When is Ham Radio Not Ham Radio? (#408)

When I was a brand new ham in my teens about 51 years ago I remember the "old timers" complaining about us youngsters...we didn't know anything, didn't belong in ham radio (reminds me of "No kids, lids or space cadets"), etc. Fast forward and listen on the bands now and hear the same stuff about new hams these days...sigh. Dave's right, get over it and embrace change. 73 - Dino KLØS

Well said, Dave. A reminder of the spirit of Amateur Radio is always welcome.

Today is World Amateur Radio Day! One way of analyzing this question is this: Do you need an FCC amateur license to do it legally? If yes, it's ham radio.

I stay with CW, really difficult to get into a poltical/religious argument at 10 wpm.....HiHi

Florida now has an state wide linked repeater system. It was created for "emergency use" when hurricanes hit, and reflector towers are stationed along main highway evacuation routes, across the state. It's use is encouraged to all hams, as a means of training aid, just as long as they keep the conversations kinda short. I used it on a recent vacation in Northern, Florida, and LOVED IT. I was on my HT, talking to hams all across the state! It was fun.

I'm personally not into digital or echolink type stuff but i have no problem with it being there, its all out here for us to use or not use as we please, radio has something to suite everyone, and to be fair my tool box has many tools i never use ;)

Hello Dave, you have picked up an important topic and have cleared the foggy interpretation of several radio amateurs who are skeptical about marrying RF with the Internet and the emerging various digital modes in Ham radio. In recent times I had been rediculed by certain Hams for using the Echolink but, I could figure out that those Hams were not at all familiar with this platform. Yesterday, 18 April, World Amateur Radio Day, I had written an article in my blog mentioning about the emerging technologies in Ham radio which we should embrace. It's always a pleasure watching your incredible videos which are so much of learning. Thank you Dave for all the efforts. 73 VU3TQT

Its not ham radio unless it is spark gap! (G)

My local repeater has Echolink and I have had QSO's with operators in Canada, USA Hawaii. When I hear an operator I use one of my Baofeng UV5R's to connect the two miles from my home to the repeater. and its great fun.

I imagine the folks saying IRLP & digital modes aren't true ham radio still own & operate a spark gap transmitter..

This channel is a resource on so may levels. THANK YOU DAVE CASLER

Hi David , I watch your videos a lot . I came from CB Radio just local talking and out of know where I’m able to to talk to Texas from Kentucky and only a few minutes. Just love it . And I was only like 16 or 17 years old back then . I told my Parents and they said sure you did . I know their is more out there. I love your videos and information. Thanks

Totally agree Dave. I use DMR via Peanut, (plan to put in a hotspot soon), Hamsphere, Echolink, etc. I also use HF, VHF, and other more traditional modes. Modes like Hamsphere, DMR, etc. allow many folks to get on who couldn't get on in a traditional manner. Elderly hams not able to erect antennas due to physical problems, HOA limitations, zoning regulations, financial limitations can continue to enjoy the hobby. IMO, if you don't like something, don't participate in that mode. No need to ridicule or complain about others that do enjoy it.

Thank you for this video! It's apparently is easy to forget the true "spirit" of Ham Radio is experimentation and innovation. I agree that technologies that pair the internet with Ham Radio is very much in the "spirit" of Ham Radio! Those that cling to the "definition" of Ham Radio from the past don't have a grasp of the real "spirit" of the hobby. It's important to keep your capability to communicate separate from any technology that involves the Internet. For Emergency communications, there very likely won't BE an Internet, so being able to communicate removed from the Internet is essential. That being said, day to day, it's all fair game.

Excellent topic and great answer Dave. I have no interest (at this time) in the digital modes and it is the allure of HF DX and CW that is compelling me to get my license, and no I will not buy any equipment until I have my license. But never say never, because you don’t know if something gets your curiosity going in the future. This reminds me of a great guy I once knew in the antique car hobby that preferred stuff built before 1910 and had some great brass era cars. Someone asked him why he didn’t have a Ford Model A (which were built 1928 and later) to which he answered “I don’t like that new fangled stuff.” But he was always looking at the latest methods of restoration and tooling so wasn’t cemented firmly in the past. Cheers from Moose Jaw. Tim

Dave you should be running for president with such a diplomatic answer 🙂 Thanks for sharing your knowledge, so newbies like me can catch you experienced guys up.

I like your objective answer. I would add that FreeDV is an open-source and free digital voice mode for HF, no internet involved, just a digital voice signal over HF. Likewise,, Fusion, D-Star, DMR, P25, NXDN (the digital modes often used on U/V) don’t have to be internet-linked. I’ve used them over just simplex and even with non-linked repeaters. Being digital, just easily gives them the option to be be routed on the internet. As for radio-less nodes, I haven’t seen any radio-less mmdvm’s yet, but there are many radio-less AllStar and IRLP nodes (analog VoIP). (However, there are digital voice apps.) It’s all still “amateur radio” (except the apps) for exactly the reasons you defined, even if some of the “old foggie” (and computer-illiterate) types can’t accept it. Where I draw the line is apps like Peanut and DroidStar. That is not any sort of radio, period. That is just making believe you are using D-Star, Fusion, DMR, P25, NXDN. Unless you are holding a physical radio in your hand that supports those modes, it’s not real. That includes crossmode use with an mmdvm. I use P25 a lot with amateur radio (and commercial) using Motorolas and have noted the influx of a lot of app and crossmode users being drawn to the P25 networks simply because they know P25 is used most often with public safety and commercial use, so they think it must be “cool” for them to fakely use P25 with an app or crossmode with an mmdvm. The audio quality using DroidStar and Peanut is horrible. You can tell right away when someone is using one of those apps. Back to HF, FreeDV is 100% free (and open-source). Even the codecs are FOSS. There is absolutely nothing proprietary with FreeDV. It’s a great mode snd I hope it continues to grow and evolve.

Florida has "SARNET" it is over 20 repeaters linked all over the state! It is used some everyday but not much. I have programmed all of them in my radios. When I tested to be sure that I got it programmed right from Southeast Florida someone in Alabama came back with a signal report for me. It is there for storms, Florida gets Hurricanes sometimes. All of the repeaters have generator backup. Most of what I hear on it is when someone is working on one of the repeaters, someone testing there radio, and sometimes someone driving up to state. I think think this is Ham Radio, it is used some for other things but mostly make for Hurricanes and other Emergency!

Top class information as usual Dave, with an interesting collection of storm lanterns to boot.

Nicely said Dave... J