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Post by KMCCLA on Mar 12, 2013 2:46:42 GMT
I had a rather interesting experience on the air this afternoon. First off, I got my first International contact. VE5F** in Ontario, Canada. According to Google Earth, 390 Miles, on 2 meter!!! This was though the Wide Area Repeater Network that goes though most of Pennsylvania and then some. Thin things got weird. Though the same network, I made contact with a KB2BKW, said he was out of Brooklyn NY. Thing is, that call sign is not listed in the QRZ database. I check with the operator and that is the correct call sign. I asked the operator if they were new, wondering if QRZ simply hadn't updated their database yet. He said that he had been licensed for over 10 years. After I asked him that, he quickly said he was only testing a rig and got off the air. Did I stumble onto someone who shouldn't have been on the air? First of all congrats on your first DX, and on 2 M to boot. As for the other thing, it sounds like you got a "pirate". I checked the FCC Database, and it too was not listed. I Goggled the call and found it has been changed to N2GS*, belongs to a woman named Anna, who lives in California. The call given has not been used since before 2006, since the new one expires in 2016 (which most likely makes it closer to perhaps 20 years, since 2006 it still would be in the database). |
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Post by srracing on Mar 12, 2013 3:13:21 GMT
Yep on the K West and W east. That was commericial.
W and K were the initial Ham radio calls. KN was the Novice and then when you upgraded they dropped the N.
I was always KD4LTP (never had a Novice) through Extra Class. Then a few years ago AI4SR became available and I got it. (SR for the business name.) It's also a great CW call, but I seldom work CW anymore.
I suppose the KB2 guy was bogus. Pretty common onVHF/UHF. A CB'er who bought a HT at a flea market. The FCC penalties can be pretty severe but they are seldom caught.
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Post by KMCCLA on Mar 12, 2013 3:20:39 GMT
Now that you mention it, I think you are right as to the K/W west/east only being commercial stations. Perhaps some day I'll get off my duff and get my ham ticket back. Perhaps my old call is still available - WA9PND Yes, it only applies to commercial broadcast stations. East of the Mississippi are all "Whiskey" calls, and everything west of the river are "Kilo". However -- there are exceptions -- the ones who where licensed before the ruling went into effect. Example, here in Kansas City, MO we have WHB 810 AM, and WDAF 106.5 FM, TV CH 4, also formerly 610, and 1660 AM. Topeka, Kansas has WIBW. As for other calls, other calls, the IB (business mobile radio) that we have at my NAPA store is WPVV748 (Whisky Papa Victor Victor 748). There are also several other "W" calls on the VHF/UHF bands for base/mobile. Go for your ticket. Technician and General are still fairly easy, and there are some great study guides even online. Since your old call is a Group D call, you would still be able to get it as a Tech or General, but only as a vanity (you would still get a new call, then you can change it if you want, who knows, you might like the new one better). If you need any help give any of us a shout, we will try to help. I got lucky on my vanity call, it only came available about a month or so before I took my Extra. I do have some news as well -- now that I have learned to use my tuner now I can get out better. As a matter of fact I made my first contact on 15 M with Florida last week. |
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Post by KMCCLA on Mar 12, 2013 3:24:41 GMT
Now that this thread has been reactivated Lets GOTA -- Lets Get On The Air. Even if is an formal QSO, do not even call it a net, just a QSO.
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Post by srmarti on Mar 12, 2013 21:25:56 GMT
PK is correct. While this is technically personal information, it isn't the sort of information that could be used to track an individual down or harass them with. That said it would have been nice if the OP had checked with the mods first *glares* You mean names and addresses aren't in callsign data bases? Yeah, I just found me. Took maybe 5 casual minutes of surfing. |
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Post by GTCGreg on Mar 12, 2013 21:48:13 GMT
Nobody said you have to post your call here, but that's one of the reasons I have my ham license registered to my PO Box. In your case, it took 5 minutes to find your address. In mine, it would probably take 5 1/2 minutes. That's actually pretty long. Anybody that takes more than about 15 seconds either has a really slow computer or is looking in the wrong database. While I don't freely give out my name and address, anyone determined enough could find it. I can't spend my whole life hiding in my basement. Wait a minute, maybe I could. My radios are down there!  |
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Post by srmarti on Mar 13, 2013 0:41:59 GMT
If I picked the FCC database first or logged into one it could have taken lots less. If you can think like someone motivated enough, even knowning there's a net and a frequency means someone can listen in, pick up call-signs to look up, listen to the conversation and put things together. Maybe not so much on this forum, but say some wacko is carrying a grudge about something someone said on a particular thread (like what went on in the old official forum) ... I'm sure you recall that ham communications are not in code or encrypted by law. Everything said on the air is absolutely public.
