Alan,
You make good points; yes, it is love of radio that keeps the renewals
coming. You're right about the co-workers. I used to take the HT once in a
while to work for something to do during lunch at perhaps 1:00 AM. One
time, the telephones went out in the company. Why, I have no idea. Folks
were scrambling to borrow cell phones and I couldn't resist. Punched into
the autopatch and placed a call. Hehe ... but, of course, if there isn't
some underlying interest in communications, there is a fair likelihood that
a new licensee will not renew his/her ticket. There are certain
circumstances that the radio will serve better than a cell phone; if you
need communications between several folks at once, this becomes quite a feat
with cell phones. I believe this was discovered when one organized run
tried replacing hams with cell phone users. They quickly discover that they
can't maintain constant communications between all users. They have to
place call after call. Also, the repeaters are designed (in height, antenna
gain, power) to allow HTs to reliably communicate for 20 miles or more to
the repeater. Cell phones depend upon a lot of towers and there are areas
with spotty communications.
As far as being CB, nothing could be further from the truth. Try and
maintain solid 24/7 coverage for 50 or 100 miles in any direction with a
stock rig. Try and maintain even 15 miles of reliable communications with a
stock rig. Won't happen (except, perhaps, in Alaska or North Dakota,
depending upon local terrain). I won't get into television or other modes
since I suspect you planted a hook on that comment
As far as testing goes, I, for one, don't want to make it exceedingly
difficult to pass an exam, but I agree that publishing questions/answers
used in the pool can delude some folks into thinking they know more than
they actually do.
You make some good points, however, and I appreciated them.
73 from Rochester, NY
Jim
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