re: MTV

Someone sent me a private email about intruder situations - he is ham, but is also involved with another 2-way radio service that has been suffering from lots of intruders. The bad news, he says, is that in almost ALL cases, the intruders' radios were configured by someone in the 2-way business who is also a ham. I have a hunch that this alleged operation involved a ham operator too.

Second, this is not the first intruder situation nor is it the last. Going ballistic at MTV would be inappropriate. Yes, it worked with SWATCH but that situation came perilously close close to backfiring and could have given ham radio awful PR. I expect that only 1 person knew how those radios worked and it probably was not a member of the production crew. Most people have no clue when it comes to radios.

The hams in NYC have built a case of solid evidence and have already or soon will be turning it over to the appropriate people. But don't expect any enforcements on this specific event - BUT, do expect that the right people will be watching this organization closely in the future. And they will get nailed if they do it again.

The important lessons to us are:
1. Use our frequencies! (I suggested to some of the hams in NYC that perhaps some QSOs on the indicated frequencies could resolve the problem.)
2. We must always keep an eye on signals in the Amateur allocations and be prepared to accurately document all suspicious activity.
3. Consider joining the Official Observer program to assist in this effort.

Ed, KF7VY