Here in East Texas (near Crockett to be exact) I have to use APRS to see if my 2m antenna/rig still works. I'm RX only (no license) so I can't see if the area's listed repeaters actually still work. My old Kenwood TR7400A doesn't have PL anyways :)
One of these days I'll get around to taking the test. It's depressing when the only local ham radio group in the county's weekly net only has 4 check-ins. I personally don't see much future in amateur radio in its current path. I personally don't think d-star is going to magically adjust the path. What we need is something that's socially acceptable in 2008. Squawkbox HTs don't cut it. You need trunking, smart roaming, full duplex with echo canceling, and a proper control system that includes not having to verbally repeat your callsign like a kid with Tourettes syndrome. Basically, what I'm suggesting here is an (inter)national trunking system, similar to a cellular system with a local conference method, and using (logically) the internet (or at least IP) as its backbone. No more dinking around with echolink, no more begging to use an autopatch, no coordination problems since this would logically include AFS and TPC. Imagine *just* the public safety/emergency uses? No more "sorry bill, didn't mean to key up on top of you" issues. Look at your cell phone. It's cute, it's stupid, but it sure is damned useful and easy to use. Also, they're attractive enough to draw almost 50% of the world population. Why haven't hams taken the *next* step in this direction? IDEN without the IDUH? Come on, who's with me? [ducking shots from cellcos and cellco vendors] JS > -----Original Message----- > From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater- > buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kris Kirby > Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:01 PM > To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Amateur Radio Repeater Usage > > On Tue, 16 Dec 2008, Tony L. wrote: > > We're continuing to experience a significant drop off in usage of ham > > repeaters (all bands) in the Northern NJ area. > > > > It is not uncommon to find a repeater that has been dormant for > > months. > > > > What's it like in your part of the country? > > In central Alabama, entirely too quiet. Two meters is normally only used > during "drive time", and despite eight 440 machines that cover the city, > none are irregularly or regularly used. Seems like we're in the doldrums > of ham radio. > > -- > Kris Kirby, KE4AHR <k...@catonic.us> > But remember, with no superpowers comes no responsibility. > --rly > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
