official observer card sent after ssb station trys to push us off the freq.

[KF1Z]

Oh my....

Another OO doesn't understand what he has a right send out a card for!

The ONLY possible reason for that card is if the OO can document YOUR knowledge of , and INTENT to interfere with another QSO.

Pretty difficult to do...

It would involve him getting YOUR voice, and giving your callsign, on tape, very clearly saying something like...

"Now I've turned up the audio gain, I know it's splattering all over that guy 10 kc up... if he moves to another frequency, I'm gonna follow him...."

Or some nonsense like that...


First things first... do NOT reply to him...
(why waste your time? it's not like he's gonna go turn himself in... it'll only make YOU feel better.)

As others said talk directly to the Section Manager, or the Section's OOC.

Their Phone numbers, email addys and mail addresses are on the section webpage.

Tell THEM you either want proof, or a written appology.

[KF1Z]

Just in case you want it....

Section Manager
Carl A. Clements, W4CAC
4500 Wake Forest Rd
Portsmouth, VA 23703-4413
757-484-0569
w4cac@arrl.org

Assistant Section Managers
Brian E Bayus, N1KC
2521 Heathcliff Ln
Reston, VA 20191-4225
(703) 264-1180
brian.bayus@comcast.net

Daniel J Edwards, AG4YU
403 Meadow Brook Ln
PO Box 601
New Castle, VA 24127-0601
(540) 864-7021


Thomas L Gregory, N4NW
14 Shallow Creek Ln
Stafford, VA 22554-3966
(540) 720-0431
n4nw@n4nw.org


Bernard H Leonard Sr, W4LGY
22413 Apache Ln
Bristol, VA 24202-1643
(276) 669-4387


Richard W Logan, KF4ZUF
2552 Detroit St
Portsmouth, VA 23707-1724
(757) 673-0238
KF4ZUF@arrl.net


Christine E Sokol, K4CES
124 Summitt Dr
Rich Creek, VA 24147-9642
(540) 726-2211
k4ces@arrl.net


Rue O Stuteville Jr, KA4PLH
1405 Virgilina Ave
Norfolk, VA 23503-2312
(757) 583-2588




Official Observer Coordinator
Jack B Cochran, WC4J
PO Box 757
Nokesville, VA 20182-0757
(703) 965-6011, (703) 257-9545
wc4j@wc4j.com

[WA1GFZ]

this guy wants to crank you up.... just strap

[N3DRB The Derb]

I was sandbagging on the freq while wiring up the new no-JS HV cap filter bank on maul #1. They have succeeded it would seem to 'crank'. Way too much concern over 88. They're nothing, they always have been nothing, and they always will be nothing.

The entire O.O. system has been constantly misused and abused so often to settle personal vendettas it means nothing. They carry less credibility than non binding resolutions of Congress. I used one as a bum wad once when I was a JN.

A bona fide representative of the F.C.C. is the only entity that would get the time of day from me. 

[c. mac neill w8znx]

heck i like OO cards

am working on my OO WAS

11 states confirmed

39 to go

there are clubs for everything
how about a club for OO card collectors

something like County Hunters OO

we could have roving OO ops
a OO net
check in with a chirp, or drift, a bit of ac hum
ID 35 sec too late

got to do something about the cards
too drab and boring
need some bright colors

could give out wall paper
all band OO WAS
CW OO WAS
AM OO WAS
QRP OO WAS

when you get a OO card
don't get cranked

may be one card closer to that
worked all OO's award

Mac

[w4bvt]

hi mac i like the idea mabe we could have oo night on 75 just in thanks for those folks that help us with the awards program all of us can run 833 sbe's
for the event whoever gets the most cards win , 
i run my station right but for such a prestigous award the signal edges may have to get a little rogh!

[W3SLK]

Grant said:

hi mac i like the idea mabe we could have oo night on 75 just in thanks for those folks that help us with the awards program all of us can run 833 sbe's
for the event whoever gets the most cards win ,

Do it during SS contest ....Ooops wait a minute, wrong thread... 

