klotz  09-02-2009
04:23 PM ET (US)
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Just recently, due to an act of what was charitably called "vandalism," here in Silicon Valley a geographically-widespread outage affected internet service, cell phones, landlines, and police/fire fiber-linked radio systems. Ham radio operators were called in the wee hours of the morning to take up positions at fire departments and hospitals throughout the south part of the county. The outage was caused by a fiber optic cable cut in an unmarked manhole, deep underground, and it affected the emergency systems as well as the everyday phone and internet service for both regular users and an internet hosting data center. Hams were able to respond because they are decentralized, intelligent, frequency-agile autonomous agents ;-) Here's some coverage; it's from the ARRL site but you can find original articles from the San Jose Mercury News and other newspapers. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/15/10771/Edited 09-02-2009 04:24 PM
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Martin M0ZIF 09-01-2009
05:29 PM ET (US)
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As a tutor at our local club the question of is amateur radio dead, made us laugh, we are probably busier than we have been in many years. Does the Internet take the fun out of the hobby 'Hell no' it adds to the scope of the hobby. People that have never tried ham radio should before commenting on this, its not CB nothing like cb...
Martin Hazel M0ZIF
Trainer for Morecambe Bay ARS
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David-G1ZQC 08-27-2009
06:09 PM ET (US)
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Hi all.
No doubt this topic will run on and on.
But, in reality, when all this so called modern technology is brought to its knees by disaster, natural or otherwise and when communications fail.
The first signals out of that area are always on Amateur frequencies.
Hurricane Katrina totally cut off any form of communications, until Radio "Dinosaurs" came to the rescue and brought much needed aid and supplies where they were needed, by setting up portable equipment and getting communications out of the flood stricken area.
Yes Amateur Radio is a hobby, but, you can't use it unless you pass a technical examination, to prove that you are NOT going to cause interference to other radio users. Where is this technical exam for the users of these boxes that people, inwittingly plug into the socket and radiate, seemingly out of control signals. Will they be supplied with the means to check frequency, harmonics and the like, as Radio Amateurs are compelled to do.?
David G1ZQC Licenced 23 Years.
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Scott Willy 08-27-2009
03:12 PM ET (US)
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Note that Comtrend adapters do not follow the HomePlug standard. They are based on DS2 proprietary technology.
Many years ago HomePlug worked with the amateur radio community (specifically the ARRL) to ensure that the HomePlug power line technology minimizes instances of harmful interference to licensed amateur radio operators.
The "HomePlug and ARRL Joint Test Report" can be found http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/file...g_ARRL_Dec_2000.pdf.
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Kawayuppie 08-26-2009
10:48 AM ET (US)
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Well put Larry100. I couldn't have explained it better. I am also a radio amateur, and live in a city and already have to put up with all the "static" and other interference across the spectrum on finds these days from all manner of devices.
Is Amateur Radio obsolete? No, I don't think so. There are various aspects of the hobby that might seem to be obsolete, but in others, it is very modern, namely the development of Software Defined Radio, digital modes, digital voice, satellite, and more. Also, amateur radio activities have been very helpful when communications are required in isolated areas when there are national disasters and even in the "developed" world, but is often not reported in the popular press. Many radio hams take part in on air contests (sport radio), radio direction finding contests and expeditions to remote areas all for fun. There is a lot going on if you look. Sure it is a niche market in the eyes of many, but it doesn't mean it is dead.
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Larry100 08-26-2009
08:52 AM ET (US)
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Well well isn't it amazing that every time money is involved people seem to throw ethics to the wind. I am a lifelong radio amateur (ham is an ugly expression and is unrepresentative of our ethos) with a substantial investment both of time and equipment in this hobby, I am also a huge consumer of the Internet. Indeed as a consultant engineer I widely use the spectrum from dc to daylight and everything in between. True to say there may be areas of amateur radio which are obsolescent in the eyes of some but it ill behoves us to rubbish the activities of others in any area. For example I utterly loathe and detest the game of football - it is a waste of time money and the players are revoltingly over-compensated for kicking around a bag of wind - for me if they never played another game in the history of the universe I would be delighted! I am fed up with the disturbances each and every match generates every time a game is played in the city! HOWEVER I shall defend unreservedly the privilege of others to enjoy THEIR hobby! I just don't need to be involved with it that's all. Now to the matter of homeplugs and other similar devices. Let us be absolutely honest the reason why manufacturers get away with polluting the spectrum needlessly is BECAUSE THEY CAN! Plain and simple. As radio amateurs we do not have enough sphere of influence to bring about change. Does this make it right? Of course it doesn't! Enjoying the radio spectrum is a well established pastime for many many people worldwide. It is a scarce resource which must be policed and managed properly for all to enjoy - and by enjoy I really mean effectively use the facility without hindrance from any quarter. It would seem in this age of the modernista that we are in grave danger of forgetting about what our neighbour wants. Another example - I do not have sky tv because I refuse to pay for services already heavily paid for by means of on screen advertising - why should I pay again - for old mudrock to go and buy another football team - no way! So you live in an area where the buildings are festooned with these wall-mounted woks and you ask permission to erect a modest short-wave aerial. You are declined. You feel angry and confused. You ask yourself "how would the football fans and sky viewers feel if they were told to remove their woks?" This is the crux of the matter: if today you allow radio amateurs to be consigned to the history books through bully boy tactics, how much longer until the sky tv afficionados are told: "this is legacy technology, you must now use our new homeofficefatbandhispeedfukplug because wok viewers don't matter" - won't happen here? Think again dear reader! If we do not SUPPORT EACH OTHER in our human endeavours there is one thing even more certain than death and taxes, the money-people will eat us all for breakfast BECAUSE THEY CAN! Stand up for your life before it is too late.....
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Guy Kewney 08-26-2009
06:04 AM ET (US)
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Ham Radio - obsolete?
It does seem that an awful lot of people assume the Internet is more important than amateur radio. As one Internet service provider told me (off the record!):
"Thing is, life moves on. Even if HomePlug does cause problems now, there will come a time when it is NOT seen as acceptable for the last six remaining Hammers to stop the rest of us using modern technology for OUR freedom of expression."
Well... [cough] that's one viewpoint. In an age where the Internet is more and more regulated, does amateur radio have its place?
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