[Boatanchors] [Glowbugs] I agree

[Phillip Carpenter]

Wilson,

I currently belong to ARRL mainly so I have access to old QST articles on tube circuitry. 

I belonged a long time back but became disenchanted with their inability to lobby Congress and/or the FCC to give Amateurs a fair shake regarding antennas in subdivisions with covenants and restrictions. If the FCC can allow FM, satellite TV, and cellular phone antennas, they sure should allow Amateurs at least a minimal option for an antenna in a subdivision.

It appears that now since ARRL has a female president, the current House and Senate bills MAY pass regarding our fair shake on antennas.

If ARRL pulls this off I might have more respect that they are indeed looking after our best interest.

Time will tell...

Respectfully,

Phillip

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 29, 2015, at 10:29 PM, Wilson <infomet at embarqmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
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