Re: [44net] 44Net Digest, Vol 2, Issue 84

It may be different in the US, but here "an uproar" (if any) is not going to determine how bands are re-allocated. We have constructive discussion with the license authority, but in the end we are not the ones that decide. VHF/UHF band popularity has gone down anyway, because of license class changes. Until a decade ago, there was a separate "no code" license class that only allowed operation on VHF/UHF, and a "novice" class that allowed a couple of sub-bands and lower power. Then the code requirement was dropped for everyone, so now "no code" licensees (like me) can operate on all HF bands. "novice" class were given access to most of the HF bands as well. The result was that many active amateurs who always wanted to be on HF but were restrained by the code or exam level requirements now went there, and most DX activity the VHF/UHF bands vanished. There now are only repeaters (mostly silent) and a couple of local channels with very little activity. Tuning over the 2M band you may hear 2 or 3 QSOs. This weekend there was a contest but I only heard a German and a UK station, while a decade ago the SSB segment would be filled with activity. As it is now, there are not enough active hams here to setup and sustain something as involved as a data network. We had one in the past, but interest dropped with the availability of internet for everyone. Sure one could experiment with a link to a friend just for fun, but that is no significant band use. Unattended operation is more of a problem as well. We now need a special permit for anything that transmits beyond of the direct control of the operator. Presence of the operator while the gear is operating is no longer sufficient. Such special permits are given only for fixed frequencies and only in certain bands, and they also cost money. Rob PE1CHL