Posted on 10/11/2019 6:36:35 AM PDT by AU72
The People’s Republic of California is at it again; through unelected state officials, California is severing ties to ham radio repeater owners throughout the state, jeopardizing the lives of millions of Californians who depend on these repeaters to operate during emergencies.
Last month, repeater operators were sent emails telling them the State would no longer allow them to operate repeaters on public land without paying substantial rental fees. In the letter sent by CAL FIRE, the state claims Ham operators no longer provide a benefit to the state or public safety. They claimed that “constantly changing technological advances” has made Ham radio obsolete during an emergency.
Keep in mind; this is a state that is currently shutting power down in 34 of its counties because its infrastructure cannot handle 20-30 mph winds without risking wildfire breakouts throughout the state.
What is infuriating here is people are going to die because of this decision. It costs the State of California nothing to allow these repeaters on public land; in fact, Ham Radio Operators pay for the equipment and maintain the equipment at their own cost. Ham Radio operators also make nothing from running these radio repeaters; they do so as a service to the public to help ensure the public’s safety during natural disasters and emergencies.
Here is a good explanation of what’s going on from a Ham Radio operator in California
While paying billions of dollars a year to cater to illegal immigrants and welfare bums, California is now targeting hard-working Ham operators who provide critical and vital Disaster Emergency Communications. These people have absolutely lost their minds!
There is a nationwide effort to Kill Ham Radio
My off the grid ham radio
Even most Hams haven’t taken notice, but in 2012 the federal government launched FirstNet, a public safety nationwide broadband network that many in the government think will make Ham radio operators obsolete. In reality, its nothing more than a $47 Billion Federal Cell Phone Network that itself is already obsolete. In fact, it needs LOTS of infrastructure to function, and it creates multiple, single points of failure.
The real story here is Ham Radio is a threat to the government. We make them look stupid! They spend billions on infrastructure that breaks down, while we can literally take a hundred bucks in equipment, some random wires, and in minutes set up a radio system that can communicate with anyone in the world. Hell, I’ve used my kid’s slinky, some Television Coax Cable, and a solar battery system to build a mobile rig that I’ve used to talk to people around the world — You can check out the Radio Rig Here.
They don’t want the public to realize that we can take care of ourselves, and do a much better and cheaper job doing so!
Dumb as ditchwater. This is a true ‘Atlas Shrugged’ decision.
I’m sorry Ayn Rand is such an accurate prophetess.
I’m sitting here looking out the window at my full wave quad right now. how about you?
Of course encryption was allowed. The government always has different rules than us proles.
I think this decision by CA is just another example of the stupidity we've come to expect from them. Yet another grab for money.
“Wow that almost sounds like a Civilian MIJI investigation.
When I was in the USAF, way back when, I loved HF, except when the frequency bottomed out and all the crypto dropped set.”
I’m serious, they do NOT like anyone exercising privileges only they have a right to exercise and will chase you down in a heartbeat. And like I say they are GOOD at it. I think the knowledge they share is more for triangulating folks to turn them in than actually using a radio. lol
Ask me how I know... :)
Kind of makes me wonder who is going to call the snowflakes mommies when the big one takes out Silicon Valley.
> bicycle lane
Perfect analogy. Bicycle lanes are politically correct, dangerous, and mostly unused.
Not impressed - somehow you still speak quite ignorantly.
With AI, they want to the ability to SELECTIVELY shut down communication, cutting off the troublemakers while maintaining the pretense that comms are up.
Sitting on an 350 watt AM/FM Galaxy with a VFO soldered into Channel 9 on the AM side for “listening purposes” of course. Not quite ignorant...
Not licensed, But I understand electronics and radio quite well. It’s a mistake to assume anything my friend, because you don’t know what’s on the other end.
It is still completely legal to TX an emergency mayday on any frequency if and when necessary. THIS fact they forget to share don’t they? You can only chit chat if you are a member of the club and paid your dues.
This is the real reason why.
> mistake to assume anything
Here on FR, and all such places, all we have are the words. Those are what I addressed.
