Net Control Tries to Run Off a POTA Operator - Then THIS Happens!

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Thank you Jason for highlighting the incident. I've documented a few run-ins with sad ham nets a few times in other videos on my channel. I've also documented running into very polite and friendly nets too. 73!

[@HamRadio2]

Thanks Jeff! That looked like a fun activation. Also you have inspired me to try out my FX4CR with SSB.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

@ It’s a fun little radio! You’ll enjoy it! 73!

[@HamRadioCrusader]

@@K3JRZOnTheAir I LOVE That T-Shirt you had on!!! Great Video Jeff!! And Thank You Jason for giving us yet another AWESOME video, About a very relevant Issue! 73 Y'all!

[@paulbyrne3328]

I was working a POTA activation, and a net asked me in a polite manner if I would move. I told i would. The net control operator then asked how I was doing. I told him I needed 20 more contacts to get my KILO award for this park. He responded he could help me. He told me to stay on the frequency. At the start of their net, he explained my situation and to the others on the net one by one the made contact with me. I got my KILO and thanked them. Sometimes we don't hear the good stories.

[@HamRadio2]

Wow, that is a great story, thanks for sharing. If you have more details, please email them to me - KC5HWB at Gmail

[@socallars3748]

That is so true, I hear far more friendly interactions on the air than hostile ones but hostility casts a bigger shadow. That's an awesome display of amateur radio camaraderie, good on the both of ya! Politeness goes a long way in encouraging cooperation among people.

[@nvrumi]

This was completely appropriate and an act consistent with good ham values.

[@DarkShadowCustoms]

That is an amazing story and a great example of how hams can share the frequency space we are allocated.

[@marshred]

As a net manager, We Ask Nicely if we can use our regular freq if others are using it. Almost Every time, the ops have agreed to move or join in our net. If they do not offer to move We Move the Net to one of our two alternate freq.s That's how to handle it. Don't be a jerk!

[@Kevin-w8ni]

I have over 1000 activations. EVERY TIME a net control is polite, I gratefully QSY. POTA ops can spot, and hunters will follow. All I ask is to be a gentleman.

[@joshua511]

I'm still new but some of the local nets chime in a few minutes before the start time to let people know a net is coming up. I think that's a great idea.

[@jpdouglas8004]

In addition, if the operator does not want to move frequencies, I ask. if he or she can please send people looking for the net to a frequency I specify, they have always agreed to do so. On the other hand, most hams with presence on HF pretty. much know where most of the nets are and avoid those frequencies. What I have encountered recently is a ham looking for another ham friend on a frequency I am calling CQ on while ignoring me calling CQ or me telling them the frequency is in use. At that point I am tempted to turn on the amp and blast them, but really, what's the use, all I'd get is a higher electric bill! LOL So I just find another frequency and ask: I is this frequency in use? Is this frequency owned by anyone? Is the owner of the frequency about? LOL Remember, it's a hobby!!! It's supposed to be fun! Getting tired of POTA, we are starting NOTA! Nuts On The Air! LOL 73 de KB1TCD - Net Manager - Maine Emergency Communications Net

[@DarkShadowCustoms]

@@jpdouglas8004 I might have to borrow the bit about someone owning a frequency.

[@k6usy]

The issue is a LOT of nets don’t want to ever move, and they should if you are there first.

[@BillPfaffenberger]

A year ago I had a net control op come up on my POTA frequency and inform me that a net was scheduled to start on the frequency in a few minutes. He was very polite. He became a POTA contact for me and I was his first check in. I was happy to QSY in this case.

[@jerryKB2GCG]

Ditto

[@2321brendan]

I had a guy tell me to move because a net was about to start. No callsign given ,bad attitude. I replied that I am licenced to be there ,and as he had no call he was a Pirate. Kept calling CQ. A few minutes later a Guy ID himself. Informed me of a net shedule. Asked me if I could qsy and if I would like to join net I could. I said no problem and moved. Hopefully the original Guy learnt something .

[@Khanlaar411]

I had this happen on 40 meters and I did QSY but I was put off by the threat that they would "stomp all a station like me". People say FT8 is ruining radio....

[@N2YTA]

If you're running a net just ask any station using the frequency if they would QSY, be nice about it, or even better invite him to join the net.

[@HamRadio2]

@Khanlaar411 - oh if I ever were to hear something like that and get it on video...

[@genebodenberger]

If I were net control, I would ask check-ins to call the POTA station and get them in his/her log. It checks you into the net and gives the POTA credit.

[@HamRadio2]

Yep

[@toddcamnyc]

I was POTAing last week when some guy busted in at 11:05 and said “just so you know, this is where our net meets every Saturday at 11:00!” I replied “okay, I’ll move.” Then he said “we already moved 10 minutes ago and started 5khz up.” Now I’m confused. So I didn’t have to move because they solved their problem by moving. A few minutes later I was listening to the net and the controller was complaining about “some guy playing POTA made me move.” The controller continued to whine about me for the next 90 minutes. I mean, come on! Nothing happened, and you solved the issue by yourself.

