What's going on with 2m?

[W2IBC]

Well... speaking from the perspective of a non-club repeater owner who doesn't accept money from other people to keep the repeaters running, I consider myself a "benevolent autocrat." I like the repeaters being used, but one of the repeaters has a specific purpose (primarily keeping in touch with family members). Since I built and maintain the repeaters myself, I would have a problem with a group of people I don't know who claim the right to eminent domain and retask my repeater to something else without at least asking (I probably wouldn't say "no" but it's a courtesy thing, after all, I'd be subsidizing whatever it was). It's not a free-for-all, but it's not the Iron Curtain, either.

That aside, I personally don't like hamspeak ("Hi hi" and the nervous laugh some people feel compelled to insert into their transmissions when they've exhausted what they were going to say and are just holding the button down). I love to talk politics on the air and have had epic discussions with people of varied viewpoints. We never solved anything and no one ever convinced me they were 100% right (nor have I ever convinced them), but it makes for really great discussion. I learn stuff. I (and the group that gravitated to the repeater) love kidding around. It's not heard on many of the mainstream systems, either, because we're too busy being politically correct. Back in the day, we had one guy who was rather... loose... with his dating. One father's day, a bunch of us did a Les Nessman-like skit for him where we described him going up and down the main street in the shopping district in the Popemobile waving at all of his kids. We also watched TV shows and movies on HBO and threw out commentary, like Mystery Science Theater 3K. It was a bunch of things.

We don't do it anymore. Mostly because many of us grew up (not me, obviously), married off, and moved out all over the country. A few of us are SK now. Sadly, things change and people in a group can't be replaced and don't necessarily replenish like they might on a TV show.

It's been said many times in this thread. Once more. It's what we make of it.

well see You are the owner of the machine. you were/are allowing the "no-no topics" to be talked about (which makes it fun and listeners love it) but a good majority of the machines if you was doing that on them. you would unkey and it would be off.

But anyway. people keep talking about all these new hams.. and most of them get that shiny new HT. and what do they get most of the time? a lot of dead machines. and the boring "how's your grass growing" topics. can you say boring?

truthfully if I was to get a license today and turned on a HT (lets faces it new hams are not going to sink hundreds in HF stuff right of the bat) and heard dead air or every single qso was boring crap how's your grass growing topics or the grab your orange vest and 5 HTS on your belt and lets go "Save the day" crap. I'd toss the HT back in the box. and toss it in the closet never to be used again and 10 years later. non-renewed.

and yea we may have 700k hams in the usa right now alot of them newbs but in 10 years will they still be here? No. why? cause many get it to be the orange vest save the day crowed and when they realize your not going to be saving the day they give up. and those who were not brought in by the wackers they will turn on the local machine and hear nothing or lame paint drying qso's and say this is boring.

 

[pjtnascar]

Boy am I glad we have a decent bunch of repeaters around here.

 

[Phantom1989]

It's a wider problem, not just for your local area. Back when I first started with radio (early 2000s) 2m was THE band. The repeaters were always busy and all you had to do was turn the VHF radio on to find out everything that was going on in the local area. Now days I still hear a little traffic at night time but it is usually on out of town repeaters.

 

[zz0468]

You know, the bottom line here, guys is this...

2 meter FM is not the be all and end all of ham radio. It's "ham-radio lite", and there's a whole lot more to the hobby than that. If you don't like what's happening in your area on 2 meter FM, then change it. If you can't (won't) change it, then do something else. Upgrade and get on HF if you don't like the locals. Can't (won't) upgrade? Then try 2m SSB. You can talk 500 miles with a modest 2m SSB station, and 1500 miles with a bit of work.

Quit b**ching about it. DO SOMETHING.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

You know, the bottom line here, guys is this...

2 meter FM is not the be all and end all of ham radio. It's "ham-radio lite", and there's a whole lot more to the hobby than that. If you don't like what's happening in your area on 2 meter FM, then change it. If you can't (won't) change it, then do something else. Upgrade and get on HF if you don't like the locals. Can't (won't) upgrade? Then try 2m SSB. You can talk 500 miles with a modest 2m SSB station, and 1500 miles with a bit of work.

Quit b**ching about it. DO SOMETHING.

Amen, well said!!

 

[gewecke]

You know, the bottom line here, guys is this...

2 meter FM is not the be all and end all of ham radio. It's "ham-radio lite", and there's a whole lot more to the hobby than that. If you don't like what's happening in your area on 2 meter FM, then change it. If you can't (won't) change it, then do something else. Upgrade and get on HF if you don't like the locals. Can't (won't) upgrade? Then try 2m SSB. You can talk 500 miles with a modest 2m SSB station, and 1500 miles with a bit of work.

Quit b**ching about it. DO SOMETHING.

We did...we stopped using vhf in our talkies and stayed with 220 mhz. or farther up!

73,
n9zas

 

[zz0468]

We did...we stopped using vhf in our talkies and stayed with 220 mhz. or farther up!

