Well then you don't need to go through the hassle of getting a license to
use skype or many other online voice and type chat programs.
No one needs a license to use a computer so why bother with the ham ticket
if the only way you can communicate due to living arrangements, is via the
computer?
If you can't get antennas up and can't use the radio, then why bother with a
license to operate a ham radio? You obtain that license to specifically
operate ham radio transmitting apparatus. not to pay for the use of a
computer program pretending it's radio apparatus.
doesn't make much sense.
I see the advantage of IRLP, but at least you do need to use radio equipment
to access it. No one is pretending that they're on ham radio when it's
actually a computer. You must use RF to use IRLP so it maintains the radio
part. Echolink also has a pretty well defined RF aspect to it as well, so
it's also at least semi-radio related. But CQ100 is just a joke. It's a
VOIP program with some clever programming to make it look like a radio. At
least skype is free, doesn't require you to prove you hold a radio apparatus
operators license for amateur equipment, and has better audio too.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with people who live in nursing homes,
hospitals, apartments, with relatives or in antenna restricted areas wanting
to, and being able to talk to other hams, but if it's on the computer, then
don't make some sham out of a computer program making it look like ham
radio, then charge people for the privallage.
Not only that, proving you hold a license? what on earth does that do? It's
beyond me why you should have to prove you have a license to go onto a
computer voice chap program...
If you dump a cheeseburger and pour a beer into a blender and turn it on for
ten minutes, is it still a cheesburger and beer?
I'll let you guys be the judge of that.
Having or getting a ham license is not about being allowed into some clicky
club or special group. Being licensed simply means you are qualified, and
have proven through testing that you are qualified, to operate radio
equipment on the amateur radio frequency bands. It has nothing to do with
your character, personality, political or religious views. It has nothing
to do with your skills, or abilities and the way you talk. Or at least it
shouldn't.
CQ100 flies in the face of all that is ham radio, and all that the license
stands for. It makes you prove you are licensed in order to filter the
membership to what someone has arbitrarily decided are individuals qualified
to speak to one another. not individuals who are qualified to actually
operate equipment. So proving you are licensed means they assume that if
you are licensed, you will be somehow better than the average joe on the
street and that isn't what ham radio is about at all.
CQ100 actually puts into a nut shell the biggest reason fewer people are
getting into this hobby and service. It's seen as a bunch of old farts who
only want to talk to each other and no one else. And, that's precisely what
cq100 encourages by demanding proof of a license and pretending it's real HF
radio.
At least with echolink, you are using amateur frequencies even if you are on
your computer talking into a repeater or node, so you should have to prove
you are licensed to be able to operate on amateur frequencies.
73
Colin V A6BKX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Sackrider" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 1:42 PM
Subject: ham radio and the internet
> Hi this isBrian Sackrider n8mnx and you need to rembember that lots of
> people live in places with very restrictive antenna restrictions I live in
> an apartment am I very limited on what antennas that will fit on my
> balcony
> and I use the cq100 program on my computer this is a vertual hf radio no
> it's real hf radio but it's all that some of us have you are required to
> send prove of your licence to by a membership on cq100. there is a 90 day
> free trial and then it cost 39 dollars per year. there people on it that
> are in nursing homes and in hhospitals and they can still can communicate
> and on the issue of echo link and irlp they are 2 other modes that people
> with antenna restrictions can still operate so it's always that people are
> to lazy to putup antenas please think and get your facts before you judge
> put yourself in our place I got my licence to communicate
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Miller
> Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 1:25 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: 47 years as a ham
>
> When *I* pick up the phone, it generally is a complete waste of time but
> that's beside the point. I didn't get a radio license to talk on
> the
> phone
> or the internet, that's not radio and I'd be flat out embarrassed to brag
> about my last phone call to NY or skype call to TN or where ever it was
> all
> those months ago and I certainly would never call an internet conversation
> or phone call DX, accept a card or anything for it. Why anyone would get a
> radio license just to use the internet is well beyond me but then, that's
> why I never get on 2 meters, that's all anyone seems to do these days and
> they're so happy they never have to actually work to make a contact,
> upgrade, put up antennas or anything. As far as I'm concerned, they
> shouldn't be any part of radio with that attitude since they don't even
> know
> what radio is if they're calling the internet radio.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Howard Kaufman" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 8:47 AM
> Subject: Re: 47 years as a ham
>
>
>> So john, does that mean if you pick up a telephone you are just wasting
>> your
>> time?
>> How is that different than incorporating the Internet?
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