This kind of problem was entirely predictable and is not that new.  "Considering" shutting it down temporarily is not the right response unless it was a one-off incident.  Using no call signs at all is not suspected illegal, it just is illegal.  Challenging such an exchange calmly with one's call sign and inquiry to ID shuts them up - they do not engage.  But. the trustee has an obligation I would argue to shut it down or at least escalate to real time control cutting it off when no calls are used and the traffic does not sound like amateur.  It is pretty obvious, I find, when they use short, tactical communications blurbs.   In my area we observe multi-site, wide area systems that cover rural areas with little or no cell coverage are the repeaters illegal operators prefer and integrate into whatever plans or training activity they have.  We started observing this in the EPA and SNJ areas some time ago, unrelated to the present issues, and I have mentioned it here.

I am also concerned that many repeater operators do not even have "in band" basic control over their systems. They have to take tedious steps to shut off a system.   Could not shut it off without a field trip to the site.  Once in a while I get a call from a repeater group asking I get involved in "curing" an illegal user problem they have (not related to present problem). The answer to my advice to control it off for a bit each time with at least several deputized control ops is telling.  Illegal operator groups will switch to something else if they observe unreliability because someone is listening and controlling use. They must hate that.  But many clubs ask- how can we do that each time without driving to the repeater site?  That lack of any real control "on and off" is not legal of course.  All the Kenwood repeaters (ham popular TKR and NXR series) I own ship with basic controls like that built in and even suppress the DTMF on the output to make it more secure. You might be surprised how many hams actually do not know they are required to have remote control or at least direct control over their repeater.

I also suspect the authorities will now by watching the appropriate spectrum for use in troubled areas like DC, whether simplex or pirating a system without consent. Let's hope they and the press do not draw the wrong conclusions about those "hams".  I will wager they will but will hope I am wrong. 

Bob Famiglio, K3RF

I read a Facebook post this morning from a ham in Idaho that stated they are considering shutting down one of the two meter repeaters there because of the sudden increase of suspected unlicensed activity. (No callsigns being used). 

 

73;

Mike

W7VO

On 01/17/2021 8:31 AM Bob Famiglio, K3RF via arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> wrote:

 

 

And as we discussed as a concern earlier in the week, even the FCC statement conflates our part 97 amateur service with all the other part 95 personal radio services. The statement reinforces the idea that the public sees all those personal radios as Ham radios.   What’s worse, it suggests that all amateur radio use would automatically be by licensed hams operating those radios illegally.  I suspect most users in any incident will be non-licensed operators or if licensed otherwise (any radio service) will not be announcing any proper call sign and therefore operating as unlicensed.  Not much we can do except educate the public consumer of such generalized or partially misleading information, even though such statements may have been innocently issued to the public.

 

Bob Famiglio, K3RF

Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division

610-359-7300

 

www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF

 

 

From: arrl-odv On Behalf Of n2cop@ec.rr.com
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2021 10:54 AM
To: 'ODV' <arrl-odv@arrl.org>
Subject: [arrl-odv:31734] FCC Issues Statement Against Illegal Use of Ham Radio

 

 

The FCC released this statement Sunday morning. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-17/lin-manuel-miranda-joins-list-of-entertainers-inaugural-update?utm_source=google&utm_medium=bd&cmpId=google

The board was wise in developing and having a similar statement already prepared.

FCC Warns About Use of Ham Radio to Commit Crimes (10:23 a.m.)

Licensed amateur and personal radio services shouldn’t be used to coordinate criminal acts, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau warned after reports that some people were looking to radios as an alternative to social media platforms, which are being monitored by law enforcement following the deadly Jan. 6 raid on the U.S. Capitol.

“The Bureau reminds amateur licensees that they are prohibited from transmitting ‘communications intended to facilitate a criminal act’ or ‘messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning,” the agency said in a statement Sunday.

The licensees, which would include Citizens Band radios, Family Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, would face fines, seizure of their equipment and possible criminal prosecution.

73 de Bill Morine, N2COP

Vice Director – Roanoke Division

Representing ARRL members in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia

www.arrl-roanoke.org

Facebook Page: ARRL Roanoke Division

ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio

 

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