Is THIS Why Repeaters have Gone Silent?? (Hint: I don't think so...)
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- I released a video recently about why repeaters have been quiet lately and I got some really good comments on that video. Lots of the comments carried a theme of reasoning as to why repeaters are more quiet than they used to be, but it isn't a reason that I agree with. I would like to hear your thoughts about this...
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#Hamradio #kc5hwb #hamradiorepeater
In my area theres at least a half dozen repeaters that get used alot. A local owner of 70cm repeater linked into our 2m repeater to spread the wealth as they say. We get more people on the air that way from a farther distance that we didn't have before and last year they moved the 2m to a new location and extended the height from 50 feet to over 250. so no dead repeaters around here. I was on the 2m today on my way from work and will be on it again.
Repeaters aren't being used for the same reason nobody shows up to the local ham clubs except the same old grumpy fat guys who squash every new idea, destroy enthusiasm, and own repeaters that they won't permit to be used for nets, won't relinquish the frequency to a more active and enthusiastic group, won't link to other repeaters to expand coverage, and when they die, the frequency gets handed over to another old guy with the same attitude who does the same thing.
Repeater traffic is generally local and with people you know. If the local ham club(s) have zero energy, attract zero new people, and therefore never grow, there is nobody except the same old curmudgeons to talk to all the time and traffic goes to zero.
Look at the explosion of POTA, SOTA, IOTA...hams love to make contacts, and they'd do it on repeaters as well if it weren't for grumpy old man syndrome.
Our local repeaters weren't being used. I partnered with the county department of emergency response and started the county's first RACES organization. As radio officer, I asked local repeaters for permission to use their repeaters for RACES drills. Grudgingly, and with protestations that they should be paid for it, they agreed to let us drill.
We were so successful and invigorating new traffic on the repeaters that the old farts got jealous and tried to force one of their own cranky old coots onto RACES as the radio officer when I moved out of the area. I reminded them that Part 97 doesn't allow them to do that, and the howling and weeping could be heard in the next county.
I'm generalizing, but old hams suck.
I know that "grumpy old hams" are a reason many people gave up on repeaters in my area.
What about the grumpy young hams?
...and they talk over the top of each other, not leaving any space for someone else to announce themselves.
@@DandyDon1 There is nothing in the FCC regulations that state a station must allow another station to join in a QSO in progress. You can always move to another frequency.
Or as the GMRS UA-camr “NotARubicon” said, the “sad hams”!
@@FelixAn I wouldn't believe everything he sez! Amateur Radio does not revolve around repeaters.
Most hams do not enter the hobby using HF CW on 20 or 30M. They have the most basic of license and usually buy some little 2M/70CM portable and start on the local FM repeater. Hopefully they will expand
their knowledge and learn there is more to Amateur Radio than checking into the the local 2M repeater net!
A bit of historical perspective as I remember it. Back in 1985 BC (before cellphone), calling ANYONE (mom, wife, friends) was a colossal pain in the butt. Not only did you have to find a phone, but you had to hope whoever you were calling was sitting next to the phone you were calling. Phone Tag was an Olympic sport. Having a device clipped to your belt that could reach someone else with the press of a button was a miracle. People used repeaters all the time for checking in with each other, meeting up with friends, relaying info, and yes, weather and emergencies of all severity. Having a flat or running out of gas just a few miles outside town could really ruin your whole day.
I also used 2m instead of the phone because back then just about EVERYTHING was long distance. Phone call districts were arbitrary invisible lines that would lead to situations where you could live just down the road and be considered long distance. My best friend lived just a couple miles north, but since he was over the state line -- Long Distance. Meanwhile I could call 30 miles south local.
When cell phones came along and people didn't use repeaters as much for the everyday stuff, they also started using them less for the casual stuff.
As a GMRS guy(currently studying) one of the area’s biggest reaching GMRS repeaters has blown up in the past two years. Both for the morning commute chat(4am-whenever the tower operator leaves the barn) to nightly nets four nights a week.
Kinda the big reason for the explosion in activity on this particular repeater, it’s mostly ham radio operators that are excited by the freedom of GMRS. The common theme when I asked during our summer picnic a few weeks ago, was how much fun it was to use it without all the “oldies” telling them not to rag chew and things like that. My two cents from a non ham who talks to people daily on GMRS repeaters who are excited to just talk.
I agree I am also seeing this trend on my local gmrs repeaters as well lots of ham operators
Ham's have too many VHF/UHF options now...D-Star, DMR, Fusion, Allstar, echolink, hotspots, mobile hotspots, etc. It's like when all you had on TV was local channels, now I can't decide what to watch because I have too many choices. Unfortunately, all these options are diluting communications...JMO, and that's all that counts :)
Yes, agreed
I currently have no interest in digital modes and am fine with analog HF, vhf, and uhf.
I've only been a ham for a few years but there's so many things that I haven't tried that are not digital.
@@jexarbor9344 There isn't any challenge in digital comms. Anyone can click a mouse button.
Try working Australia, New Zealand or Japan on CW with 5 watts!
Challenge, no. But it's still fun to talk to friends
I’m 40, I have been an amateur radio operator for 3 years. For me, I have listened to repeaters and it’s been guys that knew each other and I heard a non-regular try and join the conversation and 9/10 times, it just becomes silent or within a few minutes all the regular guys exit the conversation. This has happened on several different repeaters, locations, times, etc. Second, I think times have just changed. In my opinion, most men 45 and younger likely have families and they don’t have the time to sit and talk on the repeater. I don’t think our fathers had the same standards of coparenting requirements that modern men do. Lastly, I think amateur radio simply isn’t as convenient to use. Using the proper procedures, repeating your call sign every 10 minutes, purchasing separate equipment is nearly as accommodating and simple as sending a simple texts. There have been multiple instances where I have heard amateur radio operators talking about just texting or call each other during a conversation on a radio on a repeater. I think repeaters will always have a place, I just don’t think it will be what it once was. Radio has to change with times and technology. If people want to see repeaters use increase, then find a way to integrate radio with texting on a platform as convenient as a cell phone. Is it traditional amateur radio in the sense of two or more people talking over radio, no, but neither was PSk or FT8. Times change and so must radio.
