The AM Forum

From the FCC Enforcement Letters dated November 28, 2006; first one on the list.

Amateur Radio Enforcement-Related Letters (http://www.arrl.org/news/enforcement_logs/2006/1128.html)

Hi Pete,

Just a "note",--as far as ol Bill goes, on 7290,--I have seen times when Bill
was on 7290,--and  very few SSb`ers were on the lower part of the
band, and an SSB`er will come up and "plank" himself on 7290 without any concern for am-ers.

I personally witnessed this one day while in QSO with VYZ.
As Bill mentioned,--these guys can get "greedy", --makes one wonder
how the "new bandplans" about to take effect will work out,--more
space to "fight" over?--time will tell.
                                   
                                 Rene, K1MVP

I think it might be time to QSY to 7290 to let a few of the plug+play dorks understand that they didn't buy the frequency when they bought their rice boxes . JOE

Bill, a real gentleman, and long time operator gets nipped.
And yet, the one station that really deserved mention from Riley & Co., located in Barre, VT is absent from the list.
Go figure.

Well, since the FCC doesn’t give any real specifics, or than “alleges deliberate interference to communications on 7.290”, I won’t speculate on who did what to whom. Unfortunately, now Bill has to respond to these allegations.

If you frequent 40 meter AM operation around 7290, SSB is not uncommon around it. A "7290 Traffic Net" meets  there daily, and actually Monday through Friday, twice a day. Even the ARRL does their phone bulletin transmission for about 10 minutes on that frequency each day.

Sounds like a complaint from the 7290 No-Traffic Net down in 5-land, not from anything the FCC has monitored. 

They think they own that frequency and that no-one else is supposed to come anywhere near it.  No matter what time of the day you attempt to start a QSO, even if the frequency has beencompletely clear for a half-hour or more, the moment you transmit they immediately come on and tell you to QSY because their net is about to start up.  It is called a "traffic net" but the only messages they ever pass is to the net control station: "no traffic," and then proceed to ragchew.  They claim that the net operates in the morning, noon or afternoon, depending on what time someone else attempts to use the frequency.

Evidently anyone can submit any kind of bogus complaint, even anonymous, to the FCC regarding your station, and you receive a notice "requesting" you to respond to it.  In addition, your notice is posted on a public website on the internet for the entire amateur community to view.

I wouldn't give it a second thought, but maybe anyone who has witnessed this activity should prepare to communicate with the FCC on Bill's behalf.

Actually Don, they call themselves the 7290 Traffic Net and even have a web site:
http://www.7290trafficnet.org/

The 7290 Net started in 1952 on this rig:
(http://www.7290trafficnet.org/images/zin's-first-rig-320.jpg)
To find out more about the history of this net, go here:
http://www.7290trafficnet.org/history.htm

Talk about obsolete,--these so called "traffic nets" are a joke in today`s world
of e-mail, cell phones, text messaging, etc.

As far as some of these "plug es play" operators,--Bill has probably "forgotten"
more electronics than these guys know,(or will ever know).
                                          73, K1MVP
                           

I think Riley is slightly sharper than the average slop bucket idiot cry baby.

If you look at that list, there was one person there that was exonerated. Hopefully, we will see the same outcome for Bill.

Just out of curiousity,  what station might that be?

What ever happened to the K1BOY case?

Yup, that hit the nail. I would like to think that with the zillions of ham against ham complaints they get, the fcee would be pretty good at sifting though the bs. Usually, when there's a legit compliant, there's a tape included, and it's noted in the letter. I don't see any mention of a tape here, more than likely, because the complainer is a full of sh1t jackass looking to cause trouble.

All Bill needs to do is write them back expressing his thoughts on the matter, and it should go away.

Without a tape, the whole thing is toothless.

SK

 I have been working in the building and had the receiver on 7.290 many ,many times and heard Bill talking with several Stations and enjoing the coversation, and the self centered 7.290 No hearing net would come in on top of the QSO Not even taking time to see,or ask if the Freq was in Use (or cared).I would suppose if you can hear them fire off there BS net that if admitted they could also hear the freq was,has ,and would still be in use Long before there BS time..I am amazed that they would even have the Nerve to Stir this pot !! Bill has done nothing wrong in standing his ground and keeping on the Air with his conversation already in Progress..I think All the explaining should BE DONE BY THE 7.290 NO TRAFFIC NET  NOT BILL...
    ??? Give that some Brain time...  Tim...WD4TC....

