[amsat-bb] New National DX record and Band

[Bob Bruninga <bruninga@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Of topic posting.  Reply to ARRL if you have an opinion.

A new National UHF DX record was established at 2130z on 12 Jul 2K from
FM18sx to FM19sa on the new UHF band 462.5625 (FRS) between WB4APR and
K3FOR over a distance of 2.01 miles.

Although we expect this record not to stand for very long, pending review
by the ARRL, we think this band qualifies for amateur operation for the
following reasons:

   1)  The contact was between two licensed radio amateurs.
   2)  A full two-way LOCATION and CALLs and RST were exchanged.
   3)  OPerations by said amateurs are fully legal and in accordance with
       all FCC regulations.
   4)  Equipment used was fully FCC Type accepted, and unmodified and
       operated entirely within the rules for that band.

ARGUMENTS:  Unlike CB, Marine Bands, Aeronautical bands, and GMRS bands
and any Business bands, which ALL REQUIRE FCC LICENSE and operation using
VALID FCC CALLS FOR THAT SERVICE, the FRS band has absoultely zero
requirement for any FCC license nor ANY requirement for any CALLSIGN.
Thus ANY arrangement of letters, numbers or word/phrases can be
used as a callsign.  We chose to use the arrangement of letters and
numbers of the English ALphabet that just happened to match our HAM calls.
THUS, a perfectly LEGAL exchange...

MY POINT!  Are we really going for a DX record?   NO... just wanted to get
yoru attention...

We are trying to make the point to the ARRL, that the FRS band should NOT
be ignored in its OUTREACH mission to youth and the public as an entry
point for a "wireless" public.  Consider these points:

1)  We have (or had) EXTRA, Advanced, General, Technican, and Novice
SUBbands with different privlidges.  Each dependent on LICENSE class.
WHy not consider the FRS band to be the ARRL subband for entry-level
"license free" operation?

2)  I think 95% of every HAM probably made his FIRST transmission on
either a CB (50 years ago) or GMRS, or Part 15, or FRS.  My first was the
Knight Kit $9 supperregen one transistor HT back in 1959.  That was
stepping stone #1, and propelled me into HAM radio.

3)  The ARRL and HAM radio should not ignore FRS, but should welcome it
with open arms, and use it as an entry level means of enticing
radio-interested public to "move-up" to HAM radio...

4)  The ARRL and every one of us should LOBBY THE FCC to REQUIRE
manufacturesrs of FRS radio to INCLUDE in every RADIO package a set of
"RADIO ETIQUETTE RULES"! !!!

This LAST One is my big beef!  Not ONE FRS radio of the many I have
purchased mentiond ANYTHING whatsoever about Radio-telephone-procedure.
There is no mention of these simple rules:

   1) Listen first.  Do not interferre with communications in progress
   2) Use minimum power necessary for the communication
   3) Identify your transmissions of both the sender and receiver
      (to avoid confusion on a crowded-shared band)
   3.a) THere are a lot of "Daddy's and Mom's" out there.  Use a unique
      "call sign".
   4) Be COURTEOUS to others
   5) Let higher priority traffic use the channel first.
   6) No music, Profanity, Tones, or digital communications   
   7) Dont be a jerk, etc...

AS IT IS, WITH NO RULES WHATSOEVER, the FCC is "training" the entire
general public (millions of FRS users) that a radio is just something to
play with and jabber and step on anyone, and its a free-for-all JUNGLE!
Then WE AMATEURS are the only ones left to have to clean up the
mess by RETRAINING THEM if they become interested in HAM radio.

I consider this lack of foresight on the part of the FCC to be creating a
mess of the airwaves that will just grow and polute the RF spectrum until
we have an entire generation that thinks ANARCHY is the way that all
radios work.

As HAMs it is in OUR best interest to get the FCC to FORCE the
manufactureers to include in every FRS box a simple one page "RULES OF
RADIO ETIQUETTE".  Even if the ARRL has to PRINT them, I am willing for
some of my dues to go towards this "outreach and training" program for the
unwashed masses...  It will pay off to us in the long run...

P.S.  Tomorrow night we are going for 10.8 miles...  <grin>

SOrry for the off topic post, but anything we can do for the benefit of
HAM radio is worth a post.  But please, lets not let this clutter the BB
and SIG, just send any comments to your ARRL rep..

de WB4APR, Bob



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