Look what popped up on YouTube today. Seems like Josh has a pretty level-headed approach.
Ham Radio YouTuber on the Emcomm Myth
- Thread starter AK9R
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
He made some pretty good sense.
dickie757
Wired
A fresh Moto technician at work asked what we, hams, do during emergencies. I countered the question with, what do we as employees here at Wireless Radio do during emergencies? He says, bring the customers back up. I says, we do the same thing, but on our, hams, freqs, not thiers. Either thier comms are destroyed or clogged up, so we can create a path with our equipment and training. He immediately got it, so whats so hard to understand?
Not a dig at the video, but a general, why is it so hard to understand, Stay in your lane? I have said this before, and I stand by it....a WFO Baofeng will make an operator that wants to be good, better. It teaches them that our freqs are a small part of what the radio can transmit, but none of the other freqs matter, except to stay away. And, if they understand that, they will fully grasp bandwidth of a channel, so there is more to it than just the center freq. And, they might get curious about harmonics, fundamentals, spurious emissions, birdies, etc. Stuff we experienced operators have learned either from a book or running test gear or trying to solve a problem.
There are operators, there are appliance button pushers, there are very well intentioned genuinely good people that want to help but dont know a groundplane from an airplane, there are the wanna-bes, and there are malicious crackers.
I think the vid explains info that the good folks and the wanna-bes need to hear. The rest either know better, dont dare to go outside their comfort level, or dont care.
FYI, I am seriously considering becoming my city's EC. I have been asked to fill the role, so I watch vids like this to be able to weed out and categorize all the types I mentioned.
Not a dig at the video, but a general, why is it so hard to understand, Stay in your lane? I have said this before, and I stand by it....a WFO Baofeng will make an operator that wants to be good, better. It teaches them that our freqs are a small part of what the radio can transmit, but none of the other freqs matter, except to stay away. And, if they understand that, they will fully grasp bandwidth of a channel, so there is more to it than just the center freq. And, they might get curious about harmonics, fundamentals, spurious emissions, birdies, etc. Stuff we experienced operators have learned either from a book or running test gear or trying to solve a problem.
There are operators, there are appliance button pushers, there are very well intentioned genuinely good people that want to help but dont know a groundplane from an airplane, there are the wanna-bes, and there are malicious crackers.
I think the vid explains info that the good folks and the wanna-bes need to hear. The rest either know better, dont dare to go outside their comfort level, or dont care.
FYI, I am seriously considering becoming my city's EC. I have been asked to fill the role, so I watch vids like this to be able to weed out and categorize all the types I mentioned.
Well done video and kudos to him for doing this. Too add to his posting of Part 97 rules, this umbrella rule covers all of the FCC Rule Parts. If you don't have a license or no license for other rule parts, this should clarify things.
(a) General rule. Stations in the Wireless Radio Services must be used and operated only in accordance with the rules applicable to their particular service as set forth in this title and with a valid authorization granted by the Commission under the provisions of this part, except as specified in paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) Restrictions. The holding of an authorization does not create any rights beyond the terms, conditions and period specified in the authorization. Authorizations may be granted upon proper application, provided that the Commission finds that the applicant is qualified in regard to citizenship, character, financial, technical and other criteria, and that the public interest, convenience and necessity will be served. See §§ 301, 308, and 309, 310 of this chapter.
§ 1.903 Authorization required.
(a) General rule. Stations in the Wireless Radio Services must be used and operated only in accordance with the rules applicable to their particular service as set forth in this title and with a valid authorization granted by the Commission under the provisions of this part, except as specified in paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) Restrictions. The holding of an authorization does not create any rights beyond the terms, conditions and period specified in the authorization. Authorizations may be granted upon proper application, provided that the Commission finds that the applicant is qualified in regard to citizenship, character, financial, technical and other criteria, and that the public interest, convenience and necessity will be served. See §§ 301, 308, and 309, 310 of this chapter.
Dickie757, you've summarized it perfectly.
On an unrelated note, I think he's a regular Youtube video creator. I 'm pretty sure I've also seen him on some History Channel program discussing radio transmissions of some sort. Can't remember the details of the program though.
I posted the video in the hopes that it would spark some discussion about amateur radio's role in providing communications in an "emergency". I do recognize that there is a segment of the amateur radio community who may have the wrong idea about emcomm and may take their role in emcomm a little too far. I think open discussion is a good thing. But, I hope we can talk about the people who fit those descriptions in a manner that isn't insulting or pejorative.
