mike wrote:

It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long
as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU
think the rules should be), more power to them.

Is that right? Well, let's review these rules, shall we?

97.1 Basis and purpose

The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an
amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the
following principles:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to
the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service,
particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to
contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules
which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and
technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service
of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to
enhance international goodwill.

.......

(4) Amateur service. A radiocommunication service for the purpose of
self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried
out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio
technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.

=====================================

I think that should do it. Now, let's review what the original poster's
requirement was:

"I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of
relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each
morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone
tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would
love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned
on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication
among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that
could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I
could get."

=====================================

Would you care to explain just how his communication requirements are in
any way compatible with what amateur radio represents? Is amateur radio
a substitute for a cellphone? Nope. Is it a communication system for a
family? Nope. A private and exclusive radio band that outsiders could
not monitor? Nope.

Therefore, in spite of all your arm waving and tap dancing, the
recommendation for him to take a ham radio test is way off the wall,
especially considering the fact that the man doesn't even know what it
is *and* there is already a perfect band for his needs: CB or even FRS.

There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!!
Maybe there should be...


There's apparently no question on the test either that weeds out the
people who would gladly turn amateur radio into a three ring circus just
so we can have artificially inflated "numbers". Do you actually believe
that guy would ever join the ARRL, for example? ARES? A local club?
Anything? What possible benefit can the global amateur community have
from such entrants?

73 .... WA7AA


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