[Boatanchors] A Cure for "The Silence of the Bands"

[B Farrell]

There's no need to merge ham radio with CB.  Amateur Radio is strong and
there's plenty of activity on the bands and the manufacturers of amateur
radio gear seem to be making money.  If not, they would exit the market. I
well remember what the CB band sounded like in the mid 1970s - a horrific,
unregulated cesspool that drove out most of the decent operators to amateur
radio.  Merging the two would destroy ham radio.  We have too many Channel
19 clowns on our bands as it is.

Brad K4RT

On Monday, September 18, 2017, David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> There is an answer to our dwindling numbers and bringing
> in new, HF-centric operators.  But like all "medicine,"
> you'll hate the taste and kick against it, but eventually
> have to "take it" if you want a "cure."
> The ARRL itself has just pointed-out that the "recruit
> all the Boy Scouts and Firemen" didn't and won't work.
>
> There is already a no-knowledge-no-test intro to our
> hobby.  It is already a "de facto" entry "license" with
> many operators- some bad, some good, but all with a
> proven long-term interest in the hobby and willingness
> to spend time and money on it.
>
> It's called "CB." Yep- 11 Meters.  Like it or not,
> it's about the only source of operators who aren't
> "buy a hand held, listen to dead repeater, go play Facebook"
> left from which to recruit.
>
> Fellas... when your "species" is dying, one needs to be
> grateful for any lifeline.  I'm not willing to drown in
> the "Sea of Obsolete Oblivions" just because I don't like
> the color of the rope someone threw me.  We need to work
> with what we can get, or we can pout and kick sand and pretend
> to superiority and fade into the rapidly gathering darkness.
>
> The two services should be merged.  A cadre of hams
> *with a positive attitude* who are willing to work
> at bringing these guys along, *without condescension*
> for pity's sake, and encourage them to upgrade and
> get more bands than the one they currently operate,
> will infuse us with new blood.
> Our options are stark.  Work with what we have available
> to us, or die.  Your choice.
>
> P.S. And we'd get 11 Meters back.  Such a deal.
>
> 73 DE Dave AB5S
>
>
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