[Boatanchors] ALERT: AM Under Attack - WA3VJB

[J. Forster]

L. M. Picard wrote:

> I do not hold and have never held a "ticket".  One of the reasons is
> that what is hear on the ham bands on the occasions when I scan them,
> generally holds little interest.

I agree on both points. I do collect some WW II systems though.

> My personal belief is that a fresh look should be had into what amateur
> radio is all about and why amateurs should be given access to the radio
> spectrum.   Now that everyone has a cell phone or a family service
> radio, the justification of a backup communication system no longer
> exists.

Absolutely wrong. Cell phones become useless when there is a big emergency. They
can also be government controlled too easily. This may not be an issue to all here,
but is certainly a worldwide concern.

> I doubt many young people get their feet wet in electronics
> through building ham equipment any more.

Sad, but true. It is very difficult for any individual, no matter what hs
resources, to match products from commercial vendors. OTOH, hams have thought up
new modes, etc.

> On the other hand, the
>  public cannot be happy with TVI and its variants, or the ham that makes his
> florescent lights glow at night.

That problem is trivial compared to broadcasters. Virtually every phone and radio
near me picks up a 50KW religious station that preaches 24/7, and they will do
NOTHING to fix it. If I put a scope probe in the air I see 10 volts of RF. What ham
does that? I have to build anything electronic in a shielded box to reduce the BC
band EMI.

> Much of the rag-chew activity would be better served by audio chat rooms
> on the internet rather than over the air.   It is really not necessary
> to broadcast information about armed service-related experiences in
> various brothels around the world over international borders or stories
> about one's personal struggles with gout.

There is loads of trash and spam on the air. Much of it is downright lies. Tune the
SW broadcast bands and I dare you to tell me that much of the programming there is
not garbage and a HUGE waste of spectrum.

> I would like to grant people the possibility of one-way broadcasting of
> a non-commercial nature or even the right to broadcast music if they
> chose.
>
> The current amateur service has evolved into a social outlet for a small
> number of mainly aging males but serves any broader purpose less and
> less.

What about shutting up all the high power evangelical preachers? Shutting one of
them down would allow for thousands of hams.

-John

>
>
> If it is to survive, hams will have to agree to cough up more for their
> tickets to pay for effective enforcement.
>

-----------------------------------------------------------
This list is a public service of the City of Tempe, Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------

Subscription control - http://www.tempe.gov/lists/control.asp?list=BOATANCHORS
To post - BOATANCHORS at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
Archives - http://interactive.tempe.gov/archives/BOATANCHORS.html