50MHZ PROBLEMS IN THE UK.

JUNE 98
This is so serious, I feel it should have a page of it's own. What ever I write will upset someone. So what are the problems in the UK. The use of frequencies from 50.090 to 50.130, and who can use them and who cannot.
First I will start with the frequency 090 to 109, as most of us know 090 to 100 is cw only, lately a few stations do not like the cw part of the band, because of this they have move it to, 090 to 110, this is not offical, and has no backing from the RA or RSGB. But to inforce this a small group of stations jam or send morse over stations useing phone from 100 to 109. So this causes many problems.
Next is the use of the DX window, the use of this is only questioned when a station want to be greedy and have more band to themselves. It is in no dobt the dx window, as there is not that much dx in the UK it is also used for working the EU and DX, there has never been a problem untill this year, and this has been led by one station.
By far the use of 50.110 is the biggest problem. In the UK we have two camps thous who think it is for calling dx and another that thinks it is for monitoring dx and never calling. I have read on one homepage that the station has never worked a new country on 110, as I live less than two miles from this station my I say he is talking rubbish. As most of his dx is worked on 110. I think most stations that want to call for dx, when they think it might be around, see a few station that sit on 110 all day, as I have said most of there work is on 110. Now nobody can complain about stations monitoring. But when they do the things they tell other not to do, then their reasons for stopping others runs thin. What is being said is that enywhere in the world can call dx, but in the UK you will be jammed or abused if you do call. I in no way would say it is right to abuse the right to call dx. But ever less would I back the thugs that act as if they own 110 and use it for their private use.
Alas the same station on his site talks about working a pill up, and how to do it, just rst and locator. Which is fine, but to listen to this guy give his rst,loc,name,talk about what he has been doing. From a 30sec qso, his self importance has made it a four minute qso. This does not take into practice his calling over other stations, he says,call once, I listened the other day to hear him call six times at the start, three in the middle of the qso and still calling at the windup. I would be first to agree with his page but not his double standards.
Now you might find this is a funny page to have. As the hobby is moving into the future, we must make a decision on what standards we want in the hobby. Do we want or need to these stations in the hobby, who are just out for themselves. Many depend on the silence of others to get away with bullying and double standards. If we are going to have no calling on 110 then that means all of us. If we are going to just give the rst and loc in a pileup then that means all of us. If these stations do not like 50.090 to 100 for cw only and want 100 to 110 cw only, then let phone be used on the lower frequency. Or do as it says in the bandplan cw and ssb.
There are not to many problems in the UK on six, but alas all the problem in my area stem from four or five stations, all led by one. Yes we all like to work dx, but most of us, do not change the bandplan, or go out of our ways to cause problems for stations that work within the bandplan as it is put out by the RSGB. I often hear about the spirit of hamradio, I do not think this spirit is jamming or trying to grab large parts of the band for the use of a few.
JULY 98
This week the main debate was about the packet cluster, and the lack of spots from the EU and US. A few thought we should have more spots and be able to talk to other countries.From my mail many thought they did not trust the stations in favour of the spots. All thought that thou it was put out a something for all, that they were being used, the only stations to gain would be the stations that had net working around the world. Many seemed to think that to much dx info is sat upon an only used for the few. Many thought if you were part of this click you would do well, other than it was a waist of time.As for talk, they had seen a few stations use HF to cause mischief for stations. They felt that one or two of these stations that want talk would abuse the system to cause problems. One felt that one used his position in his club, to cause problems, And talk would just add more weapons for him to abuse others with.
As for myself, I was on the side of more dx spots, but as for talk I can see some of the point, as there are without dobt stations that act in an aggressive way, and spread the poison to others.
Over hearing one station complaining about some stations calling the same dx station every time are about. I feel he has a point. My question is why do some stations want to work the same DX every day. I can think of one or two that have worked the same DX for seven days running. After working dx should we not let others have a go, let the qrp stations make contact.I feel there are three reasons for acting this way.
1/ just to show they have more power
2/ they are on an ego trip
3/ this make them feel they have power over other
It is sad to think that all some stations have in life, is the need to feel important.
I listened to the station that complained about not being able to work dx because of other stations. Alas when he found he could not work dx, he would then call cq on the frequency to stop others useing it or working dx. If he found a station working many station, he would then jam the frequency to get them to move, so he could then call on that frequency.
What can you say. Listening to two local stations,trying to work dx.Both are A licence holders, been in the hobby for many years. It became plain they did not like each other. One with no manners , the other with a large Ego, both were not going to be out called by the other.One would call and the other would follow, Yes they called 25 times each, over the top of three QSO's none stop, stopped for one qso and start again. These silly old sods are the same stations that police the band and tell others where and when to work. The one with bad manners could not care how he made a contact, the other had worked the station before, but wanted to beat the other station to making contact, He did not need the dx, but his ego did. 20 minutes of mayhem by two silly old sods.At least ten stations asked them not to keep calling.
Alas we still have one jammer on six, South west of my QTH, 5/9 sig, not a real problem, just a pain in the but. What makes a station want to sit all day and jam other. I am more than sure it is a mental problem.
There was many comment about the use of 110 and working dx. Most about G3KOX working the EU on 50.110 all the time when he was in Cyprus. Most felt that Cyprus is still in the EU, so other stations in the EU should not be worked on 110. Others complained about the way he called (ie) KOX as there is a GOKOX some thought it would have been better to use 5B4/G3KOX. As a station that does not use 50.110 I am not surprized There have been many who do not believe in other stations useing 50.110, useing 50.110 to call and work the EU? The place to get the facts. More soon
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