If you are "caught" then there are fines involved but I'm not sure how much. Jail time is always and option too.. yada yada yada.

Yes there is a huge potential for interference created by a HAM radio. Remember these radios transmit a huge range of power depending on the band and type of radio you have. People have gotten caught without a license. We HAMs are a tight group that look out for each other for the most part so you could be caught pretty quick.

 

$7,500.00 to $10,000.00 a pop. Plus you're equipment is confiscated.

If I hear you I will report you, as will hundreds of other hams. The FCC will find you.

Morse Code is no longer required for an amateur radio license and it is not that difficult to pass the test.

Here's the deal. I studied, took the test and past it as have thousands of other hams. If you can't do that, I don't want to talk to you. As far as I am concerned you are stealing from me and thousands of other hams if you operate illegally.

If you are interested in ham radio there are members on this board who are willing to help.

You can start here.

http://www.arrl.org/
__________________________________________________________

Here is what you can expect.

September 2, 2009

Mr. Tony K. Koons

(address withheld)

(city/state withheld)

Re: WARNING FOR UNLICENSED RADIO OPERATION

EB-09-GB-0241

Dear Mr. Koons:

It has come to the attention of the Federal Communications Commission that
at multiple times in the last several months you have made radio
transmissions in the 2 meter amateur band, for which a license is
required. You have no such license.

Operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid FCC
authorization is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, and may subject the responsible parties to substantial
monetary forfeitures, in rem arrest action against the offending radio
equipment, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment. Because
unlicensed operation creates a danger of interference to important radio
communications services and may subject the operator to severe penalties,
this warning emphasizes the importance of complying strictly with these
legal requirements.

UNAUTHORIZED OPERATION OF THIS RADIO STATION MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY.

You have ten (10) days from the date of receipt of this warning to respond
to this office. The response must contain a statement of the specific
action(s) taken to come into compliance with the Commission's rules and
should include a time line for completion of pending corrective action(s).
You are directed to support your response with a signed and dated
affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury, verifying the truth and
accuracy of the information submitted in your response. Your response
should be sent to the following address: 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg,
PA 17325 and should reference the listed case number.

In an inquiry of this type we are required to notify you that under the
Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. S: 552a(e)(3), the Commission's staff will
use all relevant information before it, including information you disclose
in your reply, to determine what, if any, enforcement action is warranted
in this matter.

You may contact me at 717-338-2577 should you wish to discuss this matter.

Sincerely,

Laura L. Smith

Special Counsel

Cc: Tampa Field Office

South Central Regional Director

47 U.S.C. S: 301.

Fines normally range from $7,500 to $10,000.

See S:S: 401, 501, 503, 510.

__________________________________________________________

Here is another one. This guy is or was a ham.

July 22, 2009

Mr. William J. Didonna

735 Memorial Drive

Chicopee, MA 01020

Re: WARNING NOTICE

Amateur Radio License NE1Z

EB-09-GB-0196

Dear Mr. Didonna:

By letter dated July 1, 2009, the Commission notified you that it had
received several complaints concerning the operation of your amateur radio
station. The complaints allege that you transmitted obscene or indecent
words or language in violation of Section 97.113(a) (4) of the
Commission's rules. The letter further noted that in addition to
complaints from other licensees, the staff at the Commission's monitoring
station heard and recorded you engaging in the above-referenced behavior.
A copy of all of the recordings made by the Commission's staff was sent to
you for your review.

You responded to the Commission's letter on July 15, 2009. In that letter,
you acknowledge that you spend "ninety percent" of your time operating on
3.910, the frequency in question. You further note that the conversations
at 3.910 get "bad" at times and these types of conversations are regular
occurrences. You indicated, however, that after listening to the
recordings, you could not specifically recall any of those QSO's and claim
not to recognize your voice. You further mention that you believe the
individuals providing the complaints to the Commission are after you
because they do not "like" you when others at 3.910 are guilty of using
the same language and engaging in the same behavior.

Your argument that it is not you on the recordings is unpersuasive. One of
the Commission's field agents used the Commission's direction finding
equipment at our monitoring station on the dates in question to determine
the location of the offending parties. He then recorded the offenses and
reported such offenses to undersigned counsel. He specifically identified
you, William Didonna of Chicopee, Massachusetts (call sign NE1Z), as one
of the offending parties and provided undersigned counsel with recordings
of the conversations in question.

