Why the endless congregating around the so-called "calling frequencies"? Maybe it's the "watering hole" effect - people tend to go where they know the action is, even if it is too crowded and dangerous.
I've noticed a growing trend of 100w-class stations reporting less success in recent years. I have a theory that this is due to the ever-climbing local noise levels in our neighborhoods. This noise will tend to mask the weaker signals at the receive end, resulting in fewer possible "recipients" for low and medium power CQs. I find I have to be very diligent about tracking down and eliminating sources of noise in my own house just to keep my receive noise level reasonable. I'm seeing the same thing in AM and FM broadcasting - long-time home-based listeners to our radio stations are having more trouble in recent years hearing the same old stations transmitting with the same power levels - the background noise is covering up the fringe reception. Mobile reception doesn't seem to be as troubled - except by the recent trend of traffic light systems that produce VHF interference at intersections. Another factor on both ends of the potential amateur contacts may be the more limited antenna options many operators are stuck with - makes it harder to use the 100w power level. Steve WD8DAS sbjohns...@aol.com http://www.wd8das.net/ --------------------------------------------------------- Radio is your best entertainment value. --------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
