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Monday, January 28, 2019

Dutch radio piracy on sea

Just reading the blogpost from KB6NU today. Some things I read these days in the blog from the oldest women ever sailing the world VE0JS Jeanne are clear to me now. Reading about weather reports given to Mark, Uku and Jean Luc by radio puzzled me. But it seems there is a global sailing race going on in which a Dutch guy Mark Slats with his boat Ophen Maverick is now at second place. However Mark or any of his crew don't have a valid amateurradio license though they use a unregistered call and make contacts on the amateurradio bands. They received a official warning and it is forbidden for other radioamateurs to contact them as well. I think it is not wise for them to just use shortwave radio on the amateurradio bands without a license. I've been a "radio pirate" as well and lost my radio to the dutch authorities (dutch FCC) in the early 90s. I did transmit on the 10m as well (SSB in the CW portion, little did I know). After all it was my own fault and stupidity. Now Mark and his team can not contact other participants and their supporting team ashore anymore. They should have thought about that, and probabely did, but took their chances. However, considering my own punishment, I think it is fair the Dutch FCC (Agentschap Telecom) is taking action.


8 comments:

  1. nerafTuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10:53:00 AM GMT+1

    I agree with you completely. Greetings from Canary Islands.

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  2. PhotonTuesday, January 29, 2019 at 1:34:00 PM GMT+1

    I guess they supposed being in international waters most of the time meant they couldn't be pursued. The Dutch authorities are really to be congratulated, because OFCOM in the UK would likely do what they are best known for: nothing.

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    Replies
    1. PE4BAS, BasTuesday, January 29, 2019 at 2:36:00 PM GMT+1

      Of course it is difficult to do something now. But a fine can be send already to the home address. If they did this ashore they already had been visited by the investigating officer from Agentschap Telecom. And since it is a economic offense (yes, it is in the Netherlands!) fines could be very high. Not that I wish it for them but they shouldn't think no one can do something and any other dutch person can get a fine for doing this. Somewhere it would be unfair and it makes me angry. Probabely because I am a experienced person for this kind of offense. 73, Bas

      Delete
  3. Paul Stam PAØKTuesday, January 29, 2019 at 4:49:00 PM GMT+1

    Hallo Bas, het lijkt wel een filmpje uit de jaren zeventig. Tja, het mag niet. Ik zie ook steeds met FT8 een call op 20 meter: PD1 dus dat lijkt me ook een piraat. 73 Paul PAØK

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    Replies
    1. PE4BAS, BasTuesday, January 29, 2019 at 9:37:00 PM GMT+1

      PDers mogen toch op 20m uitkomen? Of gebruikt hij alleen "PD1" als gehele call? 73, Bas

      Delete
  4. HansTuesday, January 29, 2019 at 5:27:00 PM GMT+1

    Tja, dit kan natuurlijk niet. Ik snap niet dat de organisatie dat niet beter geregeld heeft. Al valt het mij wel op dat ik, maar ook anderen weleens QSL kaarten krijgen van FT-8 QSO's die ik nooit gevoerd heb. Zelfs op 2m. 73 Hans PE1BVQ

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    Replies
    1. PE4BAS, BasTuesday, January 29, 2019 at 9:39:00 PM GMT+1

      Tja Hans, het had mogelijk geweest. Maar er is niet over nagedacht. Wat betreft QSL kaarten van QSO's die niet gevoerd zijn. DIe krijg ik ook wel eens. Hebben ze wel pech...73, Bas

      Delete

Thanks for your comment. Bedankt voor je reactie. 73, Bas