I have had my ticket since 1980. It was easier to pick up a radio punch in the frequency. Now I have to use PL and a computer to program my handheld if I travel more than 5 to 10 miles from my house. I have gotten to the point that I don't fool with it. Now I have a couple of Rfinders B1+ and M6. I use repeaters more often, especially the DMROIP. A lot of my older ham buddies can't figure out how to program the new radios.
I enjoyed seeing what kind of distant stations and repeaters I could work. Tower and antenna expensive is a huge factor in that. Most people put up an antenna at a height capable of 25 miles. I enjoyed 100-300 mile communications. Also antenna cost is now more than the rigs we use. I also loved satellite communications. TV, cell phones and the above have turned the squelch up
I have a 70 cm linked repeater system in my area that covers almost 300 km. I hit the repeater once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Almost every time somebody responds and thanking me for my call. I feel nice, I get to know new people, and you are responsible for that. Thank you for your suggestions, it's really nice to keep the repeaters alive
Been (sporadically) hitting my small town's repeater for the last few weeks. Never any traffic. Today I keyed up and got a reply! I just stared at the radio for a second. The guy on the other end has been licensed for 3 years and I was his second contact ... ever. We talked for a good 15 minutes. Thanks for getting us to give the "dead" repeaters some attention
I have not been on local repeaters since I retired. I was a post man and carried a small Baofeng mobile in my truck as there was one local repeater at that time that got a lot of traffic and a small group of us kind of had a running connection. Some who were working were on hand helds during the day, I was on a mobile and others popped in in the early afternoon on their way home from work. About two years before I retired we started getting some weirdos that seem to not want to talk just key up make noise and interrupt conversations. We suspected some of them had purchased really cheap baofeng handhelds and were operating illegally and other were new licensees who were not well versed in using repeaters. As time went on the owner of the repeater finally had to shut it down for a while going into the fall and that winter made getting out to it again difficult as it was on top of a mountain which is why it was a good one for us to come in from distances of over 50 miles from the repeater. Recently I went back to checking out some of the local repeaters and just monitoring them and not hearing anything at all for untold number of hours. I don't know if other repeaters in the area are dealing with the jerk problem or not, I just know they are there, operational just no one is using them at least when I decide to put a day aside to check. It is sad but with the prepper community looking into SHTF comms many have stumbled into low cost baofengs and seem to be running them without a license. Sadly the only local FCC office in my area packed up and moved to California around the same time we started getting the idiots interfering with our little chat sessions. I know this because I delivered their mail. I tried to see about some free equipment but sadly that did not happen not even the big HF antenna from the roof. Sadly I just don't pick up much activity at all on repeaters in my area of the PNW. Not really sure why as I had to step away for a bit and when I got back they were pretty quiet.
I think the same thing is happening in the UK where phone patch has never been legal. There are several possible reasons which may also be relevant to the US.
The old story of local cliques. Driving around the country I have heard people calling CQ both simplex and via repeater and getting no reply then a station pops up and calls another specific station who answers straight away and off they go with what is quite clearly a private conversation.
CTCSS. In the UK years ago the RSGB decided that repeaters should move from 1750 Hz access to CTCSS to accommodate an expansion of the network which never happened. So where before if you were visiting an area or passing through on the motorway you could scan the repeater section of the band and if a repeater popped up you could access it, now you need to know what repeater it is and what tone it uses and program your radio accordingly, not really practical if you are driving.
Road conditions. Roads in the UK have got so busy and driving standards so bad you need your full concentration especially if you are unfamiliar with the area, radio isn't an option.
Alternative modes. In the UK there are fewer active hams than there used to be, and many more repeater options than there used to be with the various DV modes. Again, you used to just have to scan the relevant section of 2M FM, now it's far more complicated for the visiting mobile user.
Coverage. In the UK there used to be relatively few 2M repeaters but they were often on well sited broadcast masts, well up the mast, by informal agreements. Now the broadcast sites are operated by commercial contractors who wanted commercial rates repeater groups couldn't afford so many repeaters are now quite poorly sited. If you know you are going to lose the repeater over the next hill in 5 minutes it's not worth calling in.
I think I commented this on the previous video, but around here they are fairly active. Certainly not constant but definitely get talked on several times a day. So, I'm in that camp. I know many say the ones in their area sit quiet. I, honestly, sometimes don't believe that to be as widespread as is implied and instead think the more accurate statement is "the little bit of time that I have my radio on, I don't hear anything". But it varies by area, of course, and I'm sure there are some that sit quiet a majority of the time.
in my area(Kansas City) most technician license people have moved to Fusion Digital. We have a couple of vhf/uhf repeaters that still are active. i think local clubs keep those going. i like to join them when in range.
I know why mine isn't usually active - I live in a small town and the local club is less than 30 members, and as in all things the majority of people in the group are not really all that active (considering most of them are retired - you'd think they'd have plenty of time for leisure activities)
For me personally, I work from home so while in theory I could monitor the repeater, I'm working and so answering any calls to chat would be interrupting my work
I do not have a mobile in my vehicle because most of my drives are in town and take 5 minutes or less - not really enough time to chat. To the extent I do drive outside of town, 9 out of 10 times that means I'm with family, so chatting on the repeater would be rude to the family.
