This page outlines, what appears quite a "common sense" to every amateur radio operators, with some special clauses more applicable to AnimeHams members.
General guidelines
All AnimeHams member should follow all applicable FCC laws or/and other laws in effect in the jurisdiction. Do not cause harmful interference with others, that includes everyone.
At anime conventions
Every year, many anime fans elect to attend conventions. Many AnimeHams member may be one of them. If you are to attend these conventions with your rig, make sure that you follow these guidelines.
Make sure you are using your radio in moderation. Do not rudely take out your radio, and start speaking on the radio. Especially during programs such as, but not limited to panels, shows, movie showing, etc. Be wise, and choose your time. When you are at these programs, that's when you cooperate and participate!
Some convention may utilize some radio systems. (they are most likely not an amateur radio) At anytime except in a case of emergency, do not interfere with their radio! They may be important to various operations of the convention, and interfering with them might mean great compromise to everyone's safety, and efficient operation of the convention.
While you are in hotel room, do not put up obtrusive antennas. Also make sure that you don't cause TVI, or other interference.
Let's not conduct long ragchew on local repeaters. For convention wide operations, as little as 1 watt simplex should be well enough to communicate. When you use long repeater, research ahead of time, and listen carefully that locals are not conducting any nets or cooperative operations, such as ARES, and NTS. Most likely, local hams are not aware of additional number of hams flowing into the area (of course, that number can be small or big...) and that may surprise other repeater users.
When you use your radio from the convention floor, make sure that incidental music is not being transmitted. The FCC regulatios strictly prohibits this.
Be prepared for emergency communications. Conduct an emergency communication when appropriate.
And remember, you are probably in the convention for some other reason besides your radio. Radio communication should not be a primary reason to attend the convention; if that's not the case, why not operate from comfort of your home?
Can we handle convention third-party traffic?
If it is an emergency communication, go for it! If not, consider the following:
Are you getting anything for that communication?
Does it affect the convention's income?
Is it coming from dealers?
Is the convention commercial organization?
If you have yes on any one of them, probably you shouldn't take it. Other-wise, use your best judgment to figure out if it is appropriate to take. If you are in doubt, it is probably safe to not deal with it. The convention itself should have sufficient communication method already after all.
Communication for non-dealer attendee should be okay, as long as they are non-commercial purpose.
I'm not a member, should I care?
Of course, you should. Even if you are not an AnimeHams member, you are still responsible for what you do. Choosing to use your radio at the convention means that you are basically representating amateur radio community to everyone. Make this exposure something positive, and let's show our professionalism. And if you are not licensed, forget about operating the radio.
Note to the convention staffs
If you catch anyone who appears to be rude with amateur radio in their hand, try checking to see if they are licensed. If not, you have good reason to ask the person to leave. Generally speaking, unlicensed radio operators are often troublesome, and may risk safe operation of the convention. To check whether the person is licensed, first, ask for his/her callsign (if the person can't tell his/her callsign, it is more likely an unlicensed operator), then go to QRZ and put the callsign on the search box. If the person's name does not match, he/she's not supposed to use it. Asking for proof of license may not be best idea, because it is still legal to operate without proof of license, as long as the callsign is active on FCC's system.
Generally speaking, handy-talkie radios (which is quite similar to FRS walkie-talkies), are not very troublesome or harmful to any other system that may be used in the typical convention setting, so don't be overly nervous when you see people using it in the convention floor.
