[Boatanchors] Upgrade controversy

[Peter Markavage]

There are over 500 hams listed for Seattle, WA (doing a quick QRZ.com
database search with limit of 500 entries). I can't believe they are all
sitting around inactive and/or not hearing or not getting on the air. I
worked around a dozen hams in the Seattle area on 6 meters this summer
and most were running 100 watts or less. Of course, if your equipment or
antenna system are marginal, your ability to hear and work stations
probably will be limited. I find no lack of signals on 160, 75, or 40
meters during the evening hours and 20 meters generally is hopping during
the daytime hours.

Pete, wa2cwa

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:00:46 -0700 "Bob Macklin" <macklinbob at msn.com>
writes:
> I have not heard an HF AM here in a couple of years because of the 
> Solar
> Cycle. I used to hear the NW AM group on 3870 and the Calif group on 
> 14,286.
> But no more. When I can detect the NW AM group it is too low a level 
> for me
> to copy. I find them by turning on the BFO . I have occasionally 
> heard the
> morning West Coast group on 3885(?) but again they have been too 
> weak to
> copy comfortably.
> 
> There are the Cascade Mtns. and the Cascade foothills between me and 
> the
> other people in the NW AM group. The only way I can hear them is if 
> the
> signal goes straight up and comes straight back down. That's not 
> happening
> now. Hasn't been for a couple of years.
> 
> I don't hear much SSB these days except during contests. Then I 
> don't have a
> problem.
> 
> It seems to me that ham radio has become a CONTESTERS HOBBY!
> 
> Bob Macklin
> K5MYJ
> Seattle, Wa,
> "Real Radios Glow in the Dark"