Much depends on the term "emergency" and how people define it and apply it to the world and themselves.
A statistically significant portion of American society would rather video someone in a life threatening emergency to promote themselves on social media than to render aid. Of course, if it happened to them and they survived, they'd be looking for legal redress and a check.
A statistically significant portion of American society would rather video someone in a life threatening emergency to promote themselves on social media than to render aid. Of course, if it happened to them and they survived, they'd be looking for legal redress and a check.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I agree, the "emergency" thing isn't well defined enough for some to understand. As he pointed out in the video, there are those that go looking for an emergency so they can finally use their radios. That's the whacker syndrome that was specifically mentioned in the video, and probably what we're really talking about.
I think the role of amateur radio depends on the location and the communications infrastructure. Around me, public safety communications infrastructure is well built and there is a whole lot of redundancy. I've had my ham ticket since the late 1980's, and that's covered a lot disasters. Locally, amateur radio hasn't been the savior that some want to portray. Not saying amateur radio doesn't have a role to play, but it's not emergency lights and ham radio operators riding in police cars, fire trucks and ambulances.
The agency I work for has multiband radios, lots of access to radio systems (city/county/state)
I think he failed to point out that the part 97 rules that get quoted are just that, Part 97. Part 97 only applies on Part 97 frequencies. As soon as someone takes their radio off part 97 frequencies, the amateur radio rules no longer apply and the radio service they are transmitting on is the rules that apply.
On the flip side, if I was the guy there bleeding out, I would hope someone would do whatever it took to get me some help. Before the boofwang radios started flying, I'd hope that help would consist of direct pressure/tourniquet.
Which leads me to my other stray thought...
I wish if hams really wanted to help in these sorts of situations, they'd have some more skills than just being able to tell me what the color code is for a 47KΩ resistor. Multidiscipline is the term that comes to mind….
Unfortunately, you are correct on the nature of emergencies and how many respond. Josh(?), the one who narrated the video used a good example of an unlicensed person coming across a downed first responder and using the responder's radio. Clearly an emergency and wise use of the responder's radio especially if no other forms of communication are available. A ham or GMRS operator programming the local PD, FD, NIFOG or equivalent freqs into their radios with the "hopes" that some "justifiable" event might occur to allow the to transmit is nonsense. Promoting this idea has to stop. While there have certainly been legitimate circumstances where "EMCOMM" serves a valid purpose, I things tose circumstances occur less often. There was a time, in some of our lifetimes where radios may not even have been present in some first responder vehicles. That is really of thing of the past. The rest of the world's technology has caught up to and in most instances surpassed that which existings among the ham radio crowd.
Not only is it nonsense, it's also illegal in many rule parts including the one I posted above.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
A couple of items to consider on this subject...
The FCC is exceedingly clear (in my opinion) on this "emergency communications/ham radio/out of band thing"
60 meters is shared with federal users and the ability to interoperate as needed without a ham going outside their allocations.
The "Alaska Emergency" (97.401) frequency is set up to allow interop, and specifically mentioned in Part 97 rules.
If the FCC specifically wanted hams to have access to other emergency type frequencies outside the amateur radio bands, they could have easily added it to existing rules (60 meters/Alaska Emergency), but they have not. I doubt that is an accidental omission.
2.405 specifically talks about using radios "in a manner other than that specified in the instrument of authorization". Amateur radio is specifically mentioned as NOT covered by this rule:
And for hams that don't understand the rules, it would be useful for them to read through something other than -just- part 97. Rules part 2 and 15 apply here, also...
Part 90 has the thing that these hams -think- they have:
But, again, I'd hope if I was the injured party, someone would get me help PDQ. Hopefully someone is better equipped than just owning a CCR….
The FCC is exceedingly clear (in my opinion) on this "emergency communications/ham radio/out of band thing"
60 meters is shared with federal users and the ability to interoperate as needed without a ham going outside their allocations.
The "Alaska Emergency" (97.401) frequency is set up to allow interop, and specifically mentioned in Part 97 rules.
If the FCC specifically wanted hams to have access to other emergency type frequencies outside the amateur radio bands, they could have easily added it to existing rules (60 meters/Alaska Emergency), but they have not. I doubt that is an accidental omission.
