On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 9:18 AM, Bob Carpenter <[email protected]> wrote: > Every body that wants to run A.M. go ahead and move down to the extra band, > then don't ask why A.M. is a dying mode !! A lot of "working stiff" still > have to work 40 to 60 hrs a week, and for what ever reason don't have our > "extra" but I really love A.M.
AM isn't a dying mode from where I sit, it's one of the few modes that seems to be gaining in activity through new interest. Many of us who have worked down in th 80m portion of the expanded phone band have worked many newcomers trying out their Yaecomwood radios on AM for the first time. In fact, a couple days back I heard a 4 Lander using SSB break into a group on 3733 who then helped him make the switch to AM mode. He was trying out an Icom 781 and IIRC, it was his first AM contact ever. He hung in there for quite a while and did say he'd be back for more. > Got to say, I'm beginning to feel like it's a one way relationship , you > see. I'm not retired yet, and no I don't have a room full of old tube > xmitters (but would love to have )Do have a old DX 40 that I'm close to > getting on the air, and a three tube 811 amp, that may allow me to get into > a short QSO with some of you. It's really sad that in order to be "in the > group" you've got to run a tube xmitter and a amp, at 300 to 800 watts, > other wise, your just noise, and something to be tolerated with a short > reply, and then move on to another "big rig" sounding station. Bob, where are you getting your info? Are you on the air at all? If so, you must realize that some of the strongest, best sounding signals out there are guys running Class E solid state rigs, or Flex radios as Pete mentions. There is no doubt that if you're going to hang around up in the AM ghetto area at night, you're going to need to run some decent power and have a decent signal to be heard. But that's been the case as long as I can remember, it's nothing new. The 'new' thing is that we now have additional spectrum to stretch out and enjoy instead of trying to all squeeze into a few "popular" frequencies. You should be embracing this, not complaining about it. I've been a 'working stiff' too, through most of my amateur career and through all my upgrades. There was never time to practice the code or study for me either, unless *I* made the time. Once it became a priority for me and not just a passing interest, there was plenty of time. Funny how that works. > A.M.,,,,,,,the EXTRA mode Huh. I'm only an Advanced. Maybe I should feel bad for myself too? Nah, the energy could be better spent working on upgrading. Too many folks seem to want the luxury of amateur radio being on their terms, whenever they happen to turn on the radio it should just be happening in a place where they can enjoy it. Hopefully more are realizing that *they* are amateur radio, in this case the AMers who will make a difference if they're on the air instead of online. Other than some weekly AM net and the rare QSO, I'm amazed at how little local AM activity I hear since moving to 4 Land. Plenty of 1,2, and 3 Landers, with 8s and 5s in there too. It's almost like that Verizon dead zone commercial. Let's do something positive about it, Bob. I'll make you a deal: you upgrade (much easier these days) and I'll get some wires back up in the air, then we can both be part of the solution. I do need to reorganize my priorities from all that moving/domestic stuff back to radio and fun activities. ~ Todd, KA1KAQ/4 ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio 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.
