INTERFERENCE

Now let's discuss a very unpleasant subject. Occasionally you will run across a net or conservation that is being interfered with by an individual or group of individuals. What causes this, who knows? It is wrong, illegal and disrupting to the hobby. The only recommendation I have is, IGNORE , IGNORE, IGNORE.

Don't acknowledge the interference, blame your equipment, blame the repeater, blame the weather, blame skip and that far off repeater but don't refer to the individual who is causing the interference.

Suggest to your friend that you both move to a known repeater, without stating where, Jack's repeater.

If that doesn't work and the interference follows, pick a simplex frequency. Most often the interference will go away. If it is not fun any longer, the interfering party will find something else to do. Often, it is kids with dads equipment. Malicious interfering is illegal and if it continues you should report it to the repeater owner.

In the last few years the FCC has stepped up its enforcement of the rules against interference. There is a group of hams that report interference to the FCC. If you have experienced malicious interference contact you local radio club for help in resolving the situation. They will put you in contact with the Enforcers. Forget about the kids, just ignore them they will get tired and go back to their computer games.
The following article shows what the FCC can do to restrict interference. Check out QST, the magazine of ARRL, to get a feeling of the enforcement that is now in place.

If you think your last traffic ticket was painful, wait until you see what the FCC have cooked up for you. The commission's new fines schedule includes:

* Any assorted minor violations $625
* Failure to identify you station $1250
* Unauthorized use of equipment $5000
*Running excessive power $10000
*Failing to respond to an FCC communication $10000
*Operating on an unauthorized frequency $10000
*Transmitting indecent material or words $12500
*Malicious interference to another ham $17500
*Failing to permit an FCC inspection $18500
*False S.O.S (per each) $20000
*Illegal distress communications. (per each) $20000

The FCC has the authority to adjust these fines, but these amounts are recommended for first-time offenders.

(Newline &West link Report No. 661, Nov 12 1993)

Again, the best advice, IGNORE , IGNORE , IGNORE.