[OZAPRS] Visit to VK land with APRS

James Cameron VK2LQZ vk2lqz at wia.org.au
Mon Jul 13 17:47:57 EST 2009


On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 06:59:32PM +1200, Phillip wrote:
> If APRS was to be used in VK land by a ZL visitor would the following be
> legal Identification of that station / operator
> 
> Since there is no provision for the use of ZL2XXX / VK or  VK / ZL2XXX in
> the Call string  would placing the operator ID in the beacon 
> string be an accepted means of the legal identification. eg ZL2XXX/VK  or
> VK/ZL2XXX

You would have to ask the ACMA, unless someone else has already asked
them and got a repeatable answer.  I agree with Darryl, it might be
better not to ask.  Everytime someone has asked the ACMA something we've
got a raft of new ways not to do things.

I think the answer is no, but I'm not a lawyer.

The law is in "Radiocommunications (Overseas Amateurs Visiting
Australia) Class Licence 2008" section 11.1, that the suffix VK must
follow your callsign.  It doesn't say how closely it has to follow it,
but they probably mean "right after it".

Now, there's a possible out ... section 11.2.b.i includes "or by an
internationally recognised code".  You have to establish that your means
of placing the callsign in the beacon string is "internationally
recognised".  Good luck on that.  If you recognise that and I recognise
it, doesn't it make it international?  Best bet would be to find
something in the APRS protocol definition that allows for it.

Would your latitude and longitude in the beacon be a more reasonable way
of establishing your location?  Probably that is best.  Can you avoid
transmitting a beacon without a known location?

Isn't it about time the on-air protocol was adjusted to allow for such
needs?  What group is re-engineering the protocol?  Protocols are never
expected to be static.

References:

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrument1.nsf/0/8270407DE5401643CA2573ED00178625/$file/RadcomOverseasAmateursVisitinAustCL2008.pdf

-- 
James Cameron    mailto:quozl at us.netrek.org     http://quozl.netrek.org/
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