As you can tell by now, FOC expects high standards of its members.
A few years ago the essense of these standards was captured in the Club's Code of Conduct:
Members of FOC are expected to:
- Foster and encourage a high standard of operating and behaviour on the bands.
- Observe the licence conditions and principles of band planning
- Be considerate to other amateurs at all times, and in particular by:
- ensuring that the radiated signal conforms to a good technical level
- avoiding interference to other band users by thoughtless tuning or by use of unnecessarily high power levels
- recognising that it is inconsiderate to break in to a contact unless there is a reason that is relevant to both of the participating stations.
- By example, promote exemplary operating standards by:
- sending at a speed that is considerate of the other station's ability
- giving signal reports that are, where appropriate, honest
- ensuring that a frequency is clear before transmitting - preferably by listening
- at the end of a contact, moving away if it is not your frequency
- in DX pile-ups, observing the calling instructions of the DX station and never policing the frequency.
- If you are a DX station, ensuring good management of your frequency by sending your own callsign at appropriate intervals - anonymous operating does nothing to control a pile-up or increase rates and leads to chaos
- always remembering that many others may be listening to your contacts - refrain from bad language or derogatory comments.
- Protect the future of the hobby by:
- being active on a regular basis on as many bands as possible
- giving encouragement to newcomers
- supporting a national society.
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