[VHFcontesting] [VHF] Trends in VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operating

[Duane - N9DG]

I think Joe is mostly correct in his observations about all the bands. While it is really visible on 2M and up weak signal side of things, I do also see it on the HF bands much of the time as well. And is certainly the case on the FM repeaters too. And just like there are more V/UHF SSB/CW capable radios in the hands of more operators than ever before, that did next to nothing to increase activity, neither did the doubling or more the number of available repeaters to use increased FM activity either. And even repeaters with all sorts of VoIP technologies tied into them are still nowhere close to being as busy as the machines that were on the air prior to 1990 were. So it really is the same story most everywhere. And if you look at discussion group comments across just about any technology centric hobby they all have similar compliants, so it is not just radio.

So I really don't think that the level of VHF weaksignal promotion by the ARRL, or perceived lack thereof has that much of a bearing on what has happened. And there is no shortage of VHF groups all around the country who have all along, and continue to, offer assistance to new people, and which have nets and so on to promote activity. So that I really don't think that part of it is lacking either. In the end I'm fairly convinced that it is not the institutions, nor the regulations and rules that have precipitated these declines, instead it is the people that have changed, and by no means is it just the newcomers.

DG

--------------------------------------------
On Mon, 2/10/14, Joe <nss at mwt.net> wrote:

 I think it is simply the level of
 activity. ON ALL BANDS!
 
 When I first got on the air in 1975, on HF you would never
 ever have a 
 QSO without some QRM on one side or the other, and on 20
 meters it was 
 BOTH sides. And this was 24/7.  Weekends? Geez a
 weekend back then on a 
 typical day, had the level of activity that you only now
 hear during a 
 major contest weekend.
 
 VHF/UHF? even on the "Exotic" Non FM modes SSB & CW in
 the late 70's and 
 the 80's every evening, be it a band opening or not there
 was always 
 someone either CQing or listening for a CQ to appear. You
 would turn on 
 the radio, and odds were you would find a conversation
 already in 
 progress. if not a simple CQ and now there was one. and this
 was from 
 southwest Wisconsin EN43 hardly a population hub.
 
 2 meter FM repeaters? Wide coverage ones you dare not put
 into a 
 scanner, because that is all you would ever hear it would
 have someone 
 talking on it ALL the time.
 
 Nowdays, I have two WIDE!!! coverage repeaters I can hear.
 and there are 
 weeks where a whole week will go by and not a single
 conversation would 
 be heard. Just the weekly club net or something like that.
 or the 
 husband and wife duo that exactly between 4 and 4:10 call
 eachother to 
 tell eaachother that they are on their way home. a 1 minute
 QSO.
 
 But thats it.
 
 There may be more hams licensed than ever before, BUT they
 are NOT 
 transmitting.
 
 Joe WB9SBD
 Sig
 The Original Rolling Ball Clock
 Idle Tyme
 Idle-Tyme.com
 http://www.idle-tyme.com