80m and 40m issues

[YalekW]

For some reason these two specific bands I have a great deal of issues with. Specifically 7.2 MHz in 40m, 3.8-3.9 MHz in 80m.

The amount of trash, trolling, nitpicking, swearing, threatening behavior, name calling, and unprofessional banter is leaving me to reconsider even taking a ham course to get my license. That's how bad it's become on those frequencies. Plus, these are GROWN MEN AND WOMEN, well into their 40s, acting like children with nothing else but to congregate on one-five specific frequencies in these bands. It makes this hobby look like a bad example. VHF isn't like this at all which I find fascinating. And it only gets worse every day.

I don't know of another post like this, but I'm sick of it.

 

[AB5ID]

Try not to let the riff raff decide whether you get your license.

 

[prcguy]

What area are you in? There are probably bands or frequencies in other parts of the country that make your pack of idiots look sane. Just be thankful its not any worse than it is because somewhere it is much worse.

 

[YalekW]

I'm actually in southwest Michigan. And with a decent sized antenna and setup, 80 and 40 will usually end up looking a lot more clear than anything else, lol. It's not that these are my pack of idiots because I don't actually chat with them, it's just that these frequencies have been known to have this type of thing happen.

In fact most of the banter comes from the southern part of the United States, if not the middle part of the United States which is where most of the activity happens. Here where I am I have kind of a crappy setup because I don't have the money or resources to put the labor in and receive the actual stuff down Southwest or south.

 

[YalekW]

And in case of you guys are wondering, I don't think the whole bands are this bad they're actually pretty funny sometimes. It's just that certain parts of these bands can get ridiculous and they can get in the way of me wanting to do things that I like to do for my future endeavors.

 

[D31245]

I'm on the east coast and listen to 40 & 80 meters often - through SDR Console V3 Server - and catch some good ragchews/nets. This morning, activity on 3.973, 3.984, 7.138, 7.143, 7.191 - 08:00 AM UTC.

These two nets are active now:

RagChew.site

ragchew.site

 

[N4HFA]

No code requirement + No FCC field offices/real enforcement + Dumbing down the written tests + A society where no one is accountable/punished for wrong doings = What you have today Is it really any wonder?

 

[K9KLC]

Still holds true today. Spin the "one big knob"...

 

[AK9R]

That's how bad it's become on those frequencies.

The key point here is "those frequencies'. There are lots of frequencies. You don't have to listen to "those frequencies". You can do as Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH suggests and "spin the big knob".

I'm on 75m and 40m just about every day. I check into nets on 75m and I hunt POTA activators on 40m. I even had a nice QSO with a guy on 40m last week. I heard none of the activity you describe because I don't listen to it.

And, if you don't like what you hear on 75m and 40m phone, you can always try CW or digital modes. There are lots of things to do in amateur radio. Here's a link to a list of over 100 things you can do in amateur radio: https://barriearc.com/builders-group/articles/download/100-things-to-do-in-ham-radio.pdf

Dumbing down the written tests

Have you tried taking an amateur radio test recently? Find a practice test website and see if you can pass a sample General exam. Let us know how you do.

 

[bharvey2]

This isn't a band specific problem. Boneheads find their way into CB, ham, GMRS, you name it. Mind you, folks who can't play well with others are present wherever you go. Take driving for example. I see stupidity on a daily basis. Stopping for red lights or signs on right turns seems to be thing of the past, at least in my area. I haven't given up driving though.

 

[ladn]

Illegitimi non carborundum.
Your radio has a VFO knob for a reason.

 

[sallen07]

No code requirement + No FCC field offices/real enforcement + Dumbing down the written tests + A society where no one is accountable/punished for wrong doings = What you have today Is it really any wonder?

I will agree with you on #2 and #4, but do you really have to drag up the "no code Tech" argument, and the fact that the FCC had to publish the question pool after they lost a lawsuit?

It's been almost 20 years since morse code was dropped as a requirement for an amateur radio license in the US. Do you really believe that all the idiots who hang out in these garbage dump frequencies got their licenses (if they even have one) since then?

Conversely, I think there are at least 100 or so (sarcasm) folks who got their licenses since the requirement change that DON'T act like that on the air.

Yeah yeah I know. "D--- kids. Get off my lawn!"

 

[N4HFA]

I will agree with you on #2 and #4, but do you really have to drag up the "no code Tech" argument, and the fact that the FCC had to publish the question pool after they lost a lawsuit?

It's been almost 20 years since morse code was dropped as a requirement for an amateur radio license in the US. Do you really believe that all the idiots who hang out in these garbage dump frequencies got their licenses (if they even have one) since then?

Conversely, I think there are at least 100 or so (sarcasm) folks who got their licenses since the requirement change that DON'T act like that on the air.

Yeah yeah I know. "D--- kids. Get off my lawn!"

Thanks for the comments. Nowhere in my post did I say all hams are bad? I think you missed the point of my post; mainly, there has been multiple reasons in an additive fashion as to why things have changed on the bands over the years. Some good, some bad. I do believe that ham radio is but a microcosm of society as a whole. What we see in our hobby can be seen in many facets of society. 73

 

[K9KLC]

I will agree with you on #2 and #4, but do you really have to drag up the "no code Tech" argument, and the fact that the FCC had to publish the question pool after they lost a lawsuit?