[@joshua511]

HOW DARE YOU USE THE FREQUENCIES THAT YOUR LICENSE ALLOWS YOU TO USE!!!

[@JoeMartinBikes]

It made for a more exciting story that the retelling of his colonoscopy

[@toddcamnyc]

@@JoeMartinBikes when they’re not in a net, the conversation is usually detailed information about their medical condition.

[@leagarner3675]

If you listened to the guy for the next 90 minutes then you weren't actually POTAing?

[@toddcamnyc]

@@leagarner3675 your comment doesn’t make sense.

[@harshba]

When I was in the Army in Panama in 89-91 we used 7.010 for both teletype (which only worked about 10% of the time) and voice the rest of the time. We often had people come on and tell us to get off their frequency, whether nice or not. We just ignored them. They would tune over us, just run cw over us, talk over us, etc. The funny thing was, our radios STARTED at 400 watts. We could run any mode we wanted (except FM which we didn't have) and there were no frequency police that were going to find us in the middle of the jungle ordering bricks, cement, water and gas from the rear in our 3 to 4 messages we sent daily. We were assigned to use that frequency the entire time I was there and probably after I left... probably up until the military left there altogether in 1999-2000. 536th Engineers building roads, bridges, hospitals, brick outhouses, schools, etc all over Central and South America. Not gonna lie, we radio folk had it easy... a few messages a day, and the rest of the time sitting in front of static, reading books, playing GameBoy, teaching ourselves CW, and getting on ham frequencies to chit chat. Yes, some of us got our HP licenses before we got US licenses. Others just made up an HP callsign to use on the ham bands. Good times.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Jeff is a great operator. He actually wrote the chapter on "Polite Operation" in the ARRL's POTA book.

[@dakotahbishop6308]

On my last activation, I was probably 25-30 contacts in on the same frequency when a net started up. The net control station couldn’t hear me but one of the members did, and informed net control. They very kindly moved to an alternate frequency. I wish I could remember what net it was so I could give them credit.

[@HamRadio2]

Good story

[@BigJohnsHamShack]

The NET does not automatically take precedence on amateur radio frequencies, period, end of story. First come first serve. I don't care the band, I don't care where at in the band, unless it is declared an EMERGENCY then you can kick rocks.

[@rickgilbrt]

For HF, I concur, and this is mostly about HF. For VHF/UHF repeater use, it may depend on who owns the repeater and what the rules are for the particular repeater.

[@pc4ad]

Never have ran a net on HF but did on a local repeater while Covid was happening, so still would like to share my thoughts on this. With HF nets they could plan the frequency and times for sure. But while planning, I'd keep into account that frequencies might be in use. So... I would pick a frequency +/- QRM, +/- 5 or 10 kHz with separate a 2nd frequency-range as a backup. It's radio, and radios usually come with a dial to select a frequency. With this setup, people might have to dial around for a little but would be always able to find the net. All that, without disturbing or overrunning on an already actively used frequency. In my book that's just not done. If net controllers would use this tactic I guess it would be way more friendly. Of course when it's all occupied then a controller would have two options: 1 - Politely try to contact you (while hopefully also logging) and ask you to move to another frequency (where a controller might already have found a free spot for you) 2 - Actually help you getting contacts by requesting you to stay on frequency while redirecting the net-seekers to the alternatively found frequency while logging contacts. That would be a win-win right? just my 2 euro-cents PC4AD - Anton

[@texasaggiegigsem]

Net control ops should _always_ check if the frequency is in use before starting a net. Besides being a gentleman, this helps remind the other operators on the net to practice good radio etiquette. Having a regular plan to shift around by 5kc or so at a time and getting people in the habit of tuning around a bit enhances reliability. There's nothing special about any net frequency, not even 14.300.

[@ke8mattj]

The nets I participate in have two back-ups. Almost always they're occupied. Just once did a POTA interfere with it. We asked him that we were running a net. He apologized and moved. Now, if there were people on our regular frequencies, we just move to JS8Call near the normal frequency it is on. Never an issue encountered doing this.

[@kb8m203]

Thanks for the video. I don't have a problem moving if asked nicely by a regular net. But you are right , nobody owns the freq.

[@charlesstrahin-wf3un]

Thank you Jason ! Very well done! And yes I mostly do QRP pota ,sometimes QRO but it's not just nets they often tell you the hear you but still ignore rules and reg. And will key on you because they think they own the frequency!

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

That when you call in the A10’s

[@hughpatterson1480]

Great video! I was calling CQ one day, after asking "is this frequency in use" three times with plenty of time between asking, and heard nothing. I started calling CQ and sure enough, I get a guy calling back to say this frequency is now in use. I guess he and a couple of friends meet on that frequency every day to rag chew. Not a net but a rag chew. Before I could say "hey, I'll move since you guys have something going," I got a lecture. I guess he thought I was a technician novice and needed schooling. I wanted to correct him and say I was an extra class license holder who actually knows what they're doing. Instead, I decided to let it go and move on. Part of me was tempted to be a jerk but that's not what amateur radio is about. I think some operators forget the bands are no like a resturant where you make reservations. Thanks again for this video...73...Hugh...KN6KNB

[@DanClark-kq1dq]

Great article. Thanks for highlighting this all too common problem.

