Hello, Robert. I can understand the frustration one feels when an interest does
not seem to be shared by others. I worked long and hard (spent some hard earned
cash, also) in getting a packet backbone established between Memphis and
Nashville, only to see it not be used, primarily due to the emergence of the
internet. However, that same internet has let me access the ARRL web pages and
do a search on "AM Mode" and I came up with 291 hits. Now I didn't check
further to see what any of them were about, but at least the ARRL still
remembers there is a thing called AM Mode ;^)
Is there anything in particular you would like to see the ARRL do for AM'ers?
Is the lack of an AM endorsement for WAS the issue? Let me know and I will
check it out for you. I can't promise anything, except that I will check and
let you know what I find out. 73, Terry
Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> Dear Fellow Amateur:
>
> I know that some of you, maybe most of you, don't give a flip about some of
> us that still operate AM or restore old equipment. It appears from various
> writings and communications from ARRL that they don't either. To that end,
> the January 2003 issue of QST nicely displays a Collins 75A-1. It seems
> that the ARRL officers speak one language and then reacts quite differently.
> Like the courthouse clock, it has 4 faces and they often may not all tell
> the same time.
>
> I seem to think that the ARRL charter states that its purpose is to
> represent the interest of ALL amateur operations, not just a select few.
> Yes, I know that those of us that do enjoy and operate AM are a small
> minority. But I figure my $39 per year is just as good as the next persons
> $39 per year.
>
> After some 40+ years as a licensed amateur, and a member of ARRL for most of
> that time, I'll really have to give some serious thought as to if I write
> another $39 check to ARRL.
>
> Personally, I'm looking forward to the arrival of my new TenTec ORION,
> representing the latest in amateur radio technology. With it, I'll operate
> SSB, CW and AM as well as some of the digital modes. I just don't like
> being left out in the cold by an organization that is supposed to represent
> ALL of my interests.
>
> I suggest that you do the same.
>
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "WA3VJB Annapolis" <WA3VJB@amfone.net>
> To: "Ray at ER" <ER@OfficeOnWeb.net>
> Cc: <k1ki@arrl.net>; <K3ZX@arrl.net>; <n2ff@optonline.net>; <w6xd@arrl.org>;
> "N3EFN-Bernie/AtDivDir" <bfuller@gremlan.org>; "W3KD - Chris Imlay"
> <W3KD@aol.com>; "W5JBP" <W5JBP@aol.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 12:31 PM
> Subject: Editorial Letter
>
> > Electric Radio Magazine
> > Ray Osterwald, N0DMS, Editor
> >
> > Ray,
> > Please consider publishing my letter below as part of your coverage and
> > comment on the recent ARRL lack of support in actions regarding AM.
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Paul
> >
> >
> > DEAR ER:
> >
> > In addition to being disappointed that the League will not offer an AM
> > endorsement to its Worked All States Award, I am indignant that the ARRL
> > recently failed to see the merits of what could have been a nice, symbolic
> > gesture to the AM community to have responded positively to concerns about
> the
> > W1AW bulletins on SSB on 7290Kc. This frequency is designated for AM
> activity
> > by the ARRL's Good Operator guide, and the discrepency has not been
> resolved.
> >
> > The contradiction does not boil down to Joe Carcia, although he is the
> Station
> > Manager of W1AW. His reluctance to either change mode to AM or change
> > frequency was backed by Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, the top unelected
> administrative
> > executive at the ARRL. It is easy to conclude there's a broader problem
> > of "attitude," that we've long suspected of the League regarding its view
> of
> > AM.
> >
> > I suggest that the incidental W1AW bulletins being mismatched against the
> ARRL
> > Good Operator's Guide are NOT enough on their own to merit too much
> attention,
> > even though our questions are appropriate and our criticism is valid. To
> limit
> > such comments to a fairly low level issue however, allows the perpetrators
> to
> > ignore a bigger problem.
> >
> > You can bet, for example, there would be a prompt and apologetic response
> if
> > AM enjoyed the same status as DXing, and W1AW had decided to set up a
> bulletin
> > outlet in "their" portion of a band. But, keep in mind, the DX community
> > enjoys such stature, and the ARRL would never think of doing so in the
> first
> > place. I don't mean to hit DXers, either; name any other speciality in ham
> > radio, new or old technology, and the point still holds: There is
> substantial
> > and unjustified bias against AM in the League's administration.
> >
> > So, do you fix the misguided W1AW schedule, or do you work for a more
> > comprehensive solution that could help a variety of issues that undercut
> > positive visibility for AM activity within the League?
> >
> > I firmly believe it is time we initiate a generalized inquiry to establish
> in
> > an affirmative manner AM's place in League thinking. Such questions can
> and
> > should be raised by each of us to each of our Division Directors, copying
> in
> > Sumner, ARRL pres. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, and AM folks. It will take a
> substantial
> > number of us each making such an inquiry to make much difference. So, I
> urge
> > you to go for it!
> >
> > This goes beyond the question of whether someone is an ARRL member. The
> > League's regulatory deliberations affect members and non-members alike, as
> > witnessed by the AM Power Issue (we lost, circa 1980), the bandwidth
> issues
> > (we won, circa 1976), and AM on the proposed 60 meter band (not yet
> decided).
> >
> > In my opinion, the ARRL is putting its credibility at risk with the FCC,
> if
> > their organization can be shown to deliberately exclude any specialties
> such
> > as ours that could be affected by any position they take on rules and
> > regulations.
> >
> > Paul Courson
> > WA3VJB@amfone.net
> > Annapolis
> >
> >
> > EXPLORE vintage radio on the shortwave ham bands!
> > www.amfone.net
> > www.amwindow.org
> >
--
Terry A. Cox - KB4KA - Collierville, TN (Fayette County)
e-mail to tacox@concentric.net or kb4ka@arrl.org
ARRL Tennessee Section Manager
President/Trustee/QSL Mgr for Hickory Withe DX Club (KB4KC)
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