At 7/26/2008 18:02, you wrote: >We have plenty of nice folks who have come into the hobby through the >use of our repeaters *first* who then learn about simplex, and then >SSB, and then digital modes, and then weak-signal optimization >techniques and antennas, and DX and... the list goes on, of course. >What a great hobby.
You talk about SSB, digital modes & weak signal as if those are the more interesting aspects of the hobby. For me, it was all in reverse: I started out on HF CW, then SSB, then got tired of it & put ham radio on the shelf for a couple of years until I got my first 2 meter radio. I kind of knew all along that VHF/UHF FM was my primary interest, but I had to use what was provided to me at the time. Turned out that the local 2 meter repeater club had a weekly SSB net on 10 meters, & at the time checking into that was the highlight of the week for me because it was the only way I could talk to the locals that I listened to all week on my multiband radio. I have HF now, with soundcard interface & a bunch of freeware for PSK31/SSTV/etc., but primarily just so that I have the capability in the rare event it's needed for some disaster. I've even been known to do the SSB Sweepstakes in November a couple of times, & have participated in most FDs since 1980 (mostly VHF/UHF FM). But for me, repeaters have been more than the gateway - they have been the center of the hobby. Bob NO6B