[wd8das]

Are OOs tested for technical knowledge??  If they are going to make judgements on the technical merit of another station's signal, then they should have to demonstrate that they know what they are talking about to earn the credentials. 

I fought the good fight on the "why so many wide AM signals?" baloney in the "Doctor is In" column in QST recently, and the author acknowledged the error of using a typical ham receiver in normal operation to judge the bandwidth of any signal.  I guess that OO didn't read that column!

I bet the same OO would be shocked to perform the same "tuning across" method of bandwidth measurement... strong CW signals can seem 5 kHz wide using that technique, and strong SSB signals seem 15 kHz wide.  But you notice they don't apply the same method to those modes - just AM. 

Sad, really...  or maybe it is an backhanded compliment that our AM signals attract attention.

Steve WD8DAS

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Are OOs tested for technical knowledge??  If they are going to make judgements on the technical merit of another station's signal, then they should have to demonstrate that they know what they are talking about to earn the credentials. 

I fought the good fight on the "why so many wide AM signals?" baloney in the "Doctor is In" column in QST recently, and the author acknowledged the error of using a typical ham receiver in normal operation to judge the bandwidth of any signal.  I guess that OO didn't read that column!

I bet the same OO would be shocked to perform the same "tuning across" method of bandwidth measurement... strong CW signals can seem 5 kHz wide using that technique, and strong SSB signals seem 15 kHz wide.  But you notice they don't apply the same method to those modes - just AM. 

Sad, really...  or maybe it is an backhanded compliment that our AM signals attract attention.

Steve WD8DAS

Earlier Post:
I would suggest reviewing the qualifications required to get an Official Observer Appointment http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/oo.html and further, the FAQ's surrounding the Official Observer program http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/oo.html

[w4bfs]

Hi Grant, W4BVT  ... heard you in qso on 3878 about 8:00 pm .... so much static ! ... look forward to a qso with less qrn ... 73 ... John

[wd8das]

Pete wrote:

>Earlier Post: I would suggest reviewing the qualifications required to
>get an Official Observer Appointment

Interesting - I'm glad they are tested.  Ineffectively though, it would appear, given the sometimes foolish claims made on OO reports. 

For example, back when I was a Novice running crystal-control on 40m I received an OO report claiming I was operating out-of-band.  As I recall, the crystal I was using was on 7120 kc and he said he heard me strongly on 6665 kc - interestingly exactly 455 kHz below my actual frequency.  When I wrote him back and pointed out it seemed unlikely my transmitter would radiate a strong signal there, and I didn't hear anything there on a nearby receiver, and suggested it was possible his receiver was suffering an image response of some kind - he wrote another OO card back to me with just one word in quote marks and a series of question marks:  "Image" ??

I guess he didn't know what I meant.  And I was a 13-year old Novice in his first year as a ham.

Steve WD8DAS

[k4kyv]

If it really was an image with a 455 kHz i.f., the phantom signal should have  been 910 kHz away from the real frequency.  But sometimes higher order spurious products can produce image signals at seemingly random frequencies.

[KF1Z]

Are OOs tested for technical knowledge??  If they are going to make judgements on the technical merit of another station's signal, then they should have to demonstrate that they know what they are talking about to earn the credentials. 

NO, they are not..... The test is a joke... it is only meant to demonstrate that you have SOME  good sense (obviously fails its purpose in some cases).

It is based on a pamphlet, only a few pages (and the FCC rule book)....
It is an open book test, that you fill out at home, and mail to the OOC or Sec manager.


And no they aren't supposed to address the  width of a signal....

Onlly possible case would be a lot of garbage on the opposite side-band of an SSB signal...
Then it would only be meant to make the operator aware of it.


OO's   CAN NOT make a judgment whether or not your signal is excesively wide!!

If there was complaints that came through the OOC, or from the FCC through ARRL 'HQ' about certain stations, the ONLY thing an OO can do, is to record, and document, and basic "observations". 