[@JohnnyChonko]

4:15 "...you're not talking to me... ?? ... you're definitely not talking to me" "Thats what I thought"

[@vikinghog]

Something similar can happen on VHF and UHF repeaters as well. I am one of the net controllers on a large linked repeater system and it is not uncommon for a conversation to be taking place when our nets are scheduled to start. However, if we politely notify them that a net is ready to start and they are welcome to join us, there has never been a problem. We occasionally also have someone break in while our net is underway for whatever reason. Again, politeness works every single time in dealing with them, unless it happens to be a spammer intending to disrupt things. We have even had situations where someone accidentally linked two repeater systems together on their Allstar node while two different nets were underway. After a few awkward moments we have always been able to politely resolve the problem in some fashion. Its just Amateur Radio guys.

[@StephenLee-h3b]

Great work Jason, highlighting this issue. During this year’s ARRL field day, the bulletin transmission clashed with a net; it took several minutes for the controller to QSY. Given the times and frequencies for the bulletins are the same each year, one has to wonder why the net could not be delayed, postponed or moved to a backup frequency. As a VHF net controller, on occasion I have found our local repeater in use around net time. Mostly I will wait until the conversation is over, but I will break in if necessary and ask if the users would mind moving.

[@patrollerpony4746]

Our club out of Pittsburgh runs a 10m and a 40m rag chew type net every week. The control operators are always good about getting on our frequency early to listen for other stations already using it and even if they do not hear anything, they always ask if the frequency is in use. If it is, we always follow the rules and QSY up or down as needed to find space. 40 has gotten so busy that we actually had to change the time of our 40m net so that we can find more open frequency. The last thing our club wants to do is to interfere with any other operators if possible because not only is it the rules but it is just common courtesy.

[@David-hm9ic]

Just a few days ago I heard a discourse just like this. No idea if it was this same incident but the net operator was adamant that the POTA operator should move to a different frequency. The net operator was apparently raised without learning courtesy and manners. -- Kudos for the Gruene Hall cap! Love that place!

[@nimroddiaries_]

Good video @hamradio2 I dont radio as much as I want. I recall a POTA. I hiked in half mile or so. Set up, asked in the freq was clear and got a reply there was a net in like 10 minutes. No worries, I QSY and there was peace in the air... 😂

[@ts440s]

Can't believe I'm getting back into this after 30 years.

[@WeedyCreek]

The net control operator could also have asked/offered the POTA operator if they could start the net with the net members all completing a contact with the POTA operator and then asking if they could then use the frequency for the net after. Might not be ideal for either but a potential way to satisfy both.

[@ryanjones9305]

That’s why I don’t participate in Texas RACES/ARES anymore. The NCS opened the net right over top of a dude on 60m that was very clearly working that channel already and he just pretended he couldn’t hear him and ran his net. I turned the radio off and told the guy in charge of my district exactly what I thought of that nonsense and to count me out moving forward.

[@HamRadio2]

That's pretty bad when a coordinated group like RACES would do that to someone. Although I've never heard of a Net, especially a RACES net, on 60M

[@ryanjones9305]

@@HamRadio2 I don’t know if they still do it, but on one Sunday a month they used to do an 80m net immediately followed by a 60m net, which I thought was a bit wild as well. And NO alternate channel if the freq was in use, like it was. The answer I got when I protested was, “well, you know, it’s a state wide net…..”. But I have no idea what they’re doing now. I don’t play with them anymore.

[@HamRadio2]

It's good to use every band and see how well it works in all directions. It'll give you an idea of what band to use at a specific time of day and area. But behaving like this shouldn't be acceptable

[@MRRadio-un7xn]

We have net on 146.520 and always at the beginning and then every 20 minutes we notify to all participants if the frequency is on use you will found us at two alternative frequencies 146.480 or 146.540. Never have any problems.

[@theinsoutsofhamradio8648]

This guy handled it the right way but the net controller should have asked if the frequency was in use first. great video

[@bg8fairpoint610]

The funny thing is that when his hero came back to stand up for him he also consumed the frequency the QRPer was using.

[@jackmartinkd9pdy891]

Jason I’m a control for the YL System. We move all the time. If a new period starts on a frequency we weren’t on we always ask is the frequency in use. Our 40m period moves all the time to accommodate other users of ham radio. One of the other reasons we move is foreign stations running massive power that interferes with our sessions. Oh and by the way, we do have YL’s on our system. There’s just not as many of them as there used to be. 63 years the YL System has been on the air. 19352 dues paying members as of today. 73’ KD9PDY

[@cybersean3000]

§ 97.101 General standards. (a) In all respects not specifically covered by FCC Rules each amateur station must be operated in accordance with good engineering and good amateur practice. (b) Each station licensee and each control operator must cooperate in selecting transmitting channels and in making the most effective use of the amateur service frequencies. No frequency will be assigned for the exclusive use of any station. (c) At all times and on all frequencies, each control operator must give priority to stations providing emergency communications, except to stations transmitting communications for training drills and tests in RACES. (d) No amateur operator shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communication or signal.

