[SEDXC] Ham Radio vs Freebanders

[Dr. John Harden]

Dear Paul,

I agree wholeheartedly with everything that you say!! In this country we
certainly have the right to address our concerns through the proper channels
that you described. This right has been preserved and protected over the history
of our country by those who made the supreme sacrifice on the altar of
freedom...

It is a right that I cherish,...and respect.Go for it Paul!!

Sincerely,

John, W4NU
K4JAG (1959 to 1998)

Paul wrote:

>     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.
>
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