Topband: The "Future" Of Ham Radio

[Stan Stockton]

Exactly correct, Eddy.  

35 years ago I formed my opinion about 2m repeaters, realizing that everyone's signal was the same strength regardless of whether they had an 11 element antenna or a rubber duckie.  It was too socialistic for my taste and I had no interest.  An EME station was on my bucket list until I found out the current standard was a small antenna, 100 watts and some software to copy the signals that could not be heard.

Today, why would anyone talk to someone using a 2m repeater when they can call on a cell phone?  

The percentage of amateurs to overall population in the USA is now about triple what it was 35 years ago.  Remember when you used to get excited to see a ham license plate and honk "HI" in code?  Have you started to do it and pulled your finger off the horn button?

The vast majority of the last half million "new hams" have never built an antenna, put up a tower, built even the smallest accessory, made a single contact using morse code or done any of the things that the old timers grew up enjoying.  They are all potential customers for RHR.  I applaud WW2DX and W2RE for their foresight and business plan.  I'll enjoy the time I have left but worry about the later-year enjoyment of my 35 year old son who has the same interests as me.  

Tomorrow why would anyone have a big station to maintain instead of calling on the Internet through a remote site?  

The something that is missing is the sense of accomplishment one might achieve in doing some work to achieve a goal.  For only $99.00 you can work EP6T on 160m from the East Coast using a 4 Square without any sweat.  Now that's something in which to take pride :-(

As I've said many times before....Enjoy it while you can.

73...Stan, K5GO

> On Feb 5, 2015, at 6:59 AM, Eddy Swynar <deswynar at xplornet.ca> wrote:
> 
> Hi Guys,
> 
> All of this talk about the use of remote receivers, DX spotting nets, etc. etc. etc. surely will have us all arrive to the point that our "human" individual efforts to develop a specialized "killer" Amateur radio station will be usurped and eclipsed by one, single thing: the computer.
> 
> Just as streaming companies such as Net Flix have put an end to the neighbourhood video disc rental store, and paper "hard" copies are being stopped by The Yellow Pages due to on-line information availability, so, too, will DXCC become redundant by the use of remote receivers, contesting will "degenerate" into an electronic battle of computer systems, ad nauseam.
> 
> In short, the human element will be effectively removed from the equation, and with it, any "fun" that we traditionally may have derived from such activities. That day surely is fast approaching when the intrepid radio op will be able to turn on his radios, set-up the computer, and then go peacefully to bed on the eve of a major contest...and to wake up, restfully in the morning, to wander down to the shack, coffee in hand, to learn that, in his physical absence, the station made well over 3000 QSOs in the contest, and exceeded minimum requirements for DXCC.
> 
> In conclusion, I have seen the enemy of Amateur radio---and the enemy is us.
> 
> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
> _________________
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