it is
yours to use for as long as you wish. If you do not want to move you do not
have to. Repeaters aside.
I would suspect that the control op(s) could have been cited for malicious
interference and do more to make the problem worse than making it better.
Mike W0MU
CC Packet Cluster W0MU-1
W0MU.NET or 67.40.148.194
"A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may
never get over." Ben Franklin
-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Chip at Heil
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 4:31 PM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Contesting and Emergencies
Some years back, I wrote an essay on the above subject that was published
in QST. And here we have the same issue arising again.
I think this petition by the MMSN is a hopeless and misguided idea. Instead
of doing a "land grab" on their favorite frequency, the MMSN ought to
petition the FCC to set aside a small segment, say 14.125-14.135 MHz for
emergency use and emergency use only (i.e. when life and property are in the
process of being in danger, or if that danger is imminent). We already have
the 5 MHz band for low-frequency emergency use, and it's not available for
contest operation.
For everyday operation, drills, exchanging routine weather information,
etc., the "normal" frequencies should be used. If they're crowded, try 10
MHz and 18 MHz.
This problem has such a simple solution that the MMSN petition ought never
to have seen the light of day.
73,
Chip Margelli, K7JA
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