Re: [Paddlewise] Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal

> Oh, boy. I wish you had more details on this.  If it
> had hit the news 
> within the last 10 years, I would have really paid
> attention.
> 
> Anybody recall this?  If this happened, it would
> really put the squelch on 
> someone in an iffy situation who had a sub-legal
> rig.  A bad set of 
> choices:  use the radio, and invite legal problems;
> keep quiet, and 
> possibly die.


Another possibility is that a lot of the emergency
calls without a license have a "lack of enforcement"
issue attached to them.  In Canada, the CRTC has a lot
more on their plate then they could possibly enforce
with their current resources.  If no enforcement
officials hear the transmission, did it really exist
in the first place?  WIth commercial radio, everything
is put into a recorded log.  When I was involved with
a community radio station, everything was taped onto a
day-long reel to reel tape recorder.   They can go
back and check it if there is a complaint within a
reasonable timeframe.  With the VHF and Ham bands, the
transmission is gone at the moment you let go of the
"Transmit" button.

It seems to me that if you are kayaking in an area
with a good 2M repeater, a 2M ham radio handheld would
be a practical backup communication device.  In
Toronto, there is a repeater in the CN tower.  The
majority of the Toronto waterfront would be within
range.  The ham community here may stone me for
admiting this publicly, but it is the reality.

YOur biggest risk is going to be somewhere more
remote.  The reality is that if the region is truly
remote, the odds of your signal being received is also
more remote on ALL frequencies.

Derek


 
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