Is This Ham Radio Of Now And The Future

Whether current ham operators new or old want to admit it or not, in my personal opinion only, Computers are basically keeping Radio Operators in touch with one another, allowing operators to make new friends in the Hobby, and allowing radio old and past operator friends to keep in touch with one another, Due to the fact that current HF Conditions Suck Big Time " As You No Doubt Can Argue " Predictions are that great conditions won't be around again until roughly around the year 2012, that's a long time away.

People are communicating and talking locally and around the world thanks greatly in part to Computer Programs such as Echolink & CQ100 by the QSO Organization in addition to many others. The above 2 are my personal favourites. In just 3 days of my personal choosing, " I have worked All States " and have nailed 4 Countries that I never was able to get into when I had my Log Periodic Mounted on top of my 80 Foot Tower, with Mono Bander Beams and not with just a Tri-Bander Beam.

It's often been argued by some that the Computer Mode Is Not Ham Radio. It all depends in my opinion as to why people got into HAM RADIO as a whole. I got into just because I wanted to talk to people around the world. And even though I'm in a Retirement Home, I can still do the same thing with Echolink & CQ100 QSO Net with no Towers, Beams or Linears to worry about.

Most local area repeaters no matter where you live are using Computers on their repeaters for IRLP and Echolink. " WHY " Stop and think about it. If all the reasons have to be explained, then what can I say except, move into the 21st Century and come out of the Stone Age or go back to CB BAND where most of todays operators came from.

AND Just for the record, those who make degrading remarks about people operating via Echolink and CQ100 being in so-called Chat Rooms. These Programs Are Not Chat Rooms.

These 2 Critters Can Communicate With One Another, Better Than Some Ham Radio Club Members And Club Executive Head Hocho`s

2 New Brunswick Ham Radio Club Members went to the First Club Meeting for the 2007-2008 Year, after the Summer Lay Off Period. One club member turned to other and said just before the Meeting Officially Started and " Whispered - I wonder how short into the meeting It'll take before the Know It' All's Get Into Their Regular Fight "

The other Club Member responded with - " Yeah, I know What You Mean, And After The Fight And Meeting Is Over, Nothing Of A Positive Nature will have been created or solved, and yet they'll all be telling each other on the way home on their 2 Meter Rigs, " What A Great Meeting It Was "

Is your Club like the above Joke ?

TYPHOON NARI INFORMATION

Typhoon Nari Threatens Korea -- Typhoon Nari became a severe typhoon over the southern East China Sea. With highest sustained winds of nearly 140 mph at the time, Nari became a severe, Category 4 hurricane. Earlier, the strengthening typhoon had swept through the islands of Okinawa, Japan.

Nari spared mainland Okinawa its worst winds, but hit Kume Jima with gusts up to 110 mph. Meantime, far ahead of Nari, heavy rains pounded southern and eastern Korea leaving widespread amounts of 4 inches and more.

One site on Cheju, south of the peninsula, had 6.7 inches of rain as of Saturday morning. And now, southern Korea, including Cheju, awaited Typhoon Nari, which, as of Saturday evening, still packed 110-mph highest sustained winds according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

It seemed as though the worst of Nari would strike Cheju and southwestern South Korea in the afternoon and nighttime of Sunday, local time. Perhaps greater than the threat of hurricane-strength winds was that of more excessive rain that, falling on sodden ground, raised the specter of flooding.

Scanner News & Scanner Rumours

There's a lot Rumours going around here in New Brunswick, that Tenders may possibly be going out to various communication companies sometime in the Spring, to start building a Digitally Encrypted Communication System. From what I've been told if indeed this sytem does become a reality, Scanners listeners and enthusiasts will no longer be able to listen to the RCMP and other Provincial Government Agencies.

No idea at this point in time if the Rothesay Police & Fire Dept will be buying into the Supposedly proposed system, and no word either if the Saint John City Police And Fire will be taking part of the Digitally Encypted System ?

I have created a Public Opinion Poll on the left side Column for your thoughts and opinons regarding this.

QRZ

Canadian Weather Warnings: Please Be Safe And Check These Weather Warning Sites Often. You just never know when a Bad Weather System May be heading Your Way !

ARRL NEWS:

RAC WEB SITE: Also known as Radio Amateurs Of CanadaQRZ.COM NEWS: