Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
Funny, I just did the same thing ... - John Leigh "Douglas, Brent" wrote: > that article demanded a reply - I sent a polite letter to the writer, > asking that he amend his story to talk about the danger of a shoot > down... why a parkflier is not really a toy... RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
Matthew Orme wrote: > Sure you can. If I am flying on a frequency, I have no duty, legal or > otherwise, to give you a turn. Your option, is to go away, or change > frequencies. the politeness police can come talk to me, but neither > the FCC, or the police give a rats a**. No laws are broken. As > secondary users, you have to accept ALL forms of interference, > including other legal users. Wow Matthew Donn't think I'll be flying in or around Westlake Village, CA from now on. Don't want to get into a freq fight with ya. Bob Pope Laguna Hills, CA RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
> The illegal act is when you intentionally destroy property or cause harm >by operating your equipment. Knowingly doing it, is way different than negligently doing it. If I just fly on a frequency, there is no "intent to cause damage" (negligence maybe, but not criminal). if you tell me that you are on a frequency, I have every right to say "so, am I. If you fly, you fly your plane at your own risk. How much damage can it do? Negligence is proportionate. I fly my plane at my own risk. Once you are aware that I fly on a frequency, the onus is on YOU to prevent damage, not me. >Basiclly you >cannot tell someone else to go home as you were "there first" and on "your >freq". They have every right to operate as you do. Sure you can. If I am flying on a frequency, I have no duty, legal or otherwise, to give you a turn. Your option, is to go away, or change frequencies. the politeness police can come talk to me, but neither the FCC, or the police give a rats a**. No laws are broken. As secondary users, you have to accept ALL forms of interference, including other legal users. > The most problematic situation is the "rogue" flier. This includes >people flying HL in the backyard, IMAC at their local school, or even the >famous park flier. If i live across from a club field, and fly my parkflier in my front yard, all i have to do is to tell the club that i use XX frequency, and then they have the duty to see that none of their planes cause damage. the problem, is that if i am flying my park flyer a hundred feet from my your radio a block away won't affect my plane, but my radio will affect yours, because you fly at a greater distance. Once you put a plane into the air, knowing that there is a high probability of interference, you are negligent. Plaintiff "were you aware that the gentleman a block away flies a plane on the same frequency as you?" Defendant "yes" Plaintiff "but you decided to fly anyway" Defendant "yes' at this point, you have admitted liability. get out the checkbook. you might be able to pin some on the guy with the park flier, but nothing will get you off (which is the point). to pin any on the parkflier, you would have to be able to prove that he caused the "shoot down", which would be really difficult to do. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
that article demanded a reply - I sent a polite letter to the writer, asking that he amend his story to talk about the danger of a shoot down... why a parkflier is not really a toy... it would be nice to see the AMA put out some literature on this in the magazines, something I see where these park fliers are getting warning stickers, but that seems sort of wimpy just my thoughts. Brent
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
Matthew, It is not illegal to use a transmitter to fly your plane. There is no restriction other than local ordinances that prevent you from flying and operating your transmitter. Does not matter where you fly, from a club field to a local park. As long as you are using legal channels you are allowed. The illegal act is when you intentionally destroy property or cause harm by operating your equipment. For example, if you knowingly shoot someone down in order to destroy their plane. A well known example of this occured in California with some ginat scale racing. The offender (sitting in his car) was caught. Anyway, as a user of the equipment you are responsible for its proper use. If while at your local slope your freq is used you cannot turn on to "clear your channel"! Nor can you operate your equipment knowingly to prevent someone else from operating theirs. Basiclly you cannot tell someone else to go home as you were "there first" and on "your freq". They have every right to operate as you do. The most problematic situation is the "rogue" flier. This includes people flying HL in the backyard, IMAC at their local school, or even the famous park flier. If they have no knowledge of a freq conflict with another person then they are not commiting a crime as they are not intentionally causing damage or injury directly. Though during a cival trial they could be found responsible for any damage caused by their actions