A new study published in the science journal Standing Waves shows that RF signals are disappearing at an alarming rate.  Some scientists are going so far as to say that if action is not taken immediately, the airwaves could be completely silent by 2040.
 
The study’s chair, Dr. Bunsen Huneydo said, “We looked at daily activity on the HF bands from 3.5 to 29 MHz over the last 11 years. For a while the bands were showing healthy growth with plenty of activity, but in just the last five years signals have become much weaker and some have even disappeared completely.  Worse hit has been the 10 meter band where we haven’t observed a signal for over two years… the extent of the devastation is breathtaking.”
 
But what is causing it?  Scientists have a few theories but the main culprit seems to be that there are simply too many antennas absorbing a limited supply of RF.  As this simple formula shows, RF is depleted at a rate inversely proportional to the square of the distance between any two stations:
 


Scientists warn that, as cos (1/x) increases, we risk reaching “the point of no return” where RF levels will never recover.
 
But what does this mean to the average ham? The short answer is we must all help conserve RF.  Where hams used to just have one radio, it is now common to own three or even four radios, each with an RF absorbing antenna.
 
Of course, some of the worst contributors to the crisis are the so-called “Big Gun” stations.  These use aluminum farming techniques that have gotten way out of control…covering acres of land with multiple towers reaching up to 100 feet and scooping up every signal that goes by.
 
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and member societies like ARRL are calling for urgent action and plan to table a number of propositions at the next WARC meeting in Geneva.  Among them would be a limit on antenna farming, a program for offsetting RF absorption by deploying more transmitters around the globe, and requiring hams to turn off their receivers when not really listening.
 
Perilous times.
 
- Adrian VE7NZ reporting from The United Nations Radio Exposure Alliance League (UNREAL)

​The DIPOLE - the Worlds finest Amateur Radio News Source like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.

The US  Federal Communication Commission has given notice for public comment on the proposal to establish re-licensing requirements for Amateur Class license holders of the Advanced and Extra Class license.  The public input period will be 6 months in duration ending September 8th 2021.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said "It has come to our attention that the skill set required to operate Amateur Radio has changed substantially and old guys with 30 words per minute on CW just don't cut it anymore."  Further background was provided showing that older operators struggle with Digital Modes, Software Defined Radio and many more of the newer aspects of communication and aren't nice to newer Hams.  "We need these class of operators to be a shining beacon for this hobby, leading the way in technological change and embracing it and providing leadership", said Pai.

When pressed as to what would happen to license holders that do not pass the re-licensing test Mr Pai said, "We do not want them to be removed from Amateur Radio, we understand how important this hobby is to license holders,  however a significant lowering of privileges is being considered, proposals have suggested being downgraded to General Class."

Scott VA7SL reporting 

​The DIPOLE - the Worlds finest Amateur Radio News Source like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.

In a stunning move sure to shock the Amateur Radio community, the Biden administration in a massive $1.2 Trillion dollar omnibus bill touted as COVID Relief, passed legislation approving Chinese radio manufacturers Baofeng and AnyTone as Government and Military suppliers for communication needs.

​Touted as a game changer for procurement, these radios will save the American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars which can be better spent on Health Care and Gun Control in the United States.  The cost of outfitting an infantry soldier alone will be reduced by over a $1000 dollars and the savings will be even greater when phase 2 resupplying of the the Army, Airforce & Navy heavy equipment begins with these inexpensive transceivers.   The Navy is particularly excited, scheduling to have their Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers outfitted with the Chinese gear starting this Summer 2021 as the first step in total NORAD/NATO integration begins.

When Pentagon officials were pressed why the rush and also questioned about the reliability and durability of such equipment a senior spokesmen said, "with the difficulty in programming these radio we are certain that our troops wont screw with them once we have them set up and working right, so this also allows us to have a lower IQ level of recruit and will broaden our recruitment options in the US population."  Further information was provided showing that replacing damaged equipment, such as a Handheld dropped from 2 to 3 inches  was still cheaper then buying Military-Spec gear from current Japanese suppliers.

Scott VA7SL reporting from The Pentagon

​The DIPOLE - the Worlds finest Amateur Radio News Source like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.
​

​The recently announced increase to the North Fraser Amateur Radio Club’s (NFARC) annual membership fee has sparked outrage amongst a radical group within the membership. For the last two years, dues have been held steady at $0.00 per year (tax included) but at last month’s meeting the executive passed a motion increasing them by 5000%.
“This was done without consulting any of the members,” said a disgruntled member, “I’m no mathematician, but I know a big number when I see it and 5000% is a lot.”

