Subj : Re: Radio Controlled Foru
To   : Mike Dippel
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Tue Jul 20 2021 07:32:00

Mike,

 MD> It would be cool to have them join us here.

  I don't get on the air that much locally. The last several
years, I'd be constantly interfered with, even if just passing
routine traffic. There are several clubs in the central Arkansas
area, but for years, there's petty bickering between each other,
especially on "who does the better job during Skywarn Severe
Weather". To me, in an emergency (i.e. a tornado outbreak, and
we've had some of those in the region, such as on Jan. 21, 1999,
with 56 tornadoes, most of those in just 6 hours), you need to
drop all club affiliations, etc., and work toward passing traffic
to aid in disaster recovery.

  Plus, where I'm at, I don't have any RF gear...never mind not
being able to afford it, and we get intense lightning here from
thunderstorms. I know Florida is the lightning capitol of the
world, but at times, Arkansas gives them competition. In one
storm, in an hour's time, there were nearly 10 strikes per
second in Pulaski County (Little Rock).

  So, I operate only via the computer, with a ThumbDV, and the
BlueDV program by a ham in the Netherlands (I think). I can
still talk to folks around the world, and I don't have to worry
about rigs, antennas, power supplies, coaxial cable, SWR meters,
towers, etc. Basically, my ham radio license isn't "just a sheet
of paper". When I mentioned that at an area hamfest 2 years ago
(the last one held in Arkansas before COVID-19 restrictions were
implemented), while doing a forum, I got a standing ovation. :)

  As an accredited Volunteer Examiner (I have been for 14 years),
to give and grade license exams (the FCC originally did these at
the area Federal Buildings, but the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator
(VEC) program was created 35 years ago, where the hams themselves
would do the testing), I've seen folks study the material, pay
the fee to take the exam, then they do nothing else with their
license. My question is "Why did they spend all that time and
money??". 

  Now, any hobby can be a financial black hole...one time, there 
was a "DC To Daylight" radio for $20,000. Now, I could outfit a 
nice "radio shack" for that, with several items; or even buy a 
nice pre-owned car, or take a nice Amtrak trip. But, for just one 
radio, to me, that's just overkill.

Daryl, WX4QZ

.... H.A.M. Radio Operator: H)ave A)nother M)eal.
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