[AMRadio] Bandwidth, AM, special case, just another button to push

[Dave Harmon]

All this REALLY makes me want to get on the air.
I don't own anything that was not made in the USA and all of it needs to be
tuned before operating.
I enjoyed a short QSO on 15mtrs with Don several weeks back.

Dave Harmon
K6XYZ[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Sperry, Ok.


-----Original Message-----
From: amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Todd, KA1KAQ
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 5:44 PM
To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Bandwidth, AM, special case, just another button to
push

On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 2:25 PM, Donald Chester <k4kyv at charter.net> wrote:

>AM is not  "special mode" it's just Another way of transmitting a 
>signal to  the ether... 73,  Bob K9ING
>


> So is talking on a cell phone.
>

And amazingly, millions, even hundreds of millions, prefer it to operating
AM. Do they deserve some special title or recognition for it?

I don't believe calling attention to that fact in any way
> endangers the status AM or could lead to the elimination of AM or CW 
> from the amateur bands.


The best way to draw attention to AM, CW, or any other mode you prefer is to
operate it; get on the air daily if it means that much, make noise, let
others find you and hear it for themselves. Attempts at some special title
or other recognition simply because we prefer one mode or another tend, more
often than not, to be an attempt by the individual to call attention to
themselves as in "I'm an AMer/Contester/etc, *I* contest/operate AM/CW/ESSB,
I bought the best/built my own equipment, I am therefore superior" and other
implications. Those who truly enjoy the mode need no special title like
'legacy' or 'specialty' to enjoy and appreciate it. They enjoy it enough to
actually do it rather than trying to create an immense online thesis based
purely on opinion or personal preference.


> The most dangerous aspect of promoting AM as a "special mode" would be 
> to establish a blanket bandwidth limit at something like 2.8 kHz, and 
> then allow AM to exist only via a mere footnote, as in the case of the 
> IARU Band Plans, and with the now-defunct ARRL "Son of 20777" 
> bandwidth petition.
>

Which is exactly what any kind of special treatment, be it by name or
otherwise, can ultimately lead to. IMO, those who would potentially put the
mode in such a place for the sake of some self-serving attention are as big
or worse a threat as anyone at the ARRL, FCC, or anywhere else. They're
basically inviting disaster for the sake of their ego, the need for special
recognition(attention).

The fact that they put so much effort into drawing attention to themselves
online for such purposes, or simple trolling, tells the rest of us all we
need to know. The fact that you or I or anyone else enjoys the mode or
builds/modifies their equipment only makes it exceptional to those who share
the appreciation. To everyone else it comes across as 'we want special
treat/attention because we think we're better than other modes'.

The best advertisement remains on-air operation and less of the online
posturing/trolling/regurgitating controversy where there is none for the
sake of creating noise. Certainly not saying that's what you're doing here
but rather other discussions around the 'net seem more and more to show
folks getting sick of the same few hacks with the same few, tired topics
they use to make a ruckus, thereby getting attention.

But then, we already know that. Or in other words, you're preaching to the
choir, Don. There's no one here to convert. (o:

Next non-crisis?

~ Todd/KAQ
______________________________________________________________
Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net
AMRadio mailing list
Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/
List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio
Post: AMRadio at mailman.qth.net
To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-request at mailman.qth.net with the
word unsubscribe in the message body.

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html