Is Amateur ARES EMCOMM a waste?
“Emergency communications has been part of ham radio from it’s inception. Yet we need separate entities (ARES/RACES) to help promote it? Why not separate entities to help advance this hobby?”
http://kb9mwr.blogspot.com/2010/01/is-amateur-ares-emcomm-waste.html
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This guy is a pessimist but also a realist. I think a lot of us fear some of what he says is true, such as commercial options available, stagnation and ego battles. TNC’s were made 20+ years ago and yet here we are still using them and whining about new things like D-Star. I think PC’s and radios will be inseparable for many future ham innovations. I know my current and future tinkering will center around digital data modes and programming. A lot of jargon floating around VDEM, FEMA, DHS et.al. use words like ‘interoperability’, ‘back up communications’, and ‘voice and data solutions’. Heck, I might even try D-Star on HF.
Recent efforts to recruit new hams are absolutely needed. New blood brings new perspectives and tech-saaviness frequently lacking in more ’seasoned’ hams. They will experiment in radios using tech that we couldn’t dream of when we were their age. But try and get those younguns to make a tube RF amp? heh heh heh We should worry more about what they need to know to be successful rather than what Icom or Yaesu is currently marketing. (Unless they need a new rig) Anyway, I’ll get flamed from someone, so 73 all,
Dave
KJ4KUD