From: chuck@eng.umd.edu (Chuck Harris - WA3UQV)
Subject: Re: 430mhz band under th
Date: Sun, 03 Jan 93 18:24:01 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, Department of Electrical Engineering

In article <C0A7J9.7tL@NeoSoft.com> jreese@NeoSoft.com (Jim Reese) writes:
>In article <1993Jan02.200308.16355@eng.umd.edu> chuck@eng.umd.edu (Chuck Harris - WA3UQV) writes:
>>If you want to park your $10K machine on a public frequency, then you should
>>expect it to be used as a public utility.  If you are not expecting that,
>>then you should move out of the way so that others can use the frequency.
>
>Think of it in these terms...  The public highway system is available to
>anyone who has a drivers license.  If you choose to ride the city bus, you 
>can do this for 75 cents and get to your destination.  If I choose to buy
>a Porsche, I spend $30,000 and get to my destination.  We are both using the
>same public road.  
>
>Does your right to drive on a public road give you the right to use my Porsche
>anytime you want, for free, just because you have a drivers license?  No it
>doesn't.

You must have had a very hard time with the SAT's ;-).  A more appropriate
comparison would be to compare the highway to the repeater.  The highway
is a conduit for cars that is permenantly occupying "public lands",
because there is benefit to the public for it to do so.  A repeater is a
conduit for communications that is permenantly occupying a "public frequency",
because there is a benefit to the public for it to do so.  Both highways and
repeaters must be constructed at great expense to someone.  The most
significant point where the analogy differs is that the public mandates that
the highway must always exist and be in operating condition, there is no such
requirement for your repeater.

My drivers license allows me to drive on any highway, and my ham license 
allows me to transmit on any unoccupied ham frequency (within my class).
If you don't want to have your repeater repeat my transmission, the FCC says
that it is your right to turn your repeater off...Period!

> ...  More inappropriate associations deleted ...

>>This "I own the frequency" crap IS the largest problem with Ham radio today.
>>Nothing compels you to put up a repeater. 
>
>This is a HOBBY, remember?  We put repeaters on because it's FUN.  Some of my
>systems were intended to be public utilities, some weren't. 

That it is fun, is why you shouldn't be overly concerned if some of the
unwashed masses use your repeater from time to time.  After all, they are
letting you put your repeater on THEIR frequencies.

> ...
>Great act of charity???  Excuse me?  This is a hobby.  I do it for FUN... MY

It is not surprising to me that you might have trouble relating the concept of
charity to the act of letting others use your repeater without compensating
you materially.

>fun, not everyone else's.  I enjoy building repeaters, but each is built
>to serve a specific function.  Some are intended for everyone, some are 
>intended for persons interested in specific groups in Ham Radio...like those
>interested in linking and remote bases.  I don't have a particular interest
>in HF nets, but you don't hear me bitching about how they are wasting the
>public airwaves.

The HF nets don't occupy a given frequency 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
your repeater does.  That makes your comparison somewhat invalid.  Secondly,
we are both interested parties when it comes to repeaters.  You have disavowed
having an interest in HF nets, by your above statement.  Your lack of
desire to "bitch" about HF nets is really not germane to the discussion.

We are all pleased that you are having fun.  I just think it is inappropriate
for your method of having fun to impact heavily on the fun of others.

>
>There's room for everyone...get a grip.

I've got a very good one, how about you?

73,

Chuck Harris - WA3UQV
chuck@eng.umd.edu
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc