John, really, people cannot buy land anymore--houses are too close, prices
too high etc.  And you would be contributing more to ham radio in the
traditional sense by using your rig and going on hf or whatever you wish to
do.  Just because someone made that statement doesn't mean that everyone who
uses echolink feels that way--in fact, I know they don't.   
Ham radio will certainly survive folks and cw is not dead--people are
learning it and are interested.  Lets be positive about the future. 73, Barb


 
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of John Miller
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 10:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Echo Link WasRE: Introduction

There won't be a "radio" part of it to use if we keep demonstrating echolink
to potential hams and new hams. I used to have a simplex link up for a while
until I heard some new ham saying he wasn't going to ever bother upgrading
his license because he liked echolink better since he didn't have to worry
about band conditions and the person he was talking to agreed with him. I
pulled the plug on it right after that idiotic statement was made, and when
I thought about it, I realized just how bad it really is and I'm so ashamed
of myself for ever putting that link up. I kick myself daily for
contributing to that kind of thought process and general stupidity. Why even
get a license in the first place if you want to talk all over the world on
the computer? Oh well, no one will ever change my thought process on that. 
It's a very lazy day and age we live in today and that unfortunately is in
general. As soon as I find something else to do I like, or if things get
much worse on ham radio and it gets more to be ham computer, I'll probably
get out of it 100%. Many I know have done it due to that and the dropping of
CW, I'm not as hot about the CW topic but I feel my years in ham radio are
probably numbered. Hopefully I can find a partner for my UHF repeater
project so I don't have to find a home for that when that day comes that I
do pull out, or I might just move it to GMRS. Anyway, no one will ever
change my thought process on this, I think the hobby is going away fast as
real radio and it kills me to see it. Hopefully when the HF bands get good
things will change, I'll wait for that but if not, I won't be around for the
next one.
It's funny though, everyone thought there would be problems on the HF bands
with CW being dropped, I'm seeing a lot more problems on VHF than anywhere
and if it wasn't for the NTS and ARES/RACES involvement, what very little
time I'm on VHF now would be 0.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John J. Jacques" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: Echo Link WasRE: Introduction


> Hi all, I believe that echo link is a great way to marry amateur radio 
> and the internet.  I enjoy accessing my echo link node via UHF simplex 
> but I can appreciate the ability to connect with just a PC, unlike IRLP.
> For example, last year, I was able to park my echo link node on the 
> local club repeater, while I was in Michigan, allowing me to check 
> into the net that I usually run, with my laptop!  Though I love all of 
> the older forms of communication such as A M phone, I think we need to  
> use the new technology that is available or soon, there won't be an 
> amateur radio service left to use!
>
> 73 and 88 to the YL's:
> John
>
> John Jacques
> Amateur Radio Station: KG7FA
> "Where Cat Is,  Is Civilization!"