When you turn on your 2M radio and tune it to 146.520 and transmit it
is now using public spectrum, move over, hand me you mic, I now have
the RIGHT to use your radio.
I think there is a premise problem here. I have never assumed that
because I place a repeater on the air, on a frequency pair, that I
have any expectation of exclusive right to those frequencies. Also
consider how much of our debate is actually part 97 and how much we
are debating long held best practice and "gentleman's agreement".
I don't think operating simplex on a repeater output is malicious
interference if it's not walking over the repeater transmitter. I
think if you want closed repeater access that you should use PL, or
better, DPL, or best, DTMF access (turn it on when you use it). I
think the number of times someone would operate simplex on a repeater
input as a necessity of band congestion and just happen to use the
same PL/DPL as the repeater is astronomical... unless the person were
just trying to cause trouble... oh wait, that would then be malicious
interference.
I have the view I do on this because I do not hold the premise that
because I have a coordinated repeater that I have the right to the
spectrum. And actually none of us have the RIGHT to use the spectrum.
We are granted the PRIVILEGE of using it by the government by
obtaining the proper class amateur radio license. Getting along, being
considerate, willing to compromise, and making and following our own
rules is a big part of why the government has been as good as it has
to Amateur radio. For example, there are no bandplans in part 97...
those are things we agreed to on our own. Maybe if there's such a
shortage of repeater frequencies and a huge pent up demand for them we
should consider changing our bandplans?
I know there are some areas of the country that have problems using
440 (I'm really sorry guys, I wish you didn't have those
restrictions). the amateur 440 band is 30MHz wide. A repeater takes 2
x 5kHz channels. Jesus people, what are we fighting about?
On Jul 26, 2009, at 8:14 AM, Dennis Zabawa wrote:
The point has been made that a closed repeater (actually any
repeater) is private property and others have no right to utilize
it. I would agree to that premise except for the fact that the
repeater utilizes PUBLIC spectrum.
The analogy would be: I have a large tent that I like to set up on
my property. If I take that same tent and permanently set it up in a
public park and, I keep others from entering my tent, I am using
PUBLIC property for my own, exclusive use. Would that set well with
most of you?
I have a closed repeater that has PUBLIC spectrum coordinated for
it. That has the effect of allocating that PUBLIC asset for my
exclusive use.
Why should a repeater be different than the tent?
--
Cort Buffington
H: +1-785-838-3034
M: +1-785-865-7206
