Bill Sohl wrote:

"Dave Heil" wrote in message
...
N2EY wrote:

"Bill Sohl" wrote in message
thlink.net...
"N2EY" wrote in message
...

I believe there are a good number of family member techs
who probably have limited desire even to get on HF at all.

Around here we had lots of "honeydew hams" in the '80s and '90s
(people who got ham licenses to keep in touch with family members, not
because they were interested in radio itself). Nice folks but many
disappeared when cell phones became cheap and good coverage. FRS/GMRS
took some othere. And some discovered they were interested in radio
for its own sake, too. I think that phenomenon is the main reason for
the somewhat-lower renewal percentage of Techs.

Overheard on a 2m repeater in this area of the Ohio Valley yesterday:

"KC8--- this is KC8***, come back".

"KC8*** this is KC8--- . I have a copy on you. What's yer twenty?"

"I'm up here on the hill but you're scratchy. You must be overmodulatin
or somthing".

"Well I'm copyin' you pretty good considering the distance between us".

"Yeah, 4-Roger. It's pretty amazin' that these little hand held radios
will talk this far from each other".

It is a brave new world of amateur radio.

Dave,

Exactly what is wrong with the above dialog between the two
parties involved?

Now before answering, consider this:

1. Both parties ID'd as required by law.
2. Neither party used any type of clandestine or
secret code.
3. Both parties appear to have understood each other.

They certainly understood each other. Neither understood the concept of
a repeater. Now, to what I understand: I understand that both of these
ops have brought their bad habits from CB radio with them. Neither has
bothered to listen to other hams. These two were joined by a new YL op
the other day. She was a "do you want me to pick up bread and milk?"
type. I'll be very surprised if any of the three will be active on the
ham bands in five years.

Who cares about how we dialog with each other
as long as the parties involved are operating within the
law as per Part 97 rules and regs?

I do.

We've even got a new op who can be heard moving between the several
local repeaters for a goodly part of each day saying, "This is KC8***
radio check". He'll sometimes pull this stunt on top of an ongoing
QSO. He has been informed on a number of occasions about how to make it
clear that he is seeking a contact and how not to QRM an existing
contact but he persists. When he does enter a QSO, he normally asks the
individuals he contacts if they have any radios they'd like to part
with. He has now asked me about six times. This fellow is annoying and
others--old timers and recent licensees--are beginning to avoid him.

There is another new ham in the area who was previously a CBer. He was
licensed only this past May. He quickly became adjusted to how things
are done on the ham bands. He asks questions about antennas, modes
other than FM, bands other than 2m and about operating practices. He
aroused interest in his grandson, who is now licensed. I'm betting that
these two will stick.

Dave K8MN