10 Meters Free Banders

[Jerry]

Last night I came across a situation that doesn't happen very often.

A couple of outlaw radio operators - operating on the 10 meters - 28.400 MHz.

They were using Numbers as their call sign, because they did not have a call sign.
There were other free banders - as they called themselves, sticking up for the other outlaw radio operators.

I reminded them that if they had a license that it was illegal for them to talk to those people who did not have a license and that if the " " Freeband activity kept up, we would have to do something about it.

I have been involved with radio communications since about 1970 and I never intruded upon the Amateur Radio bands without a license.

Also, being disabled, lost part of my memory in a couple of automobile accidents, I had to study twice if not three times as long as a regular person to get my license and I kept studying until I achieved Amateur Extra Class after 2 1/2 months of being involved in Amateur radio.

I put close to 1000 miles on my vehicle going to and from VE test sessions until I passed all my exams and got my ticket and I attended many a club meeting from other local ham clubs - just to get to know the other amateur radio operators in the area.

I feel as if it is a slap in the face - if we as hams - let others use our frequencies without a license, especially when I had to work so hard to get mine.

As a example, I spent 40 hours reading the ARRL book and studying just to get my Technician license.

Another 80 hours reading and studying to get my General License and another 280 hours to get my Amateur Extra License.

I wore out a computer and a lazy boy chair - sitting in front of the computer, looking up the answers, so that I didn't just know the answer - I knew the reason why the question was on the test and what the answer means.

You get some CB idiots with their 10-4 jargon and no call signs and pretty soon we won't have a 10 meters band anymore.
Just look at what they did to the CB radio!

As a matter of importance, from what I read, the 10 meters band is the largest single band we possess as amateur radio operators.
I don't know of anybody that is willing to give up one inch of spectrum right now.

What I would like to see is a raise of hands of people who agrees with me and your opinion on this subject.

[WØTKX]

[PA5COR]

Here it is the cab drivers from the Russians, sometimes freebanders, but quite seldom.
If i hear frreebanders, i use the frequency without reacting on them.

[suddenseer]

I reminded them that if they had a license that it was illegal for them to talk to those people who did not have a license and that if the " " Freeband activity kept up, we would have to do something about it.

I am having difficulty trying to understand your conflicting statement. You wrote "I reminded them" does that mean you violated the rules and made amateur to non amateur communications that was non emergency? You told them if they had a license that it was illegal to talk to those people? Let me get this straight, you communicated with non licensed operators on an amateur frequency, then told them if they had a license they would not be allowed to talk to illegals like you claim you did. I hope you realize that if you made a contact that clearly violates the rules, you have just jeopardized the license you apparently worked very hard for. You solicited my opinion: This post is a troll, or you need to get the study books back out and revisit the rules.

[w2amr]

Shoot the bastages.

[N8YX]

When Riley Hollingsworth was in charge of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau and was dealing with the encroachment of bootleg truckers into 10M, he opined that legitimate users of a frequency (hams) may use said frequency if unlicensed stations were present.

1kW of RTTY into an antenna of moderate to high gain does wonders at getting the attention of interlopers. As does a voice "CQ" overtop a nest of scofflaws. Just make sure the intruders are in fact unlicensed and haven't 'conveniently forgotten' to ID properly.

If the offending stations are local to you then hop in the car and DF them. Find their locations...make recordings of the illegal activity, taking care to accurately note dates, times, frequencies and all other pertinent information. Then forward the evidence to Laura Smith of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau. She'll put their balls in a vise.

[KC2UGV]

I second N8YX here: Switch to PSK, RTTY, or CW :) And, since it's 10 meters, you'll most likely require your RF out to be turned full to the right, in order to make DX contacts.

[PA5COR]

Some openings now on 10, whatareyou doing here?

[K7SGJ]

It's rather hard to eliminate illegal operation in the ham bands when those responsible for enforcement of the rules doesn't give a shit. Same is true of all radio spectrum. Unless it is a very high profile case that would further the political career of someone at the FCC, or interference to a commercial or public service station is involved, you will likely see no action. Just spin the big knob an don't sweat it. It is not worth the ulcers. The FCC has become frustrating, at best. Many years back, I busted my ass for over a year getting ready for the Commercial First Phone. It was a lot of work. I really got pissed when all of that was dropped and you got converted to a General Class. And as the rules were further relaxed, one no longer needs a commercial license for anything other for aeronautical and maybe marine. It's obvious when you tune in the local ratchet rock FM station that is over processed and on the ragged edge of being within legal parameters. I'm glad I'm out of commercial radio anyway. The biggest issue for me was having to deal with the egos of the on air personalities.

[W3WN]

Jerry,

The sad fact of life is that there are all too many people who have purchased & modified amateur transceivers for use outside of our bands... thus all of the "golden screwdriver" related comments that you have or will come across.

Some of these users will operate wherever they can get away with it. Some are so-called freebanders, some are truckers & cabbies or other people in similar industries who are looking for "clear" frequencies, some are just jackasses. Pick one from column A, two from column B, and with 6 you get eggroll.

In short, they don't belong in our bands. And they don't care.

I have no qualms with you telling them that they are operating illegally, and as has already been noted, Riley K4ZDH more than once (when he was FCC's chief of Amateur enforcement) that it is not illegal or improper for you to do so, as it is part of our mantra of self-policing.

Just don't put your own arse at risk. Some of these scofflaws will threaten you for telling them what they already know, that they are doing something wrong. And believe me, they know.

And they can "stick up" for each other all they want. FCC rules are quite clear... you must have an Amateur license under FCC Part 97 to transmit in the Amateur 10 meter band. Period.