I don't know.. I agree with what both George and Les are saying.. I
think it depends on how you look at 'Your Ideas of the Hobby'..and what
'You Want to Do' ! I have invested a 'Lot' of money over the years in
VHF/UHF..(considering 1296, 2.3, etc..in the future) And I live in a
'Virtual Black Hole' of VHF(non FM) and Up activity ! When I was first
licensed in '84.. I asked the OT'rs in the local club about 2M SSB.. 'No
One uses SSB on 2M was their Response' ! Did not deter me (much) back
then..now when those OT'rs that are left hear I have 300W on 2M.. there
'Aghast' as to why anyone would need that much power on 2M !
Luckily..there are a few around, Still.. that 'know what I am
doing'..and explain it to them !
I got my Ham Ticket as it was called the 'Amateur Radio Operators
Experimental Service' !
So..that's what I do.. 'Experiment' ! I am 'Envious' of the East and
West Coasters during VHF/UHF Contests..as my closest 2M SSB Op's are
like 300mi away ! Sure.. my 'cost per QSO' is still probably pretty
high..which would deter 'most Op's from trying it.. but it's what 'I
Like to Do' ! Can I convince 'More' into the same..probably not ! So I
will continue my 'Experimental Service'..and see what is 'next on the
list' ! I was told a few years back..'keep looking Lunar'..you will Luck
Out ! And I did ! After that..it was 'now, what's next on the agenda' ?
I did that once..whats next ! I 'Play Radio'..its my Hobby..I Love
It..(she may have a different opinion !) If more and more keep
disappearing from the bands..I don't know..(even Less for me to Work'
!) I am sure the Manufacturers go by 'What Sells', etc..! You would
think 'One of them' would jump back into the 'Multi-Mode' Rigs..back in
the time..the 736-R, IC-275, 375,475, 575, 1275.. etc. , made a 'Young
Ham Drool' ! Pretty limited now..although 'much better stuff' on the
limited market now !
I guess it comes down to..'Do I Sell Out..and Take a Loss'..or 'Ride Out
the Bubble' ! I am 'Keeping My Home..no matter what ever happens'..and
Rigs, Amps, Ant's..'Stay As Well' ! 73
Jerry
VE6CPP
DN39or
On 2/9/2014 12:24 PM, GeorgeF wrote:
Why I have given up the hobby, maybe some people can learn from those
who hung-it-up before there is no one left to turn off the lights......
Many of you know or have worked me in the contests (KI4FIA EL99mc). I
was very active on all bands from 160 meter to 1296 MHz. I loved CW, I
loved contesting, I loved DXing and I loved CW & SSB on 2 meters and
above.
For the last few years of my VHF/UHF contesting I noticed a huge
decline in activity. During times of no contesting 144.200 was as
silent as a radio working a dummy load! I tried to get on email lists
and promote VHF+ SSB/CW, my emails were meet with nothing but the same
silence I heard on 144.200.
I was, am, no longer, really doesn't matter a member of a famous VHF+
club FLWSS. When I would ask questions on their group it was rare I
would get an answer. I know it wasn't just me because I've seen other
ask radio related questions and were meant with the same silence. The
funny thing is that if someone was to send a test email they'll get
several replies, if someone wants to talk about a new logo they'll get
several replies, if someone cracks a stupid joke the flood gates open
wide with tons of replies. Seems like everyone wants to talk about
non-radio related topics while the radio related questions are meant
with less responce (if any at all). And I'll never forget the joker on
that list who sent me an FU email when I happened to mention that 1
VHF contest I was going to work the contest on CW only just for the
fun of it. I said I would work split mode for those without a cw
keyer. WOW did I get a response. 1 member sent me a FU letter about
how dare you letter since I mentioned the word CW. Oh, yeah he really
did use the FU this and FU that in his email....
Another thing that I really didn't care for in the VHF+ area of the
hobby was you sit days and days listening to 144.200, you finally hear
a faint signal, first in weeks, then before you get a chance to work
him, he'll work someone else. This isn't a bad thing, I don't mind
waiting my turn. BUT THEN they'll start running the bands
(220,432,etc). Then you never hear them again. That is really
upsetting during a VHF+ contest when there is very little activity. I
know of several people in Florida who gave up the VHF+ part of the
hobby because of the "run the band" practice.