[KB2WIG]

To Paraphrase Mao, 

"We too should have O.O's "

Think of the posibilities.... ..


klc

[WU2D]

Several of the guys at the AWA ham gathering last weekend were sporting their OO cards obtained during the 1929 QSO party. I forgot to bring mine that I obtained using my 01A on RAC. What harm can a slightly buzzy sounding 1 Watt do?

Mike WU2D

[ka3zlr]

I don't know here....I'm No gud with the politics ....my shortcoming and I'm staying out of that.....but it just Bothers me to make an observation on someone an just lay claim as to this...well yer 35 to 40 Kc's wide OM...that bothers me...then again I spend a great deal with my equipment and I'm just picky on receiving...I would have done some investigating and run a test on my system for Calibration and ran another test signal through an processed it over to the computer for structure analysis......that would have ruled out some of the above discussion....I dunno.....I don't see myself or anyone here putting their call out on a lame claim like that...if anything i would have sent a real time Pictorial of the signal...an say something like hey Bud i'm monitoring some image problems here or some dirt on yer signal...Oscillator harmonics..whatever I found....come on man..we have the equipment today to do this...it's beyond me OM's...

73 jack...

[kb3ouk]

doesn't say how much brains you need to have to be an OO.
shelby kb3ouk

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I don't know here....I'm No gud with the politics ....my shortcoming and I'm staying out of that.....but it just Bothers me to make an observation on someone an just lay claim as to this...well yer 35 to 40 Kc's wide OM...that bothers me...then again I spend a great deal with my equipment and I'm just picky on receiving...I would have done some investigating and run a test on my system for Calibration and ran another test signal through an processed it over to the computer for structure analysis......that would have ruled out some of the above discussion....I dunno.....I don't see myself or anyone here putting their call out on a lame claim like that...if anything i would have sent a real time Pictorial of the signal...an say something like hey Bud i'm monitoring some image problems here or some dirt on yer signal...Oscillator harmonics..whatever I found....come on man..we have the equipment today to do this...it's beyond me OM's...

73 jack...

The "OO" Service is not designed to send out detailed reports. More detailed reporting might come directly from the FCC. The "OO" notice is a "friendly" observation of what he/she observed/heard when you were transmitting. Your action could be, "take corrective action if necessary, do nothing, or send a query to the OO's Section Manager to question the observation and/or dispute the perceived observation. None of this is rocket science.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

doesn't say how much brains you need to have to be an OO.
shelby kb3ouk

Sign up for an official ARRL appointment!

There's a place for everybody: New ham or veteran, young or old, Novice or Extra, athlete, couch potato, or tech weenie. Click on the the appointments you're interested in, and then apply using the easy on-line application form. Your application will be forwarded to your Section Manager for consideration. When approved, you'll be eligible to order a call sign badge that tells everyone your official status as an ARRL appointment.

    * Official Emergency Station
    * Official Relay Station
    * Technical Specialist
    * Public Information Officer
    * Local Government Liaison
    * Official Observer
    * Assistant Section Manager
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/
Even an AM operator can be an OO. All while giving something back to Amateur Radio and going above the call in supporting your League.

[N3DRB The Derb]

Unless you simply think the O.O. program is garbage. The FCC should either enforce the rule of law equally and impartially, or they should simply deregulate the Amateur service completely. We pay taxes for these services, and  congressonal oversight is held if required. the record of government effectiveness & "cost savings " by privatizing and blessing unaccountable poeple to do things we already pay government to do is pretty bad. a company called BlackWater in Iraq comes to mind.

No O.O. will ever get the time of day from me regarding my station. That is the F.C.C.'s job. We pay them to do it. The ARRL is not the same hing, and by even putting "OFFICAL" in the name implies a government blessing and or/ statutory power. Dump the entire program, and pass the cost savings to your members. And demand the F.C.C., if it is going to regulate at all, do it themselves.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Q. Isn't the OO doing work that should more properly done by the FCC?

A. Amateur Radio monitoring and enforcement are low priorities at the FCC. Time and time again, the FCC has indicated that we're largely on our own in keeping our operating standards and spectrum in shape. The Amateur Auxiliary program and its OOs are the League's answer to this challenge.

