Zoran Brlecic wrote:
snip

Maybe... who cares? Maybe, just maybe, if we gave away amateur radio
licenses on street corners, some of the new licensees would do all that
stuff that you mention. That is beside the point. He's not looking to
become a ham radio operator - he's looking for a cellphone substitute.
Ham radio ain't it.


We DO give away amateur radio licenses on street corners.
When I was a kid, we had to walk 10 miles to school in the snow...
oops, wrong speech...
When I was a kid we had to actually take a test, do some math, read a
circuit diagram, know a tiny bit about the technology. Weren't no
multiple choice question pool with the answers given out for us to memorize.

Today, anybody with the attention span of a two year old can get
a...oooh shiny radio...
mike

On Wed, 01 Oct 2003 03:56:36 -0700, mike belch-spoke these words:

Zoran Brlecic wrote:
Harvey White wrote:

[big snip]

Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community
to have a license?



Oh, sweet mother of mercy! He doesn't. You guys are completely missing
the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for a
cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it.

And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.


To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and ridiculous.

He was presented with several alternatives.
How about you let HIM decide what's ridiculous!


=== === ===
FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions.

(a) No amateur station shall transmit:

(5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be
furnished alternatively through other radio services.

=== === ===

I haven't had a radio conversation that couldn't have been handled by
a cellphone...at least not since the cellphone was invented.
I'd better go tear up my ham licence right now!!! Just for you...


Haha, love the trolling. FCC rules are outdated since the advent of cellphones.
The thing is, I cannot reasonably afford a cellphone, and ham radio, after the initial expenditures,
is FREE, FREE, FREEEEEEEE (bar repair costs which shouldn't pop up unless you or the manufacturer
screws up the equipment).
From what I hear about CB, its a garbage band where nobody can depend on consistent, unhampered
communications.
FRS? It's range is 1 mile AT BEST. Yes, I use FRS with privacy tones when appropriate.

But I'd rather set up a phone patch over 2m for any radio-telephone use away from home, if at all.

John

On Wed, 01 Oct 2003 03:56:36 -0700, mike belch-spoke these words:

Zoran Brlecic wrote:
Harvey White wrote:

[big snip]

Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community
to have a license?



Oh, sweet mother of mercy! He doesn't. You guys are completely missing
the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for a
cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it.

And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.


To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and ridiculous.

He was presented with several alternatives.
How about you let HIM decide what's ridiculous!


=== === ===
FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions.

(a) No amateur station shall transmit:

(5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be
furnished alternatively through other radio services.

=== === ===

I haven't had a radio conversation that couldn't have been handled by
a cellphone...at least not since the cellphone was invented.
I'd better go tear up my ham licence right now!!! Just for you...


Haha, love the trolling. FCC rules are outdated since the advent of cellphones.
The thing is, I cannot reasonably afford a cellphone, and ham radio, after the initial expenditures,
is FREE, FREE, FREEEEEEEE (bar repair costs which shouldn't pop up unless you or the manufacturer
screws up the equipment).
From what I hear about CB, its a garbage band where nobody can depend on consistent, unhampered
communications.
FRS? It's range is 1 mile AT BEST. Yes, I use FRS with privacy tones when appropriate.

But I'd rather set up a phone patch over 2m for any radio-telephone use away from home, if at all.

John

Dr. John wrote:
On Wed, 01 Oct 2003 03:56:36 -0700, mike belch-spoke these words:
snip
But I'd rather set up a phone patch over 2m for any radio-telephone use away from home, if at all.

John

If you set up a phone patch, make darn sure it's protected against
unauthorized long distance calls.
I set one up and never used it. All the calls I wanted to make were to
order pizza or find out if some business had something in stock.
FCC wouldn't have appreciated those calls. Mr. Humbug from this thread
would have had an absolute hissy fit.
Point is, carefully examine the nature of your calls before going to the
hassle of putting up a phone patch.
mike


--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
4in/400Wout ham linear amp.
Honda CB-125S
400cc Dirt Bike 2003 miles $550
Police Scanner, Color LCD overhead projector
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

Dr. John wrote:
On Wed, 01 Oct 2003 03:56:36 -0700, mike belch-spoke these words:
snip
But I'd rather set up a phone patch over 2m for any radio-telephone use away from home, if at all.

John

If you set up a phone patch, make darn sure it's protected against
unauthorized long distance calls.
I set one up and never used it. All the calls I wanted to make were to
order pizza or find out if some business had something in stock.
FCC wouldn't have appreciated those calls. Mr. Humbug from this thread
would have had an absolute hissy fit.
Point is, carefully examine the nature of your calls before going to the
hassle of putting up a phone patch.
mike


--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
4in/400Wout ham linear amp.
Honda CB-125S
400cc Dirt Bike 2003 miles $550
Police Scanner, Color LCD overhead projector
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

mike wrote:

You guys are completely missing
the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for
a cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it.

And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.

??? That's it - I give up. If amateur radio, or at least its VHF portion
has become a simple replacement for CB, then I know I made a right
decision years ago to stick to HF only.

To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and
ridiculous.

He was presented with several alternatives.
How about you let HIM decide what's ridiculous!

WTF? We hams and the FCC will stand back and let him decide whether it
is ridiculous to misuse our frequencies for his personal needs? This is
not even trolling anymore - it's just ****ing stupid.

=== === ===
FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions.

