Walt Davidson wrote:

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 21:06:16 +1100, G-S wrote:

And what makes you think I lack sufficient technical expertise to operate
a
radio or build a radio or accessories? I have done all those in the past.
I have demonstrated those skills... I choose to use a more modern method
because it is simply better and more efficient!

A better and more efficient method would be to use a cellphone or even
an ordinary telephone. Amateur radio is not necessarily about being
"better and more efficient". If you think it is, you've missed the
point.

If you think it isn't then _you_ have missed the point. Amateur radio has
been instrumental in the introduction of many new radio technologies over
the last 100 odd years.

As for not using repeaters do not forget you live on a green postage stamp
sized country where simplex VHF is likely to cover a significant proportion
of your country.

I have an easy simplex 2m range FM range of about 100km to the north and
West and about 50 km to the south and east. That covers an amateur
population of about 200. Anecdotely about 50% are active sometimes and
about 25% use VHF sometimes. That leaves about 50 amateurs most of whom are
not very active.

Repeaters provide a means of increasing the available amateurs for such
activites as the local on repeater technical discussion night, organising
the local swap meet and many other useful amateur radio related functions.


G-S VK3DMN