A Hidden Feature in All Amateur Radio Gear! Several
of us have discovered that we have a hidden feature within our radios,
especially our 2-meter rigs: the QRM/Jammer Detector. Okay, so the
feature is within our heads, but here is a quick tutorial on how to use
it best:
Upon
initial detection of a transmission that has no voice and is either
quiet or just static, engage your logic circuit (brain) to determine
appropriate next action:
+ If the transmissions are NOT routinely
“doubling” with another station, but rather in-between stations or on a
quiet repeater, it may be nothing more than someone on the fringe,
unintentional interference, or the repeater acting up . Call to the
station once to see if assistance is needed, but don’t keep chasing
them.
+ If the transmissions ARE clearly interfering with communications, this is a Jammer or QRMer and you should ignore the activity.
Don’t talk about it, don’t try to address them, or anything else that
lets them know they are achieving their objective. If it is during a
net, let the Net Control determine the next action, but do not talk
about the behavior later in the net during your rag chew or recheck.
+ Don’t discuss the
behavior on the air at another time or day, either. Ignore the
behavior. That is the hardest part, because we like to talk and we like
to defend what is right and proper. This is one of those subjects that
we just need to keep off of the repeater.
Why
does someone cause this interference? The individual either wants the
attention, or believes (through some twisted logic) that stations that
are constantly being interfered with will be asked to not be on the
repeater. I can't explain it any further than that, because I just don't
understand it, either.
Thanks for you help with this!