I have dual band radios in my vehicles and I like to monitor 146.52 MHz for SOTA activations in the local mountains and whatever while driving. My home QTH is in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles and my work QTH is just off I-10 east of downtown LA.
Over the past few months, I've been hearing one station pretty much nonstop throughout the day. He identifies with a callsign and claim to be in in "Little Saigon" in Orange Co. Recently another station has joined him and advertises his QTH as "near Knotts Berry Farm". Both say they are base stations.
Little Saigon monopolizes the channel by calling CQ and doing radio checks. I hardly ever hear him have a real QSO. Knotts rambles on, and on, talking about how 50 watts of power isn't enough and how he wants to upgrade to 400 watts and use a beam antenna. His voice quality, along with his syntax, is sadly reminiscent of a CB operator (strong signal, slightly muffled voice quality).
I'm not the radio police and both stations are probably operating legally, but certainly pushing the limits of good operating practices. 146.52 is supposed to be a calling frequency but that's only common use and practice. There's no actual requirement that it be used as such. These stations have made it the equivalent of CB Channel 6, aka "the Superbowl".
My radio has a channel selector and volume control and I usually just go off channel or turn down the volume when I hear these clowns. I realize there's nothing more to be done, and like most of the other lids, they will eventually find another shinny bobble to attract their attention.
I feel better, now, after venting.!
Over the past few months, I've been hearing one station pretty much nonstop throughout the day. He identifies with a callsign and claim to be in in "Little Saigon" in Orange Co. Recently another station has joined him and advertises his QTH as "near Knotts Berry Farm". Both say they are base stations.
Little Saigon monopolizes the channel by calling CQ and doing radio checks. I hardly ever hear him have a real QSO. Knotts rambles on, and on, talking about how 50 watts of power isn't enough and how he wants to upgrade to 400 watts and use a beam antenna. His voice quality, along with his syntax, is sadly reminiscent of a CB operator (strong signal, slightly muffled voice quality).
I'm not the radio police and both stations are probably operating legally, but certainly pushing the limits of good operating practices. 146.52 is supposed to be a calling frequency but that's only common use and practice. There's no actual requirement that it be used as such. These stations have made it the equivalent of CB Channel 6, aka "the Superbowl".
My radio has a channel selector and volume control and I usually just go off channel or turn down the volume when I hear these clowns. I realize there's nothing more to be done, and like most of the other lids, they will eventually find another shinny bobble to attract their attention.
I feel better, now, after venting.!