About the only time I think I could realistically chit chat would be during my daily walks but our repeater is about 6 miles from town so terrain in town frequently limits using an HT.
W6TRW had a Spectrum SCR1000 repeater. The secret was, it was "tweaked" to operate at optimum in one of the TRW RF antenna labs.
I talk on vhf / uhf, when I have something to say, or respond when someone else has something to say. Otherwise I'm quiet and listening in the background. I'm a member of Skywarn. I keep quiet unless there is something noteworthy. (not getting in the way of someone who might have something to say that's noteworthy.)
Back in the 80's, all the technicians and above had 2 meter rigs, with DTMF, to have access to the club's phone patch for emergencies or for many to get the last minute 'get me's' from the XYL on the way home from work. And we all supported one or more clubs. So yes, cell phones have killed a lot of vhf / uhf traffic from what was happening back then. (440 was in use, but not as common.) As more of use were using vhf as a primary communication device, there was more use and more 'community'. (or at least active community.)
This is my perspective, and I'm an old fart now. Other's mileage may vary.
The reference to cell phones vs. repeaters are more likely referring to phone patches on repeaters. At one time Hams were the only ones who could make phone calls using a repeater without it costing an arm or leg.
One of my big issues, since the coof, I work mostly at home. I don't have a regular commute, and I'm not in my car most days of the week. Also, amateur radio reception inside my house is not great (radiant barrier sheathing) so if I wanted to spend a lot of time on the air, I'd have to put up a radial outside. I moved recently, and putting up an outdoor antenna is a project I want to do, but not a high priority. At the moment, I spend most of my time on my hotspot talking DMR. There are some local DMR repeaters that carry the talk-group I'm on, and I'll be on those when out in my car.
That's really about it though.
Another cause may simply be the glut of repeaters in an area. From my home QTH, I have 9 2-meter and 3 70cm repeaters programmed in my radio and traffic on them is sparse except for the regular nets (most weekly, but there is one nightly net). There are more, but I haven't heard any traffic on them, ever.
Yes and also numerous modes now besides just FM
Some of these comments I agree with. Especially the “long distance” phone service one. When I was a kid here in Louisiana calling my uncles home about 15 miles away was a long distance call. So I could see the repeaters being a good solution. I’ve been trying to throw out my call sign more and have had a few conversations while doing so.
Keep doing that
I'm not a HAM operator but I do have a scanner that I listen to and I have a CB in my truck that I mostly just listen to as well! Here in rural West Texas, there are many farmers that seem to utilize a lot of various stations including emergency channels at times! Thanks for the information!
Someone already made the comment about, “too many VHF/UHF options now...D-Star, DMR, Fusion, Allstar, echolink, hotspots, mobile hotspots, etc.” I would say there are too many repeaters period. IMHO part of this is the result of ham radio clubs (another can of worms) that has died off into meetings only with few to no activities. ‘I know, let’s put up a repeater.’ One such club in my area did that by adding Wires-X to their 440 machine that is cross linked to a 2-meter machine. It’s great, it works, and there is no activity except the weekly ‘Trivia Net’ (If I check into one more trivia net, I am going to need professional counseling). In another area we have a linked 6-meter repeater right next to a state park. Every time I activate that park I key up the 6-meter machine and… crickets (looking for a QSO to move to 6m simplex). My point, stop setting up repeaters, we have too many. Riddle me this - GMRS repeater activity is booming in our area. Why? Your comments.
Using your local repeater is a good way to get to know your local hams, so then you have someone to enjoy the hobby with. For example here in New Orleans, we have a repeater 147.360 that is used for DX spotting. When there is a band opening or hard to-get station that is calling CQ on SSB CW or FT8 on the HF bands, we get on the repeater and let everyone know what band and frequency it is on. I've seen it when I can hear a station well but my local ham can't hear it or they hear it and i can't.
That's a great idea
In my area in one case the next town over (15 miles) was a long distance call back in the day. Predates my ham involvement. Here the repeater is Dean, once in a while a couple of people are on, but they don't want to engage with anyone else. Where my friend is, the repeaters are really busy (NY vs NC). Other areas of NC I have been in are also really active.
Nice video Jason. I have noticed less repeater activity overall around Florida, a very Ham active state. I agree that phone patches were very useful, but most of my use of them was making calls over HF for troops overseas to families back stateside. (A long time ago for most people). I did use it on local repeaters to call home sometimes letting my wife know I was running late because it was free when my cell cost money to use. Now the cell cost is nominal and unlimited. The down side of repeaters and phone patches was you could not conduct business over them. My first mobile phone, way before "cell phones", was in a briefcase, then in the car, then the Motorola brick. Now they are almost smarter than me!
With the repeater you can have multiple people on. Like a Net on HF. Very cool. And like you said, useful and fun way to keep in touch while driving around town. I think the sales of mobile radios is down while the sales of really cheap HT's are high. And even though they might work the really cheap HT's, even most good HT's, are just not as useful driving around as a cell phone is. Maybe if we get Bluetooth in more HT's that can make them really hands free in todays vehicles, it might increase the use of the repeaters. Now I mostly use the repeaters to let others know I just worked a good DX or DXpedition and the freq and mode. So it has become an accessory for my HF use.
That all changes when we have a weather alert, like storms and Hurricanes. I do some storm spotting but mostly monitor for if and when I am needed to activate somewhere. We do use Cell Text Messages as well for those not on the air. But you really need an HT to be out in the field and a repeater to get anywhere. Statewide we have a lot of them linked for EMCOMM.