Your operation as described above, and recorded by the Commission's staff,
is contrary to the basis and purpose of the amateur radio service as set
out in Section 97.1 of the Commission's rules. Please be advised that the
Commission expects you to abide by its rules. This letter serves as notice
that, if operation of this type reoccurs after receipt of this letter, you
could be subject to severe penalties, including license revocation,
monetary forfeiture (fines), or a modification proceeding to restrict the
frequencies upon which you may operate.

Sincerely,

Laura L. Smith

Special Counsel

Enforcement Bureau

Cc: Boston Field Office

Northeast Regional Director

In your response, you question who wrote the phrase "Didonna's tapes" on
the copy of the recordings that you received. That was done by undersigned
counsel.

See 47 C.F.R. S: 97.1.

Fines normally range from $7,500 to $10,000.

 

I agree with your sentiments, and thanks for the information. I do not have a license, but I understand the importance of following licensing procedures. I plan on getting certified in the near future.

I have one question for you, however. In a total disaster situation, like say a nuclear attack, would your opinion change? That is, would you still be adamant about enforcing the licensing requirements, or would you be more inclined to let people use the amateur radio networks to locate and communicate with loved ones, get information etc.?

 

My dad was a HAM with an extra ticket. (He passed about 5 years ago) The internet is probably the chief reason I didn’t follow in his footsteps in that regard. I still have some of his gear and his license and all of his QSL cards from literally all over the planet.

I learned allot from him with regard to HAM operation, respect for the hobby and how it all works.

I would say that in the event of a SHTF I would not hesitate to fire the gear up and TX/RX under his license. Until then I will respect the laws and the other HAMs by staying off the air.

 

Sorry to hear of your loss. I am always saddened when I think of those gone. However.

Just so you know two years from expiration of call sign or two years and one day from date of death, the FCC issued call sign is once again available. There are actually MORBID Fights over call signs and you might see as many as 7 to 8 people applying for a call sign on exactly two years and one day of expiration.

However an unkown fact is that there is another group that will report the death with proof to the FCC Two years and one day after the death and apply for the call sign.

The first person on the first day available is not the winner, instead it goes to the People that apply on the first day to be randomly chosen. So even though you apply online at 0001 on jan 1st does not make you the winner, the guy that has a post marked letter of Dec 31 at 2359 would be the winner.

Anyways, just so you know, if your father has passed, and you are not the holder of that call sign, another may have it now.

 

...I knew it was illegal ......I just asked as years ago when cb's were real popular i would get major interference on my tv and could clearly hear the AMPED up transmissions.....Thanks

 

Transmitting over the CB band with an amplifier has nothing to do with transmitting over HAM bands without a license. Two completely different things, both illegal. However, the CB band has been almost completely unregulated since at least the time when I was a teenager as almost everyone I knew had an amp on CB. If you know someone is transmitting on the CB band with an amplifier, report it to the FCC.

 

As CAV104 said, it's not that difficult to get your license and yes there are groups out there that spend their days policing the airwaves. If for no other reason that with the way corporations are clamoring for airwaves, they could take away our bands at any time if there were the same chaos as on the CB band.

Here in SoCal we have a few idiots that are not licensed that love to spend their time jamming local repeaters making them useless.

Now, that said, in a true SHTF situation having a license won't matter. Communicate however you can, but I can tell you that for the most part, any real communication isn't as easy as turn it on, hit the button, and talk. Get your ticket and learn the gear and procedures and you'll be much better off.

 

As CAV104 said, it's not that difficult to get your license and yes there are groups out there that spend their days policing the airwaves. If for no other reason that with the way corporations are clamoring for airwaves, they could take away our bands at any time if there were the same chaos as on the CB band.

Here in SoCal we have a few idiots that are not licensed that love to spend their time jamming local repeaters making them useless.


Now, that said, in a true SHTF situation having a license won't matter. Communicate however you can, but I can tell you that for the most part, any real communication isn't as easy as turn it on, hit the button, and talk. Get your ticket and learn the gear and procedures and you'll be much better off.

Surely people have more meaningful things to do than police the airwaves for un-licensed transmissions ?

 

I think we have a lot of folks going through Stockholm syndrome, sympathizing with their abusers.

There's no good reason to license ham radio operators. Why there's licensing: it makes hams feel special to have something like a fancy "Amateur Extra" classification, keeps the FCC's talons in the business of free people, and creates a costly regulatory bureaucracy.

 

I think we have a lot of folks going through Stockholm syndrome, sympathizing with their abusers.

