[RTTY] RTTY Interference to Hurricane Rita Ops

[Don Hill AA5AU]

I'm sorry you didn't get my point.
 
And I don't think you want to get into a discussion about attitude with me right
now.  More than half my roof damaged and half my possessions damaged and working
16 hours a day trying to save what I have left.
 
I offered to help and this is the response I get?
 
Don Hill AA5AU
Harvey, LA
 

  _____  

From: James Wades [mailto:wb8siw at charter.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 10:28 PM
To: 'Don Hill AA5AU'
Cc: k9sz at wittmer.us; rtty at contesing.com; Riley.Hollingsworth at fcc.gov;
w1aw at 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 at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 9:49 PM
To: 'James Wades'
Cc: k9sz at wittmer.us; rtty at contesing.com; Riley.Hollingsworth at fcc.gov;
w1aw at 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 at charter.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 8:21 PM
To: aa5au at bellsouth.net
Cc: k9sz at wittmer.us; rtty at cqww.com; Riley.Hollingsworth at fcc.gov; w1aw at 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