I'm curious where the general consensus is at these days about the non licensed operators.
It has been a HUGE issue with the FRS/GMRS combining.
Years ago those channels were separate, but now they are all combined. If
I don't mind GMRS - which is just like CB now that FRS is combined. I just get very upset when I'm trying to make contact to my local repeater and (since the RX from the repeater is a GMRS channel), I can't get a return
I discovered recently, groups on Facebook, full of people wanting to use CB's properly. They even have callsigns given to them by Charlie Tango
in England. Mine is 9CT033. I've talked to some nice hams on-line but
also a lot of miserable hams that made me lose interest. Skip is still king in CB.:-)
I've never heard of that, I'll have to look into it.
I still have my old mobile and base CB units here.
Man those were the days!!!
[snip]
So, what's this debate like now in 2024, is it still a thing? Are we still scared someone might enjoy, (not abuse) our bandwith without a license?
I'm an extra, been licensed for a decade, blah blah blah. I
only mention this because too many hams use their decades of
licensed status as some kind of cudgel with which to argue.
are often the loudest. These were the same people who claimed
that no-code hams would ruin the hobby, that the tests were
being watered down, that the hobby was ruined...and then turn
around and wonder why, "the bands are dead." Maybe because you
guys chased off everyone who was remotely interested?
So, if people behave like that, why would a young person be
motivated to study for and then _pay money_ to get licensed?
Just to be verbally abused by some jerk on the air? No, thank
I've never heard of that, I'll have to look into it.
I still have my old mobile and base CB units here.
Man those were the days!!!
https://charlietangodxgroup/forumotion.com/
So, if people behave like that, why would a young person be
motivated to study for and then _pay money_ to get licensed?
Just to be verbally abused by some jerk on the air? No, thank
you.
Same thing with HF, frankly. A lot of old-timers are complaining
that no one wants to upgrade and work HF. Why would they? I can
pick up a phone and call pretty much anywhere in the world for
no incremental cost over my usual service. I can voice and video
chat someone on the other side of the planet in real time over the
Internet similarly. The niche that radio once held is gone, and
how the kids are all screwed up these days, and b) how his prostate
is acting up again. Can't say I blame them.
And many of those who see themselves as the gatekeepers of
amateur radio are, frankly, very unpleasant to deal with both
on the air and off. Some others in this thread have mentioned
poor operator behavior on e.g. HF; inappropriate and rude stuff
coming over the air. So often, it's coming from fully licensed
operators who've been on the air for decades and who, bluntly,
have come to feel a sense of ownership over both spectrum and
the hobby as a whole and with it, a sense of entitlement to be
both rude and inappropriate on the air. Not everyone involved
in the hobby is like that, of course, but too many are and they
are often the loudest. These were the same people who claimed
that no-code hams would ruin the hobby, that the tests were
being watered down, that the hobby was ruined...and then turn
around and wonder why, "the bands are dead." Maybe because you
guys chased off everyone who was remotely interested?
The niche may be gone until there is an emergency of some sort. A few years back... well, 30 now, doesn't seem that long ago... we had an unusually heavy snowstorm for this area. The authorities had to turn to the local HAM community for assistance as other forms of communication were overwhelmed or not working.
Same thing with HF, frankly. A lot of old-timers are complaining
that no one wants to upgrade and work HF. Why would they? I can
pick up a phone and call pretty much anywhere in the world for
no incremental cost over my usual service. I can voice and video
chat someone on the other side of the planet in real time over the Internet similarly. The niche that radio once held is gone, and
how the kids are all screwed up these days, and b) how his prostate
is acting up again. Can't say I blame them.
The niche may be gone until there is an emergency of some sort. A few years back... well, 30 now, doesn't seem that long ago... we had an unusually heavy snowstorm for this area. The authorities had to turn to the local HAM community for assistance as other forms of communication were overwhelmed or not working.
most precarious. The second gets a lot of attention in
ham-related media (the magazines, ARRL, etc). The third
is falling away, as the people who are inclined towards
that kind of thing aren't interested in the limitations of
the amateur service (no encryption) and hassles of other
hams acting like jerks. Can't say I blame 'em.
years back... well, 30 now, doesn't seem that long ago... we hadan
unusually heavy snowstorm for this area. The authorities had toturn
to the local HAM community for assistance as other forms of communication were overwhelmed or not working.
Are you in Kentucky by chance? When I was getting my ticket 8 years
ago a local radio guy (not a HAM, but works for the place that
services the police and sheriff as well as fire) was telling me
about an instance in Kentucky where the lines were broken and
they couldn't even talk to the capitol without the HAM guys...
Blue White wrote to jimmylogan <=-
years back... well, 30 now, doesn't seem that long ago... we hadan
unusually heavy snowstorm for this area. The authorities had toturn
to the local HAM community for assistance as other forms of communication were overwhelmed or not working.
Are you in Kentucky by chance? When I was getting my ticket 8 years
ago a local radio guy (not a HAM, but works for the place that
services the police and sheriff as well as fire) was telling me
about an instance in Kentucky where the lines were broken and
they couldn't even talk to the capitol without the HAM guys...
LOL, sure enough. ;) I was listening to the HAMS on my scanner to get info about what was going on.
Are you in Kentucky by chance? When I was getting my ticket 8 years
ago a local radio guy (not a HAM, but works for the place that
services the police and sheriff as well as fire) was telling me
about an instance in Kentucky where the lines were broken and
they couldn't even talk to the capitol without the HAM guys...
LOL, sure enough. ;) I was listening to the HAMS on my scannerto get
info about what was going on.
Very cool! What part of Kentucky? I'm just outside Dyersburg, TN and
can hit the repeaters in Union City - been trying to hit Cayce, Ky
just outside Hickman, but no one has responded...
Blue White wrote to jimmylogan <=-
At that time, I was living in Louisville. I have been living near Frankfort for 25+ years now.
Cayce was supposedly named after Casey Jones. ;)
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