Another club member, wearing a MAGA hat (Make Amateur Great Again) was overheard at a local Pizza Gate restaurant discussing a planned protest on 146.520 MHz.  According to the parents of one protestor, their son was told to meet on 6.52 next Wednesday and wait for instructions. It is suspected that the group’s leader will then encourage them all to QSY to 147.420 and storm the frequency. If the storming of 7.42 succeeds, this will be only the second time that frequency has been stormed since the founding of the 2 meter band.

Reached for comment, an NFARC exec member said, “This is the sort of crazy behavior we have seen from this group from time to time. They get all their information from loud mouths on the FOX repeater and never question any of it.”
But what is the truth? The investigative news program 60 Meters caught up with the club’s President of Keeping the Money, who confessed the group had made some mistakes. “Look,” he said, “2020 was a tough year for everyone, especially our club. The worse was that we got sold on supporting this crazy Canada Hub idea. It sounded great at first. There was mention of Raspberry Pies for each province, who wouldn’t vote for that? But then we found out how big Canada actually is. Who knew? Running that much Ethernet cable was well beyond our budget.”

In anticipation of the mass protest, police are now monitoring 2 meters and making anyone within 500 kHz of 7.42 QSY. They may even impose radio silence at sundown.

Trying to strike a reconciliatory mood, NFARC Presidential candidate Adrian VE7NZ declared: “We are better than this. We cannot let a few radicals destroy our hobby. We cannot let fringe groups desecrate the hallowed frequencies of 6.52 and 7.42. We must unite under one band plan. We must represent all amateur operators, even the robots on DMR.” If elected, he promises to reduce next year’s dues by at least 100%. Meanwhile, MAGA has proactively declared that the election is rigged.
 
By Adrian VE7NZ 

Editors Note: Adrian VE7NZ is already a President of North Fraser ARC despite being impeached twice, however failing to be convicted by the required 2/3 vote in the NFARC Senate on both occasions. - Scott VA7SL

​The DIPOLE - the Worlds finest Amateur Radio News Source like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.

The DIPOLE - the Worlds finest Amateur Radio News Source like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.For as long as man as pondered the Earth, the Stars, the Universe the Repeater Gods have wisely, masterfully, benevolently and sometimes cruelly controlled repeater communications for us mere mortals.  Our powerful masters have controlled frequencies, mountain tops, and used all sorts of wizardry and mystical powers known only to them to control the networking of repeaters to each other and when that could be done and by whom.

As many of these Gods aged so did their opinions of the mere mortals that revered them, in many cases the disdain was complete and total as was their tolerance of the wishes of their users like connecting to other repeaters at will, listening to check-in nets, having QSO's late at night or simply not being the right sort of operator or a member of "the club".   We mortals held out hope that the Gods would come to understand our desires, hopes and dreams but alas they did not and the airwaves became quieter, much much quieter.

Then in the darkest of hours along comes this new girl named Shari and she flaunts herself right in front of the Gods, denying their sovereignty.  Shari is not interested in the wares of the Gods, no she brings the promise of freedom and flexibility.  Shari is beautiful and elegant and the Gods have no control over her other than to disparage her reputation.  Shari is not phased, no amount of spite from the Gods can thwart her rock star like appeal to the people, her growth and influence is spreading like a wildfire driven by Santa Anna winds.  The airwaves became busy again but not necessarily on the repeaters.  The 144, 220 and 440 spectrum filled with the sounds of Shari Nodes all over the place, operating both digital and analog, all avoiding the Repeater Gods on their solitary perches.                                          
https://hamprojects.info/shari/

Now any mere mortal can have their own repeater/node/link/... whatever anytime they want without the need to bow down to a jealous God.  No more are we required to follow the dictates passed down from the Age of Vacuum Tubes.  The operators of the world will make the 2021 Amateur Radio Year the year of Shari.  Thousands of users worldwide, joining the early adopters,  will be on the air with a Shari Node in 2021, limited only by the ability of suppliers to make them.  
​
Shari's appeal and success will be absolute, no matter how many times the Repeater Gods say "that's not real radio".
​
de Scott VA7SL

​The DIPOLE - the Worlds finest Amateur Radio News Source like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.

