Hi Rick, Ria, ODV,
I had a long talk with Bob last weekend in Ogden, but it was about the future of ARRL. (He likes where I am trying to take us.) He did not mention any of the concerns he expressed in his email. I will see him next weekend on Hunstville and I will talk to him again. I think these things are best discussed face to face and not through emails.
Ria's point is well taken. My July Second Century column talked about being a good citizen. I was talking about Part 97, but as I stated "not every operator always behaves as a good citizen – whether thorough error, ignorance or willful intent." Ria's point, and I agree, is that we can do something about the "ignorance" part.
But having said that, in talking to people around HQ, Dave Sumner was the one who backed off on pushing and maintaining the COFG. His concern was that, in spite of the disclaimer, the perception of some people was that ARRL was "dictating" band usage,
while others were complaining that their "niche" was not represented. Directly to this point, in Bob's email he complains that AM is only relegated to a calling frequency in the COFG, as it truly is:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/conop.pdf We have many more "modes" now. What ones do we list, and what ones don't make it?
Maybe we can find a way, as Ria suggests but using my own words, to Elmer new and old hams. This is something that we can all work on together, perhaps including, with a soft touch, the COFG to be delivered in person, not as a rigid guide but as an awareness
that different modes exist on the bands, and everyone should pay attention to the community norms.
73, Howard, WB2ITX
Anyway, I do think that many hams aren’t aware of the COFG.Good point, Ria. We have the frequency bands chart (in color) for sale at hamfests in our booth (and I know sometimes we give them away). I don't recall seeing the COFG so perhaps we could provide it free as a handout as part of the promotional packet.
Howard, perhaps you could have Staff check into that, and also providing it at VE sessions.
73Rick - K5UR
-----Original Message-----
From: rjairam@gmail.com <rjairam@gmail.com>
To: k5ur <k5ur@aol.com>
Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org>; bud <bud@w2ru.net>
Sent: Wed, Aug 14, 2019 12:04 pm
Subject: Re: [arrl-odv:28571] Re: Bob Heil's Concerns About AM On The Bands
Rick, I burned an antenna once with high swr that firmware didn’t detect. The fact that LDMOS can withstand 66:1 SWR didn’t help any :\
Anyway, I do think that many hams aren’t aware of the COFG. Especially since the usual path these days to a ham license is a day long cram class and learning from professor Google.
It would be nice if we had a program where new (and old) operators can learn operating practices and courtesy through friendly local clubs or other venues. Or maybe even handouts with a VE session pass.
RiaN2RJ
On Wed, Aug 14, 2019 at 12:24 PM <k5ur@aol.com> wrote:
Mine do — especially after a southern thunderstorm — but only briefly; then they start emitting smoke.Yep! Bud is right!
I set one of my towers on fire (about 75 feet up) back in the 80s' working the CQ WW DX Contest on 160 meters. Some of you have heard this story. It's a hoot. No, it wasn't me running high power, but with a high Q system you can induce some rather high voltage on a shunt fed tower. (hi) My neighbors went nuts. It sure lit up the sky, and you could read CW from the arcs and flames.
On a serious note, I asked Howard to review and respond to Bob. Some of you may not be aware that in addition to our formal band plans we have the "Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide" where numerous "neighborhoods" (as I call them) of frequencies are recognized, such as AM. We may need to adjust the guide. See:
Rick - K5UR
-----Original Message-----
From: Bud Hippisley <bud@w2ru.net>
To: rjairam@gmail.com <rjairam@gmail.com>
Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org>
Sent: Wed, Aug 14, 2019 10:14 am
Subject: [arrl-odv:28571] Re: Bob Heil's Concerns About AM On The Bands
> On Aug 14, 2019, at 10:56 AM, rjairam@gmail.com wrote:
>
> ...even though my radio doesn’t glow in the dark.
Mine do — especially after a southern thunderstorm — but only briefly; then they start emitting smoke.
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-- Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone: +1 860-594-0404 email: hmichel@arrl.org