There's no good reason to license ham radio operators. Why there's licensing: it makes hams feel special to have something like a fancy "Amateur Extra" classification, keeps the FCC's talons in the business of free people, and creates a costly regulatory bureaucracy.

One thing these clowns are right about is that amateur radio operators WILL try to find you and turn you in. They'll do it for fun AND for principle.

"We jumped through the government's hoops so you should have to too, gabdummit!"

So you are saying amateur radio operators are clowns?


Progressives, They Lie, They Cheat, They Steal.

 

There's stories of guys who had their licenses revoked, but still continued to operate and sometimes using someone elses call sign. When they get caught they get fined, but some of those numb nuts don't get the clue and keep doing it and eventually get jail time.

Part of the reason for the licensing is because only the people who are going to be professional and courteous on air are going to "jump through the governments hoops". How often have you heard ass holes being rude and inconsiderate and belligerent on CB? Pretty often, and even some times on those little FRS radios. You don't hear that crap much on the ham bands.

 

Should we have government bureaucrats license people to use the Internet too? Maybe have some basic tests on computer skills and netiquette? Think about how much more polite and educated the Internet public would be. Plus we would be able to better monitor everyone who uses the Internet.


...

 

In an emergency or SHTF situation and your calling for or rendering assistance - it's OK to operate a ham radio without a license

 

the first time they catch you , they will ask for your equipment, but if you don't have a license you have not yet given the fcc authority over you and equipment confiscation is voluntary

 

This is the FCC's rule

To cancel a license of a deceased holder, FCC requires that they receive a signed written request indicating that the current licensee is now deceased (include the deceased licensee's name and call sign in the letter). Also, FCC requires that some type of evidence of death accompany the request--something that verifies that the licensee is deceased--such as a newspaper obituary, a death certificate or social-security/death-benefits documentation. Faxed documents are not accepted.

Hams know each other and on the passing of one, they talk about it. The more morbid ones will remember the date and call of thier friend or aquaintance or of a call sign that they hear of.

Then they wait, and pounce.

Without knowing your fathers Call sign, I have no idea if it is desirable. Do not tell me. Just see what the status of the call is. And if it is a 2x1 or 1x2 get your extra as fast as possible and apply!

 

Also, if you do not renew your liscence, the call will go back into the pool as well.

 

This is just my opinion, so take it as that.

If I hear someone transmitting without a licence, Im calling the boys in the white explorers with the DF gear. Got a bunch of them here.

If I have to take the time to learn and test, nobody is playing in my pool without doing the same.

 

Ditto. But I don't know any ham who is not of the same opinion, I think we all share the same passion for the hobby.

 

why would i want to get a ham radio license? LOL

 

Do you have ham radio gear? VHF/UHF, HF?

 

Look, the ONLY way you people who are so enamored with Post SHTF transmitting are going to get a radio to work is if you find one a HAM already has set up. Because if you think its as easy as open the box and you have comms, I got a bridge Ill make you a fine deal on. Used to be if you didnt have a licence, sellers wouldnt sell you a radio. Now the internet has stopped that. I always thought it was a good idea to self police a group, keeps the law out of the equation. Most think they can do what they want and nobody is listening.

Its a common idea, do what you want when it happens. Great, but I bet you will be sitting and thinking to yourself " I probably should have taken the time to learn how this actually worked before I needed it"

I have one of the most highly rated radios for beginers wanting to buy just 1 radio and be happy, and if you dont spend some serious time learning it, it will shut itself down as soon as you key the mike. Its like owning a mechs tool kit and not knowing how to change your oil. Or owning a safe full of guns, and not one is zeroed.

Typical armchair internet commando attitude. Its either funny or pathetic.

 

with all due respect sir, I disagree

with todays out of the box sets and the instuctions that go with them anyone who can read AND FOLLOW instructions can set up a station.

I have known people who never had a liciese and operated the ham radio, they just used other people call signs.

My self is KA5DXU, so I do know a little about my helt opinions.

I have known low end , non code passing people operating in the General and advanced class bands,

I do not condone it and I will tell all of you that it is illegal but, I will also tell you that it is done all the time.

with todays out of the box radios, interference is almost a thing of the pass.

