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Re: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops

To: "'James Wades'" <wb8siw@charter.net>
Subject: Re: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <k4ik@subich.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 16:55:17 -0400
List-post: <mailto:rtty@contesting.com>
Typical ... when narrow minded persons have no logical argument 
to support their demand for special treatment in the face of 
the whole world, they resort is to name calling.  

You still have not provided a logical reason to support your 
demand for a 6KHz + QRM free channel in the middle of the 
INTERNATIONAL RTTY spectrum during an international RTTY 
operating event that has been scheduled the same weekend for 
many years.  Even if the FCC were to provide an Emergency 
Declaration for your private frequency, it would not apply to 
the very loud foreign stations that are causing most of the 
interference. 

You and those like you who do not bother to do sufficient 
research in advance ... who do not bother to effectively plan 
who do not consider the rest of the world ... and then demand 
special treatment are abhorrent.  When you think your personal 
pursuits are more important than the those of amateurs in the 
rest of the world, you are wrong.  When you can't swallow your 
pride and say "we screwed up and picked a frequency in the 
wrong portion of the band because we did not take notice of 
the bandplans in the rest of the world" you lose any moral 
high ground you might have had based on your claim to an 
"emergency response" purpose.  

Because of the very narrow 40 meter band in Region 1 and 
Region 3, RTTY operation is limited to about 10 KHz (7040 
to 7050) during most times.  That expands to a "generous" 
7030-7060 during the four or five major RTTY operating events.  
Had you done any research into 40 meter bandplans you would 
have discovered that fact.  Instead you failed to look beyond 
your own borders and assumed that America would dictate to the
rest of the world.  40 meters is an international band, 
particularly at the bottom of the sunspot cycle.  Your 
personal desires will never change that fact.  Non-US 
stations operate according to their own rules and will 
continue to do so, no matter how much you want to force 
them to do otherwise.   

Frankly, I am still without competitive antennas as a result 
of three hurricanes last year.  I am not participating in 
the contest and it's no skin off my nose.  However, your 
demands make you a prime example of the "America first - 
screw the rest of the world" attitude that makes Americans 
so popular with the rest of the world.   

You will never accomplish anything by demanding that all 
stations provide a wide "QRM free zone" around "your frequency" 
particularly after the operating event has started ... you will 
only give yourself a black eye with Amateurs in the rest of 
the world.  

It's time for you to suck it up, admit you screwed up and 
move on. 





> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Wades [mailto:wb8siw@charter.net] 
> Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 3:16 PM
> To: 'Joe Subich, W4TV'
> Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> 
> 
> You sir are every bit the "Ugly American."  You are 
> self-centered, you have
> no respect for the rights of others, and you feel that "might 
> and superior
> numbers makes right."  As such, you fit the arrogance and 
> selfishness of the
> quintessential "Ugly American."  I find it sad that you are 
> actually capable
> of representing the US on an amateur frequency.
> 
> Of course, there is no reason for me to waste my time with a piece of
> red-neck trash such as yourself.
> 
> JW
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe Subich, W4TV [mailto:k4ik@subich.com] 
> Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 12:56 PM
> To: 'James Wades'
> Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> 
> 
>  ... and you not only discredit every American, you discredit 
>      "public service."  Your picture will be found in the 
>      dictionary under the caption "Ugly American." 
>  
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: James Wades [mailto:wb8siw@charter.net] 
> > Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 12:21 PM
> > To: 'Joe Subich, W4TV'
> > Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> > 
> > 
> > Gee, Joe....you have no idea about my professional background 
> > as well, and I suspect I have contributed equally if not far 
> > more.  I stand by my former statement, you are a discredit to 
> > ham radio.  
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > James Wades
> > General Manager, 
> > Michigan Net, QMN
> > P.O. Box 457
> > Allegan, MI.  49010
> >  
> > Telephone:  269-978-2787
> > FAX:  269-978-1906
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joe Subich, W4TV [mailto:k4ik@subich.com] 
> > Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 11:44 AM
> > To: 'James Wades'
> > Cc: Riley.Hollingsworth@fcc.gov; k9sz@wittmer.us; 
> aa5au@bellsouth.net
> > Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> > 
> > 
> > > You sir, are a discredit to Amateur Radio and you don't 
> > > deserve to have a license.  
> > 
> > ... any you are the kind of blind fool that gives life to 
> > the term "Ugly American" when you attempt to impose your 
> > provincial "wants" on the rest of the world.  
> > 
> > This is an INTERNATIONAL EVENT not an American QSO party. 
> > If you had an ounce of intelligence and a cup of common 
> > sense you would not have selected a frequency in the middle 
> > of a part of the band where RTTY has priority by INTERNATIONAL 
> > BAND PLANS.  You could have established your net between 7090 
> > and 7150 and never heard an RTTY station - even on a contest 
> > weekend.  Instead you expect the whole world to shut down so 
> > you and your buddies can feed your own egos.  
> > 
> > You may have every right to operate on 7050 ... but you 
> > are "dead right."  Your wants have absolutely no effect 
> > on the rest of the world ... they don't care about you. 
> > 
> > Get a life and learn from this - pick a frequency than is 
> > not likely to get clobbered by high power RTTY from VE, XE, 
> > 9A, S5, OM, OK, ON, YV, PJ, PY, etc. because your Michigan 
> > Net is going to lose every time. 
> > 
> > 73, 
> > 
> >    ... Joe, W4TV 
> > 
> > PS. You have absolutely no idea what I have contributed to 
> >     both the Amateur Radio Service and general disaster 
> >     preparedness during both my Amateur and professional 
> >     careers.  So be careful when you start making judgments 
> >     about deserving to have a license.   
> >   
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: James Wades [mailto:wb8siw@charter.net] 
> > Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 11:06 AM
> > To: 'Joe Subich, W4TV'
> > Cc: Riley.Hollingsworth@fcc.gov; k9sz@wittmer.us; 
> aa5au@bellsouth.net
> > Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> > 
> > 
> > Well, Joe......allow me to refer to your little comment here;
> >  
> > " Get your head into the sunshine and realize that the rest 
> > of the world does not care about your little Michigan net."
> >  
> > We have every legal right to operate on 7050 KHz.  That's the 
> > law.  We were
> > on the frequency first, and as such, we were entitled to 
> > protection under
> > Part 97.  Under the law, RTTY and CW have equal status on 
> > 7050.  As such,
> > whether your care or not about our "little Michigan Net," it 
> > remains obvious
> > that your are either ignorant of the law or you simply 
> don't have any
> > respect for it.
> >  
> > I just cannot believe your arrogance.  You sir, are a 
> > discredit to Amateur
> > Radio and you don't deserve to have a license.  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > James Wades
> > General Manager, 
> > Michigan Net, QMN
> > P.O. Box 457
> > Allegan, MI.  49010
> >  
> > Telephone:  269-978-2787
> > FAX:  269-978-1906
> >  
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joe Subich, W4TV [mailto:k4ik@subich.com] 
> > Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 10:23 AM
> > To: 'James Wades'
> > Cc: Riley.Hollingsworth@fcc.gov; k9sz@wittmer.us; 
> aa5au@bellsouth.net
> > Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> >  
> >  
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: James Wades [mailto:wb8siw@charter.net] 
> > Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 8:25 AM