[@JohnWallace74]

Cooperation in using the bands are what is needed and being polite. Propagation doesn’t always work both ways. I believe it’s possible for a low power station to not be heard, but definitely even NETs shouldn’t start without with out asking if the frequency is in use. So again every one needs to be polite…

[@Nick_W0YEM]

I was helping some scouts with JOTA a couple of weekends back and one of the suggested JOTA frequencies on 20m was apparently in conflict with some net and they couldn't get over it about their net starting on the frequency in x amount of minutes. They had to come on and remind everyone every couple of minutes until the hour. I finally gave up and QSY'd to some POTA activators who were much more willing to talk with the scouts.

[@HamRadio2]

Sounds about right

[@Megellin]

Before I start chatting on HF I always start by listening then I will key up and say "Is this frequency in use?" then wait about 5 sec or so then ask again then and only then to I throw out my callsign and start calling CQ or whatnot. I've never ran a net, but I've seen both good net operators that check for frequency being clear, and will qsy to an alternate frequency, and I've delt with jack wagons who try to kick everyone off the band... I agree with you, I also am willing to change frequency as long they are polite, but yeah I hate jerks..

[@CelticArmory]

I participate with a 2M net in the mornings on a privately owned repeater group. Everyone I've encountered on it are super cool and net control always starts of with a statement that any and all emergency traffic will get priority. If I were running a HF net I would invite the POTA ham to participate in the net and rack up as many contacts as they could.

[@DavidMitchell79]

I have not experienced this, yet. I am a "new to HF" operator, however. I am a net control operator for our club on our repeater. We hold have a different net each day on our repeater held at 1900 hrs local. ARES on Mondays, I think Tuesdays are free for this hour, Wednesday the ladies hold theirs, Thursday we have another practice net for our local emergency services, and each Friday we hold an open, casual Roundtable net for rag chewing with all comers invited. I always go on a 1/2 hour early to monitor, test linked repeater, etc. But I listen for QSO's in progress. If time runs close, I'll ask for "Comment", if they let me in I invite them to our rag chew. There is no need for entitlement, and our repeaters are open to the public. I'd delay the net for them to finish if they are polite, and just request a quick QST to announce the delay and ask the callers to standby until the new start time. Maybe that's why our club has over 400 members.

[@ae4xo]

When ke8pzn has his 51 park rove, some of the nets were very rude. One started playing heavy metal music, crazyness

[@N3GMNjohn]

1 more net control may have an amp but alot of stations need better antenna systems...

[@Eidolon59]

I've lost track of how many times I've hunted POTA and heard some net controller get on freq and tell the POTA operator he needed to move because he is on a freq they always use for their net.

[@willgilliam9053]

if your net can't handle a QRP POTA operator working on a frequency, your not operating a reliable network.

[@bobr6555]

I was recently on a net on 20m when suddenly I had massive QRM. It was a DXpedition on a Pacific Island who decided to fire up on 20m without checking if their transmit frequency for their inevitable split operation was available. If they had listened to their transmit frequency they would have heard the net already in operation. I popped up on their receive frequency and asked them to please QSY up 2KHz and explained why so instead they chose to go to another band for a while.

[@TexasScout]

Who owns the frequency? Whoever got there first. I’m a member of the South Texas emergency net one of the oldest nets in the United States. We have to QSY every now and then because people are already on frequency. It’s just courteous and common sense.

[@jeffwb5waj451]

Fortunately I had a good experience with net control. They called me and said they had a net in 10 minutes would I mind moving. I told them no problem, moved and reposted on the POTA site. No issues. There was a time when I have moved into the SSTV section of a band ( my ignorance) and had them start transmitting SSTV with no id or asking if the frequency is clear.

[@adcraziness1501]

I do not know if there is any relevance between 10m and 2m nets, but when I am monitoring a repeater I will occasionally hear net control chime in and request use of a frequency around the time their ESTABLISHED net starts, even when there are already conversations going. Everyone always lets the net have the use of the repeater, because we all just want to get along and the net has been established for several years. They don't get on the air and demand use of the frequency. They don't run anyone off. They ask. Nicely. EDIT to say, it depends on the conversation. If it is a rag chew session, just kickin tires and blowin smoke, then they will ask to use the frequency. If they are in the middle of an actual important discussion then the net waits.

[@RB9522]

Thanks for this video. Here are a couple questions: 1) What if the station that moves in on the frequency you are using is an illegal station. Say a Chinese fishing boat? Here in the Pacific we encounter this all the time. 2) Or when an RTTY station decides to operate on an FT8 frequency?

[@biffjones2601]

It sometimes happens that a station cannot hear when he asks if the frequency is in use. Due to the use of different antennas on different heights.