Decades ago I recall an article about privacy and security on ham repeaters. In casual conversation one ham is talking about his vacation plans or other outing. Out there for anybody to hear is an FCC required ID telling you who the ham is, likely where he lives, and he just broadcast when he's not going to be home....
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Post by GTCGreg on Mar 13, 2013 1:39:29 GMT
Anything you say on the radio is open to the public. I believe most hams are aware of that and, as such, take care about giving out personal information. As you say, by law, you have to identify who you really are, but not necessarily your home address, as you can register your call at a mailing address and not your physical location. But once someone has your real name and approximate location, they should have little trouble locating your physical address should they want it.
As far as it goes, I never say anything on this, or any other forum, that I wouldn't say to a person's face. That's not to say I haven't expressed my views and had some heated discussions, but I would express those same views in person. Just because I may disagree with someone doesn't mean I don't respect that person. In fact, there is no one on this board that I do not have the utmost respect for.
Just like ham radio, maybe there would be less nasty comments if people couldn't hide behind their computer screens. Guess that may be a topic for another thread.
As far as the nuts and wackos go, I've been dealing with them long before there was an internet and I suspect that is not going to end anytime soon.
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Post by srracing on Mar 13, 2013 2:27:49 GMT
Someone pick a time and freq and I will try and make it . (After about 6:30 PM EST)
It will probably have to be on 40 meters for early evening.
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Post by KMCCLA on Mar 24, 2013 3:43:21 GMT
Just shooting here -- How about Sunday 3/24 7:00 PM CDT (0000 UTC), or Thursday 3/28 at the same time. Let's say on 40 meters in the 7.800 range. (Since we all are Extras, we could go lower, if there is any QRM)
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Post by GTCGreg on Mar 24, 2013 13:14:30 GMT
Today's no good for me but Thursday should be OK.
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Post by GTCGreg on Mar 29, 2013 2:47:18 GMT
Tried calling tonight but didn't hear anything.
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Post by KMCCLA on Mar 29, 2013 3:08:40 GMT
Sorry about that -- went out for supper, and got back at 8:00 then forgot about it, just remembered it at a little after 10:00. I was tooling around last night, but did not call. Pick another time, see if I can make it. Monday is out -- I have a KCHEART Net at the hospital at 8:00.
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Post by GTCGreg on Mar 29, 2013 3:11:31 GMT
How about we try again next Thursday (4-4). Same time, same freq.
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Post by KMCCLA on Mar 30, 2013 1:23:50 GMT
I'll try but it is my fathers -- W0UVX (73) birthday, and have no idea what we will be doing.
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Post by GTCGreg on Mar 30, 2013 2:57:03 GMT
Is he still active? Have him join us.
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Post by KMCCLA on Apr 1, 2013 0:18:52 GMT
He is (he made Extra last year), however I am still trying to get to GOTA. We have only the one radio here, so we would be on at the same time (and I doubt I could even get him down to the shack anyway).
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Post by KMCCLA on Apr 5, 2013 0:04:07 GMT
I will be heading back to the shack at about 8:00 PM (CDT) Will hang at 7.180 give or take. QSL
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Post by KMCCLA on Apr 5, 2013 1:00:47 GMT
I made it to the shack, lot of QRM on 7.180-2, going to 1.170
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Post by Cybermortis on Apr 6, 2013 16:26:07 GMT
PK is correct. While this is technically personal information, it isn't the sort of information that could be used to track an individual down or harass them with. That said it would have been nice if the OP had checked with the mods first *glares* You mean names and addresses aren't in callsign data bases? Yeah, I just found me. Took maybe 5 casual minutes of surfing. Somewhat late to reply here, but a reply you will get. Bots would not pick up on callsigns as 'contact information', professional spammers are unlikely to want to spend several minutes getting contact information as they tend to aim for numbers and the average troublemaker is unlikely to know how to run such checks or want to bother - not when you can get information from those people who are stupid enough to post such things on public forums anyway. |
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