No rules for Mexican Hams?

[1st of 5]

This may not be on the proper topic area, but since it occurs anywhere on the SW bands and does not confine itself to the Ham bands, here it is. I was wondering if there were any rules or governing agency for Ham/CB radios in Mexico? Sometimes I listen in on a few US Hams and am used to their constant IDing and call signs. But then there are the radio operators in Mexico. Sometimes I will listen to radio operators speaking to each other, in very fluent Mexican spanish, (not the TexMex we use here in south central Texas), as if they were speaking over a telephone. I have never heard them use call signs or radio discipline and profanity is quite common. They are using freqs from 3.2 to 10. MHz. Just a few hours ago, I heard two guys talking to each other on 9.190 USB MHz, from 0208 to 0214 UT, which was then taken over by some utility noises. At 0238 UT, on 7225, was another spanish conversation, in progress, frequently mentioning Nogales (Mex not AZ?) and Ciudad Juarez and someone named Rico who ended up in a hospital after a "golpe". Sometimes I can ID the yackers as boat/ship captains talking to each other, using nautical terms and can sometimes hear the boat's diesels in the background. Other times I can ID them as truckers, since they discuss routes, road conditions, etc. But most of the time I can't tell who they are, they never ID themselves or use call signs. Are these ham radios, company radios or high powered CBs? It sounds as if anyone can buy and operate a Ham radio and use it anyway they want. Has anyone else ever heard these guys?

 

[w9wi]

This may not be on the proper topic area, but since it occurs anywhere on the SW bands and does not confine itself to the Ham bands, here it is. I was wondering if there were any rules or governing agency for Ham/CB radios in Mexico? Sometimes I listen in on a few US Hams and am used to their constant IDing and call signs. But then there are the radio operators in Mexico. Sometimes I will listen to radio operators speaking to each other, in very fluent Mexican spanish, (not the TexMex we use here in south central Texas), as if they were speaking over a telephone. I have never heard them use call signs or radio discipline and profanity is quite common. They are using freqs from 3.2 to 10. MHz. Just a few hours ago, I heard two guys talking to each other on 9.190 USB MHz, from 0208 to 0214 UT, which was then taken over by some utility noises. At 0238 UT, on 7225, was another spanish conversation, in progress, frequently mentioning Nogales (Mex not AZ?) and Ciudad Juarez and someone named Rico who ended up in a hospital after a "golpe". Sometimes I can ID the yackers as boat/ship captains talking to each other, using nautical terms and can sometimes hear the boat's diesels in the background. Other times I can ID them as truckers, since they discuss routes, road conditions, etc. But most of the time I can't tell who they are, they never ID themselves or use call signs. Are these ham radios, company radios or high powered CBs? It sounds as if anyone can buy and operate a Ham radio and use it anyway they want. Has anyone else ever heard these guys?

- Enforcement of regulations is tighter in some countries than in others... From what I've read, things are far worse in Asia.
- From a technical standpoint, yes, pretty much anyone can buy and operate a ham radio and use it any way they want. Doesn't mean they're a ham, and doesn't necessarily make it legal, but if their country has higher priorities they're not likely to get called on the carpet.
- Even here in the US, illegal use of ham gear has been an issue. High-powered operation in the 27MHz CB band; operation on 26/27MHz channels not allocated for CB. (and even CB operation on channels above 28MHz, interfering with true ham communications) I've heard of some illegal operation around 6.9MHz now as well. (I'm not talking about pirate broadcasters -- who also frequent that spectrum -- but two-way work)

 

[KeithE4]

I expect to hear more of this in the coming years, with only hams aggressively fighting it. AFAIK, commercial use of shortwave is all but dead outside of broadcasting (and even that's decreasing rapidly) and backup systems for international aircraft and maritime services (I think they're considered secondary services now).

It wouldn't surprise me at all to hear more "renegade" unlicensed radio services cropping up all over the HF spectrum. The ARRL and other ham groups will try to keep them out of their bands. I doubt that anybody else will care all that much unless there is proof of interference to safety communications. The ionosphere is considered a liability to good communications today, not an asset.

I don't think the FCC licenses Fixed & Mobile Services on the HF bands anymore unless it can be shown that there is a dire need for it. Those bands are de-facto broadcast bands now. There might be some use in other countries, however.