h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Isn't it sad that the Internet is going to leave amateur radio to the technical enthusiast, and the people who are really interested in communicating will all be using chat lines. With the current pressure on the radio spectrum this can only lead to loss of allocation.

Yup, it sure is! However, with luck the remaining amateurs will put up enough of a fight to keep the bands open. I think that with the advent of digital communication technologies bandwith can be shared by many people so we should be OK for the moment.

Leo

The real fight is on the VHF / UHF bands. I think the sub 30 Mhz bands are fairly safe until they work out how to get mobile phones on 80 metres!

I can see it now... execs strutting around with 40 metre aerials strapped to their briefcases (or perhaps a small quad inside?)

I have to confess that I've been a Radio Amateur for a little over a year (although I haven't done a great deal with it as yet)... but all I have to say is look what happen to us 934MHz users...!

Being a keen CBer and 934 user, I was v. said when the took the band away, I guess that it was going to happen eventually, but I'd made load of friends on 934 that didn't want to listen to all of the wallies down on 11m.

Still I guess these things are sent to try us...

- BeerMatt

It's sad that you've done little with your licence. It really is a case of use it or lose it. The best thing I've seen in 25 years of 'Ham' radio is the slackening of the rules (not always approved by the old timers) regarding what your allowed to talk about. For goodness sake get out there and TALK. Never mind the DX chasing, talk to anybody about anything and listen to what they say. The saddest thing is to hear an empty band!
Mike (G4MIX)

Mike, I couldn't agree with you more. Unfortunately I past my exam 18 months ago, and had big plans to do loads with it (passing the 5wpm morse for a start).

I purchased a brand new Yaesu FT8100 dual band for the card the day before my licence arrived, and spent all day with a friend (who had also pasted his ticket) fitting it into the car.

The plan was to get the car sorted out and then start thinking about getting one in doors. The one I have my sites set on is the Yaesu FT847 (The Earth Station). As I'm sure that you are aware, these radios are not cheap, and at the point I went to buy it, lost my job.

I have now finally got myself back on my feet, and things are begining to look up, I have recently purchased a 6/2/70 co-linier to replace the old Amtron 99 and if all goes to plan, I should be back riding the waves from my home 20 by Christmas.

I have also started using the one in the car a little more as my new place of work is a little over 30mins away.

I look forward to meeting you somewhere around the band, but until then 73's old man.

- Matt (M1EBX)