[AMRadio] AM Presentation

[CL in NC]

My 2 cents.  Hams that used/use AM are passing on, and AM is not promoted anywhere except among AM'ers as a mode.  The 'Old Buzzard' transmissions do not appeal to the majority of hams that like PTT/VOX and can interject into conversations.  The computer rig crowd also do not like it that you are not on their freq. to 10 to the minus 12th power with their TCXO, and their apparent lack of ability to operate RIT.  Here is one of my sore points that will tick off a few, the lack of treble people seem to desire in a lot of AM operation makes weak signal work very difficult.  It sounds great when you are 20 over, but when you are S6, it sounds like burbling mud.  Maybe you are not getting those distant stations because you are unintelligible.  The number one avenue we have to keep the fires going is forum like this, coordinating events, and working AM as much as possible, and going onto the spotting sites and posting AM DX.  We have a pretty good
 group of AM ops in Western NC and the SC Upstate, around 24 fairly active and 35 total with the dabblers.  We meet once a month for lunch, on the air at 3715 Sundays at 2000Z and Tuesdays at 1300Z, and a 6 meter group that meets on 50.4  Tuesday at 8PM DEST, or 0000Z Wednesday.  One thing though, other than a couple of fellows, I am the youngest at age 60, the rest go up into their 90's.  Maybe the various local groups across the county could coordinate and have a nationwide  QSO party, you can bet the ARRL won't.  


Charlie, W4MEC in NC



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