[@BLACKHEAT1028]

I’ve had something similar, I was making a Dx contact to Italy from NYC and the guy just comes on and interrupts telling me about his net and how he is just below me. If he would have taken the time to listen he would have know I wasn’t rag chewing and he wasn’t nice about it so I prolonged by talking to him about it then ANOTHER guy jumps on and I do the same to him telling him how I would have been gone already but you guys keep on telling me I have to move

[@HamRadio2]

I had something similar to that happen to me in Costa Rica

[@timmyflew]

I heard this happen last year on HF. It got heated and the guy wanting to run the net tried to say that the FCC rules gave nets priority. The net operator just jumped on frequency and started calling the net right over the other guy. The guy was so nasty. He didn't even ask, he just started demanding. You know a decent person would have said "Hey man we usually have a net on this frequency at this time. Do you mind if we start the net? We would love if you joined us." and if not just find another frequency and get on with your life.

[@infodawg1797]

Most contesters are 1000x worse than most NCSs. Of course, comparisons don't make either one right when they are stomping on a QSO. And I have observed thatg the POTA crowd are usually the politest of all contesters.

[@straublittleman]

I think the net controller should stick to the 11m cb band because that is where idiots like that can stay. Ive talked on cb for 30 years and finally have my tech license and it is such a relief being able to have intelligent quiet conversations on 2m and you rarely have anyone trying to talk over you.

[@TrevHolland]

I'm still fairly new to amateur radio. I have a vague understanding of what a Net is, but could you explain a little more about them. What exactly are they, what function do they serve. And you mentioned, while on a road trip, you checked in to a couple Nets. Is that something anyone can do? Do you have to be a member of a Net or can any ol' ham key up and say hi during a Net meeting?

[@HamFanatic-N3BIL]

Nets have several designations for their existence. You may encounter various nets with religious themes, some with affiliations with military service (most branch specific). Many nets have regional vibes, but most, and I speculate on this; exist to pass on information relevant to their interests. It seems nets were born out of like minded amateurs wanting to organize their chat sessions. I do not have much interest in nets myself. Living in Florida I have listened to and participated in the hurricane net, it is used to pass vital info on storm conditions and potential threats to life and proper in real time. I have never been asked to move off frequency, but have heard nets requesting other stations to do so. Maybe this helps you understand a little more about nets. 73s

[@nickmartin9403]

I was hunting POTA activators today and as I was trying to make it through a pileup, I heard the infamous Maritime Net come on 14.300 and run all over top of the activator. They did ask him to QSY, but didn't give any time for him to communicate with anyone else and just overpowered him. I also did NOT hear them ask if the frequency was in use (clearly as they asked him to QSY, they knew it was). I wonder, will the FCC ever do anything about them?

[@HamRadio2]

They kinda think they own that frequency

[@victorcharlie7491]

Great info, interesting, tnx Man! 🎃

[@BlessedLaymanNC]

Not while POTA, but I've been stomped on many times when running QRP, almost every time it was a 59 station. What I don't understand is, unless they are running a full gallon, if I hear a 59 station, that station can hear me. Question: How do you handle a shift in band conditions? You and a net have been operating 15 minutes + and the band shifts so you are on top of each other. I still can't get over a time I was on a net on 20 when conditions changed for about 5 minutes. Suddenly, I'm 59 with a Russian 59 station. We made our exchange and the band shifted back. To me, the net was completely gone during that time. One net member heard all of us at the same time. He heard the Russian drift in and back out but heard me continuously. Many a time I've been calling CQ for a long time or maybe be in a qso and someone suddenly says I'm interfering with a net or the net comes in and interferes with me. We've both been active too long to have just jumped on each other. QRP and Mobile are a lot of fun, but there are a lot of quirks you have to deal with that you may not be able to overpower.

[@toddcamnyc]

Last weekend was the CQ world wide DX SSB contest. I tuned into 14.300 to see how the maritime mobile net was handling it. They were going crazy screaming “this is not a contest channel!” Then they had a net with contestors all piled up on top of them. I’m not sure what their purpose is. Maybe to alert the coast guard if the titanic 2 hits an iceberg.

[@CowboyPilot79]

The Russian station working 14.300 didn't GAF. It was hilarious, I turned on the radio just to see what was going on and came across it and listened to it for a while laughing.

[@toddcamnyc]

@ during normal times if you ask “is the frequency in use” on 14.300 when it’s dead empty of any activity, six guys will immediately pop up, yelling “the frequency is in use! The frequency is in use!!!”

[@CowboyPilot79]

@@toddcamnyc I may start doing that for S&Gs then respond with well I listened for 15 minutes and haven't heard any traffic haha

[@toddcamnyc]

@@CowboyPilot79 a solution to all this frequency fighting on 20 meters would be for the FCC to widen the band. How about 14-15mhz? Right now, I’m hearing this 40 kHz wide digital test signal above and below 20. It’s a Wall Street trading signal that saves traders 1 millisecond on a transfer. It often splatters into 20m. Rather than sell it to some financial company that will probably abandon it in a few years, give it to the people!

