You make some good points, Chuck, but you are wrong about one thing: The amateur ranks have been growing like mad since the archaic CW (Morse Code) requirement was eliminated. Also, hams are still experimenting and innovating like never before as is demonstrated by the tremendous growth of SDR (Software Defined Radio) amongst the ham ranks. The Big 3 of ham radio manufacturers (Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood) are fast losing ground to the more innovative ham-owned and operated companies of TenTec, Elecraft and Flex-Radio. These same ham-owned companies are selling a lot of gear to the military, so they must be on to something.
Hams are pushing the envelope in satellite and microwave comms as well as digital communications methods which allow communications to occur at levels 30dB below the noise floor. Anyone who thinks we're a dying breed and "parasites" with frequency allocations that should be reassigned to folks who can make "better use of it" knows absolutely nothing about what's really happening in ham radio today. Of course, people talking strongly about things they don't understand is very common, particularly in election years. Rick, W7RAF Extra Class and 1st Class Radiotelephone -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 5:32 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Court Injunction A KA has been a ham longer than a KD. (assuming it is not a vanity call sign) Long time hams have more passion for the subject. But really, I agree with almost everything said. Ham really has been dying for a very long time. I just get bent when some WISPs take the entitlement attitude towards ham freqs. There are lots of PhDs that work in electrodynamics that are hams and merge their work world with their hobby world. Amateur Radio is Amateur like the Olympics used to be Amateur. If anything they were the most professional people in the industry. I would hire a hobbiest ham over some guy with a certificate any day of the week. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Blake Bowers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 3:58 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Court Injunction > Chuck - why would that make a bit of difference? KD versus KA? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
