> When you think of it, what is up with ham radio, two guys trying to work > each other with qsb, qrm, using expensive equipment, big antenna's, > towers,etc, when you could do voice and video over the internet on a cheap > laptop or an I phone...on the beach, in the den, on a train, anyplace... > > Brett
That's what makes it interesting. Ham radio communication, particularly on HF, is uncertain, and largely governed by Mother Nature (T-storm QRN, ionospheric propagation, etc). People enjoy communicating via ham radio and sometimes spend tons of money on their hobby for the same reason that others enjoy hunting, fishing and gardening, despite the fact that commercially prepared meat, vegetables and seafood are more easily and usually more cheaply available at the local supermarket. There is a certain aspect of sport and anticipation of the unknown whenever you fire up the rig just as there is before a hunting or fishing trip or anticipation of the harvest when you plant the veggie garden in the spring. That is the "magic" that creates the excitement. Plus most hams find magic in our toys, just as hunters find magic in their favourite guns and fishermen find magic in their boats, along with the one-upmanship we sometimes enjoy as we spar with our fellow hobbyists. It would be extremely boring if every QSO were 100% reliable, noise free, and all signals had a prescribed set signal strength. That's why Skype and some of the so-called virtual ham radio web sites have so far met with so little success. Don k4kyv _______________________________________________________________ This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout. http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/ http://gigliwood.com/abcd/ ______________________________________________________________ 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 Post: [email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] 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
