Repeater Jammers

In light of the recent rash of jamming incidents which have occurred on our repeaters, the MTARA Board of Directors would like to re-emphasize its policy on jammers; the FCC rules on the issue and to give advice on the way to handle the situation when a jammer gets into your conversation on the air.

As stated in the MTARA Repeater Operation and Rules pamphlet that our members receive with their renewal, "Should you experience interference while you or another station is talking, the MTARA wants you to ignore the individual; DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE INTERFERENCE, or make any comments on his behavior. The individual(s) doing the interference is looking for attention; by not acknowledging him, he will eventually go away."

As aggravating as he might be you, and as frustrated as you may feel, this approach works the best. As stated, the individual(s) are trying to get your attention to solicit a reaction from you. When you respond, you are giving them exactly what they want. If you do not respond, you will end up aggravating them! They may try harder before they give up, but they will eventually give up and go away. DO NOT IMMEDIATELY SUSPEND YOUR CONVERSATION AND SIGN OFF. Continue your conversation as if the jammer weren't there (even to the extent of making believe you had heard everything your party said). To sign off immediately also reinforces their behavior because the jammer deprives you of what you had wanted to do and therethere got your attention. Make another transmission or two; then sign off, saying you have arrived at your destination or the phone rang or something -- other than to acknowledge the jammer's presence.

This policy extends beyond the present moment. One should not discuss the incident on the air at a later time or on a different frequency, either. You may be monitored by the same individual or others of a similar mind and, despite the time delay, they will know that they got what they had wanted; -- they got to you. Many repeater owners and trustees do not even like to hear conversations about jammers on their machines. They are concerned that such talk could foster this activity in their area or on their repeater(s).

As we all know, these individuals are either unlicensed or are licensed amateurs who, for obvious reasons, will not identify themselves. In either case, they are considered to be unidentified operators and, as such, according to FCC rules (Part 97.113), we are forbidden to engage in conversation with such an individual(s). Thus, if we taunt or chastise the jammer, we are as just guilty. Often, if someone is trying to track the jammer, our comments to the jammer will only serve to confuse the tracker if he can hear both you and the jammer on the input frequency.

How can you help? When you hear a jammer, switch your radio to the input frequency of the repeater and write down the signal level you receive from the jammer's transmissions. If you have a directional antenna, try to determine the direction the signal is coming from and write it down also. Whenever possible, note the time of day. ABOVE ALL! DO NOT GIVE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION OVER THE AIR. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS TO GIVE THE GUY A SIGNAL REPORT!

If you have pertinent information regarding a developing pattern to the signal strength on the input frequency; direction of the signal; time of day; report it to us by calling (on the phone!) any one of the Club officers listed on the back of Intermod. They will see to it that the information gets to the proper persons.

What should you do if you witness someone in the process of jamming? DO NOT CONFRONT THEM! There are better, more effective ways of handling it. If the jammer is mobile, GET HIS LICENSE PLATE NUMBER. If the jammer is on foot, get his description, approximate age, height, weight, etc. If at all possible, write down the above information along with the date, time and frequency and, if the jammer's transmission involves talk, try to remember everything he said. All this will help later when building a legal case against the individual. The greater the detail, the better.

We, of the Board of Directors of the MTARA, want you to enjoy amateur radio and especially the use of the MTARA repeaters without the problems created by the jammer's criminal activities. We are the masters of our own destiny and therefore can control the situation even in times when it seems uncontrollable. We of the Board will do our part to make our repeaters enjoyable and, with your help -- we can insure it.

Respectfully,

MTARA's Board of Directors