Opsec concerns about HAM licenses.

[Lightspeed]

Ham license received wisdom

We repeatedly read the received wisdom that some people feel that holding an Amateur radio license will put you on the authorities' radar. It is inferred that this is bad for Opsec, and that as preppers we should avoid this terrible threat...blah, blah, blah

This gets stated over and over. Just by stating something repeatedly doesn't make it true.

And its not true. Its a distortion of facts, and complete propaganda. for reasons that are beyond me. ( but maybe I'm just obtuse?)

It is like stating that serious preppers should walk or cycle everywhere as their only means of transport, as holding a Driving license and owning /using a car pots you on the authorities radar, and that this is very bad for Opsec. This statement is true, but the risk is minimal and the downside of not using a car are for most people rather significant in modern life.

THE TRUTH IS that holding a Radio license and using a radio gives LESS disclosure to the Authorities than Holding a driving license and driving a car.
Here's why:

A current radio license, unlike a driving license, does not carry your photograph, nor do you have to upload a photo of yourself to obtain it.

A radio license, unlike a driving license does not require further testing when you reach a certain age

A radio license, and operating it, does not form a tag that authorities can use to monitor and track you as you go about your legitimate daily business. Unlike a driving license and driving which authorities can monitor and track through automatic APNR systems. An amateur radio license does not support this.

Driving licenses and radio licenses carry similar biometric data ( name address DOB etc) The difference is that this data on a Radio license is not systematically and immediately available to each and every policeman in the country.

Concerned that an identifying callsign must be transmitted, and that the authorities can track you through that? How is this different from the requirement for a motor car to carry a license plate? Police APNR systems routinely capture time and place that vehicles are in. This data is able to be automatically analysed by computer. A Radio station operating from a motor vehicle simply adds /m to the callsign, there is no way the authorities can routinely automatically track where and when that station was operating.

The authorities actively leak/feed information on the status of driving licenses to commercial companies. I refer to status of points on license, licensee address, age etc that are openly accessible to insurance companies. No such sharing of data contained on a radio license is shared with anyone at all.

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Personally I find using the car a whole lot more convenient than walking or cycling, although I do walk and cycle too. I will not be giving up my car or radios any time soon for worries about Opsec.

Ah, but what about the argument that come a major event, the Authorities will close down all licensed Amateur radio stations and confiscate all of their equipment!.... Legally they can withdraw transmitting licenses, that's true, but as there is absolutely no record of equipment ownership, they could only confiscate equipment that was voluntarily handed over.

So holding a Radio License is like holding a driving license. It makes life a whole lot easier here and now, and experience of driving a motor vehicle and the ability to do so competently is a prepper skill comparable with the experience and competence of operating a radio station.

Any comments?