2.405 specifically talks about using radios "in a manner other than that specified in the instrument of authorization". Amateur radio is specifically mentioned as NOT covered by this rule:
The licensee of any station (except amateur, standard broadcast, FM broadcast, noncommercial educational FM broadcast, or television broadcast) may, during a period of emergency in which normal communication facilities are disrupted as a result of hurricane, flood, earthquake, or similar disaster, utilize such station for emergency communication service in communicating in a manner other than that specified in the instrument of authorization...
Funny how again, the FCC has specifically not permitted amateur radio to have this permission.And for hams that don't understand the rules, it would be useful for them to read through something other than -just- part 97. Rules part 2 and 15 apply here, also...
Part 90 has the thing that these hams -think- they have:
90.407 Emergency Communications.
The licensee of any station authorized under this part may, during a period of emergency in which the normal communication facilities are disrupted as a result of hurricane, flood, earthquake or similar disaster, utilize such station for emergency communications in a manner other than that specified in the station authorization or in the rules and regulations governing the operation of such stations. The Commission may at any time order the discontinuance of such special use of the authorized facilities.
Not trying to beat a dead horse here, as I know most responsible hams know this. It's the few that like to go way overboard with the whacker tendencies that make this a problem. But, again, I'd hope if I was the injured party, someone would get me help PDQ. Hopefully someone is better equipped than just owning a CCR….
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I agree with what I think that graphic is trying to say ("Call 911 on your cell phone") but if you really look at the pictures it seems to show what is sadly The Thing nowadays: "I'll record this on my phone so I can upload it to social media. I'm sure someone else has called 911."
Disagree with me if you will, but those all show someone holding up their phone like they are taking a picture (or video), not to their ear like they are making a phone call. Oh but wait! I forgot that "kids nowadays" use their phones as everything BUT a phone.
While I could opine on drdispatch's attached graphic at length, I'll try to stay on point. What I find most offputting from some in the EMCOMM crowd is the desire to insert themselves in an already bad situation with the primary intent of getting to "play radio". Showing up to help is great if you're willing to do so. But, help where it's needed even if it DOESN'T include radio stuff. Yeah, I get that COMM is in the name but the attititude further promotes the whacker persona that then spreads and puts the rest of the ham community in a bad light. While many enjoy using their radios,(hence the hobby) in the end, it's really just a tool to help facilitate another goal. (This is the EM part of EMCOMM)
This is the small, but incredibly important, detail that everyone forgets about.
Hammies can use any Part 97 frequency available to them in a bonafide emergency, not any frequency anywhere that can be hand-jammed into a Boofwang.
Words mean things, and words/phrases in rules mean things too...an oft-forgotten concept.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Integrity means something, too. Unfortunately there are those that never "get it". Too many assume that the rules never apply to them, but magically apply to everyone else.
Wanna piss off one of these "when all else fails" hams? Suggest that public safety users can access ham frequencies whenever they want. Stand by for howling, gnashing of teeth and claims of "end of the hobby!!!".
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Yeah, they can just whip out their bootlegged copy of CPS, stolen/forged trunking system keys, cloned ID and talkgroups into their Ebay sourced APX/XTS and make CopTalk™ on their local AHJs trunked radio network and call it in! What a valuable skill set to have "when all else fails", then parade round town in their Ford PI with ARES license plate....could not resist!
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I'm starting to wonder if you are secret closeted whacker… Your first name isn't Jeremy, is it?
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Let's be completely honest: the promotion of the "emergency communications" aspect of the amateur radio service is often taken completely out of context by some individuals and organizations and becomes distorted to the point where those feel they have some authority. The FCC's basis and purpose is pretty clear: ham radio is a non-commercial radio service for experimentation in all things radio, a place to share such information internationally, and third (and least), to provide a trained pool of operators who's skill sets can be called upon if needed to assist.
These skill sets are relative to restorative activities of communications infrastructure. In today's parlance, this means one should have formidable skills, knowledge and training and be willing to assist if requested, by an AHJ. Nowhere does this imply emergency response authority, badges, flashing emergency lights, or the exclusive use of all radio spectrum carte blanche from DC to daylight, taking over a PSAP/ECC, or responding to wildfires.
These skill sets are relative to restorative activities of communications infrastructure. In today's parlance, this means one should have formidable skills, knowledge and training and be willing to assist if requested, by an AHJ. Nowhere does this imply emergency response authority, badges, flashing emergency lights, or the exclusive use of all radio spectrum carte blanche from DC to daylight, taking over a PSAP/ECC, or responding to wildfires.