even though legally they did not comit a crime. Jason Werner - Original Message - From: "Matthew Orme" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 3:19 PM Subject: Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety > At 08:51 PM 1/30/02, Simon Van Leeuwen wrote: > >Those, who through persistant ignorance, or blantant disregard for the > >consequences (those chaps who tell you where to go - and how to get > >there for example) should be made aware that it is a criminal offence > >punishable with jail terms if they persist. > > > totally wrong. Show me the law. you can't. > > > Matthew Orme > Aveox Electric Flight Systems Inc. http://www.aveox.com > 31324 Via Colinas, #104 Westlake Village, Ca 91362 > (818) 597-8915 x 102 Fax:(818)597-0617 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > "Mr. Town, A toy airplane, is a thing you wind up with a key, and it rolls > along the floor" > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
I believe that hams & the government are the only authorized users of the 50-54 MHz band, and most hams will stick to the voluntary bandplans so I think you are pretty safe if you are on those bands. On another subject, something that will hopefully help eliminate getting shot down, does anybody know if spread spectrum R/C gear is available? That's something I would definitely pay for if it's available and if I can afford it! Brian > I wasn't aware that 50MHz at least was exclusive. I could be > wrong but understood that ham operators stay clear of it by > understanding rather than legal requirement. It's a small detail > and your point stands, it is considerably safer in basically all > environments. > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
Al, I wasn't aware that 50MHz at least was exclusive. I could be wrong but understood that ham operators stay clear of it by understanding rather than legal requirement. It's a small detail and your point stands, it is considerably safer in basically all environments. Craig. - Original Message - From: "glide" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 10:09 PM Subject: RE: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety > I switched to the ham band almost ten years ago just because I was tired of > "sharing" freqs when I was at the slopes. At the moment, I'm the only one > on the slopes that is *legally* using the ham freqs. But that doesn't stop > me from asking others what channels they are on and informing others of my > channel. One drawback I can think of in having the ham band channels is > that rx's are a little more expensive than the 72 mhz counterparts. But at > least hams have the legal exclusive rights to the 50 & 53 mhz r/c channels. > > Until better frequency management technology is implemented in our hardware, > we will always be in danger of being shot down by others who are clueless or > don't give a rip. > > In the meantime, fly at your own risk and hope that the AMA insurance kicks > in somewhere down the line. (sounds like "quote of the week" ) > > Aloha to all on RCSE, > > Al Battad-WH6VE > AMA #506981 > > > > -Original Message- > From: David A. Enete [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 6:49 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety > > > >Man, look at the technology our computer radios have, and they are > >so stupid about stomping all over each others frequencies. I know > >the technology is available to keep this from happening. I for one > >would pay for it even if it meant buying a new system. > > Well, you could at least stack the odds in your favor by switching to > ham bands. You wouldn't have to lay out a big stack of money, but > would again greatly reduce the number of pilots likely to be on your > freq. > > - David > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > USA > > > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
>802.11 (usually known as AirPort) give 11 megabit/sec (about 100k). I have one in the laptop I'm using now (Monkey King) Your network is using 802.11b -- WiFi in today's parlance (its what Apple uses in their AirPort products). Its not going to work too well to control a model since the range is only about 150'. It works quite well despite having to share the band with microwave ovens, cordless phones and other wireless devices. I'm using a newer technology in this computer -- 802.11a -- which uses a higher frequeny link and can theorectically deliver up to 54MBits/sec. Even if it did have the range -- and it could, because we can transmit with significant power at the high end of the band -- its not reactive enough to be safe for a flying model. If the link dropped it could take several seconds to reaquire it, time enough to lose the plane. The idea's good, though. We should be able to do something with the current radio band using commonly available and very inexpensive processors. Our requirements are very modest, in the tens of bits per second. I suppose nothing's been done because of product inertia and regulatory considerations. We should push manufacturers. They're flooding the market with R/C toys -- park fliers -- which are a risk to us all. They need to close the loop so we can all fly without fear. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