[@CowboyPilot79]

@@toddcamnyc is that what that is? I was seeing that too and had no clue what it was

[@anarchytelevision8445]

DON'T BE A SAD HAM

[@freerangetots9955]

This happened to me a couple of weeks ago, I checked a frequency on 10m to call CQ, after I started calling CQ a station came in and told me that there was a net on the same frequency (I couldn't hear the net, maybe because I was portable). I was also asked to move and I didn't mind since I just started calling CQ 3 minutes early. I thought it was odd but now I know that it happens often.

[@kd6hucatmsndotcom]

I heard it and replayed it multiple times to reveal 'twas a run of the mill pissing contest like from the Spark Forever crowd of middle 20th Century. I've only been licensed since 1992 myself 🤠

[@erichatfield6259]

Our club has a weekly 10 meter ssb net. One week we were 5 minutes into the net and a station broke in and claimed they were already using the frequency. Our net control had checked prior to the net and nobody responded that they were using the frequency. This breaking station was rude and yelling at our nco. Our nco explained that he checked prior to the net. Ultimately our nco had us qsy because this guy would not stop abusing him and disrupting the net. I checked the original frequency several times during the net and it was not being used. Total jerk.

[@The0nionKnight]

NET can go kick rocks until dude is done.

[@athena6098]

I am net control for the W7AQ 10 meter net on 28.425 Mhz upper ssb on every Wednesday night at 8:30 Pacific. Monitor the frequency like half hour early. I ask any one using the person nicely to maybe move if they can. Even ask if like to early check-in for the net. And if the person couldn't or wouldn't move. We do have an alternative frequency to do move the net to.

[@ralphnunn3]

I haven't had that happen to me while activating POTA, but I did have a net run me off my frequency once when I was a special events station for SKCC's yearly month-long event. As the special event station (I was K3Y/7), other stations from around the country try to work you so they can get their sweep awards (one contact in every call district 0-9). I had spotted myself, and was running stations, when someone called me, then just started his net right on top of me. Maybe I didn't copy right, but I don't recall him asking me to QSY. I thought that was pretty rude. But yeah, rudeness does happen in the CW world, too.

[@swilliams2229]

It doesn't happen as often on CW, but your rite....it happens. Used to be a lot more ops CW and a lot more QRM....strange thing though I miss the QRM we used to live with. I remember running my receiver wide open trying to develop a filter in my head and I did it too, but now I don't really need it. Life must be good if I have to complain about "not enough QRM" 73

[@robertmeyer4744]

Great job on that !! I always ask if frequency in use. I have changed frequency because of changing band conditions or QRM , I I was running a net and frequency was in use, I would make contact and just ask them. Maybe they done in 30 minutes or less. For POTA and SOTA I would get in their log and encourage outher stations on the net get in the POTA or SOTA log. Once they make the contacts they will leave or switch band . I would invite the POTA or SOTA station to check in the net and let them what we do . With some niceness this could turn into fun for all . Make LOVE not WAR . How I run my station .If I have to I just spin the VFO or turn radio off. 73

[@acepharmer]

I’ve done about 12 activations and had nets interfere 4 times. One asked nice and I moved. Another just started over top of me. Two others started using digital noise or cricket sounds over me for 15 minutes then net started.

[@jr637-1]

10m band is huge for voice - 28.300 - 29.700. PLENTY of space to QSY. I always QSY if someone comes in on "my" frequency, net or otherwise. I am almost always going to give the other operator the benefit of the doubt that the stepping was accidental - maybe the band opened up, maybe he can't actually hear me, etc. etc. Unless it's a contest, I am usually jumping around frequencies anyway and have gotten very good at finding open spots. Most of my net control experiences have been completely cordial, because a lot of times they will let me know well in advance that the net will be starting soon and I can plan around the QSY. (In multiple cases, it was 14.347 on Saturdays at 6:00pm EST. I think at this point they are used to interacting with POTA activators.) My only negative net experience was hunting a Wyoming QRP station and some angry OM on the DX net 2MHz down tells me to QSY while I am hunting.

[@Eric10179]

If you have enough energy to ask a POTA station to move because your net starts in 5 minutes, you have a bough energy to spring a dial 1/4” to the left or right and move a couple kc away. You’re not isn’t going to explode if it’s 2kc away from where it normally is. If someone is already there, leave them alone.

[@serge839]

The issue is that when using QRP and asking “Is the frequency in used” you are not heard! So opens the conflict!

[@JohnnyChonko]

I got "keyed" off the 20m SSTV freq because I couldn't hear ANY transmissions so I decided to send my own. Some guy keyed over me then complained over phone that I was messing up his QSO. Funny I could hear his key and his SSB phone but didn't hear one little blip of SSTV!

[@westtexasprepper]

The nets that I have been involved with have been on freqs that have a repeater attached to them. So is using a repeater a different situation? Had a GMRS net a couple of weeks ago that the Net controller had to ask someone to move off of the input freq. All was good.

[@HamRadio2]

Yes it works different in VHF/UHF FM than it does in the HF world.

