Oh yeah, but it is very sick. Needs some work.

 

Oh yeah, but it is very sick. Needs some work.

Which BBS system do you run? It was a big BBS here, but after '96 or '97, he turned off the switch. Internet took over. He had it on the Internet for some time, but eventually he drowned in all the other sites...

 

I'm using Wildcat, on a very old box. 200Mhz K6 under Win98SE.

 

Ah... The good old Wildcat. I don't remember the software name of the Norwegian BBS. In his glory days, he had 16 phone lines.

 

This years info...

http://www.hamcom.org/

 

How is the HAM scene going Bill? Is it thriving or withering?

It seems a bit oldfashioned these days with every kid having a reliable "Dick Tracy" style global transceiver in their pocket.

I'm not trying to be negative, because it seems like a wonderful community and I'm sure there are a lot of social benefits. I'm just wondering how well it is holding up in the communication age?

 

I'm not really active in it, but a good example is today, Moore Oklahoma (and Oklahoma City) was hit again with tornados. Hams provide a necessary backup service.

It is kinda like this site, there will always be technonerds among us

 

How is the HAM scene going Bill? Is it thriving or withering?

It seems a bit oldfashioned these days with every kid having a reliable "Dick Tracy" style global transceiver in their pocket.

I'm not trying to be negative, because it seems like a wonderful community and I'm sure there are a lot of social benefits. I'm just wondering how well it is holding up in the communication age?

I have been licensed for more than 40 years, and the interest in ham radio has declined significantly. Cell phones and the internet have taken a lot of the "shine" off of ham radio communications. That being said, there are still a lot of active hams pursuing some high-tech facets of the hobby. And, as Bill said, when emergencies strike, hams provide a very useful service.

 

Thanks guys. I've often thought about getting a HAM license, and even tried the online sample tests (which seem easy enough) but my main interest would be in digital comms experimentation.

Most of the support base (to me) looks like people who like the hobby of sitting there talking to strangers on a microphone, which has no appeal to me at all. I barely like talking to my friends.

 

Take a look at the digital technology links here: http://www.arrl.org/technology. You have to scroll down the page a little.

BTW, I was surprised to learn that ham radio licenses are at an all time high in the US: over 700,000.

 

Well, it's that time of year again. This Friday and Saturday is HamCom weekend.

http://www.hamcom.org/

 

High recycling rate, Bill. Congratulations.

BTW, enjoy that meeting!

 

I've recently started being interested in amateur radio myself. Maybe someday we'll go there together, Bill.

 

I like the hamfest in Claremore OK. a little drive from homw to there, but ususaly a good one. last year at the Wichita, ks. hamfest, I got roped into grading tests as a voulenteer examiner. lots of tests, lots of tests passed too, almost got writers cramp grading tests. finally got a little time for the fleas.

 

That time again,

http://www.hamcom.org/

 

If I lived near Dallas I'd definitely go. Unfortunately I'm all the way up in the North Woods (VT).

A hamfest I will be attending (hopefully) at some point this year is the one at MIT in Boston:

http://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit

That one happens every third week of each month, April through October. I haven't been able to go since I left my job at the university down there, but I'm hoping to drive down (perhaps on the 21st of this month).

Have fun Bill et. al.!

Regards,
Matt

 

Since we are talking flea markets it reminded me that the Silicon Valley radio club market is still going on monthly in Cupertino (home of Apple computer, Tandem, Seagate etc...). In fact this month it's tomorrow. Not that ham focused anymore but lots of good electronic stuff to buy. See:

http://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/

It's a bit far for me and I'm broke but maybe go anyway. Enjoy!