We used to worry that all the new Techs would just take over the repeaters. Now I wish they would. Too many get licensed, buy a Baofeng (never a good choice), and never use it. We have to get them on the air, even if it is just on a repeater. There are still a lot of others that want our frequemcies and we have to make them active and used to protect them. Even being used does not always do that. We saw that with 220 MHz and UPS and recently with 3500 MHz and cell systems. So we need to get some activity that works as well as POTA has (a huge success) to get people on the repeaters and move them through the ranks to HF and beyond.
Just an old (but not too grumpy) Hams thoughts. 73 de Tom AJ4XM QCWA
Thanks for commenting
i agree with you although phone patch is great on repeaters my club use to have one on their taunton MA 147.135 KA1GG repeater but they dropped the patch system way before i got my license and known so now they are just radio to radio due to funding and the current condition of the repeater but still great for hitting long distance one of the club member's own repeater that we use as a backup is up very high so it has great coverage enough that i can hit it from north of boston close to the MA NH state line that great coverage and 3 of the other repeaters in my area is also a echolink node repeater so i can use either the main echolink app or 3rd party clone like repeaterphone or even through allstar itself or hamshack hotline and calling your RF link to connect to that repeater so there's up's and down's but i do the same on my end once a day i go to a list of repeaters in my area throw my call and monitor for 5 minutes and if nothing i go to the next repeater and do the same process but i agree with you on that although phone patch and using your phone is cool but direct repeaters are better no matter if you can hit it via RF or have to bridge through echolink
In my area (southern California) it's just hard to get a conversation with any substance going. I love the idea that someone suggested in the comments, about a net with a specific topic. There are a couple of nets that I check in on, but very little is actually said, just basic check-ins. And the regular traffic on the repeaters is old guys talking about their health problems and complaining about politics. I wish I had a few buddies in the area I could talk to, but there's just so few new people who get involved it seems.
When I was working and driving everyday, I always talked (or listened) using several repeaters. They each had a different “community” of users and we all grew to know each others schedules. Being mostly retired (and having moved from the center of the urban area to a distant suburb) I do t have a schedule that coincides with most of the repeater activity in my area. Worse yet, I don’t even have a handheld radio that I use regularly.
Having been a ham since 1964 I experienced the advent of repeaters in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Much of the draw to putting up repeaters was to have auto phone patches which allowed us to make phone calls from our car. In that respect cell phones eliminated that need and is some of the reason there is less activity on repeaters today.
73 W5HJ
Someone else mentioned that also, I don't think it's accurate. My repeaters used to be very active (some still are) rarely does anyone use a phone patch
Keep in mind that I am talking about over 50 years ago. I am pretty sure that was before you were a ham or probably not even born. I can assure you that what I said is accurate. BTW one of the ham clubs in OKC was formed back then to support the 146.22-82 repeater back then and still carries the same name OCAPA for Oklahoma City Autopatch Association although of course the 22-82 repeater no longer has an autopatch.
Lots of new hams were attracted to the hobby back then because of the autopatch capability.
@@RioHondoHank i think you are 100% correct!
@@HamRadio2 I agree with you here. I can say, having the fortune of knowing a local group of repeaters since the mid 1990s, that we certainly used to have hams who got a tech license almost completely to utilize our wide coverage autopatch. We're no longer creating new hams with that today, naturally...but I agree for sure, the lack of the autopatch draw hasn't killed our traffic. I still run across new hams regularly who are excited to chat on the repeater here and there, just like back then.
The "patch" is still there, but I bet nobody's used it in years.
Cell phone system is fragile and cannot support capacity during an emergency. For me that would be a Hurricane evacuation, Sep 11th, or something similar.
Sep 11th is an event that caused me to get more into HAM Radio after we could not call family in NY.
Now my brother has an HF rig on Long Island and I make him practice be talking and sending PSK messages a few times a month.
Cell phone coverage is also poor in many of the places I like to spend my time.
There are some apps like Zello, that allow for "radio like" communications over cell phones.
Opinion is that current generations are less into talking and more into data modes using computers for communications. Raspberry PI as n example.
I don’t even talk to my own family anymore using voice, it’s all messaging now. If I call my daughter, she doesn’t answer. But if I message her on an app, she responds immediately. The only person who ever answers my calls is my wife. All my friends, it’s FB messenger or Signal.
same
Sounds like a dangerous way to communicate when driving
@@HamRadio2 Check the stats on motor vehicle accidents caused by texting while driving.....outrageous!
Whenever I get a voice call from family, I always answer with "ok, who died?!?"....
In my small metro area, there repeaters in the city are silent except for “nets.” Neighboring towns have some small activity among close friends. They’ll go silent if you try to engage.
As a ham licensed for tech and general in March on 2024, I carefully shopped for just the right HT, assuming it would get lots of use. I actually bought 5 cheap ones, until I got a favorite. But, I’ve used that one time In the post month, communicating on Field Day about things needed on location. Other than that, maybe two net check ins.
Speaking of net check ins, I’ve really stopped going on nets on 2m or 70cm. Nothing is said other than “no traffic” by everyone.
Now - I do know some who would like to use their ht’s more. I thought about offering to host a less formal net where we have a subject and talk about it for up to an hour. Or, new hams can ask questions and get to test their radios.
I’m new. I would participate In that for sure.
I was going to install a 50 watt mobile in my car and another in my shack. I bought a copper J-Pole and put it up for a month. Ultimately I took it down to use the transmission line for a 80 meter dipole.
I love ht’s. But, my plans right now are to install my ft-891 in my car instead of a great VHF/UHF mobile.
6:25 “Don’t talk while I’m talking ‘cuz it’s half-duplex.” Two anecdotes on that…
1. I was about 11yo (ca. 1973) & was at a church social function. Happened to be walking by the office & heard the phone ringing. No responsible adults around, so I answered it, thinking I could go find whomever they were looking to talk to. But after they asked for someone, the line “went dead” as far as I could tell, so I hung up. This repeated again. On the 3rd try, the exasperated gent explained that the line going silent is NORMAL because he was calling from a radio in his car.