> >  
> > > We were in operation, on that frequency, before the start 
> > > of the contest.  Let me repeat....we were in operation on 
> > > that frequency before the start of the contest and within 
> > > minutes after its start, we were being pounded by 1 KW RTTY 
> > > signals that were zero beat with our operations.
> >  
> > I understand completely, you are the kind of person who tells 
> > his kids to go out and play in the roadway even when it is an 
> > interstate highway.  7040 KHz is the center of RTTY activity 
> > under the IARU Region 1 and Region 3 bandplans.  Just because 
> > you did not hear any RTTY activity a few hours before 0000Z 
> > Saturday does not mean there was not any - or that there would 
> > not be any.  
> >  
> > > Are your cohorts incapable of listening on a frequency or 
> > > asking "QRL ?" in a segment shared with CW before hitting 
> > > the transmit switch!!!!
> >  
> > How do you know that they did not ask if the frequency was 
> > in use.  You are taking about a basic difference in mode. 
> > A RTTY operator may not be any more capable of decoding a 
> > CW signal (particularly if he/she does not have a speaker 
> > turned on) than a CW operator has of decoding RTTY.  I 
> > notice that you have still not provided a list of stations 
> > causing your QRM ... how many of them were non-US?  
> >  
> > > Anyway, it is a moot point.  We have terminated operations 
> > > on 7050 to accommodate your needs.  After all, they are 
> > > clearly more important than ours.
> >  
> > Actually, the point is not moot.  You are an prime example 
> > of an operation that has a completely provincial view of 
> > amateur radio.  Ham radio knows no international boundary 
> > and plays no favorites to mode.  The CQWW RTTY contest has 
> > been conducted for many years - it is announced in all the 
> > major publications.  The Region 1/3 bandplans have been 
> > widely printed and been the subject of much discussion for 
> > many years.  
> >  
> > If your goal was truly emergency preparedness and emergency 
> > service you would use a frequency "off of the interstate." 
> > There is plenty of CW space (between 7100 and 7150 that 
> > would not conflict with international band plans) that would 
> > serve your needs.  
> >  
> > Again, part of emergency preparedness is understanding the 
> > situation and conditions in advance.  You should have picked 
> > a frequency more appropriate to your goals ... and not been 
> > using bicycles on an interstate highway. 
> >  
> > Get your head into the sunshine and realize that the rest 
> > of the world does not care about your little Michigan net. 
> >  
> > 73, 
> >  
> >    ... Joe, W4TV 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joe Subich, W4TV [mailto:k4ik@subich.com] 
> > Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2005 1:50 AM
> > To: 'Don Hill AA5AU'; 'James Wades'
> > Cc: Riley.Hollingsworth@fcc.gov; w1aw@arrl.org; k9sz@wittmer.us
> > Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> >  
> >  
> > James, 
> >  
> > I'm afraid it is you who "just don't get it."  CQWW RTTY is an 
> > INTERNATIONAL CONTEST - one of the largest RTTY contests of the 
> > year.  It happens on the last weekend of October every year.  
> >  
> > For your net to attempt to "claim" a frequency in the middle 
> > of the internationally recognized RTTY segment on 40 meters is, 
> > quite simply, a joke.  Even if you were to receive an Emergency 
> > Declaration, you would receive severe interference from all of 
> > the very strong non-US stations (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and 
> > European stations) operating there.   
> >  
> > Part of smart planning (and "gearing up") for emergency efforts 
> > includes choosing frequencies that are least likely to receive 
> > interference.  This is one fight you cannot win - you are trying 
> > to hold a soapbox derby on the front stretch of the Indianapolis 
> > Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend. 
> >  
> > 73, 
> >  
> >    ... Joe, W4TV (ex. WB8HWE, AD8I, W8IK, K4IK) 
> >  
> > PS.  I've been on both sides of this argument as I was a very 
> >      active ARES member and traffic handler for years in Ohio 
> >      during the 70's and 80's.  I have received numerous awards 
> >      and citations for my emergency service.  I am also a contester 
> >      who lost my antennas due to the three hurricanes that hit 
> >      Central Florida last year.  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > > From: James Wades [mailto:wb8siw@charter.net] 
> > > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 10:28 PM
> > > To: 'Don Hill AA5AU'
> > > Cc: k9sz@wittmer.us; rtty@contesing.com; 
> > Riley.Hollingsworth@fcc.gov;
> > > w1aw@arrl.org
> > > Subject: RE: RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Hi Don:
> > >  
> > > I'm saddened by your response.  Since when was one mode 
> > less worthy of
> > > protection under Part 97 than another?  What ever happened to 
> > > basic operating
> > > courtesies, such as checking a frequency with a receiver 
> > > before transmitting?
> > > Do such courtesies go out the window when a contest starts?
> > >  
> > > I have to admit, I resent the implication that I couldn't be 
> > > heard.  We had been
> > > communicating with other SATERN and NREN stations throughout 
> > > North America on
> > > several bands all night.  Perhaps I couldn't be heard because 
> > > I was running 150
