Control
Pursuant to the “Technical Requirements” and the “Electronic Communications Act” (ELC), the monitoring of amateur radio activities on the air is carried out by the CRC, and the establishment of violations and the imposition of penalties are carried out in accordance with the rules of the CEL.
In order to carry out the control, the radio amateur is obliged to provide assistance to the authorized employees of the KRS in the performance of their functions and the rights given to them according to the Law of the European Union.
But let’s not make such assumptions.
Self-control
As explained above, the fact that we all (we are several hundred thousand radio amateurs worldwide) practice our hobby in the same field, the airwaves, sometimes inevitably leads to conflicts. How we deal with them is the question!
Our behavior on the ranges should be based on common sense, good manners and mutual respect.
Rule number one: never do or say anything you wouldn’t want your closest friends or anyone else in the world to know.
A problem is that broadcasting on the radio can be anonymous. A person broadcasting maliciously without identification is not worthy of being a radio amateur.
Never even think of suppressing (muting) another station’s transmission. Because silencing can be done anonymously, it is the surest sign of cowardice and meanness.
There is simply no excuse for such behavior, even if you think the station deserves to be silenced.
Perhaps the situation is such that, in your opinion, a correction is necessary? Even if that is completely true, think twice about what the benefit will be to our hobby, your hobby, your reputation before you start doing or saying anything.
Don’t start arguments on air. Chances are others will join in and at some point what started as a more or less friendly discussion will degenerate. Keep the airwaves clear of personal conflicts. Make your case over the phone, the Internet, or face-to-face.
The “cops” (the rangers)
The “cops” are self-appointed and self-defined as those who feel it necessary to correct others when they make a mistake on the air or in the clusters.
Sometimes it really is necessary to tell a persistent troublemaker (for example, one who is constantly calling on a DX station frequency) that he is causing trouble. But there are ways to tell him…
Time after time, we find that the meddling “cops” create far more of a mess than the station they seek to fix.
Types of Cops
Most “cops” mean well and don’t use harsh language. They remain polite and are often happy with their efforts to keep the DX station frequency clear.
Some “cops” also mean well but use bad language and manners; they fail to achieve their goal of keeping the frequency clean. These “cops” create chaos rather than peace.
The third category includes those who use foul language with the intention of causing disorder. Their bad language and bad manners attract comments from their fellow “cops” with the end result being total mayhem!
Do not react if you come across some of these self-styled “cops” in action. Keep your distance and ignore them completely. It’s the only way to get them to stop.
Why do cops exist?
“Cops” most often appear on the frequency of a rare DX station or DX-pedition, usually when that station is operating on scattered frequencies. The trigger that causes them to appear is when an operator forgets to activate the spread function on his transceiver and starts calling the DX station on the frequency it is transmitting on. This is when the “cops” start shooting (yelling).
Do you really want to be a “cop” too?
When you hear someone make a gross and repetitive mistake, remember that you too have made mistakes in the past, right? Be tolerant and forgiving!
If you really feel the need to say something (to correct a repeated mistake), say it in a friendly and positive way, without insults or condescension. If ON9XYZ keeps mistransmitting on the wrong frequency, say: “9XYZ, up please”, but not “up, idiot”. Insult will not make the remark more valuable. It will only focus our attention on the person who allows it.
Note that your intervention may cause more disruption than the error you are trying to correct!
Before playing cop, think twice about how your action will have a positive effect. If you still feel the need to do so, click your tongue three times before proceeding.
Always be kind and constructive.
If you feel you need to tell someone that they are broadcasting on the wrong frequency, always use at least part of their initials. Do others need to understand that your message is not directed at them? Say “9XYZ, up, please”, not just “up, please”, nor “up, up, up”.
If you happen to be station 9XYZ, don’t feel all that annoying, to err is human, but don’t start apologizing, you’ll only cause more QRM.
Remember that any “cop” pretending to be a “cop” is often doing something illegal: have you heard of all rangers identifying themselves as required?
Another reasoning: one good policeman should be blessed, two are already a crowd.
How to behave during a police parade?
If you’re a DXer, you’ll quickly learn that you’ll see things through more easily if you don’t react to the “cops” at all. Try to turn something negative into a positive. Keep listening (there’s the magic word again) to the DX station over the noise and in many cases you’ll be able to work out the DX while the “cops” cheer.
The Good Sinners
A certain number of hams simply do not know the proper way to operate the station under such circumstances. It’s not that they don’t want to be good operators, they just don’t know how. They have to study this work blindly with ups and downs. The reason is that no one has ever taught them. They are the good sinners.
To err is human: even the so-called experts make mistakes. No man is perfect. Each error transmitted on swapped frequencies, i.e. on the frequency on which the DX station is transmitting. Maybe it’s because we’re not paying enough attention, maybe we’re tired and distracted; after all, we are all only human.
The first thing to consider in a situation where someone’s mistake needs correction is how to convey the message.
When a “cop” asks you for your turn, shouting “I’m talking to you, idiot”, sometimes it’s hard not to respond with “you’ve never made a mistake, you arrogant cop”.
But don’t react at all in such a case, it will always be counterproductive.
That would certainly be the way to gooh you will reign disorder.
Bad Sinners
Some hams, however, seem content to use their very bad habits. In such a case, the rule “to be stubborn is devilish” applies.
It seems that more and more damaged brains pedantically enjoy making life difficult for well-behaved operators. They are of the category that tries to interfere with DXers by any means at their disposal. In some cases, they are frustrated hams who, due to lack of knowledge and wisdom, fail to make contact with the DX station and take out their frustrations on their more successful colleagues.
Sometimes we witness the most brazen use of vulgar and vile expressions by these subjects.
They all want the others to react so that chaos erupts on the frequency.
A good tip: never react when you witness such an action. If no one responds, these images will be removed due to lack of audience.
Don’t react in a DX cluster either. Let others monitor the DX cluster normally.
A good tip: never react when you witness such an action. If no one responds, these “heroes” will go away due to lack of audience. If you are sure you have correctly identified a station doing this kind of deliberate QRM, consider making a formal complaint to the licensing authority.