2. I’ve seen people who use smartphones half-duplex. They take it away from their ear, hold it in front of them, and TALK AT the person they’re on the phone with. Like, “You can’t interrupt me, I can’t hear you, I’m talking, so STFU.” I find this SO rude.
I studied and took my test, obtaining my Technician operator license in May 2021. I installed a mobile radio in my truck and scan frequencies to monitor traffic. I also have a couple of handheld transceivers. However, it's mostly silent on the net. I call out every 10 or 15 minutes, but it's just "crickets." On the 2m band, I hear the repeaters, with some self-identifying by calling out their call signs followed by "repeater."
After a while, I started to wonder if my radio was non-operational. I tuned into the NWS weather or occasionally picked up someone talking, but when I called out, I got no response. In the past month, I've only spoken to one person while on the way to the VA. CB is just as dead. But when we have severe thunderstorms and sometimes you get extended power outages, it nice to have a radio available just the same. But it's boring on the net...
You are correct about all your challenges. Talking on repeaters will bring more use just I’d and usually someone will call you back. Can’t beat using your local repeater to gather local hams. More traffic will bring more hams to an active repeater. Nets are only well attended if someone has topics of interest and involvement of listeners. Not just checking negative and negative! Get people involved!!!! Both have their strengths neither have it all. Using the local repeater to help others while trying other things in ham radio is a great thing. Keep up the great work. 73 N9GSX
My club has 3 repeaters, 2meter, 70centameter and 220. I use them every day, and every Thursday night at 8:PM we have an open check-in ran by our ARES club at this time we activate on all three. We of course we also activate for Skywarn.
I'm in a rural Texas county and the few repeaters in my county and neighboring counties are dead whenever I try them. I only have 2m in my truck and dont have it programmed, which would make it easier. I did used to use them regularly around 1999-2001 when I was a new ham in Houston area, and autopatch was awesome at the time. That doesn't matter much amymore with cell coverage pretty good outside of Brewster county and some others out in west Texas.
My other issue is my anderson connectors on my radio are crap and my 2m mobile likes to shut off randomly. It's an easy fix but just haven't had time to get that fixed properly. I should probably get to that and programming my radio befoee my next road trip later this month.
As an OTR truck driver and new to ham radio, just passed my General, and just got a new Yeasu FT 891. I do like HF, but I love to use my HT’s to find repeaters in the area I happen to be in that day, What area are you in? I will use those repeaters when I’m in the area. 73 KQ4OMM
The complaint about only hearing boring talk about radios and equipment is something we don't hear much on our repeaters. Most qsos are about family, life, jobs, vacations, special events, etc., which I often learn things while monitoring. I also get to know my fellow Hams better!
The last QSO I had before becoming inactive for 20 plus years went something like this “If I could afford one of those new bag phones, I probably wouldn’t be on two meters much anymore.” Man was that prophetic! The first time I used the bag phone I burned up all my minutes but that didn’t stop me.
This week our relatively new club voted to buy our first repeater! You can’t run a parade or fishing tournament comms on a cell phone.
Right, a repeater can reach many more people than a phone can
My local club has multiple repeaters tied in together with 3 nets a week. Anytime during the week, you can key up and get a response. The club is also adding another repeater. There is coverage for hundreds of miles.
Repeaters near me Dont do well in storms when storms come through they get so much static its hard to hear anything Where i am Cell phones Work better during storms its not just ham repeaters its also gmrs repaters as well that have issues and the closest repeaters for both are 70 miles Line of Sights for Gmrs and 30 miles away for amateur repeaters and they all get super static during storms 5:27 @Ham Radio 2.0
Not true. NWS uses repeaters here with Hams when storms come around and they work fine. Much better than calling 1 person on a cell network which doesn't work that well anyway
@@HamRadio2 I'm not talking about all Amateur Or gmrs Repeaters just the ones around my I'm speaking to my direct Experience of the ones I have access to they don't do well at all during storms my experience is recent in the last 4 months not talking about any other state or repeaters around the world just the ones around me So hard for me to be wrong when I'm talking about what I have access too
It’s so dead here I pulled my mobile station. Very, very little activity. Have driven across Texas multiple times and nada. Even when I’ve IDed. Same for driving to the east coast.
Why they’re dead? No idea. I’ve heard all sorts of theories.
Where in Texas? DFW and Houston are active
@@HamRadio2 Beaumont-Port Arthur area.
Back in the 1980s when I got into the hobby, we had 2 grades of licence in the UK; to get on HF, you needed to pass a 12 word per minute Morse test, so many were only on VHF and above. Also, we didn't get a 6m allocation until later in the 80s, so many people had a pretty capable, multimode main station on 2m and perhaps 70cm, as well as FM mobiles and HTs....which were often used on repeaters. We weren't allowed third party traffic, so no phone patches etc., but activity was still buoyant prett much at any time of the day.
Many people who used repeaters at drive time were TV engineers and the like, in addition to people commuting to and from work.
Nowadays, while a few still have mobile installations, many more don't. A lot are perhaps just on HF and don't bother with VHF at all, or if they do, it's just for local natter with a few mates...and this is often on some out of the way Simplex channel without using or monitoring a calling channel or repeater(s) at all. Some local groupings even use Peanut, Zello or whatever.
I currently have 2 repeaters within HT range, one 2m analog, the other 70cm Fusion though the latter is a bit marginal. Two more 2m repeaters i can, and do, just about access but both aren't really viable for regular use, and there's little activity on them anyway. Two 70cm repeaters locally have recently gone QRT, one (analog) due to loss of site, the other (Fusion) lack of activity.
