[Fourlanders] my e-mail to W3ZZ

[whensley11 at comcast.net]

Gentlemen, here's my 2 cents about the issue Gene presented. I just tried to keep it simple. 

See me in person (or by phone) as to my opinion about the 'real issue'! :) 

73 - Kim 


----- Forwarded Message ----- 

Subject: feedback: your May column 


Hello, Gene! 

Hope this finds you doing well, and out of harms way with the recent storms the East has seen recently. 

Thank you for your May column concerning digital contacts, and ... thank you for your previous columns. Your column is a "must read" for me every month. Until this present subject I've been passive. 

After I read your May column, I asked myself: what is the real issue here? 

I will disagree with you, Ron, and others concerning the separation of digital communications. 

Before continuing, I do feel I have a place to say something. I am an operator with the W4NH contest group. I have operated with them for 8 years now. I've been licensed for 38 years, and I've always had an "eye" for the world above 50 MHz. Hooking up with W4NH has been a way to be there (above 50 MHz.). 

My basic reason for disagreeing with you, Ron and the others is this: NOTHING above 50 MHz. is guaranteed. 

So what if you schedule a contact? Can it be achieved? We operate digital modes at W4NH, but only when everything else is dead. Do we make every digital contact? No. 

So what if you are operating a multi-operator station, and pass a station along to try another band? Is the contact guaranteed? No. 

That is the key fallacy to the digital argument, if you will. Proponents of separation would have you think contacts are guaranteed. They are not. 

I can also say, if we can make a contact on CW or voice, it's a faster exchange than digital. 

My vote is to leave things alone. Only until contacts are guaranteed... will there be a "big orange". 

Thanks for listening, 

73, 

Kim - WG8S 
one of the W4NH operators