[AMRadio] Was what is this???? now why I like AM

[Geoff Edmonson]

  On 12/01/2010 06:07 PM, Brett Gazdzinski wrote:
> In the age of cell phones and voip, ham radio is dead, kids are not
> interested, there is nothing amazing about talking to someone with all the
> static/noise/Donald Duck sounds when you can call someone on the other side
> of the planet and send pix and so on.
>

Long time no talk, Brett.

I'm in Houston now, hot-shot driving around the metro area, and wherever 
else in the country they send me.
Typically, I make around 18~20 stops a day, if I stay local.  
Invariably, the shipping/receiving department guys I deal with can't be 
accused of being 'mentally exceptional', yet they all still seem to ask 
"oh, what kind of CB rig do you have that uses an antenna like THAT?", 
or "how many radios do you need?"  I tell 'em.  "it's not CB, it's Ham 
Radio."  Half of 'em have heard of ham radio, and 1/4 more say "why use 
a 2-way radio when there's cell phones and NexTel?"  To which I reply; 
"Remember when Hurricane Ike came through here?  The entire city of 
Houston was without power.  There was no cell phone, there was no radio, 
there was no TV, internet, etc...  Yet, during that period of 
devastation, -I- was still communicating."

That gets their attention.

In the truck (Ford F-150, extended cab, long wheel-base) I have 
HF/VHF/UHF and APRS.  There's 2 antennas on the roof and the HF 
antenna.  I point these out to them.  It hasn't failed to impress when I 
stress the point that regardless of what natural disaster has destroyed 
the infrastructure, I'm still able to communicate.

73 = Best Regards.
-Geoff/W5OMR (/m)