​Canadian Amateur Radio operators will be excited to hear that a new class of license will be available starting September 1, 2020: the Quiet Radio Transmitter or “QRT” license.  To qualify for this license you need to simply agree to never transmit.

​A 2019 study found that 73% of hams never transmit. Most interestingly, the study found a third of those not only don’t want to transmit, but object to others transmitting, preferring to have silence for hours, if not days on end. As one survey respondent said, “We invested over $1000 in equipment to setup our club’s repeater and yet people think they can just use it as if this were a hobby. It is really bothersome to hear someone looking for a QSO.  It only encourages others to join in and, before you know it, everyone’s on the air disturbing the peace and quiet.”

Responding to the survey’s results, commercial interests proposed the QRT license be created. During the consultation period no-one from the ham community spoke up, confirming that the license was a perfect match to the needs of many hams.  One exception was a special interest group who requested an endorsement be created allowing for frequent short transmissions, such as kerchunking of repeaters (provided you never say your call sign) or dialing DTMF to turn off a link.

A second endorsement was also agreed to after a letter was received from a meeting held at Tim Hortons requesting that some QRT licensees should be able to say, “That’s not real ham radio” whenever someone is talking about new technology.

A third endorsement, the “stuck microphone with road noise” was not adopted as this was agreed to be a form of lengthy transmission, something that was in opposition to the spirit of the new license.

Hearing the news, a local Amateur instructor and examiner said, “This really is a game changer. The QRT license can be earned in a single day, except for the kerchunking endorsement which can take an extra day to practice using a test repeater we have setup in the classroom.  Mind you, some people think the extra day is worth it as you can earn a new ‘Kerchunked All Repeaters’ award in as little as 24 hours using just a simple handheld radio.”

Commercial interests across the country are welcoming the arrival of the QRT license. Speaking at a spectrum auction, an industry representative said, “This really speeds up the process of taking back our VHF and UHF spectrum from the Ham community.  As people see the benefits of a QRT license such as no antennas, longer battery life, and no RFI, they will quickly see that it makes sense to hand over the spectrum to us so more kids can send emoticons to each other instead of wasting their time experimenting with electronics.”

Is your license a QRT license?  Perhaps consider upgrading.

​de VE7NZ Adrian

​The DIPOLE - the Worlds finest Amateur Radio News Source like a Dipole there are two sides to every story, we ignore those sides, digging deeper for unwanted lobes and parasitic reactions.

 

Any Amateur Radio Operator that spins the VFO anywhere in Canada is going to find that the vast majority of repeaters are unused most of the time.  Yes I am not just talking about obscure bands like 220 and 900, I'm talking about all of them.   In the Greater Vancouver, British Columbia area you tend to find is 1 or 2 busy repeaters and then 100+ with rare to no traffic period.  My travels and connections in this hobby over the decades have assured me that this is the norm and not an exception through out North America and probably the World.

So enter a group of high energy git er done types that set up an Allstar Link hub of local repeaters to activate nodes and bands that are little used.  These rebels take it upon themselves to plant the Ham Radio flag and warm up the air.  The successful activation of this Hub of local repeaters was spectacular, connecting 220, 440, & 900 Mhz repeaters all over the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley of British Columbia and worked flawlessly.

This small band of miscreant's President of Linking thought what the heck, I've got all these Raspberry Pi's kickin around. I'll use one to make a dedicated Allstar Link Canada Hub where repeaters from across Canada can connect just like the olden day of the 1990's when IPARN linked up across Canada using satellite connections.  I forgot to mention that our President of Linking was one of the 2 main responsible players of the IPARN system that built the infrastructure. so this dude knows linking.  So Canada Hub node #51730 created! Works exceptional, yad yada yada...

The miscreants decided that is would be helpful if they connected up this new Canada Hub to various repeaters across Canada at random times to advertise it's existence.  Careful listening was observed, and interestingly all the repeaters connected to were dead air almost all day long and the rebels thought they had stumbled onto something whereby these little connected to Hams could find connection with others across Canada and put their thousands of dollars of repeater gear to work for our hobby!  The Canada Hub had a few connections per day and all the users observed reasonable QSO lengths and excellent operating practices.  To quote Borat,  "Great success!"