Not unlike the Marcaroni net. Trying to reserve a frequency for ragchewing by using an official sounding name. They should call them what they are - 'For the masses who need to be led' gatherings. I've heard the 7290 jerks come onto frequency a number of times and just start transmitting. My understanding was that no one owns a frequency and unless it's an emergency and the FCC approves doing so, you move to another frequency. Hopefully Riley will start pursuing this approach instead of favoring reserved frequencies.


That would most likely be 'BHV, convicted jammer and full-time idiot. The FCC must have a separate file cabinet just for him, considering he's been penalized for his activities and warned a number of times. Do some research on 14.313, KV4FZ etc and you'll find plenty to read.

The amazing part (besides the FCC not removing him) is hearing some of the guys piss and moan about 'EGC and other problem children, then get on and talk with a known troublemaker. And people wonder why he's hanging out on 75 interfering with QSOs and talking garbage? Other than his mentor 'DEU, of course...

 

Todd I don't see where Riley has indicated favoritism in the Dolvin case nor elsewhere regarding any non-emergency claims to frequencies.

In fact, after a number of run-ins on 7290Kc a few years ago with Gulf Coast area Hurricane "nets" that abused their ability to ask for pre-emptive communications emergencies, Hollingsworth issued a directive to FCC field bureaus discontinuing such declarations.

He said such traffic is best established on 60 meters.

In general, these "complaints" that are passed along to licensed Amateurs are unverified. He conveys them as part of his responsibility to resolve such complaints. 

If the respondent has a good explanation and documentation of their operating activity at the time of the alleged interference, then it may prove as easy as that to settle the "complaint" cited. However, a combative stance by the respondent would be less helpful, and can unwittingly help establish the complaint rather than undercut it.

I hope Bill chooses his words carefully in his response.

Sorry Paul, I was referring to a recent ruling he made where he referenced the net issue and said, in so many words, that one should avoid using a frequency known to be used by an exisiting net, or something to that affect. I'll see if I can locate it and paste in the actual wording. It seemed to indicate that he would give nets preference in disputes such as this.


So you'd suggest he not say anything along the lines of "There ain't a slopbucket in North America can bother me" ?

At the Timonium, Maryland hamfest in March he did say it's good when people make way for a group of people established on a frequency, so if you find something to that effect, he's said it more than once.

Given that position, it wouldn't be difficult to establish that there's a far more active and identifyable group using 7290Kc than the handful of people calling themselves a net.

When two groups decide they wish to materalize on a frequency, clearly the one that gets there first has the right-of-way in a non-emergency setting.

There may be enough criticism to go around and cover just about everyone, however, some of these so-called net operations are clearly established and pursued by their participants as thinly-veiled ways of laying claim to frequencies.  It is OK for them to interfere with everyone else, but you'd better not bother them or they will tell on you!!!  As for the 7290 traffic crowd, I think they ought to reconsider their practice of arbitrarily cranking up on 7290 without any regard for the frequent AM qsos already going on on that freq.


Unfortunately, there has also been a fair measure of interference with known and well established AM nets by other AMers who claim not to hear them or resent the fact that the nets are conducted on popular AM frequencies, like 3880 and 3885.  I guess I understand that frustration.  I also understand that propagation can change and sometimes such interference is unintended, however, I just think it is strange when sometimes people are politely reminded that a net or QSO is going on on the frequency and they just insist or continuing to interfere, even after acknowledging the fact that they heard the interference report.   ::)

I guess we all could just move the VFO dial once in awhile to steer clear and avoid such problems.  The down side of that, of course, comes with the guys that are using xtal control. Oh well, most of the time we at least try to get along.  Sometimes, we are victims of our own attempts to get along through our adherence to the so-called "gentlemen's agreement" and the "AM windows".  We end up restricting our AM operation to a few frequencies, 'cause that is where everyone hangs out.  Maybe some of these problems will be resolved or eased with the acquisition of a little more phone band real estate after Dec. 15.

73,  Jack, W9GT

This is what I use when I have to "clear out the frequency".
Sure, she's not the most freq agile gal, but the W I D E carrier seems to make good.
As a byproduct the heat keeps the shack warm on those cold Maine nights.  ;D


(http://www.semenoff.org/CJCA_TX/317c%20mod_driver%20cabinet.jpg)

(http://www.semenoff.org/CJCA_TX/317c%20nameplate.jpg)

Just a shot in the dark here, but I would assume he's refering to
WA1BHV (EX  KB1EVE)

How can a carrier be wide?? I will believe Tall , but not wide....but come to think of it tall things cast big shadows.