> > > watts instead of 1500 (???).
> > >  
> > > Your suggestion that we use Phone is laughable.  Our 
> > > partnership with SATERN
> > > grew out of the fact that during Hurricane Rita, the phone 
> > > nets were overloaded
> > > with excess demand on circuit capacity and inefficiency was 
> > > degraded by
> > > inexperienced operators.  Our net regularly handles an 
> > > average of 3.75 times
> > > more traffic than voice nets per hour.   By the way, this 
> > > statistic was compiled
> > > over a period of four years working with a major State EMA, 
> > > which independently
> > > compared Amateur voice, CW, and data circuits.  So, to answer 
> > > your question,
> > > "what the heck mode are you using on 40-meters?"  We're using 
> > > CW, and we have
> > > every right to do so.
> > >  
> > > While I do appreciate your willingness to pass on my "plea" 
> > > to your fellow RTTY
> > > contesters, and while I recognize that you did not directly 
> > > interfere with our
> > > net, I am saddened by your attitude and the lack of respect 
> > > it shows for your
> > > fellow radio amateurs.
> > >  
> > > 73,
> > >  
> > >  
> > >  
> > > James Wades 
> > > General Manager, Michigan Net, QMN
> > > National Radio Emergency Net
> > > P.O. Box 457
> > > Allegan, MI.  49010
> > >  
> > > Telephone:  269-978-2787
> > > FAX:  269-978-1906
> > >   _____  
> > > 
> > > From: Don Hill AA5AU [mailto:aa5au@bellsouth.net] 
> > > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 9:49 PM
> > > To: 'James Wades'
> > > Cc: k9sz@wittmer.us; rtty@contesing.com; 
> > Riley.Hollingsworth@fcc.gov;
> > > w1aw@arrl.org
> > > Subject: RE: RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> > >  
> > > Yes, I run RTTY and I am in the contest on 40 meters.
> > >  
> > > Jim, what the heck mode are you trying to run a net on 
> > > between 7047 and 7053 Khz
> > > during the largest RTTY contest of the year?  I might suggest 
> > > that you run the
> > > net on phone.  I understand your predicament but the contest 
> > > has already started
> > > and the RTTY ops have no way of knowing you are there if they 
> > > can't hear you.  I
> > > can't hear you!
> > >  
> > > I lost most my roof during Katrina.  I put 12 tarps on in the 
> > > last two week and
> > > today in 40 mph wind and driving rain I had to put on 4 more 
> > > tarps as water
> > > keeps finding ways to come in.
> > >  
> > > I've copied the RTTY reflector but there is no way to get the 
> > > word out now, it's
> > > simply too late.
> > >  
> > > If you move to phone, let me know.  I'd like to join in and 
> > > help if I can.  Both
> > > my towers were blown down by Katrina, but I took my HF2 
> > > vertical down before the
> > > storm and that is the only HF antenna I have a present.
> > >  
> > > Don AA5AU
> > >  
> > >   _____  
> > > 
> > > From: James Wades [mailto:wb8siw@charter.net] 
> > > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 8:21 PM
> > > To: aa5au@bellsouth.net
> > > Cc: k9sz@wittmer.us; rtty@cqww.com; 
> > > Riley.Hollingsworth@fcc.gov; w1aw@arrl.org
> > > Subject: RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops
> > > Hi Don:
> > >  
> > > I am writing this letter to you because I understand your are 
> > > active in the RTTY
> > > community.  If I am mistaken, please disregard.  Otherwise, I 
> > > earnestly solicit
> > > your help with the following problem:
> > >  
> > > It is 900 PM EDT on the evening of Friday, September 24.  The 
> > > National Radio
> > > Emergency Network, in cooperation with the Salvation Army 
> > > Team Emergency Radio
> > > Network is in the process of gearing up our response to 
> > > Hurricane Rita.  Our net
> > > on 7050 khz was operating normally until the start of the CQ 
> > > WW RTTY contest.
> > > This contest has now "consumed" and disrupted our primary 
> > > nighttime frequency
> > > with high power RTTY signals.  These stations fail to 
> > > recognize the standard
> > > "QRL" signal or other requests to move.  They have interfered 
> > > with official
> > > communications related to the Hurricane Rita response.  
> > >  
> > > It is furthermore important that our operations were in 
> > > progress before the
> > > start of the RTTY contest.  We had control of the frequency 
> > > and it was taken
> > > away from us improperly.  The General class portion of this 
> > > sub-band is now
> > > packed with RTTY signals leaving no room for our operations.
> > >  
> > > Could you please, please, please get the word out on the RTTY 
> > > reflectors and
> > > similar lists respectfully requesting that they avoid the 
> > > segment between 7047
> > > and 7053 KHz due to interference with SATERN and NREN 
> > > operations in response to
> > > Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  PLEASE.
> > >  
> > > Unfortunately, I am also forwarding a copy of this 
> message to Riley
> > > Hollingsworth asking for official FCC protection on the 
> above stated
> > > frequencies.
> > >  
> > > Thank you!
> > >  
> > > James Wades, PEM
> > > General Manager, Michigan Net, QMN
> > > National Radio Emergency Net
> > > P.O. Box 457
> > > Allegan,  MI.  49010
> > >  
> > > Office Numbers:
> > >      Kalamazoo, MI:  269-978-2787  (FAX: 269-978-1906)
> > >      Franklin, TN:  615-261-8242
> > >  
> > >  
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > RTTY mailing list
> > > RTTY@contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty
> > > 
> > 
> 

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