Which is exactly what I did.

 

[Ed_Seedhouse]

As a hopefully soon to be operator (exam on April 9!) it's actually two meters that is mainly attracting me to the hobby. Here in Victoria B.C. we have a very active safety program based on using local repeaters and ham operators during emergencies, and we also have plenty of repeaters that get used frequently and that I've been eavesdropping on since I retired in 2009. So I feel that getting my ticket will allow me to join the conversation that's already going on. I have gotten to know a lot of fine people and hope soon to be able to introduce myself to them and join the gabfest..

The local club is giving everyone who passes the exam a free two meter radio, but I will probably also buy a vhf/uhf unit. Two meters offers people a low cost entry into a great hobby and is certainly by no means dead where I live.

And if I get 80% on the exam as I hope to, then I can attend ham fests and work HF under my own call sign even if though I can't really work HF from home because of antenna restrictions at the co-op housing I live in.

That's another benefit of two meters, the antenna can be hidden away where nosy neighbours won't raise a ruckus.

 

[gewecke]

As a hopefully soon to be operator (exam on April 9!) it's actually two meters that is mainly attracting me to the hobby. Here in Victoria B.C. we have a very active safety program based on using local repeaters and ham operators during emergencies, and we also have plenty of repeaters that get used frequently and that I've been eavesdropping on since I retired in 2009. So I feel that getting my ticket will allow me to join the conversation that's already going on. I have gotten to know a lot of fine people and hope soon to be able to introduce myself to them and join the gabfest..

The local club is giving everyone who passes the exam a free two meter radio, but I will probably also buy a vhf/uhf unit. Two meters offers people a low cost entry into a great hobby and is certainly by no means dead where I live.

And if I get 80% on the exam as I hope to, then I can attend ham fests and work HF under my own call sign even if though I can't really work HF from home because of antenna restrictions at the co-op housing I live in.

That's another benefit of two meters, the antenna can be hidden away where nosy neighbours won't raise a ruckus.

You might have smarter, more intellectual hams in your area on 2m than we do here. the majority of ops around my area discuss their s.s checks, medicaid isssues, politics and other morbid topics on the air. Then they rehash all this at club meetings in case someone missed something. :lol:

73,
n9zas

 

[k3cfc]

Planning on it. it dose take money (want to donate?) however. it will end up a odd-split machine since every other freq. is pretty much taken. (and god dose it suck when 2 meters open up just ever so slightly)

But 3 repeaters in this county. all dead 1 even has IRLP.. and it sits idle most of the time. never hear much of anything on the machines in the surrounding counties cept for the 700...

all we need is a good machine (tubes welcome!) and about 900ft and we could bring the wild bunch live across Indiana!

Dose means quantity in the fields of nutrition, medicine, and toxicology.

 

[wery67564]

New Orleanians on 2M

I am going to test for my tehnicians license this month and just got a little handheld 2m to listen in on the local traffic. Seems to be nothing? Does anyone know of any local hotspots that pop up. I travel fairly regularly for work up to Baton Rouge and down to Venice (Coast Guard) and would love to know if there is any knowledge about the area...

Thanks,

Super N00b

 

[k3cfc]

I am going to test for my technicians license this month and just got a little handheld 2m to listen in on the local traffic. Seems to be nothing? Does anyone know of any local hotspots that pop up. I travel fairly regularly for work up to Baton Rouge and down to Venice (Coast Guard) and would love to know if there is any knowledge about the area...

Thanks,

Super N00b

It would be a good idea to buy an updated repeater book. in there you will find answers to all your questions. i would help but i am in pa.

Later Chuck

 

[hhrj]

Does anyone know of any local hotspots that pop up. I travel fairly regularly for work up to Baton Rouge and down to Venice (Coast Guard) and would love to know if there is any knowledge about the area...

You can look this info on the web, there's a wealth of info available with out having to buy a book.

Try here to start: Amateur Radio Repeater database - Updated daily

Good luck on your test!
Ron

 

[k3cfc]

You can look this info on the web, there's a wealth of info available with out having to buy a book.

Try here to start: Amateur Radio Repeater database - Updated daily

Good luck on your test!
Ron

Hello Ron it's me again. i forgot to say good luck on your test. oh by the way YOU CAN'T PUT A COMPUTER IN YOUR POCKET. repeater books are about $8.00 in case you don't have a computer. lol

Later Chuck

 

[idigicom]

The problem w Amateur radio is that it seems to foster a lot of boy scouts and law enforcement personalities. We get all wrapped up around FCC rules, what's certified equipment, what's not, debating who can interpret Part 97 regs better than the bureaucrat; while the rest of the world is kicking our b#tt in the global economy and stealing American jobs. I think the more time we spend in the weeds, and not focused on making this a FUN hobby to the Gen Xers, there will be fewer and fewer ham spectrum left.