It's been almost 20 years since morse code was dropped as a requirement for an amateur radio license in the US. Do you really believe that all the idiots who hang out in these garbage dump frequencies got their licenses (if they even have one) since then?

Conversely, I think there are at least 100 or so (sarcasm) folks who got their licenses since the requirement change that DON'T act like that on the air.

Yeah yeah I know. "D--- kids. Get off my lawn!"

In 1971 I went to work for a radio and TV shop and we used CB Ch 21 to dispatch the vans. I remember using callsigns (back then) and I NEVER heard foul language on that CB channel. One evening I went to the owners house and we fired up his 75A2 Collins receiver and I was dialing around on 80 meters and I heard some of foulest language I had ever heard in my life. I remember asking the shop owner, "are they allowed to cuss like that on ham radio"? He said nope but there are people of all kinds everywhere in life ham radio is no different.
I can assure you, in 1971 the code tests were still in place. I didn't get my ham license until 95 but had talked on the CB ever since 71 and to this day, I still haven't heard the stuff I hear that night back in 71. I simply don't frequent those frequencies in the ham bands (Or my rare occurences on CB) where that occurs.

they can get in the way of me wanting to do things that I like to do for my future endeavors.

I need you to explain this. You mean you have to talk on those exact frequencies? Spin the knob, and go elsewhere for your "future endeavors". I can assure you a lot of us talk on 40 and 80 meters and simply pay no attention to that.

you can always try CW or digital modes

I don't do the digital stuff but to this day, I've yet to run into a rude CW op. I'm sure they're out there but while I don't do much these days, I never ran across one when I did, including guys having to slow way down to work me when I was learning CW.

In the end, become a ham if you want or don't become a ham. Listen to the entire video I linked above, this hobby isn't about you, me, or any other single individual. You can be welcomed aboard or, you can make excuses why you're not going to be a ham, good luck, either way. Should you decide to preceded forward, you'd be amazed what else you might find out there that is to your liking. 73

 

[k6cpo]

No code requirement + No FCC field offices/real enforcement + Dumbing down the written tests + A society where no one is accountable/punished for wrong doings = What you have today Is it really any wonder?

This is the real cause. The first three might have a minor effect on behavior, but it's just reflecting society in general. It all stems back to the "every kid gets a trophy" (because we don't want the precious little darlings to feel left out...)

 

[hill]

VHF isn't like this at all which I find fascinating. And it only gets worse every day.

VHF/UHF May be great in your area and mine, but that is not the case all over the USA.

There are at least one thead from a few years ago here on Radio Reference with chuckle heads operating on some repeaters in California

I think the bigger the metro area in which you are located at least on ham frequency will have some people you don't wish to talk with. I have both ham and GMRS licenses and listen on number frequencies both simplex and repeaters when mobile and home. Seams I listen more than talk and if some frequency has some stuff don't wish to receive it easy to change the dial.

In closing plenty of great people on ham radio and you will gain a lot by being licensed. Don't let a few bad hams turn you off from hobby.

 

[sallen07]

For some reason these two specific bands I have a great deal of issues with. Specifically 7.2 MHz in 40m, 3.8-3.9 MHz in 80m.

As others have pointed out, there are jerks and idiots everywhere you go.

As has also been pointed out, there are certain well-known frequencies in the HF bands where this behavior is the norm.

Like visiting (or moving to) a new city, you quickly find out (or someone tells you) which neighborhoods to avoid.

Don't let the few spoil the hobby for you.

 

[GlobalNorth]

You can toughen up testing to the point of demanding an Associate of Science degree for Technician, a BS in Electrical Engineering for a General, and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering for an Extra class license; but anyone can walk into a HRO or DX engineering and plop down enough cash or credit for a rig, an antenna, a power supply, and the accessories only to go home and be on the air acting like a spoiled 6 year old in a few hours. Will the FCC visit them if they openly disregard the regulations and conventions? Probably not, but it won't be me losing my license because I won't run roughshod on the bands.

There are people replete with no social skills, no manners, little intelligence, and a sense of entitlement deeper than the Grand Canyon in this hobby. Sadly, the 1950s left us long ago.

Stay away from some areas where cretins try to impress the other cretins and you'll be fine.

 

[Golay]

I wanted to mention a solution that worked very effectively for a "potty mouth" on 2 meters here in Metro Detroit.
But you have to know who they are. Myself, I don't listen to HF.
Are the folks you get disgruntled about giving out callsigns? Or is it a no ID free for all?

 

[w2dsx]

This brought back memories of being a teen recently licensed and showing my dad what was on the radio. Being a new novice (CW only back then) I didn't pay too much heed to what was going on sideband except when the folks at Goddard Space Center used to rebroadcast the shuttle comms on 40 meters. Anyways we found a couple of really bad hot spots, 14.313 comes to mind and that turned off my dad for getting his ticket. The guy who sold me my first HF rig explained to him it's just a small minority of folks on I wouldn't deal with that for some time until I upgraded. I can still hear one of them yelling "Herbie #1!" over and over while someone piled on him with a amplifier transmitting SSTV. Another frequency had a thing called the Gator Stakes where they had amps modded for way more than 1.5 kw shouting in the mike over and over. Earlier someone posted a pic of Riley and he did a great job of knocking that back to a reasonable level. I was amused to find them in the old newsgroups still having rake fights online until they passed away or got sober. Believe it or not, it's much better now and again as someone else says, spin the dial, there's plenty out there to do besides listening to the funny farm.