Wayne Paul wrote:

"Mike the Strike" wrote in message
oups.com...

I know of at least one non-ham who carries a 2-meter radio for
emergency use also.


Are you encouraging non-licensed use of ham repeaters? Don't most
repeaters today require a specific sub-audio tone to key the repeater? Isn't
the reason for the tones to eliminate unlicensed operators? I have an old
Heath Kit hand held 2 meter unit that is almost useless because it doesn't
have sub-audio capabilities. I took my old hand held to Mackay, Idaho this
summer and realized that it couldn't key any relevant repeaters.

I think most repeaters that are using PL/DPL (CTCSS/DCS) are doing so in
an effort to better reject interference. Especially in urban areas the
repeater receivers may tend to hear a lot of inadvertant activity either
because of intermodulation or good propogation or just strong signals.
Generally speaking if the repeater is operating in this mode, the
particular tone is published by the ARRL (at least in the US) and probably
broadcast by the repeater when it identifies itself. Any modern
transmitter has subaudio capability so I don't see how this would prevent
unlicensed, and intentional interference. PL/DPL is, and has always been
a means of cooperatively sharing resources.

In the US, most of the barriers to get a Amateur Radio license have been
removed. Go to Radio Shack get a current license guide read it and take the
test for the "no-code" license class. Any glider pilot should be able to
pass the test with one weekend worth of study.

I agree with this one completely. There's no reason any pilot should have
trouble passing a no-code tech exam on 1 weekend's worth of studying. I
think its only about 50 questions, multiple choice, with published
questions and answers. I see no legitamite reason to use an amateur radio
unlicensed. The act of purchasing it essentially implies that you intend
at some point to use it. So even if its an emergency at the moment, it
wasn't an emergency during the one year between when you bought it and
used it during which time there's no reason you couldn't have gone out and
gotten a license.

dan