I was going to write something like this and then I looked at his QRZ page and
changed my mind.
Wes N7WS
On 6/28/2021 9:45 PM, Rick Bates, NK7I wrote:
No!
Rent a station is NOT ham radio. Argue all you want; but ham radio is about
RADIO, even if it's just owning and using an HT because that's all you can
manage.
You may as well log cell or Skype phone calls or EchoLink contacts (or IRLP,
DMR, DStar etc) as use remote stations that are not yours; they have equal
merit; none, zilch, nada, nil. Only a few even have a radio involved; the
rest is internet links; not ham radio.
EVERY entry in my log is from MY gear, a station assembled by ME (sometime
with help building etc), a result of MY best efforts at THAT point in time.
It's a matter of pride and is a moral imperative to my standards. Yes, it
means I don't make EVERY contact or work every DX when I want; I have to wait
for propagation, then hope I've done enough. Yes, I've put money into
equipment to own, use and maintain; not someone else's pocket to rent. But I
EARNED every log entry.
I pity you some; you've lost your compass. Yes, you can get DXCC in an
afternoon, moving sites to best apply propagation <<yawn>>. It's NOT your
station, it's not worthy of your log; it has no value, because you purchased
your log and awards instead of investing your time and efforts. It's your ego
being stroked by your wallet.
Ditto using remote receivers to augment your own; your station can or cannot;
it's THAT simple.
You have ZERO emergency preparedness without a radio; one of the tenets of ham
radio. You can't be prepared if you don't own a radio; if the systems are
down, you have nothing. An HT can at least saturate the neighborhood to check
on others around you.
If you are so HOA bound that nothing outside can grow as an antenna (has NEVER
been totally exclusive; stealthy has a market); build a club station where you
can; drive there to operate it and log from that. If it is an emergency and
there IS still access, then use the remote if you have nothing else. At least
own and learn to use a portable radio (KX3, dual band HT, SOMETHING).
Yes, I operate a station remotely; MINE. And if done well, no one knows where
you really are at the time of the contact.
But you won't ever sell me that not owning a radio at all and to rent and
operate remotely is even CLOSE to being a ham. For pity's sake, hand the man
an HT!
Harsh, perhaps. But it's also one reason to escape the blasted HOA world too
to make your own decisions. HOA is an infestation, a virus that allows others
to make choices for you, even if you don't like their decisions.
/rant off; hot button; this arena gets old fast/
73,
Rick NK7I
More curmudgeonly every year it seems, ain't nuttin wrong with old school,
it's just not as popular
On 6/28/2021 8:41 PM, William Levy wrote:
Gents,
Let me remind all of you in an HOA that you don't need to put up antennas.
You can join remote ham radio dot com and use giant antennas all from your
website. Much better stuff than most of us ever dreamed up HOA or not.
I live in NYC. I don't even have a Walkie. But I am full on remote HF
24/7/365.
It's a great world. Think of it as a resource. It's a NETWORK resource. And
you don't have to manage it.
Bill N2WL
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