In some sense, I am a ham because of the Internet. I like participating in a global communication system that is operated by its own users. It is unfortunate that there are so many laws standing in the way of ARS being used in lieu of 3G/4G (the most prominent being the ban on encrypted transmissions).
Sad to say, I left amateur radio because of the laws that restrict what a radio amateur can do. When unlicensed Joe Bloggs can do more over wifi and the Internet than you can do over ham licensed channels, the incentive for building your own equipment is rapidly lost. The radio amateur should be allowed to do MORE than unlicensed consumers, not less.
There was also a second reason why I left: the old timers reacted violently at any attempt to get the laws reformed to increase amateur capability. I never
probably more with culture of this country to buy something instead of making your own. Decades ago only big companies and govt agencies had two-way radios, and only the stinking rich had telephones in their cars. But the amateur radio operator had all these because they either built their own or put surplus equipment to have wireless systems two-way conversations and phone calls. Even people that do computers are more in users catagory instead of writing their own code. Yes, it is tough do build your own w
Thanks for your cogent comments and replies. I LOVE the idea of being able to fix your own electronics (vs buying another). After building an electronic kit you have the ability to detect and fix many obvious electronic problems.
And please any AARL old timers around this thread. Would you help train a novice? Would you support a novice? Myself and others need this.
"the most prominent being the ban on encrypted transmissions"
There is no such ban. There is a rule that says "data emissions using unspecified digital codes must not be transmitted for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any communication," but that's a matter of intent. For instance, if one encrypts a remote control signal, not to obscure it's meaning, but for the purpose of protecting it from interference, that's legal. If one takes advantage of a ham license to communicate with a high power 802.11 A
Don't know why this is marked as funny. I miss shortwave radio. Shame that I have been listening since a kid in the 70s and 80s. Trailed off a bit and 8 years ago acquired the best portable radio I could have dreamed of and all I hear is static. BBC stopped broadcasting. CBC stopped. I think it was Poland stopped a few weeks ago. No one broadcasts anymore. They all went internet. Radio is becoming useless.
Ah Ham (Score:5, Funny)
I was a ham until the fateful day when I discovered the internet~
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Did that make any difference?
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From ham to spam, eh?
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Stifling regulations and old timers (Score:0)
Sad to say, I left amateur radio because of the laws that restrict what a radio amateur can do. When unlicensed Joe Bloggs can do more over wifi and the Internet than you can do over ham licensed channels, the incentive for building your own equipment is rapidly lost. The radio amateur should be allowed to do MORE than unlicensed consumers, not less.
There was also a second reason why I left: the old timers reacted violently at any attempt to get the laws reformed to increase amateur capability. I never
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Thanks for your cogent comments and replies. I LOVE the idea of being able to fix your own electronics (vs buying another). After building an electronic kit you have the ability to detect and fix many obvious electronic problems.
And please any AARL old timers around this thread. Would you help train a novice? Would you support a novice? Myself and others need this.
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There is no such ban. There is a rule that says "data emissions using unspecified digital codes must not be transmitted for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any communication," but that's a matter of intent. For instance, if one encrypts a remote control signal, not to obscure it's meaning, but for the purpose of protecting it from interference, that's legal. If one takes advantage of a ham license to communicate with a high power 802.11 A
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HAM? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hold_And_Modify [wikipedia.org]
Or maybe Sliced HAM (hi-res mode): ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hold_And_Modify#Hold-And-Modify_mode [wikipedia.org]
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So, does that mean you are, or are not, helping to migrate ham radio from IPv4 to Ipv6?
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Ham radio is still far more interesting, and way cooler. They can shut down the net easily. Airwaves, meh, not so much. The last bastion of freedom!
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Don't know why this is marked as funny. I miss shortwave radio. Shame that I have been listening since a kid in the 70s and 80s. Trailed off a bit and 8 years ago acquired the best portable radio I could have dreamed of and all I hear is static. BBC stopped broadcasting. CBC stopped. I think it was Poland stopped a few weeks ago. No one broadcasts anymore. They all went internet. Radio is becoming useless.