Every day when I'm at work (in the village railway station about 100ft from home) i always check all the local repeaters, even the marginal ones, to make sure theyre still functioning. This is usually at about 6:30 am, i may get the odd QSO with a guy who drives to work but it's a bit sporadic....great when it happens, though. During the morning, a few people call through, though I'm not always in a position to go back to them.
I still greatly enjoy VHF/UHF FM contacts when they happen, also I believe local repeaters can still be a great nexus for social activity, if people would only use them.
73, G0CIQ
I was going to make the point about Class A and B licences. I got my Class B in 1987 and was then stuck on VHF and above since life always got in the way of me trying to learn Morse. My first love was HF, and I had been a shortwave listener (broadcast band) since I was a little kid, and then ham bands from the age of 12 or so after getting an SSB capable radio (Sony ICF 7600). Being "stuck" on VHF and above meant that I made use of what I had. I had a multimode 2m/70cm radio (FDK-750e with Expander 430 - still got it) and would go up the mountain to DX, would listen to and decode satellites, and, yes, occasionally chat on the local repeater(s). I was a member of a club which had a decent HF setup and I would operate HF from the club when I was there, as that's what I was really into. Life mostly got in the way and I didn't do a lot of radio until they dropped the HF Morse requirements. After that I got into HF myself from home and have been there ever since. I occasionally still DX on 2m and 70cm if conditions are up, but other than that I tend not to use repeaters other than as propagation beacons. From my current QTH I can get into 10+ repeaters, but they're mostly off. Inspired by this video, I've switched on my handheld and got it sitting on my mantlepiece tuned to the local repeater!
My first morning commuting listening to repeaters. I heard a guy this morning who wouldn't talk to mobile hams. The one mobile ham (excluding myself) that was listening took offense. They argued for a little bit and then settled on talking about doctors appointments and (mis)use of 9/11 memorial funds. Hard pass for me 🤣🤷♂
Lol. Weird
I agree that this may be a generational thing. I was a ham from 78 to 91 and let my license lapse. I just got back on the air three months ago. Repeaters were fairly active back in the day. I live in Tucson now and we have several fairly active repeaters. I personally feel that since I am a new ham (again) and I find the people don't respond when I give my call and announce I am listening.
My number one reason for slipping away from repeaters are the people I would talk to and visit have passed away. Number two, I ran a solar HAM shack. During an ice storm, I needed the batteries for my trucks and never replaced them. I used a 100A industrial power supply after that which was as loud as a hoover. I could spend $300 or so and get a couple marine/RV batteries and be back in business without hiccup.
I split my time between Flagstaff Az and Hesperia ca. There are over 40 nets on the local repeaters in the Hesperia Ca Area every week. I don’t see as much activity in Flagstaff but they do have an amateur radio club which I plan on joining
In my area, the VHF & UHF repeaters are still busy. That being said, I generally don't care much for talking to people, so aside from checking in to a few nets, I don't chat. 20 yrs ago when I told my wife I was going to get a ham radio license, her first response was "Why? You don't like talking to people". Well, I guess I like talking to her... sometimes. 😂
Nice
I know my repeater was dead a long time before I decommed it. As far as phone patches, POTS lines are expensive and most clubs dont need a 50/mo expense for something that never gets used. On top of that, all the more recent repeater controllers do not even have the ability to phone patch.
I’m on the North edge of the Twin Cities (Mpls/StP), & in the ‘90s, several metro repeaters would be busy during am & pm commutes, & somewhat into the evenings. Made several friends that way. Got lots of new visitors to club’s Field Day every year because we talked it up a lot in the weeks/days leading up to it.
But nowadays, I scan over a dozen repeaters, and if the scan stops, there’s a 60% chance it’s 146.52 simplex. 90% of the remaining scan stops are repeaters doing their periodic ID message. Almost never hear people talking to other people. Very rare.
I don't know. I wish I had an answer. I make transmission on our local repeater and no replies. As Frasier Crane said "I'm listening"
Theres multiple factors to this. I do think cell phones play a part for sure. The other bit is digital modes that we have way too many of.
I will say there's about 45 repeaters within a 50 mile radius of me. Some linked, some not. So we have a metric ton of options, and there's usually 2 nets per day going around here.
Having all the options is a blessing and a curse. Unless your radio scans really fast, you'll miss people.
I can't use the local repeater because the repeater owner / trustee allows pretty much any type of 'etiquette': a guy with a KW commercial rig who runs the fleetsync noisemaker through the repeater; wildly hot audio and barely audible signals; too many Chinese roger beeps playing through it. Might as well listen to FRS channels.
Being honest as a older Gen Zer that is in love with two way radios, I believe repeaters are silent because they're locked down to much at least in my area, most talkgroups for DMR is either locked out or 10 minute ptt timer, Analong repeaters are there but not really used all the time or got to be a member to use the repeater. There's no where in my area to take the tests. The cost of radios could be a good factor in it too, One person says use this type of radio then another says just use this radio and so on. Phones are a huge factor in it because it's a simple few clicks and boom just posted on ( social app here ) but with radios got to go though test(s) and then buy radio(s)/hotspot(s) then program them, also to get around the locked down repeaters. An everyday average person doesn't know what two way radios are and if they do they think it's for older people as a hobby or for public safety or for some type of job site.
I talk every workday on repeaters / simplex with some coworkers and some other hams in the area. Enjoyed the video!! Hey nothing like rag chewing and giving weather/ traffic report we all drive in from different locations!! 73
Here in Huntsville there are many many repeaters so the club repeater is fairly quiet. I call out every time I am in my jeep. Now most nights there are nets that get 8 to 20 people on the net. So ours are used.
Huntsville TX or Huntsville AL, I live in Huntsville Al, and there is a ton of repeaters here (HAM) not (GMRS) but doing a scan I rarely hear any chat except on a few that have weekly nets.
