Ham Radio on a Boat
"Bobsprit" wrote in message
Bart, do you think hams will become angry at you for encouraging an ass
such
as me to pollute their airwaves?
Do you think I'm suddenly am going to become a considerate, nice guy just
because I'm broadcasting on amateur radio?
I'm not Bart, but I'll answer those questions for you. First, one does not
"broadcast" on amateur bands. One communicates with others. Second, you
will be a "considerate, nice guy" on the ham bands, or you'll find one of
two things will occur: 1) no one will talk to you and you'll be yelling at
dead air, or 2) someone--a do-gooder, perhaps--will attempt to help you
improve your on-the-air courtesy to the point you'll be an acceptable
communicator. Unlike 11M, where almost no one actually communicates any
more, the ham bands are self-policed and fools and miscreants aren't
suffered gladly. IF you choose to be a jerk on ham radio, you'll discover
just how lonely it can get.
Why do people promote their own interests and hobbies to others and then
complain when the hobby/interest becomes over run or degraded?
This hasn't been a problem for amateur radio. Jerks either go away
eventually, or they convert. In some cases they get turned over to the FCC
for prosecution if they create enough trouble. One repeater group in this
area has transceiver-printing equipment, which can identify any individual
radio by its transmitter waveform characteristics and idiosyncracies. Using
this equipment and other means they have turned several idiots over to the
FCC, for which fines totalling in excess of $100,000 have been levied.
Moral of the story: don't screw with hams. They can be aggressive in
putting your butt in a sling. You may get away with crap on 11M, but not on
the ham bands.
Max
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