[AMRadio] AM Presentation

[Rob Atkinson]

Hi Pete, I've observed you like to float that line about "AM is just a
mode" but I'm sure 95% of AM ops would not be operating it if that
were true.

I certainly would not be.  If it is "just a mode" why is it the voice
mode of choice for medium wave and shortwave broadcast?  As far as I
know most of the other modes do not have the rich history AM has.  Is
there a SSB Press Exchange or PSK31 magazine with a 25 year publishing
history?

"AM is just a mode" what a great way to encourage folks to take up the
operating of AM.   Yes, let's just tell people about flex radios and
plastic boxes and make them think there's nothing more to AM than
pushing a little button that says AM.  Why not give them CB rigs and
get it over with.

CW could be a fine mode for vintage radio, but look at what pushing
the CW button has done for it:   99% of CW ops today run plastic
radios.  In fact, there was an article in a recent FISTS magazine
issue bemoaning this and complaining that no one runs vintage gear on
CW and calling it a "lost art."  Yep, we sure want everyone to push
the AM button so the same thing will happen to us.

Nice try but I'm sure our friend giving the presentation is not so
easily fooled.

73

Rob
K5UJ

On Sun, Jun 16, 2013 at 8:00 PM,  <manualman at juno.com> wrote:
> AM is just a mode like one of the many modes amateurs can use on the ham
> bands. It offers advantages and disadvantages just like many of the other
> modes we are allowed to use. Just like PSK , CW, SSB, etc., it can be fun
> to communicate with others using the same mode and sometimes just as
> frustrating due to QRM and propagation and band crowding. In speaking to
> a club group, most likely, if any of them has bought a transceiver over
> the last 15 or 20 years, there is an AM button or AM switch position they
> can activate and be on the AM mode in seconds. The notion that one has to
> run out a buy a vintage rig or build one just to operate in the AM mode
> today and/or sound good, is outdated and highly overrated.
>
> Pete, wa2cwa
>
>
> On Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:52:18 -0500 Bob Stevens <bob at choateco.net> writes:
>> Tnx Rob, you nailed it. Whether I make a convert or not, the
>> important thing is to make them aware that there's another part of
>> the hobby. I'm not interested in PSK, but we had a presentation on
>> it and now I know something abt another facet of this great hobby.
>> 73, Bob K9ING
>