Image: ET phones home correctly by using good operating procedures (Click on image for larger view.)
The title question can be interpreted in two ways. No need for me to explain. I am sure that there are many South African Radio Amateurs that love the hobby and some started in the hobby while they were still kids. On occasion I called the hobby an obsession which is a bit over the top. But that is how I feel about the best and most versatile hobby in the World.
However ...... there are a few things that needs to be rectified or looked at, that is not in line with the Amateur Radio Code of Conduct or that transgress the Radio Act and or Radio Regulations. I on many occasions have said that I am not a "policeman" and has no authority to take any action to rectify any transgressions. I can however voice my dissatisfaction about a few transgressions as the amateur radio hobby is / should be a self regulating hobby without the need for the authorities to intervene.
The incidents / transgressions that I am going to mention here is really damaging the image of the hobby and I am sure that this is not what we want to observe and hear about amateur radio. Be as it may I need to get the following off my chest:
- Blatant transgression of call signs on the air - Have you heard the following: "1I good afternoon." 1I is not a call sign. The correct use of the call sign must be "ZS1I good afternoon". The abbreviation of a call sign is a transgression of the radio regulations.
- Another transgression is when an operator calls in as "Tobie from Put-Sonder-Water, good afternoon". Where is the call sign and who is Tobie ..... a pirate? Even if you know the voice and the person why does he not provide his call sign when he break into / join a conversation. At least everybody on the air will from the on-set know who Tobie is!
- The following example in my opinion is rude and I will not even try to join the conversation. The following happens on many bands. Right off the bat is HF. Two friends are chatting and a third and fourth wants to join but the two operators leave no gap for anybody to join. They just carry on talking. Yes I know about conditions etc. but this also happens on the VHF / UHF bands and repeaters. This is not in line with the Amateur Radio Code of Conduct.
- Since when is a cellphone call more important than an amateur radio conversation. Have your heard the following: "Just stand by I have a phone call." Half an hour later the receiver of the phone call returns and expect to chat further. This happens many times. Switch you phone off or do not join a conversation if you expect a call on the cellphone. Why can you not later return the cellphone call after you ended the QSO? I have been left in the cold on many occasions and do not "come back" when the "offender" returns. In my opinion this is out-rite rude conduct.
- "Kerchunking ..... Kerchunking!! Need I say anything more about kerchunking a repeater? What is so difficult to say "ZS1I testing / monitoring the 145.775 Mhz repeater"? On several occasions I have heard somebody responding to a Kerchunker, friendly reminding him to provide a call sign but not providing his own call sign on the air.
- Amateur Radio has a few musicians on the air as well. They love to play courtesy, sirens and other tones on the air. Sir / Madam your tones are a nuisance and serve no purpose at all. You can still use your DTMF tones by setting it up not to be heard on-air via a node etc. Nowadays there is no need to hear any tones on the air. There are other ways to do it correctly.
- CB slang and jargon!! I also started off in CB many years ago when CB radio just started to become popular. Please refrain from using CB slang or jargon in Amateur Radio. I hear many operators in amateur radio talking the talk of CB. If you want to use slang or jargon use your CB radio for that purpose.
- Another irritating practice is when a station is talking or busy to hand over to another station and someone makes a comment over a person or in between rounds without providing his call-sign. Why can this person not wait until it is his / her time (over) to speak. This practice in my eyes is causing deliberate interference on the air. Is this a practice that was used by rogue CB operators?
I have only mentioned a few irritating transgressions which also contravene the Amateur Radio Code of Conduct. I am sure that you can think and add more ugly "habits" that is not mentioned in this article.
Ask any older radio amateur that has been a radio amateur for many years and he or she will be able to confirm that this is not the way to operate an amateur radio station. Yes, some of the older operators are also at fault and I do not point finger to any generation in this regard.
If the above transgressions / ugly trends continues it will damage the image of amateur radio and also chase many away from this wonderful hobby which we cannot afford under any circumstances.
The South African Radio League Web Site provides value information on Ethics and Operating Procedure for the Radio-Amateur made available by the IARU, Click HERE to view.
Good operating procedures should and must always be our first priority in amateur radio otherwise ET will not be able to phone home! 👌😢