@@sgiff I live in Huntsville AL not TX and what repeaters are you on? I am on 145.33 most of the time as KM4ESU
I’ve put my call out several times with no response. A friend came on and before I could pick up my mic a couple people responded. And yes it happens on a regular basis. They can be very clannish.
Some can, yes
I think you are right about the cell phones and the older generation of people. Young people do not talk at all, they text all the time. Talking to people is considered faux pas. Also, the population change in the major cities plays some role. The newcomers are more concentrated on surviving in the new environment and do not have time, income, education, skills to get into the hobby.
Just a minor plug. I got ham radio prep with the discount to brush up before I took my extra test. It was quite helpful since I hadn't use some of it since I took vocational electronics back in the '70's. Yes 1970's lol. I took it on-line and once everything was set up. I took just over 15 minutes to take the exam and passed. The VE's were great.
73
W9DLP
Thanks for sharing!
I'd use repeaters if I could get responses on my local repeaters. I operate mostly mobile and prefer HF mobile, even on fairly short drives. I do prefer HF over VHF. By the same token, I often try to make 2m contacts when I'm driving, and hear nothing. I'm using an Icom 706 MKII with 20 watts and a 5/8 magmount, so my signal is getting out - I can trip about 5-10 repeaters when driving. Most are located on mountaintops and have long ranges - 30 to 100 miles or more. But i hear nothing. I wish there was more activity, but I get no responses.
We have a lot of repeaters in my area. I can probably hit 30 from my base station. Some are dead, and some have some activity. Schedule nets. Keeps people tuned in, and they are more likely to respond.
I can’t speak for everywhere (obviously), but where I am in the Boston area, most of the activity I see/hear is on HF and on digital repeaters.
There are a few active analog repeaters, but most are silent except for nets.
One thing I’ve noticed is that we almost have too many repeaters available in my area. RepeaterBook lists more than 65 VHF and UHF repeaters within 25 miles of my QTH. Some are linked (the MMRA network, for instance), but most aren’t. So we have a large number of repeaters and a small number of hams using them. Which kind of creates a paradox: there are so many places to find other hams, but there isn’t any one place where hams gather on air. Does that make sense?
In My location we have few 2 meter repeaters in N.H. & Maine. One in N.H. nobody wants to talk on it! The other are almost no traffic? 146.520 has more traffic! Funny thing is it just seems to have happened all at once?. 11 Meters too was booming on S.S.B. then nothing???. Strange...
I'm not a licensed amateur radio operator, but cell phones have their limits too..... like having long distance to call family and friends in other states or international calls to other countries, because not everyone has that capability to do that. Yes there is Zoom, Facebook and etc. to communicate with family and friends and other states or even in other countries if their cell phones doesn't offer long distance or international calls. From what I've learned here on UA-cam as far as amateur radio you have a lot of different aspects of it that can be used, like VHF/UHF, HF and etc. to communicate with other people.
Ive always been interested in radio, and recently got my gmrs license. The repeaters around here get alot of traffic. Im really enjoying gmrs!!
I need to take the time to figure out how to do cross band repeat on my Alinco DR-735 so I can carry my HT with me on my daily hour walks. I can't hit my two favorite repeaters with my HT but sure can with my base unit.
Hmmmm....
Very Good Advice. Thank You
I’m here in Fort Worth. Are you ever on the NCTC repeaters?
Sometimes
We are trying to reach out to more people outside of our club to get them involved in amateur radio.
Situations such as phones not working is the primary reason I go into ham radio.
Just passed my Extra last weekend, so ready to learn even more!
Thanks Jason!
KI5QNJ
Awesome, good luck
I agree cell phones are different from repeaters. Cell phones are like microwave ovens whereas repeaters are more like barbecues.
Yes
Trying to keep my repeater active by crossbanding it. Some interest. Even does DMR. Oh well.
i love listening to shortwave and trying to find interesting stations. but if I want to listen to old dudes talking about the weather or mowing the grass Ill go sit at the donut shop and get a maple bar.
Rules about distracted driving that include two way radios
There are expectations for ham radios now but the initial legislation included it and many many stories of police charging them while they figure it out. Many people think you need to pull bomber to use the radio
Jason, if there is one service that disrupted amateur radio repeaters I would guess it is GMRS. With the cost of licensing dropping and the influx of cheap GMRS repeater equipment I’m guessing that the people you would normally find on amateur repeaters are now in the GMRS space.
My area, central Tenn., has a lot of HAM and GMRS repeaters and I just don't hear traffic on them.
I got my first license in about 1987 or so. By 1989/90 my three sons (ages 12, 11 and 7) all passed their novice AND tech tests WITH code, wife passed tech when the code requirement dropped. By the time the boys were driving and going out and about, all three had 2m portables and if mom called them on he radio while they were out, they had better answer or there would have been hell to pay when they got home. All my friends on that repeater thought it was hilarious. Today, all the kids are grown and gone, but here in AZ I am still active but there is very little vhf/uhf traffic. My personal belief is that society as a whole is more inured with the internet and interacting with social media. They don’t understand that ham radio is the original social media. Just my 2 cents worth.
Aloha Jason,
I’m really glad that you didn’t single out my post for that video even though I had plenty of ammo in that post. 😂🤣😂🤣
I try all the time and get nothing! And I have a damn sexy voice! 😊
Ah, that's the reason. People are intimidated by your sexy voice!
I always say be part of the solution than the problem. It's easy to give a call out on the repeater when you're mobile.
You can call someone on a repeater, in an emergency, and ask for help!..... ONLY if: 1) you can hit a repeater, and 2) someone is listening, AND 3) they are willing to answer and 4) they are willing to help!
