Comment by wcfields | Hacker News Reader

Comment by wcfields | Hacker News Reader

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r/amateurradio & Han Radio Crash Course on YouTube are about the only thing that keeps me interested in HAM; everything else is octogenarians with Angelfire-esq websites.

For myself, late 30’s IT profesional, I’ve found the European Twitter scene of Satnogs, Amateur TV, QO-100, and microwave comms much more interesting than anything that’s come out of the LF OMs in the states. Hell, I saw a French person create a high speed VHF/UHF system that’s technically illegal in the US due to regulations/encryption.

What I have seen from Reddit is there’s a lot of “listener” trans operators and one huge roadblock is the FCC open database of full names and addresses, past and present. Even myself, I almost never give out my call sign online since it has my government name and home addresses, even If I’ve updated to a PO Box it still has historical info. I can only imagine what it’s like for a LGBTQ person in the Midwest calling CQ and being deadnamed, or worse in return.

In my ideal world Amateur Radio would be packed to the gills by people of all stripes using it as free communication for ad-hoc cell phone networks, free WiFi/internet, and DIY wireless systems. I know there’s limitations but politically I want it to become available and free for everyone against the oppression of paying for communications.

> one huge roadblock is the FCC open database of full names and addresses, past and present

That is creepy. No wonder why people shy away from HAM. Even privacy conscious geeks would just object to that!

In practice, how does it works?

Does the FCC gets its data from Experian?

The law says you have to get a license from the FCC to operate your radio, and getting the license requires sending them your name and addresses. It's that simple.

Then they shouldn't complain too loud that HAM is dying.

Between us privacy minded geeks who don't want our records out in the public, and the queer teens who don't want their old names out in the public as explained by the parent poster, it doesn't leave much of a demography.

Nobody wants their archaic rules. It's that simple.

It's self reported. When you move you're required to update your address.

It is unfortunate that it's public, but you should also keep in mind that I can buy a CD of tax records with names, phone numbers, and addresses of the tax holder and the last sale price (and often previous owners and sales) for every property in the county for $50. Our names and addresses are much less private than most people think.

> It is unfortunate that it's public

It is unbelievable in this day and age!

I had my reservations about becoming a HAM, mostly because of the FCC snitching mentality. Now I know this, I will never do HAM. I don't compromise on privacy, regardless the bells and whistles. A Baofeng is $25 and more in line with my ethics.

> tax records with names, phone numbers, and addresses of the tax holder and the last sale price

Good thing I don't own property then!

> Our names and addresses are much less private than most people think.

Some people rent a small flat where they don't live, just to have a postal address

Other people form a NV company to register their assets and protect their identity and address.

I agree with the very general principle -- but in practice, this public list of all licensed amateur radio operators is about the least interesting (public) database I'm on.

Public records are a legitimate service.

I might even argue that any license issued by the government that gives individual citizens additional rights, should be publicly disclosed. Not necessarily all the details, but the existence of the grant of super-citizen rights.

Hairdressers, plumbers, property owners, drivers (caveat: DL for ID makes this tricky), gun owners, ...

Basically, if you have a special set of laws applied to you, I think it's reasonable for that to be public information.

Don't worry - in many states anyone can just get a copy of the voter rolls including names, addresses, etc.: https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/access...

I don't know why you were downvoted because your concern is 100% legitimate and relevant to the current discussion.

Would you be so kind and provide a few links to this european Twitter scene? Sounds interesting...

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