Sanity check: Techs can operate anywhere a higher class operator is present (actually IN PERSON) to the ability of that higher class, BUT (the catch point) they have to sign <call>/<higher call> which may not fit in FT modes but does on phone/CW/RTTY/PSK. It should be noted in a logbook.
And of late the DXpditions are operating phone pretty much where they please near the bottoms of the bands which excludes US ops entirely; except those not paying attention to the ARRL band plan (it’s not cited for most bands by the FCC). Other entities have band plans too; worth noting most of the time. 73, Rick nk7i > On Oct 27, 2025, at 9:58 AM, Julia Tuttle via Elecraft > <[email protected]> wrote: > > I wonder if anyone has been able to use the distributed receiver networks > we already have (the Reverse Beacon Network, whatever backs aprs.fi, etc.) > to identify and contact some of these folks -- specifically, "techs > operating FT8 where they're only allowed CW" could be a 'simple' matter of > cross-referencing those spotted transmissions with ULS license class data. > > 73, > > Julie > >> On Mon, Oct 27, 2025, 12:34 Bob McGraw via Elecraft < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> I read the messages regarding the topic. There were many misguided >> thoughts and comments in my review of the messages as posted. >> >> Yes, if you operated LSB on 7.125 your signal was in the CW portion of >> the band. Even if one operated 3 kHz higher, 7.128 kHz, your sideband >> was likely into the CW portion of the band. And if one operated below >> 7.175 with a General Class license you were out of the General Class of >> the band allocation. >> >> The ARRL and the FCC have a written agreement regarding the monitoring >> of amateur frequencies. This is known as the ARRL Volunteer Monitor >> program. The members are volunteers who have attended and participated >> in formal training, both by video conferences and written materials. >> There is an administrator of this program at ARRL. On a monthly basis, >> and on an as needed basis ,there is a formal method whereby members of >> the VM program document and report infractions. These are reviewed by >> the ARRL VM administrator and assistants. Three things typically occur >> with the reports: (a) no action taken, (b) the offender is sent a >> letter from the ARRL VM administrator citing the offense, (c) the matter >> is referred to the FCC for action. >> >> From the other side of the fence, the FCC has in fact on several >> occasions asked the ARRL VM program to look for and document specific >> issues considered to be in violation. This is fact whereby selected >> hams are performing certain monitoring services for the FCC. There >> are specific and strict procedures being followed in all cases. >> >> This weekend, I personally identified and documented 12 different ham >> radio stations by call, being operated outside of their license >> privileges. These were reported to the ARRL VM program for review and >> any deemed actions. >> >> Just hope your operation and station call wasn't on my list. I'm not a >> bad guy, I'm just doing the job you have asked to be done. There is a >> program to do such. And it works. >> >> Here is a summary report of actual actions for July 2025 as published >> in QST. >> >> * Technician operators in Indiana, Colorado and Arizona were issued >> advisories concerning 20-meter FT-8 operation, a band on which >> Technicians have no privileges. >> >> * Technician operators in Kansas and California were issued advisories >> concerning 40-meter FT-8 operation, on 40-meters where Technicians only >> have CW privileges. >> >> * An operator in Georgia was issued and advisory concerning >> transmitting music on 75 meters, which is prohibited by Section >> 97.113(a)(4) of the FCC rules. >> >> * The monitoring hours reported for July 2025 were 1067 hours on HF >> frequencies and 1883 hours on VHF. >> >> Yes we can do better and we can do more. It takes time and manpower. >> There are many areas of the spectrum that needs attention. There are >> many areas which are seeing improvements in operator discipline. Just >> don't be one of those on the list. >> >> 73 >> >> Bob, K4TAX >> >> >>> On 10/27/2025 8:28 AM, [email protected] wrote: >>> Message: 2 >>> Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2025 19:12:35 +0000 (UTC) >>> From: Al Lorona<[email protected]> >>> To: Elecraft Reflector<[email protected]> >>> Subject: [Elecraft] [OT] Illegal contacts during the CQ WW Phone >>> Message-ID:<[email protected]> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 >>> >>> If I were the FCC, I would camp out on or near 7.125 MHz on Saturday >> during the CQ WW Phone contest and start logging the calls of all the US >> operators calling DX stations there. (If you call on that frequency on LSB, >> you're illegally transmitting out-of-band.) >>> Just between the 1st and 7th innings of the baseball game yesterday, I >> logged 30 stations who did exactly that: they all called IP9C on 7,125.5. >> I'm sure there were many more. >>> I have no idea whether the scoring committee disallows contacts made >> this way, or whether that's even checked. Certainly, those stations should >> not get credit for the illegal contacts. >>> W6LX said that. >>> Al? W6LX >> -- >> Patience please; Rome wasn't destroyed in a single day! >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[email protected] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to [email protected] > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
