[TowerTalk] Remote Ham Radio

[K8RI]

On 8/3/2013 9:17 AM, Mickey Baker wrote:
> Where did anyone every get the idea that there shouldn't be profit in ham
> radio?

We are not talking about profit in ham radio, we are talking about 
profit from using your station
We are talking about hams, or a group of hams making money from their 
licensed station, not from selling their station or equipment.
When you sell the station,and a ham puts it on the air it receives a 
license which is to a physical location.

If yo let someone use the station they have to stick to the limitations 
of their license and the station license. Used to be if station XX used 
station YY its sign was XX/YY

This has nothing to do with the equipment.  You cans sell or rent your 
equipment out, but the "station license is attached to that location.

You can build or buy a giant station and operate it remote and you can 
sell or rent the equipment, but not the station as I interpret the regs. 
  The "station" is licensed to an individual, or club at a specific 
location and we are forbidden to make money from messages/contacts made 
from that station regardless of who operates it.

It seems pretty straight forward and simple to me.

Although not Tower Talk specifically, I think this is a very important 
and relevant topic because the important part is the giant antenna farm 
(Usually) and it casts doubt on the very essence of contests and awards 
earned. Yes we all get together and operate "someone's" station for 
contests and it matters not if it's local or remote, but when we are 
paying to make transmissions on that station?  What then?

I really like the idea of renting a vacation home, in the mountains, on 
the beach, or on an island, where I can operate portable.  Does the 
legality change if it already has antennas? antennas and a contest style 
station?  The latter just went out of my price range

Thing is, as I see it we are at best in a gray area, renting a home or 
cabin with a station and signing portable, or outside the regs when 
renting a complete licensed station.  What if "someone" puts up a 
monster station and never licenses it?  They are no longer renting out a 
licensed ham station for money.  Just that tiny detail would make it 
legal..."I think"

Anyone can build a ham station, complete with towers and antennas and 
they do not need a license to do so, but they and the station need a 
license to operate and any one could operate it "portable"?? That 
violates the spirit of the regs, but not the regs?

73

Roger (K8RI)