In article ,
Dave Hall wrote:

| Quite a few according to many of the more recent FCC enforcement
| actions. It would seem that the FCC is more likely to pop a licensed
| ham for operating out of their assigned bands, than they are in
| popping an unlicensed radio pirate.

It's probably because it's a lot easier to track down -- after all, if
the licensed ham is properly IDing himself, it's trivial for anybody
who listens to look up that call sign and find that his ham class
doesn't let him transmit there.

| If you are going to freeband, having a ham license may actually be
| detrimental.

Freebanders don't generally ID themselves at all. To actually track
one down would be a lot harder.

--
Doug McLaren,
Life is short and hard, like a bodybuilding elf.
So save the planet and kill yourself.

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 20:41:06 GMT, (Doug McLaren)
wrote:

In article ,
Dave Hall wrote:

| Quite a few according to many of the more recent FCC enforcement
| actions. It would seem that the FCC is more likely to pop a licensed
| ham for operating out of their assigned bands, than they are in
| popping an unlicensed radio pirate.

It's probably because it's a lot easier to track down -- after all, if
the licensed ham is properly IDing himself, it's trivial for anybody
who listens to look up that call sign and find that his ham class
doesn't let him transmit there.

| If you are going to freeband, having a ham license may actually be
| detrimental.

Freebanders don't generally ID themselves at all. To actually track
one down would be a lot harder.

But having a ham license gives freebanders access to equipment that
normally would not be available to unlicensed individuals. Some
retailers will not sell gear to unlicensed persons, nor will some
hamfests award prizes to those who hold no license, offering an
equivalent cash value instead.

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 20:41:06 GMT, (Doug McLaren)
wrote:

In article ,
Dave Hall wrote:

| Quite a few according to many of the more recent FCC enforcement
| actions. It would seem that the FCC is more likely to pop a licensed
| ham for operating out of their assigned bands, than they are in
| popping an unlicensed radio pirate.

It's probably because it's a lot easier to track down -- after all, if
the licensed ham is properly IDing himself, it's trivial for anybody
who listens to look up that call sign and find that his ham class
doesn't let him transmit there.

I doubt if the hams who freeband are dumb enough to use their calls
there (but you never know). But I wouldn't be surprised to learn that
they are "recognized" there by other people who turn them in.


| If you are going to freeband, having a ham license may actually be
| detrimental.

Freebanders don't generally ID themselves at all. To actually track
one down would be a lot harder.

Yes, I agree. It just seems funny that the latest freeband bust seem
to be hams running out of band over unlicensed operation.

It would seem that Riley H. is much more concerned with keeping
"honest" hams honest, rather than eradicating the freeband.

Dave
"Sandbagger"

Charlie wrote:

Those with any sense do not do "free banding" since it is limited by
comparison to legal Ham bands privileges.....

And getting caught can cost them their ham license.

Cmd Buzz Corey wrote:
Charlie wrote:

Those with any sense do not do "free banding" since it is limited by
comparison to legal Ham bands privileges.....

And getting caught can cost them their ham license.

So can being struck by lightning. :P

--
http://NewsReader.Com 30 GB/Month

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:57:19 -0800, Justín Käse
wrote:

In posted on
Thu, 17 Feb 2005 01:14:14 -0500, Ham Guy wrote:

But having a ham license gives freebanders access to equipment that
normally would not be available to unlicensed individuals. Some
retailers will not sell gear to unlicensed persons, nor will some
hamfests award prizes to those who hold no license, offering an
equivalent cash value instead.

Where does that idyllic situation exist?
Many "Ham" shops will sell anything to anyone, if cash is flashed,
regardless of whether they hold an appropriate license for its use.

AES in Wickliffe, OH did this for a while in the late 1980s, but they
may have discontinued the practice.
There was also a hamfest in Pittsburgh that had a license requirement
to claim any radio prizes. If you didn't have a license, you got cash.

Ham Guy wrote:
On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:57:19 -0800, Justín Käse
wrote:

In posted on
Thu, 17 Feb 2005 01:14:14 -0500, Ham Guy wrote:

But having a ham license gives freebanders access to equipment that
normally would not be available to unlicensed individuals. Some
retailers will not sell gear to unlicensed persons, nor will some
hamfests award prizes to those who hold no license, offering an
equivalent cash value instead.

Where does that idyllic situation exist?
Many "Ham" shops will sell anything to anyone, if cash is flashed,
regardless of whether they hold an appropriate license for its use.

AES in Wickliffe, OH did this for a while in the late 1980s, but they
may have discontinued the practice.
There was also a hamfest in Pittsburgh that had a license requirement
to claim any radio prizes. If you didn't have a license, you got cash.

They'll take a check or credit card too. It's not at all difficult
to buy whatever you desire, license or not.

--
http://NewsReader.Com 30 GB/Month

They'll take a check or credit card too. It's not at all difficult
to buy whatever you desire, license or not.


AFAIK, there's no rule requiring a license to BUY
equipment. There are rules about using it though.....

I doubt if the hams who freeband are dumb enough to use their calls
there (but you never know). But I wouldn't be surprised to learn that
they are "recognized" there by other people who turn them in.

Some might ID by mistake out of habit before they realize that
they are out of band.....

WOuld it be illegal to use my callsign as my "cb handle" on
CB using legal CB equipment? Or would I be using my ham
license out of band? Not that anyone would really care, but....



| If you are going to freeband, having a ham license may actually be
| detrimental.

Freebanders don't generally ID themselves at all. To actually track
one down would be a lot harder.


Yes, I agree. It just seems funny that the latest freeband bust seem
to be hams running out of band over unlicensed operation.


I've heard second hand of hams, bored of regular ham bands,
doing "freeband" for a change of pace.

robert casey wrote:

They'll take a check or credit card too. It's not at all difficult
to buy whatever you desire, license or not.


AFAIK, there's no rule requiring a license to BUY
equipment. There are rules about using it though.....

Yes sir, as it should be.

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