Sorry I blew up, but it just reminded me of what slopbucketeers are always saying

Since that group of idiots on 7290 think they are doing such good that the world should give way to them and the ARRL likes to run its bulletins on SSB, why don't we choose another AM calling frequency?

In this part of the country, in the heart of that bunch of idiots, many people like to move up near or on 7.290 just to rag chew.  I was operating on it some time back when an SSBer that frequents that so called "net" broke in and asked me to move because he had a schedule with his father coming up in about 5 minutes.  Such gall I have never witnessed.

Why at the top of the band anyway?  On weekends there is a group in this area on 7.160.  So for the General portion why not choose 7.268, or 70 or 71, something that we can all use without the two groups that thinks it owns 7.290.  Then when the ARRL wises up, they can change their band plan to accomodate us.

On August 2,  2006 around 12 noon EDST I called W8VYZ on 7290 AM.   I still keep a log for proof of when I am operating to dodge some TVI complaints.   Conditions were long, as they have been for a while on 40M.   Shortly after starting our contact we were interfered with by the 7290 net.   We finally could not maintain our QSO.   I listened for a while to the so called net.   Their main traffic was a bitch session about W8VYZ and how they were going to record him and compalin to the FCC.    I mentioned this to this AM Forum that day as I was concerned that it seemed like some sort of vendetta.   I never heard of this group until then, they normally would not be heard here.    A few years ago when shorter skip was the rule during the day on 40M,  a few of us in W. Pa.  started using 7200 for AM.   It worked well as 7290 and 7295 were busy most of the time.   What I would like to know if there is a process to defend someone accused of these false accusations?

I would write a letter to Mr. Hollinsworth about the situation and explain what you heard.  I would do a letter not an eamil.  Although the email is all right, a letter must be kept and answered.  The specific complaint against Bill must be addressed by him, but your infomration may have a bearing on why the complaint may have been filed and its disposition.

I remember some years ago Bill would wait until the net control  offically closed the net then immediately call CQ.  Those dumbells like to hang around and chit chat following the so called "net" even though that is all they do, and that angered them greatly.  Bill was always repsectful of their claimed time but they have had a grudge for years.

I can attest personally that 7290 has been an AM hangout at least as far back as 1970.  There used to be a regular group on that frequency, mostly old-timers who would be well past 100 if they were still around today.  They originally called themselves the "knucklehead" group, but by 1970 when I first got acquainted with them, they had dropped that name, and were just an informal AM group who got together every morning.  They were about the only AM'ers left to be heard on 40m at the time (remember, this was during the era when AM had almost disappeared off all the bands, and nearly everyone, ARRL included, had declared it "dead.") One of the regulars of the 7290 group was an XYL, and one of the best-known members was K4AGY (if I remember his call sign correctly) in Chattanooga.  He went by the name of Kingfish.  He  really  sounded just like Kingfish in Amos 'n Andy - even more so than Ed Bolton when he does his Amos 'n Andy show.  I used to fire up my KW and join them from time to time, especially when slopbuckets would deliberately try to QRM them off the frequency.  But sometime in the early 70's Kingfish developed throat cancer, and did not make through surgery.  After his passing the group began to fall apart, but by the mid 70's I was still hearing other AM groups using that frequency.

I'm not sure how long the No-Traffic Net has laid claim to 7290, but they have been sharing that frequency with AM for over 36 years.

From ARRL website:
The "Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide"

The following frequencies are generally recognized for certain modes or activities (all frequencies are in MHz).

Nothing in the rules recognizes a net's, group's or any individual's special privilege to any specific frequency. Section 97.101(b) of the Rules states that "Each station licensee and each control operator must cooperate in selecting transmitting channels and in making the most effective use of the amateur service frequencies. No frequency will be assigned for the exclusive use of any station." No one "owns" a frequency.

It's good practice--and plain old common sense--for any operator, regardless of mode, to check to see if the frequency is in use prior to engaging operation. If you are there first, other operators should make an effort to protect you from interference to the extent possible, given that 100% interference-free operation is an unrealistic expectation in today's congested bands.

7.040   RTTY DX QRP CW calling frequency
7.075-7.100   Phone in KH/KL/KP only
7.080-7.100   Data
7.100-7.105   Automatically controlled data stations
7.110   QRP Novice/Technician CW calling frequency
7.171   SSTV
7.285   QRP SSB calling frequency
7.290   AM calling frequency

I mentioned it in my earlier post. Their web site history section claims they have been there since 1952.

Pete said:
Does it matter???

Not to me;

But Don said:
"I'm not sure how long the No-Traffic Net has laid claim to 7290, but they have been sharing that frequency with AM for over 36 years."

Maybe it is to him from a historical perspective.


And, even with all this dialogue about this net, the Enforcement Letter makes no mention of who actually filed the complaint nor the time of day.

Pete,
    My point was big deal. So the Marconi Net was established and meeting on 7.290 since 1952. They could have been meeting there with Hiram Percy Maxim himself but it still does not entitle them to 'freq. reservations'. This will be interesting to watch. We can all hope that Ashtabula Bill prevails in this case.

Pete, want to bet your manual business on where the complaint originated?  I would bet one or more of those clowns filed the complaint

So we keep you on the right road, it's not the Marconi Net; it's the 7290 Traffic Net.

I agree on your point, but the issue at Bill’s feet is “alleged deliberate interference to communications on 7.290”. Their(the Net) activity (frequency reservation), if it is them, is not cited in the Enforcement Letter. It’s unfortunate we don’t have the background leading up to the Letter. Maybe we all should spend some time listening and documenting their activities to provide additional fodder in event “deliberate interference” issues come up again.

Sorry Jim. You'll have to talk to my son about that.

I won't argue your assumption; I don't know.

Being in the thick of this idiot's club, I hear the complaints every time some little bit of interference occurs Bill or not.  I am reaching my limit on them and the nonsense they broadcast.

I guess I should come up with a cable to interface to my computer or get a tape recorder.

Jim

With regard to the last line, above, that 7.290 is the AM calling frequency, I seem to remember a few years ago that Riley was very serious about these kinds of "band plans," and expected them to be honored almost as if they were officially decreed frequencies.  Apparently he no longer subscribes to that view, nor does the very group who publishes them, as they use 7.290 for bulletins, and schedule Boy Scout jamborees on that frequency as well.

I must say that I see a lot of hypocrisy surrounding some of these issues.  The ones that should be cited, following Riley's earlier logic, are the 7.290 traffic net.  What are they doing on another group's recognized and published calling frequency?  Oh me........some things never seem to change........

vH

Here is a different example that may play out the same way as the Dolvin case.
From Amateur Radio Newsline, re-posted with permission.

---

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC SAYS INTERFERENCE CHARGES HAVE NO MERIT

The FCC has dismissed an interference complaint against Robert Dudick, K3KDK, of Mc Clure Pennsylvania.  This, in an October 23rd letter to one Gene M. Long who had filed the complaint back on June 28th of this year.

In his letter to Long, the FCC stated rgat it had reviewed Long's complaint and had then requested and received information from Dudick..  After review, it found Longs complaint to be without merit. 

The FCC went on to advise Long that any future complaints that he may file must contain tape recordings and specific information regarding his conclusion as to the interference source.  It will also require signed verifications from other licensees participating with Long in the location of the alleged interference source.

The FCC also wrote to Dudick to let him know that the case was now closed and thanking him for his cooperation in putting the matter to rest.  (FCC)[/tt]

I wrote out a thoughtful post in regard to Bill situation with the FeeCCee. I related one of my own experiences. but somehow in the process the message  screen dissappeared  losing about an hour of my precious time . I was pissed. But I digress. I have A feeling I may be the next victim due to slobucketeers firing up on a QSO I later had joined that was on 3894. The slopbucketeers pissed and moaned about my presence . We were here first. NO we were here first . I refused to acknoledge their presence . I singed when I was good and ready to sign. The slopbucketeers were planning on a writing campaign to Riley. It will be a waste of his time to write me and a waste of my time to have to deal with it should it happen. But if I happen to be on 3894 or thereabouts  and these idiots fire up I will handle this matter in the same fashion that I always handle it. Just keep on operating. I imagine the piss and moan factor will increase dramatically when I get the Blockbuster back on line . There were claims that I must be running grossly illegal power . I guess these fools never thought about antenna. I was just running 180 watts out!!I imagine a full 1500 watts would reinstate my use of the frequency. Its the age old stuggle of turf wars . It is too bad that if it is a clear frequency it is first come, first served. De Tim WA1HnyLR

It doesn't matter where you operate Tim, they will piss and moan anyhow. They come into an area of the band with several AM QSOs in progress, then begin the complaining. Wednesday night one fool came onto 3884 after Paul 'VJB identified, repeated Paul's call then said 'hokayee, we will be eeusin' this in our complaint ree-port'. Not even sure if Paul heard the dork. I just chuckled and ignored him. Another case where we were there operating (Paul was on well before me with others) and the slopbucket whiners didn't like it.

