Hi again,
What you didn't realize is the gross inaccuracy of that APRS map, you're forgiven. (;->) OK, it's real time but with such holes in the air portion of the network (pockets of radio stitched together with wire) accuracy can't be expected. If it were pure radio it would be several days behind and thoroughly skewed due to the slow propagation across the network so there has to be a trade-off.
Nobody's knocking the communicators, if they want to play Internet games and stay baby hams rather than baby hams growing up with radio and becoming skilled adult operators it's no skin off my nose. Let them have at it but they'll never learn the radio art on the telephone. Read and understand the FCC Rules Part 97 Section 1 so you'll understand that our Intent and Purpose has nothing to do with Internet VoIP communicating with the "ham" version of MSN Messenger.
Now you're asking for it! Nothing personal, this is for the fake hams in the audience and for clarification of my point.
"When I'm on longer trips or away from digis, I will use my cell phone data connection to send my position out to the internet. Does this make me less of a ham for not using radio?"
It doesn't make you a ham at all! Any dipstick can dial a cell phone and feed the Internet with position reporting data, you don't need a license, technical skills, nor anything that makes a ham a ham to use a freakin' cell phone. It's not Amateur Radio, it's Amateur Internet, no license required, no brain either. Hell, at least CBers use radio and we thing the same way about them too, brainless with very few exceptions. Hey, you don't need a license for Echostink either and I proved it by hacking it, won't go into detail but this I'll tell you, security is non existant.
"If you don't like it, don't use it."
I don't and I won't.
"But don't ruin it for the folks who do enjoy it."
How can I ruin it? The kiddies do as they please without parental control.
"I think it's great for new hams to be able to talk around the world on their new HT to get their feet wet."
Yeah, they're ALL wet. At least IRLP uses a 2M cell phone to connect to the Internet, Echostink works without radio at all, peer to peer.
"I think that would motivate them to work on upgrading their license to get HF privledges."
Why bother to upgrade when you can remain a no code tech forever and still talk around the world on an autopatch? That's what IRLP is, an autopatch, you dial a node number (telephone number) on a DTMF pad and talk. They can save the expense of an HF rig too and the neighbors won't mind since there's no tower with a huge tri-bander in the back yard, only a kid in his room with an HT or a computer and no radio at all.
"I'm not sure what your beef is about IRLP and Echolink."
Are you sure now?
"I think one great thing about ham radio is the fact that it has so many branches to explore. You can talk FM on the local repeaters, send CW, or use one of the many digital modes to send text, data, and images all over the world. You just find the areas you enjoy and stick with them."
NOW you're talking! (And that's the title of a very good book.) Personally, I use repeaters as repeaters, that is to extend my range rather than a street corner hangout. I much prefer FM simplex, SSB and packet, soon to fire up more sophisticated digital modes. BUAM, I never bothered transmitting ATV, monitoring was boring enough with all the talking heads. (;->)
"I upgraded to general as the cycle was dying down, but still got in there to enjoy 10m."
Great, at least you caught the tail end but 20M ain't dead yet, Australia was coming in a few hours ago. I caught a VK4 on PSK weak and sometimes jumbled but definately there. Even at this low spot it opens but unfortunately the summer static is here lousing up the lower frequecies. It was rough on 20 too with T storms floating around out there somewhere. PSK is an excellent weak signal mode but what they don't tell you is like any mode except perhaps FM is noise tears it up.
"Your hand will get tired rotating the dial up and down that band, whew! Fun times..."
YEE-HAAAA! At the last peak I operated my ex landlord's station, one of the finest I have ever seen and worked DC to daylight all modes QRP to QRO. It was a BLAST with the world at my doorstep. My fingers got tired from working a whole bank of dials and switches for hours on end, used every trick in the book busting pile-ups and actually wrote a few myself. Brute force isn't the answer, stealth is. Sneak up behing them and they jump, then sometimes it's persistance that pays off. I pestered this guy for a full hour and a half until he finally came back and told me he was only working the big guns but I annoyed him so much he just had to get rid of me. (;->)
There are eight million QSOs in The Naked Log Book and this has been one of them.
My apologies to the Golden Age of television for stealing a signature line.
Edited for spelling.