But hold the phone!  In just a few days a couple of the owners of these cold repeaters were complaining about the "unwanted connection" from the Canada Hub, accusing this group of "wrecking their repeaters".  One OM even threatened retaliation by playing tapes of CW practice on the air maliciously if we connected.

So my question to you kind reader of the Amateur Radio operator type persuasion is:   Do you like your Repeaters Cold and your Air Dead?

While the world is collectively losing their feces over a virus that is rapidly spreading and has now been declared a pandemic by the WHO (World Health Organization) Amateur Radio Operators are scientifically declared one of the lowest risk groups regardless of age or country of residency to suffer this plague.

Yes COVID-19 arrived early in my email inbox this morning when the news of RF Systems suspending all sales until March 25 shattering my radio world.  All professional North American sports leagues from hockey to soccer postponed indefinitely.  But late this afternoon a sliver of hope emerged against this apocalyptic back drop.

Scientists have shown that Amateur Radio operators are one of the lowest likely groups to suffer mass infections of COVID-19 due to a lifetime of practising Social-Exclusion.  Yes the awkward lack of eye contact and physical contact is a huge asset to avoiding infection as is the hours of isolation in front of a glowing transceiver.  Lack of hygiene is really not a factor here if the Ham has embraced the social isolation that is rampant in this hobby.  The longer the contest or more complex the coding required for a new Raspberry Pi SDR the less likely over the next 7-14 days there will be any risk what so ever of the plague wiping out the ranks of Radiodom.  

Sleep well my friends and CQ to save your life and, more importantly, the lives of others.

de VA7SL Scott

​Once upon a time there was a group of Hams that decided they wanted to install a DMR repeater in their area.  They excitedly researched the nationwide approved band plan and found the proper digital spectrum segment for DMR radio.  They then found a quiet frequency in that allocation and listened to it for a few weeks just to make sure that it was clear.  

The next step in the process was to apply for the frequency with the Region's decades long established Amateur Radio Frequency Coordination Committee which was done by filling out a lengthy form detailing all the technical aspects of the repeater, location. etc.  After a further period of time the frequency was approved and there was much rejoicing.

The members of this group then purchased the necessary equipment at great expense, had the duplexer professionally tuned and installed the repeater at the approved location.  The repeater became an overnight sensation and many amateur DMR operators became regular users of this repeater and all was thought to be well.

A few weeks later a phone call was received from a fellow Amateur Radio operator from a community on a large Island just off the coast of the region where this repeater was located explaining that their long established Packet Radio simplex node was getting stomped by this new repeater. 

• He further stated that their use of this frequency pre-dated the formation of the coordination committee. 
• The packet node was being used for the local Emergency Program and had been for decades. 
• They had never bothered to coordinate the frequency with the Frequency Allocation Committee and further
• The use of Packet Radio in this part of the allocation was not approved by the National Band Plan.

So my fellow Amateur Operators what would you do?  Hold the fort and keep the frequency or relent to the request even though you have done everything correctly and move the repeater?

North Fraser ARC is pleased to announce that we are the 2020 JD Power winners in four categories.  Yes the surveys went out and were returned and to no one's surprise North Fraser ARC has come out as a big winner in the non-existent Amateur Radio category.

Our first award was for INITIAL QUALITY.  Chevy got one too, we really don't know what this means but thank you and we hope it doesn't mean that initially we come across really well until you do further investigation.

Our second award was for BEST AMATEUR RADIO WEB SITE MADE WITH A FREE WEB SITE, yes Weebly is free and included in our domain hosting, enough said.

The third award was for the BEST 900 MHZ REPEATERS being VE7NFR & VE7VDX 

Our final award was for BEST REPEATER SYSTEM NAME : North Fraser Amateur Radio Transmitter Sites (NOFARTS)

Thank you JD Power, none of us here at North Fraser will confuse you with being a pornstar ever again.  Granting us one more award then Chevy really made us happy.  It just goes to show if everyone is a winner then there are no losers and we appreciate that you have brought this philosophy from the automotive awards sector to us here in Amateur Radio.

