[Boatanchors] [Glowbugs] I agree

[Wilson]

I think we should all belong to and support ARRL.
Agree with everything or not, they are far and away our best lifeline and 
guardian.
Dropping out over an issue is petty.  They can't please everyone all the 
time!
Pactor may have some EMCOMM use, but I consider its boater use a scourge and 
antithetical to "real" ham operation.
Routine use on boats (or anywhere) is contrary to all stated ham principles. 
There's no techie involvement and no goodwill generation.
The exam is a joke and everyone on the boat will likely use it, ham or not. 
Just buy it, pay someone to install it, and use "our" spectrum.
Sure, it can be another digi mode for hams, but pushing it out to consumers 
is nuts.
So let's get some cards and letters going to the right places.
Wilson
W4BOH
Also getting old

-----Original Message----- 
From: Glen Zook via Boatanchors
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 9:14 PM
To: bcarling at cfl.rr.com
Cc: boatanchors at puck.nether.net ; tetrode at googlegroups.com ; 
Novice-Rigs at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] [Glowbugs] I agree

The ARRL has been, seemingly, pushing for more WINLINK / PACTOR availability 
for some time.  One speculation is that they hope to increase membership 
through more boat, and yacht, owners getting licenses specifically for 
operating using those modes because they do not want to have to pay for 
Internet access using considerably more expensive commercial links.  Of 
course, being able to afford, and to operate, such watercraft usually 
requires a substantial investment and yet those same people don't want to 
spend any money to be able to use the Internet while on the water.  Then, 
again, amateur radio operators also have a reputation as to being "cheap" 
and, I suppose, boat / yacht owners are no different where money is 
concerned!
Although the ARRL does not normally make the actual number of members 
public, if one takes a look at the mailing notice that has to be published, 
periodically, that is in small print in the back of QST, it is pretty easy 
to get a pretty good idea as to the number of members.
For some time, the ARRL has "pushed" EMCOMM to get new members to replace 
other members who have abandoned the ARRL and, it seems, that they are doing 
the same thing with boat owners.
I abandoned the ARRL some time back because they have long stopped 
supporting what I believe the direction that amateur radio should take. 
Since I am not an ARRL member, I do not comment on the internal workings of 
that organization.  However, when the ARRL submits petitions to the FCC, or 
even when they are proposing such, that affects the entire amateur radio 
population then I definitely do have the right to comment!
Several years ago, the ARRL submitted a request for an NPRM that expanded 
WINLINK / PACTOR operations that they retracted after quite an uprising 
within the membership.  It appears that they might be trying it again.
I realize that thing are changing and have been changing for some time 
during the over 56-years that I have been licensed and some of those changes 
have been for the good of amateur radio and some have not been good for 
amateur radio.  However, I definitely believe in doing everything possible 
to stop changes that are definitely not in the best interests of the Amateur 
Radio Service.
Glen, K9STH
Website: http://k9sth.net