where are all the 2 meter operators?

[K6GBW]

Unfortunately in the radio world you have to deal with people, and people are messy and problematic. Just the way it is I guess. Still, some "people" like to be on the fringe and really push the limits of acceptable behavior. Some of those types are just seeking attention or they think it's funny. Probably some narcissistic and anti-social personalities there. But, the law limits our responses.

 

[GlobalNorth]

The obvious nutters I avoid. Just like some of the SWL broadcasters that talk up Jesus in highly odd ways.

Anti-social types? I believe they might be better described as people with histrionic personality disorders or those Eimac tube collectors.

 

[GlobalNorth]

While it is limited to my town, where are all the functioning repeaters? There is one UHF repeater in my town and it is down about 60 to 70 percent of the time. When it is operational, I've never made one contact with the repeater owner or anyone else.

It's not just the operators.

 

[K9KLC]

While it is limited to my town, where are all the functioning repeaters? There is one UHF repeater in my town and it is down about 60 to 70 percent of the time. When it is operational, I've never made one contact with the repeater owner or anyone else.

It's not just the operators.

Certainly don't have that problem here. "What town"?

 

[robertwbob]

While it is limited to my town, where are all the functioning repeaters? There is one UHF repeater in my town and it is down about 60 to 70 percent of the time. When it is operational, I've never made one contact with the repeater owner or anyone else.

It's not just the operators.

come to my area,too many repeaters no operators

 

[robertwbob]

The obvious nutters I avoid. Just like some of the SWL broadcasters that talk up Jesus in highly odd ways.

Anti-social types? I believe they might be better described as people with histrionic personality disorders or those Eimac tube collectors.

oh good lord ,all thats on short wave anymore. my youth was spent nites listening to a huge wood case airline shortwave tube radio with a 18" diameter speaker n about 300' of wire strung tree to tree. many interesting things to hear on 60s

 

[Falcon9h]

Sadly, this is typical and turns many people off about amateur radio. Social skills/tact are often lacking. The right approach would have been "Your audio sounds a bit muffled. Are you talking very close to the mic?" Oh well....

Radio kops and Karens are the reason I never got licensed. Do I really want to *talk* to these people?? NO. And I'm an introverted neurodivergent.
I'm in central Pa. and repeater activity is so rare (silent for day and weeks) that it's a novelty to actually hear someone. I've lived here 21 years and some repeaters I've never heard a word on, not once. (all in a scanner bank)

 

[robertwbob]

Radio kops and Karens are the reason I never got licensed. Do I really want to *talk* to these people?? NO. And I'm an introverted neurodivergent.
I'm in central Pa. and repeater activity is so rare (silent for day and weeks) that it's a novelty to actually hear someone. I've lived here 21 years and some repeaters I've never heard a word on, not once. (all in a scanner bank)

After gettin licence the second time i quickly decided i screwed up for same reason. 30 years ago was diffrent n let license expire

run out.

 

[kc2asb]

Radio kops and Karens are the reason I never got licensed. Do I really want to *talk* to these people?? NO. And I'm an introverted neurodivergent.
I'm in central Pa. and repeater activity is so rare (silent for day and weeks) that it's a novelty to actually hear someone. I've lived here 21 years and some repeaters I've never heard a word on, not once. (all in a scanner bank)

The repeaters here in the NYC metro area are not as active as they were when I was first licensed in 1997. Activity varies regionally, but it's likely not the same in most areas as it was 25+ years ago.

It's a shame that good people like you are turned off by the culture of amateur radio. The hobby neeeds new entrants to survive and keep the bands active.

After gettin licence the second time i quickly decided i screwed up for same reason. 30 years ago was diffrent n let license expire

run out.

It's easy to forget to renew the license every 10 years. I almost missed my renewal last time. However, once you have one, it's worth keeping it active just in case the spark of interest ever reignites.

 

[MTS2000des]

The days of high site repeaters are sunsetting. Aside from lack of activity, the time when one could "cut the grass" and get free rent and electricity at prime RF real estate are ending since RF slumlords aka site management companies gobbled up every roof top, tower, or mountaintop radio site. They speak one language: money, and bring lots with you every month. Average cost we pay is $3400 or more for our leases with ATC. This isn't including electricity. These folks are used to dealing with cellular carriers, SMRs (who are still around), governments and broadcasters. Hams are looked at as low rent free loaders who are a massive pain in their ass.

Hams can decry the "when all else fails" and "emergency services" mantra till the cows come home. ATC, Crown-Castle, Vertical Bridge, SBA et al don't give a rats ass. If you have functional wide area amateur repeaters in your town, enjoy them and thank the ones footing the bill. It takes good quality infrastructure that someone else had to pay (and most likely continues to fund) to make that $20 Bowelturd talk all over town.

 

[K9KLC]

The days of high site repeaters are sunsetting. Aside from lack of activity, the time when one could "cut the grass" and get free rent and electricity at prime RF real estate are ending since RF slumlords aka site management companies gobbled up every roof top, tower, or mountaintop radio site. They speak one language: money, and bring lots with you every month. Average cost we pay is $3400 or more for our leases with ATC. This isn't including electricity. These folks are used to dealing with cellular carriers, SMRs (who are still around), governments and broadcasters. Hams are looked at as low rent free loaders who are a massive pain in their ass.

