[color=teal][size=14pt]I just sent this to a couple of general interest ham radio websites that have "News" sections. If anyone wants to grab this and send it to general interest reflectors, please feel free.[/size][/color][hr][tt] Invitation to New "Shortwave" Hams
by Paul Courson WA3VJB The AM Community on the shortwave ham bands is rolling out the red carpet in response to the FCC's decision to discontinue the Morse code license test in the Amateur Service. Vintage radio hobbyists running Amplitude Modulation have long provided a means of introducing casual shortwave listeners and others into the hobby by virtue of their easy-to-tune signals. Ease of operating on AM is part of today's allure to the newcomer arriving on the high frequency bands, especially 160, 75 and 40 meters. Vintage radio gear is typically constructed of point-to-point wiring on a large chassis that is easy to service. Vacuum tube technology is well documented and simple in comparison to what's inside contemporary transceivers. This encourages the newcomer to explore how the rig works. On the air, the relaxed, storytelling nature of the typical AM conversation is also a welcoming environment for someone not yet known by a group they may encounter on the bands. The pace of the conversation is more thoughtful than what's often found among other modes and activities. The revival in AM the past 10-15 years has meant lots of newcomers, so you will be jumping on a train that's already rolling. One of the premier AM websites to provide a more elaborate overview is http://amfone.net where more than a thousand people have signed up to participate. Hope to hear you on the airwaves soon ! Paul/VJB Annapolis[/tt] ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know. Ask your question on www.Answers.yahoo.com ______________________________________________________________ AMRadio mailing list List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Partner Website: http://www.amfone.net Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word unsubscribe in the message body.
