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Thread: The future of HAM radio

  1. #1
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    The future of HAM radio

    IEEE Spectrum, a respected engineering journal, has an interesting article about the future of HAM radio. If you're into it, or considering getting into it, you might enjoy the article.

    https://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom/wi...e-of-ham-radio
    Yankee refugee living in the free state of West Virginia.

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    I predict a resurgence of interest once we get hit with an EMP attack.
    “The Trump Doctrine is ‘We’re America, Bitch.’ That’s the Trump Doctrine.”

    "He is free to evade reality, he is free to unfocus his mind and stumble blindly down any road he pleases, but not free to avoid the abyss he refuses to see."

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    It won't be an EMP attack- it will be socialism that does us in.

    Any alternative coms are better than none at all.
    Last edited by RetroRevolver77; 07-23-20 at 16:37.

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    Old thread but I just saw it. I’m seeing lots of new people getting interested. I run a JOTA station each year and try to get Scouts involved. They for sure see me take QRP rigs on backpacking trips and operate off a 9v battery and a wire in a tree. I even have one learning CW. It’s something not everyone will be interested in. I know that. But to me it’s magic to build an antenna throw it up in a tree in the middle of the woods and work someone a thousand miles away with 2 watts. It’s a rush. Most people getting into it now are getting into digital. That’s fine, I’m not on it.. I think there is a resurgence in 2m with fusion and star know there is with DMR.

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    There are more folks into it than have been in a long time, which is great. I find it very enjoyable and useful.

    DMR is catching on in a big way. Digital radios provide alot of versatility and capability.

    Lot of traffic on DMR repeaters in my AO.

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    Outside of preppers, there aren't many who still have an interest in it, and the community is extremely rude to them, so most just go off and do their own thing because the FCC doesn't actually care as long as you're not interrupting public safety channels or aerospace. It's not looking good. I try to tell other hams that those people are our future and we'd better just learn to like it, but most of them would rather burn it to the ground.

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    As long as they're not being unlicensed turds, everybody is helpful to them. Most of the hams I've encountered in the airwaves have been very helpful.

    Fools being paranoid about licensing brings unwanted attention, and that's no good for anyone. I talk to alot of people who're new to the field, and primarily interested in EMCOMM.

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    I recently heard HAMs being called the Karens of the preparedness community. I’m inclined to think that’s quite true with the every-constant crusade against “turning in” the unlicensed. I think the attitudes of many are a big deterrent to new people getting started. Especially the attitude toward those getting started in inexpensive Chinese radios.


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    Quote Originally Posted by mRad View Post
    I recently heard HAMs being called the Karens of the preparedness community. I’m inclined to think that’s quite true with the every-constant crusade against “turning in” the unlicensed. I think the attitudes of many are a big deterrent to new people getting started. Especially the attitude toward those getting started in inexpensive Chinese radios.


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    Haha yep. Don't really know any prepper hams specifically, but the typical ham enthusiast is that same kid in school who always volunteered to be the hall monitor.

    Be warned though, because many are some boot licking government loving grade A sycophants. If shit ever does hit the fan, I have zero doubt that they would waste no time triangulating the resistance and reporting their positions.

  10. #10
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    For every ham like you describe, there's 10 others that you probably don't even know they are hams.

    Those you were describing is the typical Aries / club official who gets a lot of self-esteem out of their position of power.

    If you called them 80% grouchy old geezers who cared more about their contest than real communication, I'd agree with you.

    I find it a bit comical that preppers would be calling hams anything. Talk about walking talking stereotypes. But then again that's maybe misleading as I know a bunch of non-preppers who are as serious about being prepared as the self-identified preppers are.

    By the way, this ham has deployed to two different hurricane events. With Katrina having to be completely self-efficient on fuel, food, and to a lesser extent of water for over a week.

    One well-intentioned prepper ham had a wagon full of gear including a little Honda generator, but no fuel and very little food. Violating rule number one: don't add to the victim load.

    Multiple other events like ice storms. Most recently was without power for over 5 days in below freezing weather. You get by.

    Most of which is way more than most stereotypical preppers have done. But again I have a family up the street that could last a year but would not describe themselves as preppers.
    Last edited by pinzgauer; 04-18-21 at 14:54.

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