Rug Rat wrote to All <=-

2) Thats depends on your geography, in SoCal this is not the case
(Though one2 of the things I miss about SoCal, is the wide area
coverage repeaters 6 - 7k mountains will give you.). I will admit in
the Florida panhandle this is the case. I have had more QSOs either on SIMPLEX (My Echolink node via the EastCoast Reflector, or .520). It is what it is, though that just gives me more reason to get on HF.

When I travel north, back when we were using the truck that has the mobile
rig, I would hit Evansville and have traffic - then it would peter out -
then Bloomington and Indianapolis were ALWAYS hopping! So yeah, depends
on your location...

And yes to the HF statement... That's the main reason I am interested -
so that I can get our further!

Meanwhile, we spend more time arguing about Baofeng's and Digital modes than actually talking on the air ..

Where are we arguing, if it is on the air (especially your local repeater), that kind of negates your first argument. What are these arguments about?

I think the general statement is that 'old timers' complain about
Baofeng's. I used to geocache - a LOT - with my wife, kids and
some other friends. This was before smart phones, when you had to
use a handheld GPS, and we had programs to load the data from a
laptop. It was a VERY niche hobby.

Now with smartphones anyone and everyone can just open the app and
go right there - then log it from the app, etc.

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not saying it's BAD that it's more
accesible to the general public! I think that's great! But to
'old timers' like me, some of the charm is gone.

Equating that to the B'fang discussion though, some people say
that's not REAL ham radio... Personally, I don't hear that
around here, but there might be people actually saying it.

That doesn't make
it legal, and people should definately not be encouraging new hams to
do this. If you have a GMRS license, great, just don't use amateur
gear to use it.

Yep - and 'kids' getting radios from Amazon and using them on the
amateur bands without a license. Yes, it's bad - yes, it's illegal.
But the answer is not to slap their hand, but to hold it and guide
them on the proper use. GENTLY. I think the OP is talking about
the general attitude (salute) of SOME people that say 'get out of
my yard and off my band.'

So get on another net. The East Coast Reflector runs some great nets, such as the Morning Brew, Tech Net, Youth Net (Which is a great way to promote amateur radio to young people). Get your younger family
members involved. 3rd party traffic is not only allowed but ENCOURAGED (Which will make this post entirely superfluous.), and my favorite
Trivia Net. Ham radio has always been what YOU make of it.

I need to look into those... I don't have anything digital nor HF
though, but I have used echonet before...

In any facet of
life you will have people who will brush you off, if someone at a club meeting or convention gives you the cold shoulder, likes Kenwood Vs. Yaesu, or tells you that you are not a real ham because you have a BatFang, go find someone who does.

Agreed! I play music and used to jam a LOT in the local bluegrass
'club.' I have a 1969 Yamaha that is a copy of a D-18 Martin. It
is LOUD as a CANNON! I get a kick out of people that compliment
the guitar and the sound and then they look at the headstock and
see it's NOT a Martin and their countenance changes. They suddenly
dismiss it cause it's not a REAL guitar. LOL I want to ask, "why
don't you like it now that you know the brand?" LOL

I however cringe going to the fair, and hearing someone trying to
entice people to get into the hobby by saying, "Do you have a cell
phone? You have a radio right in your pocket..". If I had no interest
in the hobby, or know nothing about ham radio. Telling me I already
have something that will do what you are trying to demonstrate. I will most likely stop listening as I already have it, and it has more
features than what you are trying to sell me. Again, I applaud the
effort, and it would take a lot to get me to take their place, but UGGGH...

Yep! If someone has no interest, they have no interest. I have no interest
in contesting, but I'll be happy to answer POTA CQ's once I get an HF
rig, because I like to TALK TO PEOPLE. :-) Heck - it's what got me
into BBS's years ago - the nets!


... Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?
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Jimmy, I didn't want to include a lenghty quote of your and Rug Rat discussion. Just want to add a bit to it
You said you will answer some Contest calls.
That made me recall one time I heard a DX station calling CQ.
I called him thinking I would get a QSO with the station.
The return call I heard was very short , something like TNX QSO PSE QSL .
There was a pause then the station began calling CQ again.

I ain't a DX'er or Contester.
Actually haven't been on HF since XYL didn't like thise ugly wires coming out of a room and going into the fold down attic stairs.
But I do try to be a good LID.
73 to You and Rug Rat de Ed W9ODR . .
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