It would be a bit of effort, but would probably pay off to some extent in the long run: Make up some professional-looking (i.e. NOT handwritten) single-page Tip Sheets. We'll call them that for now, if for no other reason than I can't think of anything fancier. Briefly and simply explain the issue of frequency conflict/control. Include the concept of pin boards and stress the importance of ASKING FOR HELP at fields, if one is uncertain of the goings-on. Print these on brightly-colored paper (the fluorescent reds or greens come to mind). Leave a stack of 100 or so at all the local shops...one could enlist the help of a couple of the local clubs with the task. Talk to the manager at each of the stores and try to get them to agree to include one of these sheets with EVERY radio and/or flying package sale. Stress the importance of the issue with him/her, that we're trying to be proactive with a real problem. Visit the shop(s) once a month or as necessary to keep the flyers stocked and talk to the shop personnel. This won't get everyone and maybe it's already been tried to no avail. You may also get a cold reception at some places, but it could work. You might also pick up some new talent in the process. Just thinking out in public here...opinions? Tom > - Original Message - > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 6:40 PM > Subject: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety > > > > I'd like some constructive ideas about how I can work to improve the > > situation. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
On Wed, 30 Jan 2002, David A. Enete wrote: > Packet radio perhaps? > > Or, true digital radios with a signature at some point (just hope you > don't need fast input after an unqualified signal). 802.11 (usually known as AirPort) give 11 megabit/sec (about 100k). I have one in the laptop I'm using now. The card itself is a PCMCIA and weighs, oh, less than half an ounce. And it speaks TCP/IP. If we had real packets, we could send/receive anything to and from the ship with redundancy, frequency wouldn't especially matter, you could encrypt/decrypt your signal, and you could have a web server that sent out a webpage that told altitude, attitude, whatever (not that a web page would be a good idea; something streaming would be way better). And I bet it could be done for the same prace as radios now. The card in my computer cost $90. If it was integrated into a whole radio, eh, maybe it would cost a little more. But you could use an embedded chip onboard to decrypt and parse and talk to the servos. But we don't do this because it's not where we're coming from. We're coming from free flight. We want to control our models, so we attach lines, then radios. Then we want to mix the radio signal. It's an evolutionary process, but every so often a revolution's a good idea. Naturally, though, *I* can't design this. So I have to wait. And so do most of us. So I'm willing to put up with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" since I can't really help the situation anyway. -J > > > - David > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > USA > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and >"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
I switched to the ham band almost ten years ago just because I was tired of "sharing" freqs when I was at the slopes. At the moment, I'm the only one on the slopes that is *legally* using the ham freqs. But that doesn't stop me from asking others what channels they are on and informing others of my channel. One drawback I can think of in having the ham band channels is that rx's are a little more expensive than the 72 mhz counterparts. But at least hams have the legal exclusive rights to the 50 & 53 mhz r/c channels. Until better frequency management technology is implemented in our hardware, we will always be in danger of being shot down by others who are clueless or don't give a rip. In the meantime, fly at your own risk and hope that the AMA insurance kicks in somewhere down the line. (sounds like "quote of the week" ) Aloha to all on RCSE, Al Battad-WH6VE AMA #506981 -Original Message- From: David A. Enete [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 6:49 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety >Man, look at the technology our computer radios have, and they are >so stupid about stomping all over each others frequencies. I know >the technology is available to keep this from happening. I for one >would pay for it even if it meant buying a new system. Well, you could at least stack the odds in your favor by switching to ham bands. You wouldn't have to lay out a big stack of money, but would again greatly reduce the number of pilots likely to be on your freq. - David [EMAIL PROTECTED] USA RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