Q. What are its objectives?

A. The general objectives of the program are to:
1. Foster a wider knowledge of and better compliance with the FCC rules;
2. Extend the concepts of self-regulation and self-administration in the Amateur Service;
3. Enhance the opportunity for individual amateurs to contribute to the public welfare; and
4. Enable the Enforcement Bureau of FCC to efficiently and effectively utilize its limited manpower and resources.

Q. So, the OO is there to help me?

A. Yes! The role of the Amateur Auxiliary is to provide an unbiased forum for technical and operational advice and other assistance to amateurs who are receptive. The task is not to find fault or lay blame! It is to identify cause and effect, many of which are not based upon technical but behavioral or social issues, and to find ways to achieve solutions to promote good amateur operating and engineering practice on our bands.

Q. Are OOs allowed to enforce the rules?

A. No! The mission is NOT enforcement. Enforcement is a function reserved exclusively by the FCC. Because the boundary between observation and enforcement is not always obvious, mature judgment is clearly required of Auxiliary members and its leadership. The Auxiliary, to be viable and effective, must avoid the appearance of enforcement. It must also avoid the appearance of having a vested interest in any specific type of amateur operations or of being sympathetic to amateur groups which advocate specific activities or causes. OOs are not to be involved in cases where they have a personal interest. They must be totally objective.

[N3DRB The Derb]

pete,

we'll disagree , politely.    I have never agreed with the program, mostly becuase I dont believe it's members are in any way qualified to make technical observations about others stations nor possess accurate equipment to make that assessment. The F.C.C.'s representatives are on both counts, and are TASKED with doing so under law.

if it is such a low priority, then why not simply deregulate the entire service? maybe the FCC is too busy auctioning off huge parts of what used to be the public airwaves to corporate interests.

If the ARRL were to make such test equipment and training available as a requirement of the office, I'd have less of a problem with it. I've seen too many O.O. reports that are totally ignorant of the very nature of AM, such as " you have excessive carrier ", " your signal is 40 KC wide" and other gems.

[ka3zlr]

OK, I understand all this it's not a problem here, really.. it's I know there's a Job to do and it has to be done I'm fine with that...as far as that goes, it's their Ship and their crew and whoever is in Command that's Not my interest in this.

 All I want to leave this with is when you look at a signal, take some time to understand what you are Looking at, First, and Maybe I am a Tech Weenie at this Station, but there are worst things...

 What we do here I feel is a Passion, and there is a great amount of work involved, You can't Buy this...and when you step into Our Ring here...at least bring the Correct pencils.. OK....LOL....Maybe it would be behooving to that group to maybe attend to some sessions on Sig-in-nail processing...I dunno...


Carry On.

73 jack...

[kb3ouk]

I meant that it seems like a lot of these people don't seem to have any brains. but there's also some things on the bands that probably get overlooked, too.
Shelby KB3OUK

[W3RSW]

Over-driven linears not withstanding (and this includes the last stages of even 100 watt rigs), I think one of the primary purposes for OO's is now in the dustbin of history.

At one time, before accurate VFO's, low pass filters on transmitter outputs as routine design, OO's listened for harmonics, out of band operations, and way out of band operations, as well as for rough signals. Hams in those days might be simply transmitting on the wrong frequency.  Most of this was unintentional because of mistuned stages, parasitics, etc.  OO's of the day would routinely listen to all shortwave bands, particularly harmonics of hambands.

From what everyone's posting it looks like several OO's have degenerated to "observing" glorified signal reports of perceived transmission quality as their sole reason for being.  

These reports, like everything else in a dumbed-down-qualification, "me-me" world, as in everyday discourse, are further corrupted by the politics of transmission mode, personality conflicts and "pretend police gottcha" syndrome all of which are diametrically opposite Pete's ARRL  Q&A posting.

So looks like "QST" is due to run an updated article advising proper instruments, interpretation of proper and lesser instrument data, application, courtesy and rules for OO's.  Their heart was originally in the right place.