A New Year and the first chance, since our founding get together, for the tribe to break bread and bask in the glow of accomplishment.  Yes many of the newer attendees had not ever been to one of legendary events, most Presidents were there and a couple potential new Presidents showed as well.  Despite our President of Technical Modification (Motorolla) having an overt disdain for all things from the Sea a fine time was had by all.  As is our tradition no one wore suspenders and no one drank coffee without actually operating a radio.  All were thanked for their contributions over the last year as we celebrated our 9th Lower Mainland repeater covering 220, 440, 900 & 1.2 GHz on D-Star, DMR,  P25, NXDN and Analog FM modes from 6 different sites in North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, & Aldergove.  President of Linking gave an overview our where we are with the NOFARTS (North Fraser Amateur Radio Transmitter Sites) Network.  Raspberry Pi Beta interface has been created and the ability to connect the entire system via AllStar, Echolink and other networks is coming very soon.  Finally, Don, we promise a non-seafood establishment next time!

I have heard a lot of comments from Amateurs over the last few months about distracted driving and the conversations, held and stated as fact in many cases, concerned me deeply as I drive around with a microphone on my lap daily.  So after a quick review of the BC driving regulations and the sourcing of a current, PDF handout from the Province, here is the Spring 2019 lay of the land for Radio Amateurs:

Posted above is the PDF file from the Province of British Columbia with the exceptions, and ladies and gentlemen we as Radio Amateurs, CBers, Truckers, etc are excepted with these small technicalities:

• Microphone has to be permanently attached to the radio which must be securely mounted.
• Must operate in 1/2 Duplex mode only which is what we do while operating through repeaters.
• Must not operate keypads or buttons on the microphone other then the push to talk while driving.

I have heard a lot of Hams suggest we are not even allowed to have DTMF microphones,  this is completely untrue, the PDF document even has a picture of a radio with a DTMF microphone so let's please put that one to rest boys and girls.  I suggest that everyone print out this PDF and keep it in your glove compartment in case a zealous, yet ignorant of the exemption, officer pulls you over.

British Columbia's First Open P25 Mode Repeater is on the air!
North Fraser ARC is proud to announce the latest addition to our repeater family VE7PTF (Pappa Twenty Five) operating on the rock steady and crystal clear P25 mode used by law enforcement and government agencies through out North America for years.

440.425 MHz
+5 MHz input 445.425, NAC 293$
100W from 120M elevation 
Thornhill, Maple Ridge
Coverage Western Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver,
South to Bellingham, Washington.

​

British Columbia's first ever 900 MHz, repeater VE7NFR 927.9875, and BC's soon to be added second 900 MHZ repeater VE7VDX 927.6875 MHz, will soon feature P25 digital mixed mode operation.  Motorola XTL1500 P25 Digital 900 Mhz 30 Watt 896-940 Mhz radios will be the radio of choice for North Fraser ARC members operating on this band. The Motorola Quantar repeaters used for these repeaters do have a daughter board on the controller which can be software enabled to provide P25 and or mixed mode P25/FM Analog operation.

Updates will be issued on this blog, for any direct technical inquiries please see the contact page.

North Fraser Amateur Radio Club who brought the first ever 33 cm (902 MHZ) repeater to British Columbia with VE7NFR 927.9875 MHz is pleased to announce the latest addition to the repeater arsenal.

VE7WAR  (Wide Area Repeater) is now on the air from the 3075' level of Mt Seymour, North Vancouver, BC.  This repeater affords unbelievable digital coverage using the Kenwood NXDN mode.  

The astounding coverage area includes all of Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, NW Washington, Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands, Southern Vancouver Island. very wide area.

VE7WAR frequency  Downlink: 440.459375 Uplink is: 445.459375.  Yes that right 6 digits after the decimal, truly narrow band and finely notched in between existing repeaters. Greg VA7TD and Fred VA7RDO have set up a fine repeater, probably of the best sites in the entire of SW British Columbia. 

NXDN is a modern and versatile commercial digital standard, as the years go by surplus gear will come available but for today the radios are quite pricey rugged state of the art commercial rigs.  Many operators have already come out of the woodwork.  The NXDN digital RAN code for VE7WAR is 44, you need this for set up.

North Fraser ARC activating modes and bands that need to be activated and promoting state of the art communication.

The Charles Schultz classic cartoon Peanuts is one of those long running programs that you either love or hate.  I found the Peanuts kinda boring and I never quite understood the lack of adult supervision or the teacher being voiced by a muffled trumpet.  Let's face it, there wasn't a lot of competition back in the day. It was what it was for children's television programming and that Lucy was such a bitch, but, I digress.