I do think that band conditions had something to do with it. I was hearing you guys up on 94 a bit down on 84, and I don't get anything from most of the stations here in the northeast unless they are within 5 kcs or less.

The new phone expansion will help, but I still think there will be a few who just go looking for trouble. The swishers and wannabee jammers come to mind.

Heard the strapping sigs of you and 'High Gain' Bill HI HI FB last night, O. M. Wanted to jump in but was busy hauling firewood. Usually when you're hearing the east, you don't hear the west and  vice versa. 'Twas noice.

One thing which will fix that would be to write your post in another application like email. Just copy and paste it when it's all done and ready to post.
Those slopbuckets really don't have much interesting going on. That bunch is pretty low on the food chain. The only thing they have going for them is they are 1 of about a dozen groups who ran Fearless Phredd off when he tried his usual M.O. At least you gave them something to do.

Who is Fearless Phredd?

I wonder, now that news of the Ashtabula Bill case has spread, that slopbucketeers are now about to start a new tactic of getting together and formulating complaints to the FeeCee, backing each other up so that it becomes the word of every member in the slopbucket group vs the one or two lone AM'ers.

I was up on 3891 or thereabouts the other night with Ashtabula Bill. I clearly heard Bill calling CQ, and no other activity on the frequency.  He called several times before I got tuned up, and still no other activity was heard on the frequency.  I came back to him, and within 5 minutes there was a whole wasp nest full of slopbucketeers pissing and moaning, and I heard one of them mention something about composing a complaint to send to Riley.

Now that they know that all it takes is a complaint, bogus or otherwise, to get a report published on the web, it will be very easy for these loser groups to formulate fictitious complaints, and have all their buddies back them up as witnesses.

    Fearless Phredd is a loser who likes to try to pass himself off as a good ham. He is anything but a decent example of what a ham should be. He is also the very reason there is an organized nest of slopbuckets on 3892. They started out there after Glenn Wackster was effectively removed from 3890. Soon after, so did the Fearless Phredd Net.  The slopbuckets spanked Phredd pretty hard and ran him off. That group is now staked out on 3892 almost 24/7.
     Fearless Phredd has his very own FCC Part 97 regulations which exist only in his oddly shaped cranium. Within these rules is a subpart which states that any ragchew group can own a frequency. All that is necessary is for the group to meet on a   frequency for 2 nights and for it to have a name ending in the word "net". The whole concept is some kind of offshoot of members who smell funny from the ECARS net on 40. Phredd tried to run for Grand Poopah of that group and lost.              Phredd always picks a net frequency very near AM activity. He secretly wants to be an AMer when he grows up.
    Fearless Phredd has very obviously been smacked around severely in the past. Remember the kid who got his head flushed in the toilet in the high school locker room? That was Fearless Phredd.  Somewhere along the way, employer(s) must have shown him the door using a carefully crafted paper trail. He has seen the utility of a good paper trail and has made several failed attempts at attacking other hams by writing officials. The 7th grade writing style was not an asset. Word has it that he sued one of his ex-employers and....like always....lost.
    There are still a few folks who like to take this guy at face value. These folks probably received poor grades as they never did their homework. This guy has wasted all kinds of FCC man hours and is VERY well known as a trouble maker. He delights in pulling the wool over people's eyes. Typical of a person who likes to stir the pot then sit back and watch. Often times Phredd is a very poor judge of where he tries to throw bombs.
     Aren't you glad you asked? BTW the enforcement pages have plenty of Fearless Phredd material.

Care to give us a hint at Phredd's call sign, or did you already?

73,  Jack, W9GT

HMMMMMMM.....

kb2ixt? :o

From QRZ.com.

Don, I can only hope that the FCC will see them for what they really are and keep an ear out for Bill. Then listen forthemselves to see who is mitigating the interference.

Enough to rot your socks, eh, Joe?

vHerb

      Stripes strobe, checks bleed.....                     so say a BE



klc

One point: there was regular SSB activity on 3892.5 when Baxter was still around on 3890. I'm not sure we can totally blame Phredd for those now on 3892. But, yes, he is a loser.