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Author Topic: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail  (Read 11560 times)

NK7Z

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2016, 12:08:04 PM »

Radio is magic to me. A signal with the power of a night light bulb using a wire for an antenna can be heard on the other side of the world.
I still find it amazing-- after 50 years of being an Amateur Operator, that less power than a Christmas Tree light uses, can be used to work the world.  How exquisitely perfect the ionosphere is at reflecting radio.
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Thanks,
Dave
Amateur Radio: RFI help, Reviews, Setup information, and more...
https://www.nk7z.net

N8YX

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #16 on: August 16, 2016, 01:03:55 PM »


It is amazing how many try to sell the CB extra holder as having same experience/knowledge and respect for ham radio as the old school extra's that had to work to get their ticket which kept a lot of rif raf out.
Like ex-K4MME?

NAL for 20M (14.313) misconduct.

Ex-W1GM?

Same.

Ex-WB2OTK (albeit 13WPM General)?

Ditto. Highest NAL amount ever awarded at the time.

I can go on all day long with this.
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NK7Z

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #17 on: August 16, 2016, 02:01:38 PM »

The real problem is not the license class testing standards, (well, a tiny amount might be), but changes in society as a whole over the past 50 years.  Ham radio represents a slice of the general population.  In the past 50 years, people in the general population have gotten less polite, less kind, shorter in temperament, and in general more of a pain in the rear-- so of course Amateur Radio reflects this.  Blaming folks that did not, and can not, take a CW test, or deriding them because the test became simpler is not going to help, in fact it makes things worse.  I am thankful for every new Amateur Operator that arrives in hobby, CW, or not, more difficult Extra test or not-- welcome!  

There will of course be bad apples, there are in every hobby, and group.  Get used to them, move on, turn the big knob, remember that?  Oh-- and to answer a question you might have, yes I did take the 20 WPM code test, and yes, I took my Extra test and passed it, back in the day, when it was a lot more difficult than today.
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Thanks,
Dave
Amateur Radio: RFI help, Reviews, Setup information, and more...
https://www.nk7z.net

K5TEB

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #18 on: August 16, 2016, 02:32:28 PM »

Radio is magic to me. A signal with the power of a night light bulb using a wire for an antenna can be heard on the other side of the world.
I still find it amazing-- after 50 years of being an Amateur Operator, that less power than a Christmas Tree light uses, can be used to work the world.  How exquisitely perfect the ionosphere is at reflecting radio.
    I hope I never reach a point when it's no longer magic and amazing.  Only been licensed since 02 but it's as much fun now as it was then.
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W8JX

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #19 on: August 16, 2016, 03:51:27 PM »

 Ham radio represents a slice of the general population.  In the past 50 years, people in the general population have gotten less polite, less kind, shorter in temperament, and in general more of a pain in the rear-- so of course Amateur Radio reflects this.

This has some merit but the biggest problem was opening flood gates to let everyone in when it was once a hobby for technically inclined and willing to work for it. When you are basically given a ticket (like a CB ticket) you can have little respect for its grants vs when you had to work for it in past. A large part of problem (but not all of it) from opening the flood gates without increasing spectrum to support the flood. Bands would be less crowded and a bit more civil without the flood. I have been a ham for nearly 50 years and I have seen far more change for the worse since birth of no code and mail order tickets than in all the time before that.
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Ham since 1969....  Old School 20wpm REAL Extra Class..

W7XTV

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #20 on: August 16, 2016, 05:39:31 PM »

It is amazing how many try to sell the CB extra holder as having same experience/knowledge and respect for ham radio as the old school extra's that had to work to get their ticket which kept a lot of rif raf out.

When I got my ticket in 1970, there was just as much riff-raff, bad operating, and old timers complaining about everything and anything from their aches and pains to Novices, if not more.  Most of it was on 75, with 20 being the 2nd favorite bad ops band.  There were drunks then, just like there are drunks now. 

The main difference is that I hear more F-bombs these days, now that the FCC and ARRL Official Tattle-tales Observers don't have the enforcement clout they had then.  But overall, the lack of a code test and easier written tests haven't made for a higher percentage of bad operators.
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AC7CW

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #21 on: August 16, 2016, 06:46:15 PM »

Smart phones aren't the replacement for ham radio. A smartphone with Facebook is sort of similar though...     
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Novice 1958, 20WPM Extra now... (and get off my lawn)

K9MHZ

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #22 on: August 16, 2016, 07:24:11 PM »

I still find it amazing-- after 50 years of being an Amateur Operator, that less power than a Christmas Tree light uses, can be used to work the world.  How exquisitely perfect the ionosphere is at reflecting radio.

Nah, you need a big leenyer like the OP and his buddies.
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KC8KTN

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #23 on: August 16, 2016, 10:22:17 PM »

Nah, you need a big leenyer like the OP and his buddies. Wow Really.

Wow i notice some of certain individuals never start posts ever. They reply to a GREAT post or posts  with negativism all the time. It is sad and desperate Wow. Take care to all . Taking a powder. Wow
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WZ7U

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #24 on: August 16, 2016, 10:34:14 PM »

Wow. That's really all you have to say about it?




Wow.


What about Deth Klok?
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N8YX

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #25 on: August 17, 2016, 10:17:03 AM »

Wow. That's really all you have to say about it?

Wow.

What about Deth Klok?
Paging Wm. Murderface...
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KG7CSS

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #26 on: August 17, 2016, 11:23:28 AM »

Yes and no

No ham radio will still be around as  in hobby like  traditional painting and drawing in the age of digital art tools.  

Yes: as a public service in most cases.  It is more like the internet killed ham radio. I was not a ham as a kid but heard and  felt the wonder of  taking to anybody in the world in the 1960-70's without an expensive telephone connection.  Today I can Skype anybody in the world  on a PC or smart phone.  The big change  and reality check i believe  will be emergency communication. Yes smart phone networks can go down but smart phones and  towers can function independently. there some software than can make a smart phone and towers act  as  and independent mesh network.  another other issue will be the push for broadband presence in emergency communication I.e teleconference and voice over ip. I can see  ham radio replaced by potable satellite linked or drone hot spots.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2016, 04:04:19 PM by KG7CSS »
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K9MHZ

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #27 on: August 17, 2016, 11:32:51 AM »

Taking a powder. Wow
OK, we're all wondering....your attention-getting narcissism worked this time.  What does "taking a powder" mean?  Would that explain the "weird radio" voices in your head, by chance?
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SOFAR

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #28 on: August 17, 2016, 12:35:26 PM »

It means to scram, or leave in a hurry. It was a common phrase in old gangster movies.

There's some speculation as to its origins.
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AA8TA

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RE: Is the smart phone ham radios death nail
« Reply #29 on: August 17, 2016, 02:05:02 PM »

I've read dozens, at least, threads similar to this (not all here) where someone brings up CBers in a pejorative way.  So I always wonder: how people actually come into ham radio from CB radio?  How many new hams in the last 10 years started in CB?  I've never been on CB radio and don't know anybody who came from there.  Don't understand the disdain for that service, either.  The stereotype from the 70s trucking craze is long over.

Probably a bigger issue is where there are not enough old-timers on 2m to lead by example. In that, I'm guilty.
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TU es 73 de Joe AA8TA
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