[SEDXC] Ham Radio vs Freebanders

[Paul]

    Mike Greenway came out of the closet today. Drawing attention to a
worldwide cancer that, I believe, will eventually destroy licensed, law
abiding amateur radio. Freebanders, I hate to legitimize them with that
term, are the viruses of ham radio. Thinking that laws are jokes and rules
are for any operator but them, they not only populate the 27 MHz no-man's
land; they're everywhere. You can easily find them encroaching on 10 meters
and 12 meters everyday. They also are on 15 meters, 30 meters and 80 meters.
    I knew about the recent FK/C operation where Freeband was defended by
the local FK sponsor as being legal. Assuming that it is legal in New
Caledonia it certainly is not legal in the United States. Even when engaging
in a legal activity in one's own country I am sure if it generates or
supports an illegal activity in another country, it's illegal under a host
of international regulations. The ARRL recognizes this in its DXCC rules.
Several sections make it clear that contacts with unlicensed or undocumented
operators will not count for DXCC credit. Freebanders have no concern for
either domestic or international regulations.
    Whether Freebanders are an out-growth of outlaw CB or vice versa I don't
know. Regardless, they each now feed off of each other creating a lawless
spiral that seems impossible to control. Not only that, they foster other
totally illegal operations. Domestic taxis, fishing boats and barges, and
shoestring business operations regularly take place on 2 meters and 440 MHz.
Sometimes they get run off by the hams and sometimes they don't. When they
do get run off they find other frequencies to squat on. Last year there were
a couple of fishermen in the New England area regularly camped out in the 80
meter CW band in the mornings.
    This all becomes even more complicated because HF radio frequencies are
global in nature. Only atmospheric ionization controls where signals
ultimately go. In Latin America, for example, CB channel 40 is 28.035 MHz. I
don't know if this is legal or not because I don't know all the Latin
American radio regulations. What I do know is that people in Mexico can walk
into a radio store and buy a CB radio that transmits on channel 40, 28.035
MHz, right out of the box. Then we hear them all day and night when
conditions are good.
    No DX'er has not heard Indonesian taxis or Japanese fishing trawlers all
over the ham bands. This encroachment may be legal in those countries or
areas and that just makes everything more difficult. However, Freebanding,
which fundamentally promotes contacts between operators of different
countries is not legal in the United States. Therefore, any operation that
contacts United States citizens is also illegal.
    Now for what might be done. First; write, call, email and bug to death
your league representatives. Make them do what Mike suggests, refuse to
accept for DXCC credit any DX-pedition, operation, or individual operator
that supports any form of Freeband operation. Not only that, if you are
members of NCDXF or INDXA or any other financial support agency, make it
clear you will not support them if they provide any support to any DX
operation that involves Freebanding. I, for one, will be undertaking an
extended campaign to get the ARRL to come out publicly opposed to
accrediting any operation involving Freebanders.
    Of a side interest to me is the Freebander's web site use of DXCC and
IOTA nomenclature in their award structure. Thinking there might be a copy
right infringement here, the legal counsels of both agencies should be made
aware of this use of their respective logos and designators.
    One last item that I am sure will stir the controversy pot. If it were
up to me, I would prohibit amateur radio dealers from selling ham radio
equipment to unlicensed purchasers. I know this idea has a quagmire of
problems and I don't know yet how to make it work. You don't have to have a
license to buy a car, or an airplane, or a gun. Only gun purchases require a
minimum age. Perhaps some sort of "Ethics in Sales" code administered by the
ARRL could work. They do supposedly have an advertising ethics code.
    You might think that sales of ham equipment to Freebanders or CB'ers is
a minor problem. Trust me it is not. My best guess is that at least
one-third, and perhaps one half of all major retailers' gross sales are to
unlicensed domestic buyers. I have no way to address the exported equipment
but there is plenty of that going on too.
    Thanks a lot Mike for touching on the one, the only really pet peeve I
have regarding ham radio at this time. CB is the single worse thing that
ever happened to amateur radio, ever!

73 Paul Hansen, W6XA


Ps. Just before hitting the post button, I read Bruce's (AA4Z) note. I
agree, naturally.