There isn't 1 think that caused me to quit, it was a combination of
all of the above and a few more.
I have sold all my equipment I used on the VHF+ bands before everybody
quits the hobby and my equipment would become worthless. I even sold
off most of my HF stuff. Here is a picture of my shack before I
started selling:
http://milaircomms.com/shack.html Today I am down to my CW Key,
IC-756 Pro III and all my scanners. Actually have a few more scanners
now as I've returned to what got me into the radio hobby. That is
monitoring Military Aircraft Communications. A lot more activity on
the MilAir UHF bands than the Ham Radio VHF+ bands! My ham license is
set to expire in about a month. Seriously don't think I'll renew.
Just thought I would share the reasons why I quit the hobby and maybe
some one can learn from them....
George - KI4FIA
www.MilAirComms.com
On 2/9/2014 12:35, Les Rayburn wrote:
K5QE selling off microwave gear and focusing on limited
multi-operator contesting? I can't help but wonder if this is another
bellwether of how weak signal operation on VHF/UHF bands are on the
decline. My personal experience is very limited, with less than six
years on the high bands. But I have studied the history of weak
signal VHF/UHF operation and believe there is genuine cause for concern.
In our local area, the morning nets that were common just a few years
ago have faded away. The calling frequencies can be monitored for
hours or even days without so much as a QSO. Contest activity,
especially during the Sprints and January ARRL Contest is in decline
too. Contacts above 432 MHz are difficult and 222 isn't much better.
It seems to be a chicken and the egg situation--where the lack of
activity makes it harder for stations to justify the expense and
effort in maintaining microwave bands. And since there are fewer
large stations operating microwave, it's harder for rovers to justify
investment in these bands as well. The transition to digital TV as
killed off most amateur television operation, and cell phones have
cut into the usage of repeaters. Many in my area are unoccupied
entirely.
The explosion of "DC to Daylight" rigs have failed to dramatically
increase participation in weak signal operation. New classes and
categories have met with only limited success. Efforts of local
amateurs, such as the "205 Group" have had some success, but they are
difficult to sustain, especially when they are so heavily tied to the
efforts of one or two individuals.
Two areas that have shown growth are operation on the Magic Band. Six
Meter operation has grown considerably in the past few years,
especially with more EME activity on this band than ever before.
Another area that seems to have momentum is ARES and Emergency
Communications operation, including the growth of simplex nets.
But it's clear that something needs to be done to help protect our
frequency allocations, and expand the pool of weak signal operators.
I wonder if other VHF operators share my concerns, and have
suggestions on how to reverse the situation?
Some ideas that have potential:
1.) A renewed effort by the ARRL to expand and promote the VHF-UHF
Century Club (VUCC) Award. Elevating the prestige of this award among
all amateurs, and enticing more HF operators to "move up" the bands
has the greatest potential to increase our ranks.
2.) SDR Technology. A single SDR transceiver that could cover 50 MHz
to 1296 MHz could be a real game changer. Especially if "linked" to a
series of modular PA amps that could provide useable power levels of
20 watts or more could rapidly increase operation on bands like 222
and 902 were transverters are currently required.
It would also greatly simplify station design and maintenance. It's
doubtful that so called "appliance operators" will ever be attracted
to the bands above 432, but we do need to simply entry into this part
of the hobby. I've discovered that transverters are very intimidating
to those who are new to this game.
3.) The China Syndrome. If manufacturers such as Wouxun, Baofeng,
etc. could be contacted and encouraged to develop low cost rigs that
included weak signal modes like USB and CW, that could have a major
impact as well. I believe that many hams would love to try out 2
Meter SSB but don't want to spend $600 to do so. They also don't want
to buy an older single band rig that may not work well, or be
impossible to get repaired.
But I believe that they would spend $250-$300 for a dual band rig
that offered USB/FM/CW.
If they offered rigs for the more obscure bands like 222, 902, and
1296, I think those would be very popular as well. Lots of market
factors at work here too...since most of Asia doesn't have access to
222, but manufacturing costs have gotten low enough to make the
growing US market alone viable. Anyone have an inside contact at one
of these companies?
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