(a) No amateur station shall transmit:

(5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be
furnished alternatively through other radio services.

=== === ===

I haven't had a radio conversation that couldn't have been handled by
a cellphone...at least not since the cellphone was invented.
I'd better go tear up my ham licence right now!!! Just for you...

This is a waste of time, but what the hell: a cellphone is not a "radio
service". What §97.113 is about is preventing ham radio from being
misused for radio-communication that is available elsewhere, like CB,
commercial radio, broadcasting, etc. For his needs, CB is OK, ham radio
is not. And that's according to the FCC rules.

The fact that I could just as well phone a VK or ZL station and give him
a 59 over the cellphone does not mean that I am misusing my ham radio
license, like you would have us believe. Otoh, your phone patch use for
calling in a pizza and contacting dealers is clearly in breach of the
FCC rules. If you don't like the rules, bitch about them to the FCC, not me.

All else you wrote is irrelevant because he's not looking to become a
ham to begin with. I can't believe I'm having this discussion. Would
we be talking about all this if someone came in asking for a radio
communication advice for his business? Would it be reasonable to offer
him to take a ham radio test? If not, then why is this reasonable in
the original example?

I agree that it's mostly irrelevant to him. I'm bitchin' at YOU for
telling him (and me) what we should and shouldn't do.

Again, since apparently you are mistaking me for the FCC: I didn't make
the rules, the FCC did. If I'm "telling" you anything, it is only to
stick to the rules, because acting otherwise makes us look like CB. If
that appeals to you for whatever twisted reason, it certainly doesn't to
me. I, for one, would like to keep our bands and service, which means
sticking to the regulations, especially considering the constant
pressure from the commercial users on our bands. However, if FCC should
ever decide to reassign any of our VHF spectrum, people like you will
make me realize that I have nothing to cry about - on the contrary.

And 'cause I like a good troll.

There are funny trolls. There are interesting trolls. There are
controversial trolls. They're sometimes fun to read. You are neither.

73 .... WA7AA




--

Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly

mike wrote:

You guys are completely missing
the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for
a cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it.

And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.

??? That's it - I give up. If amateur radio, or at least its VHF portion
has become a simple replacement for CB, then I know I made a right
decision years ago to stick to HF only.

To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and
ridiculous.

He was presented with several alternatives.
How about you let HIM decide what's ridiculous!

WTF? We hams and the FCC will stand back and let him decide whether it
is ridiculous to misuse our frequencies for his personal needs? This is
not even trolling anymore - it's just ****ing stupid.

=== === ===
FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions.

(a) No amateur station shall transmit:

(5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be
furnished alternatively through other radio services.

=== === ===

I haven't had a radio conversation that couldn't have been handled by
a cellphone...at least not since the cellphone was invented.
I'd better go tear up my ham licence right now!!! Just for you...

This is a waste of time, but what the hell: a cellphone is not a "radio
service". What §97.113 is about is preventing ham radio from being
misused for radio-communication that is available elsewhere, like CB,
commercial radio, broadcasting, etc. For his needs, CB is OK, ham radio
is not. And that's according to the FCC rules.

The fact that I could just as well phone a VK or ZL station and give him
a 59 over the cellphone does not mean that I am misusing my ham radio
license, like you would have us believe. Otoh, your phone patch use for
calling in a pizza and contacting dealers is clearly in breach of the
FCC rules. If you don't like the rules, bitch about them to the FCC, not me.

All else you wrote is irrelevant because he's not looking to become a
ham to begin with. I can't believe I'm having this discussion. Would
we be talking about all this if someone came in asking for a radio
communication advice for his business? Would it be reasonable to offer
him to take a ham radio test? If not, then why is this reasonable in
the original example?

I agree that it's mostly irrelevant to him. I'm bitchin' at YOU for
telling him (and me) what we should and shouldn't do.

Again, since apparently you are mistaking me for the FCC: I didn't make
the rules, the FCC did. If I'm "telling" you anything, it is only to
stick to the rules, because acting otherwise makes us look like CB. If
that appeals to you for whatever twisted reason, it certainly doesn't to
me. I, for one, would like to keep our bands and service, which means
sticking to the regulations, especially considering the constant
pressure from the commercial users on our bands. However, if FCC should
ever decide to reassign any of our VHF spectrum, people like you will
make me realize that I have nothing to cry about - on the contrary.

And 'cause I like a good troll.

There are funny trolls. There are interesting trolls. There are
controversial trolls. They're sometimes fun to read. You are neither.

73 .... WA7AA




--

Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly

Zoran Brlecic wrote
Again, since apparently you are mistaking me for the FCC:

No chance of that...

73 .... WA7AA

Zoran Brlecic wrote
Again, since apparently you are mistaking me for the FCC:

No chance of that...

73 .... WA7AA

"Zoran Brlecic" wrote in message
...
mike wrote:

The fact that I could just as well phone a VK or ZL station and give him
a 59 over the cellphone does not mean that I am misusing my ham radio
license, like you would have us believe. Otoh, your phone patch use for
calling in a pizza and contacting dealers is clearly in breach of the
FCC rules. If you don't like the rules, bitch about them to the FCC, not
me.


That rule has been loosened up a bit. Contacting dealers is out but the
occasional use for personal items (ordering a pizza or rescheduling a
doctor's appointment) is ok if not done all the time.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE