I came away from the San Antonio meeting (8/1/2011) with the Texas VHF Society very disappointed. First off, based on the wide range of comments, complaints, etc from hams around town on the air and via e-mail I expected a much greater turn out, the turn out was a major disappointment. People if we do not stand up and count, we are going to lose a chunk of our simplex freq and it was CLEARLY JUST A STARTING POINT.
First off, the Texas VHF Society reps stated they are trusties of the band based on ruling by the FCC. Well if they are trusties then they represent ALL HAM RADIO OPERATORS, not the special interest groups in Houston, etc. In a case that impacts all of Texas Hams, I think it is inexcusable that you have to pay to vote on an issue that impacts us. On this issue, if you have a Ham lic then you should have a vote. A select group should not be able to run roughshod over thousands of ham radio operators.
I went to this meeting yesterday thinking they were looking for input from ham radio operators around the state and that a solid voice could help make a difference. That is not what the meeting was about, it was to tell us what they planned and basically that we needed to LIVE WITH IT.
Multiple things about this band plan concern me.
#1: I feel we have enough repeater space laid out now, first thing that needs to be done before they go and take away freq from simplex operators {which out number 2 to 1 repeater users in Texas} is clean house and get rid of all the paper repeaters. It is inexcusable to talk about taking space away from simplex users when you have trash out there. CLEAN YOUR HOUSE FIRST.
#2: They are giving a slice of spectrum for special interest user. This allows digital repeater operators to move ahead in line of analog repeater operators who have been waiting for spectrum to open up and put up a repeater. Frankly there is NO reason to give these special interest operators priority ahead of analog repeater users or simplex repeater users. WHILE NOT ILLEGAL, IT SHOULD BE CRIMINAL. And they laughed when it was suggested that Icom was pushing this agenda. Yet look at history and look at what is happening. A very small select group is being driving to priority over all others.
#3: WHAT TRULY SET ME OFF, was when it was expressed to them that there are huge numbers of simplex groups around the state and some of them fall into the range of freq that wish to be stolen for digital use, They looked us in the eye and stated. THEY CAN TURN THE BIG DIAL TO A NEW FREQ.
THAT SENT THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THEY DO NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF SIMPLEX USERS, THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THE HANDFUL WHO PAY THEM.
THE TEXAS VHF SOCIETY IN MY OPINION ONLY REPRESENTS A SELECT GROUP OF TEXAS HAM RADIO OPERATORS AND IF YOU DO NOT PAY THEM, THEY DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU OR YOUR OPINION.
THIS IS JUST A START IN FREQ GRAB AND ANYONE WHO ENJOYS HAM RADIO NEEDS TO STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK AGAINST THIS!
Use all of our resources…FCC, border state VHF Society and Hams, and spread the word.
The way this is happening, is wrong and we need to organize and work to stop and change the way things are run. THIS IS OUR HOBBY AND OUR FREQ NOT A SELECT FEW OF ELITIST.
The Armadillo group is the driving force behind this action to take simplex freq for D-STAR. The have a large club and are well organized. We need to combat it. We are linking up with simplex groups around the states and we are all trying to rally our memberships to vote this down.
The Armadillo group is the group who are spear heading this attack upon our simplex freq……It is amazing how arrogant they are.
#1: They run CLOSED REPEATERS. Only members can use them, and they want to take away our freq and not even permit others to use them.
#2: To be a member you have to pay $105 per year membership and they review you and do a back ground check to see if they want you as a member
We need to fight these people who are attacking our band plan and think the 2 meter band exist solely for their amusement and no one else matters. As we were told if they want a repeater on a freq we are using, we can turn the dial.
We need pure numbers, nothing else is going to stop this band plan change. PLEASE MAKE THE EFFORT TO GO TO AUSTIN SUMMER FEST THIS WEEKEND AND VOTE AGAINST THIS BAND PLAN CHANGE.
IT IS VITAL and will take all of us. Other clubs rally your members….We have the numbers, we just have to make the effort.
Greg Lewis/N5XO
n5xo@satx.rr.com
April 5th, 2012 at 10:19 PM
As with all political overlords, it is about money, power and position. The whole country is run by thieves at every level.
As with all things to be fought, the boys at the FCC can at least have the voice of licensed hams in opposition on record and for sure, some newspaper reporters with a bit of skill for investigation should be contacted to write about this. State Legislators, Senators and Congressmen need to be summoned to support the people who provide emergency communications in times of all manner of disaster. Why have I never seen diddly in print or on TV about any of this? IT WILL GET BURIED IF NO ONE CARES ENOUGH THAT IT SHOULDN’T.
Who in Texas is organized to fight and defeat this? ANY SYMPATHETIC HAM LAWYERS that would like to lead a charge?
What is next?