Go look at the ARRL web pages. "Six Harris 1-kW solid-state amplifiers and matching commercial transceiver-exciters..."
This is not even close to representative to the ham population. If someone offered to put a BC-610 up there, they would be mortified! Heavens only knows how they would respond to an R-390 or R-390A. They do run an ARRL Labs AFSK system, and still broadcast RTTY and CW bulletins. No - it is NOT like NOT voting. I along with many others that HAVE BEEN members, HAVE said their piece. Ultimately this "we" voted with our non-renewal. The VEC system isn't all that wonderful. I really didn't mind the couple hour drive to the FCC office nearest to take my examinations. Now I could upgrade by downloading the question pool - and memorize the answers. Wonderful! Bob - N0DGN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Merz Donald S" Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 4:14 PM Subject: [AMRadio] In Defense Of The ARRL The ARRL is the only organized and funded voice that we have. All the arguments below sound just like this one: "I don't vote because all politicians are bad." Well if you don't vote--or in this case, if you choose not to support the ARRL, then you are assuredly getting what you deserve. The management of spectrum and the technologies that use that spectrum are continuously changing. For better or worse is a judgment call--change is the only certainly. If we want to protect what we have--if ham radio is to survive--then we MUST have the ARRL or something like it. Example: All TV broadcast stations have to go digital by 2007. Why not all ham stations? Are we next? If so, you can forget AM--and sideband too! If you believe in and love democracy, then by heaven please vote. If you believe in and love ham radio, then for heaven's sake please support the ARRL. To paraphrase Mr. Churchill, the ARRL is the worst form of a ham organization--except that we have no other. 73, Don Merz, N3RHT