Just talking from a real life incident here. 🙄
I don't know how, but others should start making and placing repeaters everywhere, turned off, in case the GOV drcides to shut down all coms
The government could shut down cell networks much easier than a privately owned repeater
Aging hobby enthusiasts and cell phones took most of the “gadget” draw away from radios. For local emergency communications, repeaters are essential and I do try to call out at least once a week and participate in local nets. I don’t see the draw to DMR, DStar, Fusion on them for emergencies when the internet could be down. Just seems like a way to talk long distances on uhf/vhf but not sure. Also, not seeing the point on using digital modes with HF and monitoring traffic but PLEASE educate me if I’m missing something as a Ham on these parts of the hobby.
I listen all the time on my local ham repeaters, if there is no net, there is no traffic! Working on my tech license now, gmrs seems to be more active and less militant!
Keep going for the license and move on up. GMRS works but very locally. And does not begin to offer what Amateur radio really can. That is why there is no test for it or CB.
I have both but I've heard much more militant or blatantly rude people on GMRS (granted, most of them are on the Internet)
73s Jason good video @Ham Radio 2.0
Thanks
I know how to operate my radio, open the repeater and my footprint area. If its not a hurricane,grid down or emergency, im using my cellphone. Its easier and vastly more flexible. When that doesnt work, plan B, the radios....
You're missing out of some good repeater usage in non-emergencies
So, in addition to just simply trying to wake up your community by hitting your local repeater every day, I also want to encourage everyone to monitor 146.52 and maybe even toss a CQ out there when you have a moment. You never know when you’ll hear a freshly minted technician or encourage one to go ahead and give it a try.
Great plan
Used a qrp 40mter. To call Georgia, who called my wife in zephyrhills because I was stuck on the side of the road. We didn't have cellphones
The reason I like repeaters, 146.520 simplex or hf for that matter is that you never know who might come back to you. Yes a cell phone is more direct and personal but the thrill of getting someone that you have never talked to or a country that is 5000 miles away or someone that’s traveling through your area just passing time is pretty cool
You nailed it. Just give a young peson a cell phone and a random number to call and see how that conversation goes. And forget about DX.
Why would anyone compare cell phones to Amateur Radio??? Apples and oranges!
I think more users are migrating to GMRS repeaters. There are a few GMRS repeaters around the Billings MT area that are fairly active.
There's some near me also but all the folks using them are Hams
@@HamRadio2 Same here. I think more hams are on the GMRS repeaters than non hams. GMRS is just
another avenue of radio. I don't think any form of communication will replace Amateur Radio.
Tons of GMRS traffic these days. Ham repeaters (Analog or Digital) crickets...
Your Wrong You can dial More then 1 number on a cell phone at a time you you can even Put a call on hold and dial another number then merge that person in and you can do that up to 16 people at a time you can also do Video calls directly from phones now 5:30 @Ham Radio 2.0
Seems like a lot of effort when you're driving. Much more effort and longer time than pressing a PTT button on a radio.
While you're not wrong, you're missing the point. With a radio, you can easily and quickly talk to numerous people all at once, and they can all respond to you with the same group. Sure, you can make group calls and merged calls on a phone, but when was the last time you actually did that? I talked on a repeater today
@@HamRadio2 when I posted the comment you didn't say anything at that time about driving In that case yes Radio communications is safer and Easier. I was just stating you can do it being you said you can't that was all. You said if you were wrong let you know so I did Brother 73s
Our two local vhf repeaters are nearly always busy.
I don't talk on the phone anymore. I leave my ringer off unless im expecting a call from a doctor for results
That would be a good conversation for 80M. But I agree with you about the phone ringer
around me here in North East Georgia theres maybe 10/13 within my key up range only one i know is iffy. the owner died from C19 a cpl years ago but farther south around Atlanta they have 1 or 2 Dstar but im told these dead. most of the rep are busy and have rather large nets.. like i told my buddy when he said they where dead i ask him how many times he called he laughed and said maybe 2 times in a month. welllll hello chet..Cb is very busy in my area and gmrs is busy also.. i guess its where you are..put your radio to scan every rep in your range and scan. if im near a radio there on every day
I think it's because most people don't know and don't care about radio. There are much easier, faster, more private ways to communicate.
That being said, having run a non-profit, civilian rescue and relief organization, radio would have come in handy, when there was no cell service.
Most people don't know... that part is correct
I have always had a mobile 2 meter/440 radio in all my vehicles. I usually put it in scan mode to listen to whatever is going on. My wife is also a Ham and she hates to use repeaters because it's in no way even semi-private. We always use Simplex unless I'm going out of range, and we tune to a repeater that will cover wherever I'm going. Getting back to me using scan mode.... When we are both in the car together, I scan all the 2 meter and 440 repeaters. Why do I do that. Well, since the FCC has dumbed down the test to the point that a dead person can pass the test, I listen to conversations and enter some conversations to try to help out the idiots who have no clue how their radios work.
Ham Radio has never been private. That's part of the agreement you make when getting your license.
I disagree about the dumbing down of the test too. The tests never taught you how to program and work a radio. They teach you about circuitry, electronics and band propagation.
Everyone has to start somewhere and I think it's important that we, as licensed Hams, help new folks who are interested in joining the ranks
I'm not much on repeaters but if I hear a conversation I want to take part in or someone is calling cq I will talk.
You don't call CQ on a repeater.
I misspoke
Explain to me like I'm five why I would want to get started in HAM radio please. I want to be interested but I don't understand why I should.
It's the most powerful form of off-grid communication
@@HamRadio2 Thanks for the reply but it didn't really move me. Like I say it's interesting but I can't see why it would be worth my effort and expense. There must be a reason or is it just a waste of time?