Official Observer Summary, January Edition

This month’s statistics reveal a total of 706 Official Observers.  During the month of January we received 16 recommendations for hams to begin the process to become OOs.  Two amateurs from Indiana, one each from Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, and Alabama passed the exam and became certified as Official Observers.

 

 

News on the Official Observer front for January.

 

First some good news:

 

Recently when the Rocky Mountain Area RV Service Net moved their meeting frequency to avoid foreign broadcasters, it was close to the lower band edge for General class operators on 40 meters.  Since a number of them routinely check in, an OO noticed some spilling over the band edge and informed his OOC.  The NFL OOC sent a friendly note to the Club Director, W8OI, who promptly responded that after contacting the net controllers that they would move higher to avoid this problem.  He went on to say the organization wants to operate properly, courteously and certainly within the rules.  Even though it is the responsibility of each operator to ensure they operate within their band privileges, it was good to hear of the cooperation by this net for all concerned.  We thanked W8OI for the consideration.

 

Several OOs have reported which at first seemed to be an unidentified mode on 40 meters in the CW portion of the band.  Further investigation revealed that it is WSPR http://wsprnet.org/drupal/ , http://www.g4ilo.com/wspr.html which appears to be gaining more use on 7040.  It originally began on 30 meters but is now being used on the other bands.  While officially the QRP calling frequency changed to 7030 some time ago, many still meet on 7040 and have begun to notice this.

 

No official FCC Amateur enforcement actions were noted in January but Laura is working on several projects.  There were a number of FCC letters sent regarding unlicensed operation in the commercial FM BC band and notices of unauthorized operation and interference to licensed radio stations.  http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/

 

3910 continues to draw lots of attention by the bad operating practices of a number of stations that meet there daily.  Jamming of nets, other stations and the playing music and the use of bad language are frequently reported and much documentation has been forwarded to the FCC.  As stated before, it is not necessary to send advisories to these stations as it is under investigation by the FCC.

 

An unidentified signal on 3925 heard in Arizona appeared to be a foreign broadcaster.

 

An eastern Pennsylvania OO reported a stuck transmitter sending dits on 7007.15 but it ceased operation before its source was located.

 

Several instances were reported of a whistler being on the Haiti emergency frequencies which were forwarded to the FCC.

 

Another report involved a Missouri station splattering over on the emergency net frequency causing them interference, it was  forwarded to the OOC.

 

Another incident of interference to Haiti emergency traffic involved a KB9 call sent in CW over and over, however the FCC reported that the call was being bootlegged.

 

Speaking of bootlegging, we received several more reports of stations working the bootlegged call of NL7R on 40 meter CW.  Please continue to send us reports along with signal strengths any additional info that may help pinpoint an area.

 

OOs in Eastern Massachusetts are investigating a case of repeater interference there.

 

Report of broad signals and bad language being used on 3810, regional OOs were asked to monitor.

 

A western Washington OO reported a cyclic buzzing type signal on 3550-3600 and was referred to our local Intruder Watch monitor.

 

Jamming type interference was reported to an Arkansas net, regional OOs were asked to monitor and collect information.

 

Several reports of a Mississippi station on PSK-31 with an excessively wide signal were received, an advisory was issued and at first the station defended his operation but with further correspondence he did detect some intermittent equipment problems.

 

This is more in the line of our Intruder Watch but if you hear a signal sounding like this on 40 meters let me know.  It is CODAR, a type of radar used for a number of different scientific studies especially water wave height and frequency along the coast.  http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/sound/7067-3pps.wav

 

At last report the business use of a local Missouri repeater has been resolved and the weather broadcasts on the Tennessee repeater are also being addressed.

 

Several complaints regarding a well known Michigan station that frequents 14275, 14272.5, and other nearby frequencies were received and forwarded to the FCC.

 

The Maine OOC is working on a case of commercial communications interfering with a local 2 meter repeater.

 

We continue to receive a number of reports of uncertified “CB” type equipment being offered for sale on eBay and other sites on the internet and also at the major truck stops across the nation.  A number of letters have gone out in the past to dealers and distributors as the FCC follows up on these reports.

 

We do appreciate each OO filling out the monthly report and sending it to their OOC and Section Manager who forwards a copy to us at headquarters.  We encourage the use of the online form that can be e-mailed.  http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/#fsd-23

 

As always, we thank you all for your time and efforts involved with the Official Observer program and we invite you to let us know of problems you hear on the air and possible resolutions through your regular monthly reports and e-mails.  Let us know of activities in your section dealing with on the air operation that you would like to see mentioned and recognized in the next summary.  We especially would like to invite OOCs to provide us with write ups concerning areas of amateur operation they feel would benefit other OOs across the nation.  Our training guide suggests that SM and/or OOCs hold a regular refresher course to ensure that their OOs’ skills and knowledge are up to date.  This would be one way to help fulfill that goal.

 

In the news:

The Haiti earthquake:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/14/11290/?nc=1

 

New league president:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/16/11292/?nc=1

 

Board meeting details:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/19/11294/?nc=1

 

Hams help in California:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/20/11296/?nc=1

 

Government stations on amateur bands during Haiti emergency:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/22/11303/?nc=1

 

New Dakota Division Vice Director:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/25/11307/?nc=1

 

FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Revise and Clarify Vanity Call Sign Rules Open for Comments: http://www.arrl.org/?artid=9407

 

This bears repeating, I would like to thank everyone involved with the Official Observer program including the individual OOs, OOCs and SMs.  We appreciate everyone’s time and efforts; you are the ones that make the program work everyday by monitoring the bands and either pointing out a problem area with an advisory or complimenting someone with a Good Operator report. 

 

73 till next month,

 

Chuck Skolaut, KØBOG

Field & Regulatory Correspondent

ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio

860 594 0239

cskolaut@arrl.org

 

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