Have fun

KA5DXU

Harold Wayne Hamlin
Lubbock, Texas

Later
wayne

 

I hear your side of the story when you guys say that operating a HAM without a license is akin to stealing from you. IMO I think it's a BS they have a law that keeps people from communicating just because the government can't keep track of who is saying what if they didn't. I feel people should be able to communicate freely over the airwaves.
I know your argument would be that every as$h*le would tie up the available waves and it would be chaos. But still, isn't it our right to be able to communicate in any fashion we see fit? (save for frequencies designated for emergency/police/government)

 

Govenment seeks control in all things.

In the early years some control was needed due to the interfence home built radio could do other users of the radio spectrum

once govern control, they very rarely release control

today with our advance techo stuff, there is no need for a radio lic.

out of the box radios on authoritized freqs. will not interfere with other users.

there is no need for amature lic with todays advanced radios.

later
wayne

 

My dad has his extra, he keeps talking about how easy the test was.

 

"Did you do anything about these people using another hams call? If not, why? How about if I use you're call and start spewing out vulgar and profane language? Would you like that? You have an obligation to report this kind of abuse. How do you know these guys are not already using you're call. It's exactly that kind of abuse that can get good hams jammed up over some idiot using they're call. That's one reason why I don't post my call."

"I have known people who never had a liciese and operated the ham radio, they just used other people call signs"

And you are admitting to knowing, and by not reporting, aiding and abetting?


I think that covered it well. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

 

yes, I am part of the problem.

let us fact it, most hams at one time or another used a radio with out a lic.

How many people have gotten into radio after they operated a pirate station for a little while.

A lot by my estimation.

Ham radio is wounderful and I recommend everyone to get into it.

You do not have to have a lic to purchase the radio and listen

Go for it.

Visit a ham radio swap meet. It is a lot of fun and you will meet a lot of people who do not protect their hobby like a 'mother hen guarding her nest'

they will help you study for a test, help you prepare for a test and even loan or sell you some radio gear to get started with.

later
wayne

 

Look, everyone who thinks regulation is a bad idea.

What if your neighbor thought the same, made what he thought was a great radio and microwaved your children at 1000 watts, which is the legal limit. And you couldnt figure out what was BBQ your kids. Because the ignorant and arrogant dont know, because of lack of education, thats how the microwave oven was discovered, by accident and by cooking a few people.

Yeah, and we need some idiot ordering food at burger king talking to a 747 approaching the airport too. Im sure it will make you feel much safer knowing any MORON ( that should ring true for some of you) talking to an aircraft full of unsuspecting people while it tries to land.


Yup, you are right, we shouldnt have any regulation, especially those pesky frequency bands and power limits

 

Hams are some of the most anal, insecure and socially inept individules I know. :xeye:

The majority of them have no social skills and nothing better to do than to listen for a voice they've never heard and run a search to see if your call sign is valid or not. God help you if you so much as transpose the letters of your call sign. If your call sign isn't valid expect a verbal dogpile as they remind you of how unlawful it is to transmit without a license.

Some of them have radio direction finding equipment and will not hesitate to ferret out your transmitter. Some may be bold/stupid enough to confront you in person although most are cowards and will simply dash off a strongly worded letter to the FCC and chortle with glee amongst themselves for days after having turned in an "Pirate Station".

 

All this from a guy who lives in a cave. Talk about insecure and socially inept.

Gronk
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In a cave

You should crawl out of you're cave a little more often. There's a real world out there.

I'm going to go "chortle with glee" with some of my ham buddies now, maybe even for the next several days.

Here is a list of some insecure and socially inept hams.

http://www.ku4ay.net/famous.html

 

Well some here have leaped off the deep end of the pool.

It is one think to say relax regualions on the bands and it is quite a leap to the thought that one would just operate outside the bands.

I specifiicly refertering to operation in the correct bands of ham operators.

That is a far cry from talking to air craft pilots.

Ok, let me ask you this, if one regulation is good, how much better is two.

The intent of the law is to prevent radio interference and to have an orginized planned functional side aside of bands for the use for all.

the intent of the law is not to set aside a private club for a select few.

that is all I am saying. Techo stuff advances, with those advances laws need to change (for the better) to better regulate within NEEDED areas of concern.

later
wayne

 

Well remember, we often learn more from just LISTENING to the radio and that is certainly legal. I do agree that becoming licensed is a good thing and not at all difficult. I would take exception to negative comments about Hams just as anywhere else generalizations are often wrong and nonproductive. I have met many great people thru the hobby and they are always helpful as long as one follows the rules. CB is an example of an unregulated service and is a mess. The discipline and knowledge to operate properly takes time and patience to learn, and makes communicating efficient and worthwhile.