>I'm gonna cut this thread short, I was really just sympathizing with Tom loosing his >second model to the same reason in such a short period of time. Main point, like he >even cares what I think too. >I should have never mentioned and frequency control issues on RCSE, that will never >get solved here and not worth ruffling any feathers over. I am sorry Dick, we have >never met personally and I don't want this to go any further.> >Jim >Downers Grove, IL Jim,Sounds fine to me. How do we turn off that group of barking thread chasers that want to turn it into a big deal? -- Dick Barker Seattle, WA - Turning HLG Around - RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
Dont get your feathers ruffled. All I said was that just because you choose to fly overpriced, pre-build, moulded ARFS does not give you any frequency advantage. Yes I would pay for your overpriced mouldy if: 1. I shot it down 2. you were on the frequency board when I started to fly. If you choose to fly at a place without frequency control then you do it at your own risk. Slope sites seem to be the worst offenders in this respect. Model price has no priority for frequency. The last time someone shot me down was a kid with a zagi that decided to fly from the soccer field across the road from our county parks department provided AMA club soaring and electric field (SASS). He didn't want to bother the 'serious' glider fliers so he decided to teach himself to fly in the soccer field across the street. He is now a valuable member of our club. -- Dick Barker Seattle, WA - Turning HLG Around - >Get off what, I never said it did. I hope your models never get shot down, I haven't >been so lucky, and most people don't care. Do you have that attitude too? Would you >reimburse me if you shot down my $1200 Icon and destroyed it with one of your little >toys? I don't want to find out. > >I am just saying I would pay extra to have a regulated frequency so I can preserve my >models, and fly in a more safe environment. That is not an elitist attitude, sir >Jim >At 10:37 PM 1/30/2002, Dick Barker wrote: >>Get off it Jim. This is an equal opportunity sport (or hobby,depending >>on who you listen to.) Flying an overpriced ARF does not give you any >>priority over those who build our own simple DLGs. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
In a message dated 01/30/2002 10:38:18 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Get off it Jim. This is an equal opportunity sport (or hobby,depending > on who you listen to.) Flying an overpriced ARF does not give you any > priority over those who build our own simple DLGs. > > >The channel block is not available in the US.. > >I think we should all have a unique ID in our tx and a way to set the ID in > the rx with microswitches or programming. The only way to escape all the > newbies and throw away RTF's is to have this coded system on a separate freq. > band, and priced in the league for the guys flying expensive toys, like > helicopters, jets, IMAC, and our silly little molded gliders > >Jim I think Jim's idea has merit. You pay a premium for the protection of your stuff. In an ideal scenario, the cost of it would not limit the newbie's access or force anybody to use it. It would simply be available at a price. I don't know the technical limitations, but they should be challenges, not obstacles. Just think, though. Removing the "I've been hit!" dodge from the arsenal of excuses might be kinda like wearing the emperor's (not you Karlton!) invisible robe. Bill Wingstedt RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
I'm gonna cut this thread short, I was really just sympathizing with Tom loosing his second model to the same reason in such a short period of time. Main point, like he even cares what I think too. I should have never mentioned and frequency control issues on RCSE, that will never get solved here and not worth ruffling any feathers over. I am sorry Dick, we have never met personally and I don't want this to go any further. Jim Downers Grove, IL Member of the Chicago SOAR club, AMA 592537LSF 7560 Level III ICQ 6997780R/C Soaring Page at www.jimbacus.net RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
> I think we should all have a unique ID in our tx and a way to set >the ID in the rx with microswitches or programming. The only way to >escape all the newbies and throw away RTF's is to have this coded >system on a separate freq. band, and priced in the league for the >guys flying expensive toys, like helicopters, jets, IMAC, and our >silly little molded gliders. 8-) Packet radio perhaps? Or, true digital radios with a signature at some point (just hope you don't need fast input after an unqualified signal). - David [EMAIL PROTECTED] USA RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [RCSE] Frequency Control / safety
>Man, look at the technology our computer radios have, and they are >so stupid about stomping all over each others frequencies. I know >the technology is available to keep this from happening. I for one >would pay for it even if it meant buying a new system. Well, you could at least stack the odds in your favor by switching to ham bands. You wouldn't have to lay out a big stack of money, but would again greatly reduce the number of pilots likely to be on your freq. - David [EMAIL PROTECTED] USA RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]