[Boatanchors] Radio Australia dropping their shortwave service.

[w5jo at brightok.net]

From: Robert Bethman
Sent: Monday, December 26, 2016 11:38 PM
To: 'boatanchors (boatanchors at mailman.qth.net)' 
<boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] OT: Radio Australia dropping their shortwave 
service.

Some of us have had serious issues with antenna systems and other issues 
that have kept us quiet.

I don't believe SWBC stations dropping out are any sort of an indicator for 
Amateur Radio.  Neither do I believe that the FCC database is accurate in 
its count!  Try a lookup on WB2FCN as one example.  It is still in the 
database, yet shows no renewal as of May 2016.

I find that most operators are getting into the digital modes along with 
operations up in the 1200 - 1300MC region.

2m FM is now being cross-fed with 440MC in my area, and work is constantly 
being done on our repeaters in the Manassas Area.  They have just recently 
put up new antenna systems and new cavities.

There has been a push to get on DSTAR on those higher frequencies and 
digital modes.

That would be just my observations.  It may well be a little different in 
other regions.



-----Original Message-----
From: Boatanchors [mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of 
Donald Chester
Sent: Monday, December 26, 2016 8:32 PM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] OT: Radio Australia dropping their shortwave 
service.

> > -----Original Message-----

>> I really feel that the demise of short-wave broadcasting is
>> depressing the market for our beloved general-coverage boatanchor 
>> receivers.

> This development is sad, but maybe this will be an opportunity for
> hams worldwide to petition for additional frequencies.

> Jim W5JO

Sometimes I wonder what would be the point.  Activity on the ham bands is 
dwindling alongside SWBC stations.  Despite the widely-touted 700,000-plus 
licensees in the  current FCC data base, activity on the lower bands 
160-80-40 has dwindled the past 2-3 years to the point that we may have a 
static-free weekend night and still, at peak prime-time operating hours 
there are wide swathes of unoccupied frequencies on those bands.  Used to 
be, that under such condx you would have to hunt patiently hoping to find a 
clear spot to call CQ.  From what I hear from others, the situation on 2m FM 
isn't any better.  Repeaters are still up and running, but no-one is using 
them.

Is it just because the propagation has gone long as sunspot numbers head 
down, or is this the new normal?

If it's the latter, the only way we could justify expanding our existing 
bands is that nobody else is using them, but would that fly with the FCC and 
other countries' regulatory agencies, who would probably just as soon see 
amateur radio disappear altogether so they wouldn't have to bother with 
"administering" licences, regulating the "service" and enforcing the rules.

Don k4kyv