As one of the younger, under 40 Hams, i grew up with 3 channel crystal operated walkie talkies, then moved up to CBs, and then used every generation of cellphones from the first Motorola brick to the iPhone 4s; there are just too many alternate hobbies that are more fun. Even my last hobby, playing with DSS (sat dish) before D*SH and D#TV got them all locked up, was more fun than monitoring the 2m band.

However, I still turn on my HT each week to talk to my son on his FRS, so he will remember "the walkietalkie." When I told him I'm getting him a real ham radio, he said that he wants an iPhone when he grows up! "..it's easier and better, you can do more things with it!" There you go, straight from the heart of a 1st grader Anyway, general aviation had the same problem for a while when the older aviators were wrapped up with old technology and had their heads in the weeds about FARs. Luckily the sport pilot rating came along with some modern LSA planes and glass cockpits, which might just save the GenAviation. I will be doing my best to fill some of the 2m airtime at work while talking to another colleague who is also a ham. Oops, technically, hams can't be used for work but what the heck !

 

[hhrj]

Hello Ron it's me again. i forgot to say good luck on your test. oh by the way YOU CAN'T PUT A COMPUTER IN YOUR POCKET. repeater books are about $8.00 in case you don't have a computer. lol

Later Chuck

Hey Chuck,
I have an Iphone in my pocket, does that count? For the purposes here I think so!
When I passed my tech in 1992 one of the first things that I bought after my first HT was a repeater book, my one and only. I still have it. Since then Al Gore invented the internet (LOL) and one big thing about googling for local repeaters is that you can find what's up to date and what's not. Even if the OP doesn't have a smart phone he was able to post his question here so he has access to a computer of some type. He can look up the desired areas and write, print, or program his HT before hand.

Ron

 

[k3cfc]

Hey Chuck,
I have an Iphone in my pocket, does that count? For the purposes here I think so!
When I passed my tech in 1992 one of the first things that I bought after my first HT was a repeater book, my one and only. I still have it. Since then Al Gore invented the internet (LOL) and one big thing about googling for local repeaters is that you can find what's up to date and what's not. Even if the OP doesn't have a smart phone he was able to post his question here so he has access to a computer of some type. He can look up the desired areas and write, print, or program his HT before hand.

Ron

Well bully for you and your iPhone. a book doesn't need or use wires or batteries and certainly doesn't need the internet.

LAST RESPONSE.

Chuck

 

[hhrj]

Well bully for you and your iPhone. a book doesn't need or use wires or batteries and certainly doesn't need the internet.

LAST RESPONSE.

Chuck

Bully for me? Please.... I'm just stating the facts as they apply. What's wrong with an old guy like me having an Iphone? Why recommend that a new ham resort to a book that is usually outdated before he even orders it?
You're right, a book doesn't need wires and batteries.
I find that statement rather odd, heaven forbid that a ham would want anything to do with wires and batteries!!!

Ron
Sent on my Iphone.

 

[reedeb]

Bully for me? Please.... I'm just stating the facts as they apply. What's wrong with an old guy like me having an Iphone? Why recommend that a new ham resort to a book that is usually outdated before he even orders it?
You're right, a book doesn't need wires and batteries.
I find that statement rather odd, heaven forbid that a ham would want anything to do with wires and batteries!!!

Ron
Sent on my Iphone.

WELL for thing have the book with you means [tho it MAY be outdated] IF the internet dies or God forbid your battery dies. you still can look up repeaters. OH, BTW even on the GLORIOUS internet the info can STILL be outdated!! But you go right ahead and have fun with your Ifone. Some folks need these new toys to feel good about themselves.

 

[hhrj]

WELL for thing have the book with you means [tho it MAY be outdated] IF the internet dies or God forbid your battery dies. you still can look up repeaters. OH, BTW even on the GLORIOUS internet the info can STILL be outdated!! But you go right ahead and have fun with your Ifone. Some folks need these new toys to feel good about themselves.

Just how childish can you guys get? I've read many of your comments and replies that are nothing but negative (like the guy with the Johnson Messenger today). Your simple solution to everything is to go down to the ham shop and plunk down big money on the newest and greatest radios, antennas, and other crap. Not everyone has the cash or means to buy a shack full of new equipment.

Since this thread is titled "What's going on with 2m?" and it's correctly been stated that cellphones are the problem, well it's not hard to figure out why you and your buddy are in a snit about my Iphone.
When you pay for my cell phone then you can tell me what to use!!
Also, they come with this neat little cable that I can use to recharge the battery from the car, the wall, or a USB port on a computer so dead battery isn't ever an issue.

And you're right there can be outdated info on the internet but at least I can verfiy what info is correct through different websites. If the book is wrong or outdated then it will be for life, unless you look it up and make the changes yourself. Or Wait...why not just listen for a conversation and ask for repeater information? In fact this works better than trying to look it up while driving. Most of my 2m time was from the cab of a truck or the helm of a towboat, both shook alot and made reading impossible.

It's time for this thread to get back on topic.
Ron