Which brings us to the 2018 Amateur Radio invention that is revolutionizing the ease with which one can get on to D-Star digital Radio by Dutch Radio Amateur PA7LIM: "Peanut".  Over a matter of just a few days the normally sleepy reflectors that were once only given the appearance of being busy only by the odd net have suddenly become burdened with overwhelming Peanut traffic.  Peanut is software from Android phones that allows you to get onto D-Star.  This software was an instant hit and overwhelmed David PA7LIM who had to cut off the registration process as he could not keep up with the demand manually approving users and verifying call signs.

The story here is the discontent from the Elmer class of Ham Radio, the members of our fraternity that like their squelch levels unbroken, the ones that take things just a little too seriously.  Now am I interested in Cell Phone Ham Radio? Not really, not much interested in the entire DX thing anymore at all really.  Been there done that, next aspect of the hobby please.  However I have heard so much snobbery from the old timers over this one, somehow these fossils were convinced to get on the Digital Revolution wave and purchase a rig or hotspot of some kind or another and now they are debating whether or not Peanut access is Ham radio.  The same arguments that they heard from their Elmer's when Morse code was dropped as a requirement in most countries or, if you can go back far enough, when SSB challenged CW.

I now understand why human beings age and die, because they should when their sole contribution to society is the Bitch and the Complaint.  Harsh? Perhaps however innovators like PA7LIM who come up with cool new ideas are what Amateur Radio is supposed to be all about.  Technical achievement, pushing the boundaries of exploration of what we can do as radio operators, marrying technology and radio transmission is that frontier in 2018.

As the calendar changes to the month of December the Hams at North Fraser ARC become more excited as each day ticks down toward the ultimate festivities of the North Fraser ARC Xmas Party.  Held at an undisclosed location in a former DEW Line radar installation, secrecy is key as there is only room for the select few that make the mustard here at VE7NFR. No Peanut only operators here just tech savvy Amateurs on the cutting edge of "radio" operation; hams that boldly activate where few have activated before!

Our Christmas parties are legendary, in the past there have been appearances by Blondie, David Bowie, Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen.  It is tradition that members of the Nobel Laureate community let their hair down at North Fraser Xmas, discussions of quarks and leptons are common place as is the generosity of out President of Equipment Acquisitions VE7IOX.

Rumor has it that this year Dave will be passing out Kenwood P25 mode radios!  Well that is what most of the members have asked Santa for and Dave is the one that played Santa so you do the math.

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year from North Fraser ARC

Amateur Radio Operators everywhere are often the victim of malicious interference from persons or persons, known or otherwise.  This is a fact and it is not going to change ever, no matter how much enforcement is provided by the government regulators of the World.  But who is worse: the morons that operate that interfere or those of the supposed upstanding citizen segment that engage them? 

Seriously do you think that you have the argument that is actually going to make these fools wake up and discover Jesus?  You have the profound wisdom that will make an intoxicated and belligerent  repeater jammer  become everyone's favorite net controller? 

NEWS FLASH YOU DON'T

If you engage a jammer you are just as bad as they are.  Not partially, exactly the same as they are.  You give them the audience they crave, you are the sunshine that makes their foul mouth bloom.  You are part of the minority that gives our hobby a bad impression.  Wake the Hell up sunshine, shut up and or turn the dial to one of the 100 other repeaters in your area that are usually quiet.  Perhaps you can try a different band or mode?  If you can not resist the urge to comment to Mr. Jammer then perhaps you are the one one that needs the new hobby with less stress and temptation?  Just sayin...

This is the VE7IOX MOT, a carefully engineered emergency response vehicle.  When we break out the MOT please know that this vehicle is QRV on 440 MHz, 900 MHz, 1.2 GHz and 2.4 GHz with an array of digital voice and data modes as well as good old FM analog.  These antennas have been carefully engineered to avoid parasitic interactions with each other because who needs to be dealing with nasty parasites when they are off to an emergency?  No matter what the emergency this command vehicle is ready to be on the job and has amazing fuel efficiency to boot. 

Our list of acceptable emergencies includes:

Coffee
Field Day
Bunny Hunts
QSO Parties
New repeaters on the air
Bullshit sessions at local Candy Store

This uninspiring vehicle can navigate a Tim Horton's Drive Through lineup with the best of them and afford the latest and greatest technology to operate on bands which need to be warmed up from time to time. 
​VE7NFR members boldly operate where few have operated before!