The chicken banders were running wild on frequency Alpha Hotel today. It really ticks me off that people have no respect anymore and will happily steal frequencies because they think they have "spay-shul rah'ts" to tawk on them thar channels thar, gre't day 'live, shore thang thar, mercy sakes thar--gotcha ears on thar, 10 mercy thar? >:( Any stations around Nashville, TN please see if you can monitor this activity and turn these clowns into AF Frequency Mgt. I *think* they were were in the Nashville, Tn area going by chicken band names "Yard Dog" and Slipshooter (?).
(Sorry, I am ranting, but this really makes me want to slap the (censored) out of these ignoramus'es)
Jerry
If they were on CAP frequencies, they you have the authority to come on and tell them that they cannot operate. Then you have to fill out a radio discrepancy and submit it. Fun Fun.
Make sure to get their name and phone number when you tell the to stop! ;D
But the *really * kewl thing is we have beaucoup DF gear.. Need to mod a bit for VHF or HF, but the techniques are the same.
Time for a little fox hunt. Nevermind the phone call: A small nail pushed into their coax does wonders for their finals.
73,
K1NIN
Quote from: Jerry on May 29, 2006, 01:39:09 AM
The chicken banders were running wild on frequency Alpha Hotel today. It really ticks me off that people have no respect anymore and will happily steal frequencies because they think they have "spay-shul rah'ts" to tawk on them thar channels thar, gre't day 'live, shore thang thar, mercy sakes thar--gotcha ears on thar, 10 mercy thar? >:( Any stations around Nashville, TN please see if you can monitor this activity and turn these clowns into AF Frequency Mgt. I *think* they were were in the Nashville, Tn area going by chicken band names "Yard Dog" and Slipshooter (?).
(Sorry, I am ranting, but this really makes me want to slap the (censored) out of these ignoramus'es)
Jerry
I heard them starting while I was doing O flights about 10 NW of Murfreesboro the other day, gave them a quick "This is a US Government frequency, please identify yourself" and they hushed right up. Honestly, they sound like truckers when they're talking. If they ever transmit long enough and I'm in the air, I'm gonna try and wing null the signal and track them.
I feel your pain :)
Considering that someone has issued "other agencies" our frequencies before deciding what ours will become means that "interference" will become a bit more common in certain areas. Fun!
Imagine that conversation.
"Station transmitting, this is a US Government frequency, please identify yourself"
"Station transmitting, you're wrong, this is a State EMA frequency, please identify yourself"
it could go on forever!
After I re-read this thread, I got to thinking. Would the Candy Bander's need an FCC license to be operating in the 144-148 range?
FYI, our 11 meter band frequency is a stock channel in AUS and NZ CB radios, and is commonly available to anyone who buys an "export" radio. ( No, you can't use one, they only cost 100 dollars are are not NTIA approved or approvable!) I have occasionally copied voice traffic on this frequency which I believe to have originated in the Pacific Rim and Mexico! The frequency has a lot of cool properties of both FM VHF and AM HF, but is under utilized. I would love to kidnap it for APRS traffic!
Major Lord
Quote from: 1Lt on June 07, 2007, 05:46:41 PM
If they were on CAP frequencies, they you have the authority to come on and tell them that they cannot operate. Then you have to fill out a radio discrepancy and submit it. Fun Fun.
If they're illegally operating on a reserved frequency, the FCC would be more than happy to drop by and ask for their eqipment and a small donation beginning at $10,000
Does the FCC have jurisdiction over radios illegally operated on NTIA regulated frequencies? If either case, it would be a "public offense" within the common law meaning, and they could be arrested.
Major Lord
Quote from: 1Lt on August 24, 2007, 04:24:17 PM
After I re-read this thread, I got to thinking. Would the Candy Bander's need an FCC license to be operating in the 144-148 range?
They would need an amateur radio license to operate in the 144-148 MHz (amateur radio 2m) band. CB equipment cannot be modified to operate up there -- CB in North America operates in the 11m band from 26.965 to 27.405 MHz. It's possible for a CB radio to be modified to operate in the 10m amateur radio band (28-29 MHz), but it takes some doing and is usually only possible in the older models that lend themselves to that sort of thing. (Newer radios of all types that I've seen seem to be using custom chips and such that make modification nearly impossible.)
I've been away from CAP for a long time, thinking about going back in after all the dust-up in NHQ is over with, so I don't know what the Alpha Hotel frequency is. If you're talking about the 11m frequency, what some of these idiots are doing is what they call "freebanding" -- usually takes place in another area of the HF spectrum, but sometimes they slide around wherever the mood takes them. They go where they think nobody else is operating, and just take up residence there. Once they get themselves established, it's kind of hard to get rid of them, so it's important to jump on 'em every time you hear them on your assigned frequencies.
If, on the other hand, there's just been an administrative foul-up where someone was assigned a frequency they shouldn't have been given, it's no fault of theirs so a little more diplomacy is called for, but these "good ol' boys" don't qualify and need to be chased off. If you can get a good DF on one, let him know you're on to him and he'll likely move elsewhere.
How would you track them? Obviously, L-Pers dont work on that freq so can you just hook a scanner up to some DF sticks and go by audio?
All you need is a simple Yagi directional antenna, you can find instructions on how to build them all over the web. There are some sites that have free software that will tell you how long to make the elements and how far apart to space them...
The driven element on an 11 Meter Yagi-Uda antenna alone would be 15 feet long, and to have enough elements to make it practical for direction finding, it would need to be 30 feet long or more. You would be far better off with a tuned loop-stick antenna for tracking HF transmitters. It is also easier to give the CB operators a beating with your hand-held gear, but I suppose you could hang them from your Yagi if you were motivated...
Major Lord
get in touch with a local ham radio club. most of them just love shutting down chicken banders operating outside the 11 meter band
Quote from: NIN on June 08, 2007, 03:48:24 PM
A small nail pushed into their coax does wonders for their finals.
Or run over his coax with a lawn mower like I did to mine last night ... EEEKKKK
5 separate runs to 5 antennas , whats the chance the one I didnt move and
severed was to the main station .... uh huh ... thats the one ! (http://www.k3bm.com/photos/baby.gif)
I gotta get around and bury this stuff !
Quote from: Major Lord on August 25, 2007, 12:01:45 AM
Does the FCC have jurisdiction over radios illegally operated on NTIA regulated frequencies? If either case, it would be a "public offense" within the common law meaning, and they could be arrested.
Major Lord
Yes, the FCC has jurisdiction over unlicensed transmitters, regardless of what frequency they transmit on. You could, of course, also run afoul of State/Federal laws (if any) regarding interfering with police/military/etc. Many States have these laws, don't know about Federal.
Quote from: Al Sayre on September 09, 2007, 11:25:44 AM
All you need is a simple Yagi directional antenna, you can find instructions on how to build them all over the web. There are some sites that have free software that will tell you how long to make the elements and how far apart to space them...
Or you use a ham radio with a decent S-meter and go for the strong signal, then use a handheld CB and body null until you find the source. Much harder if they are mobile/not talking much, but the job can be done with the right circumstances and no special equipment.
Not sure how we'd interface with the FCC to request their assistance - through the Wing/DC?
I'd either inform the FCC directly or go through ARRL
Quote from: JoeTomasone on May 25, 2008, 03:34:14 PM
Not sure how we'd interface with the FCC to request their assistance - through the Wing/DC?
That would be the first step. The Wing DC should know what to do. If not, he/she will take it to the next level.