 

the reason for licencing is simple there is a verry limited spectrum of frequency that can be used and regulations extend way beyond US borders so by getting a licence you are basical agreeing with the previously mentioned and some other treaties that are made between us and other countries
frankly FCC dosent do much for HAM radio and no it dosent cost much compared to what other gov entities cost . i think FCC and CRTC are pretty much in the same bag basicaly verry few ppl enforcing amongst many . this is also why HAMs tend to rat out illegal communications .

personaly i think the system for radio comm is ideal the way it is . it promotes self control and group efforts . it also makes shure that ppl on the air arnt there to do sh*t and filth the airwaves .

if you dont want a ham radio licence you can get a CB that is what it is for ( communication without licence) or a FRS/GMRS
under special sircumstances you could operate without the licence but i think it would not be much trouble to actualy get it . and at least that way you know what you are doing .

 

My opinion (and of course, like other things, everyone has one)



I agree with you 100% My grandfather was a licensed HAM operator, but he died when I was 9 months old so I don't have any of his contact cards and his old analog radio is busted anyway. I said the previous to be able to say I see the point of having a license and following the rules. Having a license to broadcast and sticking to the rules and doing the right thing is a throwback to better days when a boy scout was always prepared and in an ideal world it IS the best way to do business. However, we do not live in an ideal world and having the government sticking their noses in one more piece of personal business is just not cool. I don't think most people realize how close to the jumping off point things are globally. Just look at Sweeden (I think it was sweeden anyway). A few months ago the whole damn country almost went bankrupt. There was rioting in the streets and people were killed. Do ya'll honestly think that that can't and won't happen here in the U.S.?! Wake up people. In a few more years there won't be a United States anymore. We'll be owned by China, over-run by Mexico, and probably invaded by Russia! What is the last thing politicians do before a country goes belly up? Raid the piggy bank that's what! Look what they've been doing to social security for years. I've paid in thousands to social security and I'll never see a penny back. I say all this to make the point that we're all here arguing over HAM radio licenses (which is just another way for "Big Brother" to keep tabs on us) and in the mean time the crazies with "The End is Near" signs are dead on right!!!

 

Agreed, Licensing is necessary and it is very easy to pass the exams... I find it hard to believe that survivalists would not want to be hams. The network of repeaters in this country is so dense makes it difficult to be out of communication at any time. And as noted previously... listening will garner much information without ever transmitting so all of our fellow survivalists who are concerned about stealth needn't worry one bit. I am constructing a portable base station that will be functional on all modes and frequencies, and run on either DC or AC. Planning this has been challenging and loads of fun. Capabilities will include Scanning local regional emergency freqs with several scanners, CB radio, 2 Meter Ham, 440 ham, HF, FRS, GMRS and Shortwave as well as AM and FM and Television. It will be primarily home based system but capable of being moved if needed. The emergency power system alone is a nice project as well, and will likely include Solar with Generator backup and both 12 volt and 120 volt capabilities.

 

It's not the FCC that will find you. Other Hams will root you out and turn you in. The fine is steep and there is potential jail time.

Guy in Los Angeles got whacked $50,000 for a repeater that was not being properly run.

 

There is a reason why all you anti-license people are ignorent, and should hypocritical.

It's not if people know how to follow the rules, and its not for big brother to control. Lets face it a 10 year licence for 16 freaking bucks. They aren't making money on it, and you could in theory test from tech-Amateur Extra in one day thus never paying more then 16 bucks.

The whole reason is A-hats using way to much power stomping on other peoples wireless equipment, causing RF radiation that can harm people and cause cancer, RF burns, and other such side effects.

You could kill someone with your ham equipment and several people have died trying to rig up equipment they had no right to.

If you wanna listen by all means go ahead, and its legal, but the government isn't trying to control Amateur radio because they are making money or controlling the man. They are trying to keep idiots from harming others.

All you freedom people forget that freedom extends to the point of not harming others. When you interact with others and infringe on there rights, then yeah a punishment should be involved. Why should I have my wifi, my tv, or hell get RF burns because you think you have some right to do something? Look at CB guys pumping 3000 watts and literally blanketing and bleeding into multiple freqs just because thye don't know what they are doing.

OP - Why don't you just study up and join us it would be nice to have the accomplishment and it wont cost you to much. Not saying you have to, and Im not opposed to you listening/emergency use, but hell why not use it? It's like having guns and ammo and never shooting.