> It is still completely legal to TX an emergency mayday on any frequency if and when necessary.
And that is a very good law. I’m still discovering availability and/or lack of emergency radio monitoring in the backwoods where there’s no “cell” phone service. I have every intention of transmitting to an EMS repeater if I ever need to!
I was a bit of a broadcast bootlegger in my early days. But I respect the amateur radio establishment and I’m sure I fail to get your point on the good old boys. I actually think they were “good.” And I think you would do better to go ahead and get a license. But that’s none of my business.
Love to see what the output signal from a 350 watt AM/FM Galaxy looks like on a spectrum analyzer.
They need to dismantle it because they can’t control what is said over like they do with Twitter and Facebook and alike ....
Leave it to the liberal blockheads to go after amateur radio.
The know as well as I in a big event/disaster etc, cell phones and computers will be the first to be shut down and or fail.
Of course the leftist never wanted anyone communicating when they’re unable to control every aspect of it.
We here are also very backwoods and have a relay network for communications and a community watch on citizen band frequency (+). ANYONE is welcome to join without restriction, just key up and say Hi. But like the dark web, use discretion and don’t mention your going on vacation. We use VOX recorders to catch what we missed if we are away from the radios.
But it would be nice to have a little more range without “breaking the law” with increased wattage to get over that hill to the neighbor. Hence my argument about allowing one slice from the whole long range loaf being shared, with a good frequency one does not need extreme wattages to carry great distances.
But think of it this way concerning radio, relate the right to communicate with the right to bear arms and my argument might make more sense. In the world of radio the general public is only allowed two antique pistols to use. But if you acquire a license from your local “approved” gun club, the government will allow you to to own all the most accurate and powerful modern rifles available, but only after registering and licensing yourself as an owner.
All I would be asking for would be having the right to own one rifle in one caliber out of many available without the restrictions and control of the local gun club and government that has kept the general public restricted to just the two antique pistols for so many years. It truly is a very small sacrifice that would greatly benefit the public at large. :)
The ability to communicate long range should not be limited to just a special class of citizens. Not sure, but the phone companies may have been behind all this for their own profits. lol
Quality parts produce a quality clean carrier wave. It’s more about the carrier and the frequency than the wattage output. Some frequencies (which are all locked up legally) can carry farther with minimal wattage. I have talked a couple hundred miles on just 5 watts 10 meter.
With the wattage I have on AM I have talked to the east coast from Az. But I had to “break the law” to do so because the hammers and the government have outlawed high wattage long range communications without submitting to the control.
Just a small slice, I have been hearing the arguments for years and years but truly... what will it hurt to open a thin slice?
See this situation in Ca? This is why it would be more beneficial than harmful now at this point. A good long range relay net system does not require repeaters that can be controlled or shut down like this. And you should not have to kiss anyone’s rear end to use it. :)
Some “shortwave” band that is open as a free-for-all sounds like a good thing to try. Maybe digital-only using something like CDMA, since there could be a lot of people keying at the same time. It seems likely that it would I hate to give advice, but I think you might be better understood if you just described your idea in positive terms, and left out the stuff against the old boys club. Amateur radio is probably not a great choice for a target to beat up on. Lawyers, politicians, media, sure. Just for my part, I respect the hams. And they have a long tradition, one that goes back to when our country was a lot more free, and in fact, they represent Americanism, freedom and “volunteerism” in many ways. The current discussion is stark proof of that.
I for one am glad one must take a test and be licensed to communicate world wide. There are enough jackasses using HF. And by the way, it's not like your cell phone because with HF there can be dozens or many more listening to your transmissions in foreign countries etc. Having unlicensed blockheads broadcasting BS to the world would not be a benefit for America. As I said, there are already a few on the air who should not be a representative for the U.S. and most of them are not licensed.
Generally, if one takes the time to study, gain some knowledge and get licensed it's a good thing...And for the most part, the majority don't go through that process just to be jackasses on their air. It keeps much, not all, but most of the riffraff out. This is not complex.
Good words.
Nope.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.