Hams can decry the "when all else fails" and "emergency services" mantra till the cows come home. ATC, Crown-Castle, Vertical Bridge, SBA et al don't give a rats ass. If you have functional wide area amateur repeaters in your town, enjoy them and thank the ones footing the bill. It takes good quality infrastructure that someone else had to pay (and most likely continues to fund) to make that $20 Bowelturd talk all over town.

Yep, when the one of the towers I was on got sold I had exactly 48Hours to get my stuff out of the building and off the tower (which we couldn't arrange BTW) and I lost a lot of 1-5/8 feed line and a 16 bay dipole and about 259 feet of 3/4 inch hardline and a hustler G7-220. I was able to get up there and get the radio stuff itself out. it was that or 1000 a month (back in 98) payable immediately for the upcoming month. Obviously we were gone.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Lots of us abandoned analogue for digital modes like DMR and P25.

Lots of reasons for this. Less mouth breathing, no talking controllers, no annoying beeps and boops, no static or picket fencing. Just good, clean, consistent audio(well P25 anyhow)

 

[kc2asb]

Lots of us abandoned analogue for digital modes like DMR and P25.

Lots of reasons for this. Less mouth breathing, no talking controllers, no annoying beeps and boops, no static or picket fencing. Just good, clean, consistent audio(well P25 anyhow)

I consider that part of the charm of analogue.

 

[k6cpo]

The days of high site repeaters are sunsetting. Aside from lack of activity, the time when one could "cut the grass" and get free rent and electricity at prime RF real estate are ending since RF slumlords aka site management companies gobbled up every roof top, tower, or mountaintop radio site. They speak one language: money, and bring lots with you every month. Average cost we pay is $3400 or more for our leases with ATC. This isn't including electricity. These folks are used to dealing with cellular carriers, SMRs (who are still around), governments and broadcasters. Hams are looked at as low rent free loaders who are a massive pain in their ass.

Hams can decry the "when all else fails" and "emergency services" mantra till the cows come home. ATC, Crown-Castle, Vertical Bridge, SBA et al don't give a rats ass. If you have functional wide area amateur repeaters in your town, enjoy them and thank the ones footing the bill. It takes good quality infrastructure that someone else had to pay (and most likely continues to fund) to make that $20 Bowelturd talk all over town.

This is because a lot of hams have a 'superiority complex" brought on by the ARRL pushing the "When all else fails..." mantra. These people think they are an absolute necessity in the event of a major event and don't realize that emergency management infrastructure has moved beyond them. And they feel because they are "essential" they shouldn't have to pay for repeater space.

 

[Kb3uaf]

I'm on DMR only because of the multiple VHF and UHF repeaters I can see on the mountain, as well as all the others in the area, that you never hear anything on. Doesn't help that I tune into a linked system on the way to the VA all the time and sign on with a system that covers 3-4 states, and listen to .... crickets. To be honest, there's not a whole lot on the TG's I've tried, but compared to analog, well you get the idea.

The times they are a changin', and we need to keep up. Don't like talking through a computer? Stay on analog and I wish you well. I really do. But me? I got into amateur radio to TALK to people.

 

[kc2asb]

This is because a lot of hams have a 'superiority complex" brought on by the ARRL pushing the "When all else fails..." mantra. These people think they are an absolute necessity in the event of a major event and don't realize that emergency management infrastructure has moved beyond them. And they feel because they are "essential" they shouldn't have to pay for repeater space.

I listened to the 2 meter repeater being streamed out of NC in the wake of Hurricane Helene. That repeater and the YL operator who was on each and every day were absolutely essential for coordinating relief activities. I don't know about this superiority complex, but ham radio seemed to prove its necessity in this case.

 

[SigIntel8600]

I know out here I actually heard a guy come up on a local repeater. I was just listening as he was talking to someone else at the time. After about a minute of conversation another guy, that happens to be a friend of mine, jump in and started admonishing the guy because he was "talking to close to the mic" and his "audio was horrible and hard to listen too". I was listening and didn't think they guys audio sounded all that bad, but the curtness caused the guy to clear off the frequency and he hasn't been heard from since. I was kind of miffed, but the damage was already done.

So true. I've heard a few nerds tell me over the years that there is "something" wrong with my audio, but they could never articulate what the issue was. I always ask, did you copy my entire transmission? Their answer is always well, yes........ I tell them, you are truly an amateur radio operator.

 

[GlobalNorth]

oh good lord ,all thats on short wave anymore. my youth was spent nites listening to a huge wood case airline shortwave tube radio with a 18" diameter speaker n about 300' of wire strung tree to tree. many interesting things to hear on 60s

All that needs be said is; 'Brother Stair'.

 

[Falcon9h]

All that needs be said is; 'Brother Stair'.

He was crazy but I miss him. 😜

 

[rf_patriot200]

we got a guy that gets on the radio knowing we are all listening and call each 1 tell same bs IN DETAIL to each 1 as if we are deaf. anymore i dont reply cause ive heard the story as well as he

Maybe his front & rear wheels are rolling opposite of each other ?