Is Amateur Radio Still viable in Internet age ? |
Compiled from the Excite message board |
I think that the
internet can compliment amateur radio. You can access more info,and network with
other ops across the country,especially if you live in a rural area where the
local ham population is scarce. Also,the internet relies on the telephone
network,which can be overloaded or damaged in the case of a man-made or natural
disaster. Ham radio would still be viable in those cases. We need to keep ham
radio abreast of new technology,to keep it from being overshadowed by the
internet,or cellular/PCS phones. Every technology has it's place,and has it's
advantages and disadvantages compared to the others. Just my thoughts.
-John (kb7mib)
Ham Radio and the
Internet are two different things. Apples and Oranges. Where is the challenge of
communicating with the Internet? Plunk down the bucks and you are in the game.
Ham Radio, however, takes commitment: to study and get the license, knowledge to
assemble and perhaps even construct the station, perseverance to put all of this
together and make it work. What a rush to call CQ and have a far away ham
answer,with a station you have put together yourself. Nothing that happens on
the internet compares with it.
-semoh333
Of course ham radio
(and CB) has a place today. The net is just another "mode", and the useage IS
different from radio (packet, SSTV, RTTY and Fax have all been integrated into
Ham Radio). For 50 odd years now, I have been interested in non-commercial
radio, so I think I may know what Im talking about, and I see no reduction to
Radio in my area, in fact there is an upsurge in SSB use here. (I think anyone
who knows anything knows what I mean). Radio whether Ham or CB is alive and
kicking in Glasgow and the surrounding areas, and long may it thrive. If
anything was to affect Radio, it would be the upsurge in use of mobile phones,
as John said, rather than the Net, (everyone and their grandmother has one now),
and this has not happened. I hope these remarks of mine are not considered
"spamming"
-pwh2227