[CQ-Contest] 14.300

[Harry Hodges]

Let's watch the "cheap shots"

Gordo doesn't license anyone - The FCC does.

He runs a radio school training folks to be able to pass the license
examination. So does KB6MT and W5YI and many clubs in one form or another.

After completion of the course work, the students take the appropriate
examination under the supervision of Volunteer Examiners appointed by a
Volunteer Examiner Coordinator. That's what I do under the supervision of
the SANDARC VEC and I could care less who gave our candidates their training
preparatory to taking the exam. And I have been doing this on the last
Saturday of every month since 1987

7e, 

Harry/W6YOO
Escondido Site Manager, 
SANDARC VEC

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mueller N2NL
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 21:49
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] 14.300

   As an active duty member of the US Coast Guard, I'm somewhat skeptical
of the usefullness of the Maritime Mobile net from a search and rescue
standpoint.  I've read a couple stories over the years of people helped
on this frequency, but it's probably because they didn't use the other
means of communication available to them.  14.300 is more of a
gathering point for sailers to keep in touch with their friends and
families than an emergency services frequency.  To state that 14.300 is
the unofficial emergency frequency is no different from those contest
participants who say their operations are training for future
catastropies.
   The sailor who goes to sea with nothing but an HF rig is a stupid
sailor.  Documented vessels are required to have a working EPRIRB
onboard, and they are cheap enough that anyone can afford one.  They
are certainly cheaper than any HF rig!
   Last January, when we pulled three Mexican fisherman from 50 degree
water, they were found because they had an EPIRB, not because they
checked into the Maritime Mobile net.

  http://www.n2nl.net/gallery/patrol2?page=16

   I think this group, a group not unlike many other nets on the bands
today, uses their "unofficial emergency frequency" statement in an
attempt to keep "their" frequency clear.  If marine radio manufacturers
are indeed printing this frequency in their manuals, shame on them, and
shame on Gordon West who's made living from licensing sailors.  They
might get someone killed some day.

73, Dave N2NL
Chief Petty Officer, US Coast Guard


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