Bob DeHaney wrote: >It is clear that the ARRL serves a vital representative need for radio >amateurs worldwide. In the time I've been licensed (since 1961), they've >saved our mutual bacon several times. Your digital modes are permitted >because the ARRL lobbied for them and got the regulations changed. > >Governments and other international organizations actually listen to the >ARRL. > >Now you guys give me a viable alternative with similar muscle and I will >review the situation. I realize it will take 50 years or so for you guys to >get your stuff together...(8-) > >They can not satisfy everyone, but like democracy, flawed as it is, it's the >best we have at present. > > >Vy 73, DJ0MBC/WU5T > Hello Bob:
It so happens that I have been licensed since 1961, and thus have been witness to the actions of the ARRL for an equivalent period of history. If it is true that ARRL has "saved our mutual bacon several times" then it can also be argued that there have been instances of (ARRL) government against the majority (of US Hams). However, I am not aware of ARRL's lobbying "to permit digital modes" and put forth an effort to change regulations with regard to "digital" modes. (I think you meant "data" modes.) Can you provide a time-line and reference the associated regulation changes? If you are able to provide me with two documented instances of when the ARRL took the initiative to lobby for a proposed change in "digital" regs prior to year 1990, I would be happy. I am not from Missouri, but I seek proof that ARRL lobbying resulted in permission to use "digital/data modes". Perhaps such changes have come about after my termination of ARRL membership. When I visit the local library and read QST, I might have missed something since 1991. I do recall the so-called Incentive Licensing initiative in the late 1960s, and the introduction of no-code licensing, sometime around 1983 I think. However, that does not seem to be saving "bacon" for anyone in the Ham community. And, then there was something about needing a segment for International HF packet stations to operate; the result being FCC's refusal to "channelize HF spectrum" and an introduction of a gentleman's agreement to reduce the RTTY sub band by 10 kilohertz. That was sometime prior to my personal decision to leave the ARRL club. When an ARRL Division Director stated to me personally at the 1991 Convention meeting that there are no Gentlemen operating on 20 meters I decided to decline future renewal in the ARRL club membership. At the time of PSK31 introduction (~~1999), I found myself at the library reading a QST article that seemed to want to put an end to the (obsolete) RTTY mode of operation. Vy 73, de ~ Vince ~ The K3UK DIGITAL MODES SPOTTING CLUSTER AT telnet://208.15.25.196/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/