I think Joe is mostly correct in his observations about all the bands. While it
is really visible on 2M and up weak signal side of things, I do also see it on
the HF bands much of the time as well. And is certainly the case on the FM
repeaters too. And just like there are more V/UHF SSB/CW capable radios in the
hands of more operators than ever before, that did next to nothing to increase
activity, neither did the doubling or more the number of available repeaters to
use increased FM activity either. And even repeaters with all sorts of VoIP
technologies tied into them are still nowhere close to being as busy as the
machines that were on the air prior to 1990 were. So it really is the same
story most everywhere. And if you look at discussion group comments across just
about any technology centric hobby they all have similar compliants, so it is
not just radio.
So I really don't think that the level of VHF weaksignal promotion by the ARRL,
or perceived lack thereof has that much of a bearing on what has happened. And
there is no shortage of VHF groups all around the country who have all along,
and continue to, offer assistance to new people, and which have nets and so on
to promote activity. So that I really don't think that part of it is lacking
either. In the end I'm fairly convinced that it is not the institutions, nor
the regulations and rules that have precipitated these declines, instead it is
the people that have changed, and by no means is it just the newcomers.
DG
--------------------------------------------
On Mon, 2/10/14, Joe <nss@mwt.net> wrote:
I think it is simply the level of
activity. ON ALL BANDS!
When I first got on the air in 1975, on HF you would never
ever have a
QSO without some QRM on one side or the other, and on 20
meters it was
BOTH sides. And this was 24/7. Weekends? Geez a
weekend back then on a
typical day, had the level of activity that you only now
hear during a
major contest weekend.
VHF/UHF? even on the "Exotic" Non FM modes SSB & CW in
the late 70's and
the 80's every evening, be it a band opening or not there
was always
someone either CQing or listening for a CQ to appear. You
would turn on
the radio, and odds were you would find a conversation
already in
progress. if not a simple CQ and now there was one. and this
was from
southwest Wisconsin EN43 hardly a population hub.
2 meter FM repeaters? Wide coverage ones you dare not put
into a
scanner, because that is all you would ever hear it would
have someone
talking on it ALL the time.
Nowdays, I have two WIDE!!! coverage repeaters I can hear.
and there are
weeks where a whole week will go by and not a single
conversation would
be heard. Just the weekly club net or something like that.
or the
husband and wife duo that exactly between 4 and 4:10 call
eachother to
tell eaachother that they are on their way home. a 1 minute
QSO.
But thats it.
There may be more hams licensed than ever before, BUT they
are NOT
transmitting.
Joe WB9SBD
Sig
The Original Rolling Ball Clock
Idle Tyme
Idle-Tyme.com
http://www.idle-tyme.com
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