[@westtexasprepper]

@HamRadio2 thnaks!

[@markmoen680]

I agree that nets can get out of control when comes to frequencies. Many nets with websites have a frequency in the site name giving the idea that they “own” the frequency.

[@BlessedLaymanNC]

PS: Have you ever been calling CQ, get answered by DX and then the DX takes over the frequency? I've seen it two ways. The "polite" way was the DX station answered my call and then I was overwhelmed by all the stations trying to work him. He didn't call, they called him. The impolite way is that they start calling CQ after the QSO as if they had been there all along. A few times, I've heard the DX station tell the calling stations he would QSY so I could have the frequency back. Most of the time, I let that Dx have the frequency, and the other times, I did have a choice.

[@jeffrobodene1485]

As a new Ham... I have found the 95% of the Nets are controlled by mean, nasty, old men. I took a screen picture of the FCC laws from this video and I will use and quote them in the future. I cannot tell you how many times I hear these nasty, old men key down, run over, and tune their keyer to clear a frequency. In my limited experience, 40 meters is the absolute worse for these mean, nasty, retired old men. These people are the ones that will kill amateur radio as the newer Hams turn off their radios. I have an Elmer that wants to "introduce me to the boys," and I said don't bother. Thanks for sharing this video. I am glad I am not the only one that get frustrated when this happens.

[@mikehiggins2694]

FCC laws? You'll have a great time on HF radio. Nobody will talk to you, but you'll have fun.

[@scottreynolds]

I get where you’re coming from and you have a point, but it really has nothing to do with age or employment status.

[@boydmasonlake1995]

This is a nich hobby that invoves a relatively small group of radio nerds. Ive watched this channel grow from the beginning, however this upload is inviting devisiveness rather than a solution. The thumbnail is a major disappointment. Lets all try to get along and show some respect for fellow members of our community.

[@jabezhane]

Ha! I've started listening in to ham broadcasts here in the UK. Oh my goodness it's miserable. I'm not kidding its like 4 old guys that hold morse sessions and just go on about how they cant get around anymore cos of this condition or that. It's like listening in to an old folks home. I feel like I've come to Ham 40 years too late. Not something I really want to get involved in going forward, cos 5 years from now I'd be on my own.

[@Radioman7600]

Hi Jeff. I have been liscensed for 39 years. I totally agree that there are "Ham" killers out there. We all must respect and get along. 73

[@928RealEstate]

My friends and I spend a lot of time in the AZ desert on side by sides. We're looking for a push to talk radio. We're not ham operators. Any advise for radios?

[@JohnnyMullet]

Hence the reason I prefer CB Radio. If this happens on 11 meters nobody cares.

[@Joe_N7]

I was calling CQ POTA, and had a hunter inform me someone had started talking over me. I only heard garbling then someone continuously hit their tuner after a few more contacts. Was forced off the frequency tried working one more, as soon as i started talking they would hit the tuner. I would unkey and hear the tone.

[@HamRadio2]

Yeah there's people like that, sadly

[@TheRetiredtech]

And that is what modern notch filters are for.

[@JohnWallace74]

Cooperation in using the bands are what is needed and being polite. Propagation doesn’t always work both ways. I believe it’s possible for a low power station to not be heard, but definitely even NETs shouldn’t start with out asking if the frequency is in use. So again every one needs to be polite…

[@edbrick7689]

Last week I was calling CQ on 10M, I'm a tech license holder. A net control station, contacted me as I ended a qso informing me that a net wanted to start. I released the frequency so they could have the net. The station that had just finished our qso emailed me, telling he heard the net force me off the frequency. I replied to the email, explaining that I was ready to go and nobody forced me. I thanked him for his concern but explained his anger was misplaced. Long story short, we all need to work together to share the frequencies. If I had not been ready to stop, I may have moved off frequency because the net control station waited for my qso to end and communicated politely.

[@HamRadio2]

Agreed

[@jeffferrell.k9hca531]

As a POTA operator I’ve experienced this numerous times, sometimes it’s a legitimate net and other times it’s a few old geezers 50 miles apart running a Kw to talk about their prostate issues. 🤦‍♂️ K9HCA

[@Bob814u]

You should have moved off of 80 meters. LOL!!!!

[@jeffrobodene1485]

LMBO! Nothing but their health issues and who died. I do not want to hear about anyone's "butt" issues.

[@jeffrobodene1485]

@@Bob814u 80 and 40 meters. What a mess.

[@jabezhane]

@@jeffrobodene1485 From my experience, that appears to be 90% of HAM dicussion activity. The future is not bright for HAM. When kids can talk to anyone in clear dolby stereo and video around the world why would they?

