Acceptable Use Policy

Introduction

The GB7BAA DX cluster is provided, free-of-charge, to the amateur radio community at large. Due to a number of incidents of misuse of the DX Cluster network it has been necessary to introduce an Acceptable Use Policy. This document defines the Acceptable Use Policy at GB7BAA.

Acceptable Use Policy at GB7BAA

1. Availability: The GB7BAA DX cluster is available to all licenced radio amateurs both UK based and overseas. You must have been issued with a valid amateur radio callsign by your licensing authority.
2. Access via radio: You may access the GB7BAA DX cluster using the AX.25 radio protocol by direct connection to one of its licenced user access ports (exact frequencies and radio coverage are detailed elsewhere). The use of 'digipeating' and access via the NET/ROM protocol is discouraged. You should use the closest DX cluster to your location.
3. Access via WWW (web browser): You may access DX spots using a web browser on the cluster's main web site www.gb7baa.com
4. Access via Telnet (login): You may access the DX cluster network via Telnet login using the details provided on the main web site.
5. User identity: You must identify yourself using your amateur radio callsign. If you own more than one valid callsign you may choose which callsign to use.
6. You may not masquerade as another user of the DX cluster network. You may not use a callsign that does not belong to you.
7. Full access password: If you have registered for full access to the DX cluster you will have selected or been issued with a password. You must take reasonable measures to keep this password safe and may not give it to anyone else. If your password is lost or compromised you must contact the system operator in order to change the password.
8. You may be required to provide proof that you hold a valid amateur radio licence in order to be granted access to the system.
9. All messages including DX spots, Talk messages, Announcement messages and electronic mail messages must be clearly identified as having been originated by you.
10. You agree to be bound by the terms of your amateur radio licence when using the DX cluster network.
11. You may not transmit messages which are obscene, indecent or offensive to other users of the DX cluster network.
12. You may not transmit messages which are misleading or deliberately incorrect.
13. You will not cause or permit access to this DX cluster to be connected simultanuously to another part of the DX cluster network.
14. You will not re-enter DX spots from elsewhere on the DX cluster network, either in real-time or stored/historic data.
15. You will not use the system for transmitting advertisments or unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or 'SPAM'.
16. Your activity on the DX cluster network may be monitored and recorded.
17. You accept that as a remote user of this computer system that the data and programs stored on this system are the property of Michael J. Tubby (the system operator) and that the Computer Misuse Act (1990) applies to your access to this system.
18. You will not attempt to hack, damage, overload, damage or destroy the contents of this computer system.
19. The terms and conditions of use set out in the Acceptable Use Policy document are subject to change and may be altered without notice.

Suspension or cancellation of access

If, in the opinion of the System Operator ('Sysop'), a user has contraviened the terms of the AUP the Sysop may suspend or cancel access to the system without notice. The Sysop may, in addition, report misuse to the user's Internet Service Provider (ISP) and/or the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

The decision of the Sysop is final.