According to a report on the RSGB website, Ofcom has requested the temporary closedown of two amateur radio repeaters.
Ofcom has mandated that GB3DY at Wirksworth and GB3EE at Chesterfield go silent for 14 days. Both of these repeaters are 70cm analogue voice repeaters located between Sheffield and Derby.
There’s an example of the abuse here on YouTube, and some archived discussion from Usenet here.
The RSGB statement released on the 25th of August 2017 says:
“The RSGB’s Amateur Radio Observation Service and the Emerging Technology Coordination Committee are working to formalise an agreed process for dealing with unfortunate situations like this and will be contacting all Repeater Keepers once this is finalised.”
The RSGB is keen to emphasise the following:
“If a repeater is suffering abuse it is essential that users do not react or attempt to communicate with the abusers as doing so inevitably makes the situation worse.”
Taking action against repeater abuse
The official guidance on combating abuse can be found on the ETCC website at www.ukrepeater.net/abuse.htm
This guidance includes the note that “It is a fundamental requirement of their NoV that Keepers are responsible for monitoring the traffic passing through their repeater and taking appropriate action to prevent unsuitable content being transmitted” and that they should be prepared to switch off repeaters, and to document and if possible record the offences taking place.
Also worthy of note – AROS. This is a volunteer service run by RSGB. According to their site, they investigate reports of licence infringements, or instances of poor operating practice which might bring the Amateur Service into disrepute. They can also act as an independent source to verify infringements. You can contact AROS, or submit reports by post or email – More on AROS
What can you do?
If you hear or experience abuse, keying or anything offensive on your local repeater:
- Do not react, or mention the abuse / keying
- Log it, and pass notes to the repeater keeper
- Consider reporting it to AROS
Handy Links
- Report amateur radio abuse to Ofcom – In the case of repeater abuse, they are likely to refer you to the NoV Holder
- RSGB Repeater List
- RSGB AROS
| Hear Keying on GB3DA (Danbury, Essex)? Log it here: GB3DA Project QRM |
November 2010 the GB3HS repeater jammer was brought to justice thanks to two local dedicated radio amateurs who logged and recorded jamming incidents to OFCOM enforcement officers and Humberside Police contrary to the RSGB statement released stating that RSGB volunteers helped in this investigation.This was a misleading statement which infuriated those who worked hard on this case,including OFCOM officers themselves.On many forums it was suggested that the RSGB did not work hard to bring the culprit to justice.but instead stole the limelight as not to look incompetent.This was subsequent confirmed by one of the amateurs who initially involved the police and OFCOM.
So..If the RSGB statement was true.Why is this same person (well known to OFCOM) jamming the same repeater and simplex QSO’s for another 8 years (its now 2018) and no further investigations or RSGB involvement thus far.So it begs the obvious question.Where are these so called RSGB volunteers now?.My phone call to RSGB HQ regarding this issue was met by this response..Why dont you move to another band? Amazing but true.
aros is no more
rsgb now have oas
oas give advice on operating
Operating Advisory Service
The Operating Advisory Service (OAS) is a volunteer-run service which provides guidance to licensed radio amateurs in the UK and Crown Dependencies*.
It helps promote good practice, and advises on you how to manage problematic behaviour and poor operating practice on the amateur bands.
Advice is given in two forms—
Documentary advice is on the RSGB web site and available to every one
RSGB members can also request personal help from the OAS team
The team is led by the OAS Coordinator, supported by a group of Regional Operating Advisors.
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G3ZHI OAS! as you already stated quote (The Operating Advisory Service OAS is a volunteer-run service which provides guidance to licensed radio amateurs) but not it seems for intruders or unlicensed operators.
As shaun pointed out in his comment the rsgb and the then aros in not so many words are (useless).i agree.something is wrong within the rsgb if a pirate is still on air jamming after all these years .google searched and found this.which ties in to what shaun was referring to.
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/26/ham_botherer/
maybe the rsdb would like to comment on this case as they was quick to take the glory back in 2010.
Use your phonetic alphabet not mable one david candy jimmy. otherwise the OAS will jump on you quicker than you can say “rsgb peter kirby”
Sad state of affairs when the hobby is punished and not the offenders.
quite funny as Ofcom didn’t tell anyone to switch off the repeater for 14 days..
they don’t and as i’m aware have never instructed any keeper to do such a thing.
DY went off so the idiots could go on to GB3EE so Ofcom could monitor with their portable surveillance equipment one which was located at Zycomm, another at EM airport and a third was mobile.
but as the stories go the idiots got wind of this and GB3EE was taken off air permanently.
GB3DY has yet to return but the NoV runs out shortly so doubt it will get renewed, GB3EE is now a new repeater located several miles away and should not be confused with the original.
maybe if a licence was paid and Ofcom got paid to police the bands the abuse would be less, but alas there is no licence fee, Ofcom admit they do not have any interest in amateur radio and certainly no interest in a secondary user (UHF)
just blame yourselves for allowing a shower of shit like the aRSeGB and Ofcom introduce a foundation licence and lowering the standards of the hobby.
it is nothing more than just a glorified CB radio system, check the new rules and regulations to prove it.
Ahhhhh Shut ya face!
abuse on gb3al 21.18 tuesday 12 11 2019..