[@m7trsradio]

Great video. That has happened not far from me. A local lad was running a pileup doing SOTA and then got bullied to move as a radio club uses the frequency for their net. He basically got shifted as they took over. 🤬

[@HamRadio2]

That sucks

[@leagarner3675]

IDK..local club comms isn't practical on HF

[@N3GMNjohn]

My best is 3806. I was yelling CQ, a op answered and said i am holding this freq because i want to see if i can hear a net that starts in 2 hours. Because i moved and not sure if i can hear them. Then i said i'll be on here for 2 hours then you may see if ya can hear them, yeah in lower portion of band. LoL. 73's

[@ssere]

Jeff is not a good operator.... He is probably one of the best...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And he has Puppy Power !!! Never mess with Puppy Power !!!! Good to see Jeff getting some validation here.. good stuff Jason !! Thank You !

[@timothyboyd5669]

Never been ran off my a net (Spanish speaker station different story), but have been asked nicely to move and did. Also one time I did not have cell service to see where other activations were. I guess I picked a freq where a Oregon stations was. I am in Virginia. So we didn't hear each other. But you Texas stations heard us both. And with him we coordinated a QSY. Since I couldn't self spot and being 10W the Oregon station moved.

[@alanjhargreaves]

That net you were talking about at 8:50, ... or they could have given him the two contacts he needed.

[@linuxsuperuser]

Was it on 7.2 Mhz?

[@K4VTE1818]

Great content

[@RichNotWealthy]

A while back I was surprised to hear an op on the local repeater who I had not heard in years. I called and we were having a good QSO until I realized that it was about time for our weekly club net. So I said that we should sign off to free the repeater for the net. He seemed annoyed. It kinda seems like he was offended by me (voluntarily) yielding the repeater to the net. I haven't heard him again since then.

[@DarkShadowCustoms]

It doesn't happen often, but sometimes on Sunday evenings a few guys will ragchew on my club's 2 meter repeater until a few minutes before the weekly net starts.

[@woodsbikes6130]

Just to add my 2 cents worth regarding fault, in my humble opinion the fault lies on the person who did not spend enough time listening to the frequency before transmitting and asking then asking if the frequency was clear at least 3 times. Best practice as most of us know is, listen before transmit.

[@johncundiss9098]

I do a net. I turn the radio on an hour before it. I keep an eye on the band scope some. If I hear any activity on said frequency, I move. Before I start I hollar if frequency is in use several times. I will move if I get a reply. Once I start, after the courtesy has been done, I run my net, deal with it. Bands change though. I have had both good and bad run ins so to speak. To me in either case it is the game, not the players, meaning the band changed and it did not last long enough for the net peoples to get a contact in the first place.

[@JDubbsadventure]

Little off topic but I heard a guy calling SOTA yesterday when I was at the repeater site on 462.6500. Is it common for people to do sota on gmrs or uhf?

[@HamRadio2]

No, I suspect he was trying to raise someone and tell them to go to Simplex, or he was just on the wrong channel and didn't know it.

[@harrypitts7389]

I'm fine with moving off freq upon request its just like pulling over for an annoying tail gater. But first I slow down gradually and that really rattles them.

[@Sagart999]

If this had happened to me, I would note the day of the week and the time, and then probably get a 1000W amplifier the next day.

[@Howie-wd5oc]

Yep. I saw this video right after he posted it.

[@bwillan]

I saw the original video to. The AG???? call sign, Mike. Did the right thing to read the net control guy the riot act for walking on K3JRZ POTA activation. K3JRZ also did the right thing in stopping his POTA activation. As he said the video, is was more than willing to move his frequency to something else. I am working towards my ham license in Canada and even I know, that no one owns a given frequency in the amateur radio bands. It's a matter of first come first serve, and have manners at all times.

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

JRZ is a good dude.

[@jackK5FIT]

I've been on both sides of that issue and if I am the POTA or non-net station I will be happy to move if asked. If I am NC I will proibably ask an individual if they mind moving or even joining the net. Rather than argue I will announce a move up or down to a clear frequency, which i will know is clear because I asked. Easy peasy.

[@W9BTM-WQNX906]

i don't think I have ever had a net try and run me off but all those contesters that think they own the freq is just ridiculous

[@HamRadio2]

Agreed

[@johngriswold]

I’m hoping someone else says this too, but nets should have established fall-back frequencies, I.e. down 5 or up 10.

[@HamRadio2]

I mentioned that in the video

[@Steven_VE9SY]

I've had this happen to me doing light houses on the air.

[@HamRadio2]

Yeah I can see that.

[@monawarrajayki5445]

They own the frequency

[@HamRadio2]

Umm, no

[@mark12.31]

Pretty sure Net Control could not hear him so it should not surprise anyone that NC would begin the net. Not taking the side of the NC at all but it doesn't surprise me at all. So in those cases it needs to be a mutually agreed on thing or someone just moves. Regardless, nothing good comes from arguing about it on the radio, even when the other station is in the wrong. But, I also understanding getting caught up in the moment.

[@PaulReedy]

Yep, NC may have been close to the POTA station, as the POTA station could barely hear NC running high power. However, I would think that NC would hear other stations coming back to the POTA station very well if that's the case.

[@TheJpybus282]

Two weekends ago during Jota, Scouts on the air, I heard a net come up on top of the scouts calling frequency. No asking if the frequency was in use or anything. Not really a good way to encourage young people to get interested in the hobby.