I thought about it, but...

[BJ radionut]

But as the field of operators shrink they need to hush that up n try to encourage more operators

Actually, that is a false statement.
Presently there are almost 810,000 licensed operators in the USA.
The Highest Level in USA history!!!
Today, Amateur Radio is more popular than ever, with more than 3,000,000+ licensed operators Worldwide!

All the Best
Gary

 

[Rwb]

Actually, that is a false statement.
Presently there are almost 810,000 licensed operators in the USA.
The Highest Level in USA history!!!
Today, Amateur Radio is more popular than ever, with more than 3,000,000+ licensed operators Worldwide!

All the Best
Gary

but what was the population in 1990,2000,2010,and today 2020?

 

[BJ radionut]

USA AMATEUR RADIO POPULATION

1917 - about 6,000
1928 - about 17,000
1936 - about 46,000

1950 - near 90,000

1956 ​

- over 140,000​

1958​

- about 160,000​

1963 - over 250,000​

1977​

- 327,000....148 operators per capa 10,000 population USA

1989​

- over 500,000​

1997 June - 678,473​

2001 Jan 1 - 682,240.... 240 operators per capa 10,000 population USA
2002 Oct 31 -- 684,355 ​

2007 March 18 -- 652,984
2020 809,000++.................246 operators per capa 10,000 population USA

Not shrinking by these numbers from what I see
All the Best
Gary

 

[Rwb]

USA AMATEUR RADIO POPULATION

1917 - about 6,000
1928 - about 17,000
1936 - about 46,000

1950 - near 90,000

1956
- over 140,000
1958
- about 160,000​

1963 - over 250,000
1977
- 327,000....148 operators per capa 10,000 population USA

1989​

- over 500,000
1997 June - 678,473
2001 Jan 1 - 682,240.... 240 operators per capa 10,000 population USA
2002 Oct 31 -- 684,355 ​

2007 March 18 -- 652,984
2020 809,000++.................246 operators per capa 10,000 population USA

Not shrinking by these numbers from what I see
All the Best
Gary

ok,now jump on any frequincy n see how many you can get to return your call, lots get license talk a bit then hang their radios up so to say

 

[BJ radionut]

ok,now jump on any frequincy n see how many you can get to return your call, lo6s get license talk a bit then hang their radios up so to say

Not sure what you are trying to say...???

I, however, can make contacts 24/7 and get replies to my call, it just depends on the band I am using.
I made 20+ contacts today in maybe 2 hours operating time and ONLY used 1 band! (6 meters)
Sorry for your trouble.
All the Best
Gary

 

[Rwb]

Not sure what you are trying to say...???

I, however, can make contacts 24/7 and get replies to my call, it just depends on the band I am using.
I made 20+ contacts today in maybe 2 hours operating time and ONLY used 1 band! (6 meters)
Sorry for your trouble.
All the Best
Gary

well maybe in your area,around here your lucky to hear maybe 10 people all day on 2 meter ,70 cm as well as 10 meter usb, 2 meter usb is dead too

 

[Mudfoot]

well maybe in your area,around here your lucky to hear maybe 10 people all day on 2 meter ,70 cm as well as 10 meter usb, 2 meter usb is dead too

that's typical nearly everywhere on those frequencies. Jump on HF.

 

[HomerBB]

As the sun spot cycle improves there will be a lot more folks on the air. It is typical. Same with 11m. Can't find a channel without traffic during good cycle conditions even spilling over and under the CB band.
Looking forward to it.
There is a surprising amount of vhf/uhf traffic in my area.

 

[Rwb]

Last nite unbeliveable 10 meters was busy down around 28.370 to 28.430 usb

 

[Slowmover]

As the sun spot cycle improves there will be a lot more folks on the air. It is typical. Same with 11m. Can't find a channel without traffic during good cycle conditions even spilling over and under the CB band.
Looking forward to it.
There is a surprising amount of vhf/uhf traffic in my area.

And here I was a’thinkin’ the whiskey bottle wasn’t deep enough to get that far down into them menus.

Praise Jesus!

(Texas Midget: I'm still laughing. It’s got legs. Even if they’re short & real, real busy in gettin’ it done).

.

 

[Rwb]

And here I was a’thinkin’ the whiskey bottle wasn’t deep enough to get that far down into them menus.

Praise Jesus!

(Texas Midget: I'm still laughing. It’s got legs. Even if they’re short & real, real busy in gettin’ it done).

.

yea that tejas midget kinda made me chuckle too

 

[BJ radionut]

well maybe in your area, around here your lucky to hear maybe 10 people all day on 2 meters,70 cm

Well again sorry for your trouble. I guess I should ask what you are using for antennas.
2 meters and most certainly 70cm require some decent antenna systems to get the most on those bands.
You need good height, antennas with reasonable gain, excellent feedline, and reasonable power output.
Then for 2 meter SSB, horizontal beam antennas are a must. Though there is a group here locally that uses SSB and run vertically, normally only during what I call "drive time" hours mornings and early afternoon/evenings.
I can work stations on 2 meter FM SIMPLEX normally in the range of 50-100 miles away most times during the day, with a very modest setup.
(80-100 watts output...Vertical antenna with a modest gain of about 8 dBd gain @45 ft.) (ERP is around 400 watts+)
You're set-up if you are relying on low power (50 watts or less) with virtually no gain for antennas and repeater usage. Then I can understand your frustration.

My contacts on 6 meters, "the local contacts" are in the 30 to 100-mile range.
I would not call Fla/Lou/Tex/Caribbean etc. locals from Central Indiana.
All the Best
Gary

 

[Rwb]

Well again sorry for your trouble. I guess I should ask what you are using for antennas.
2 meters and most certainly 70cm require some decent antenna systems to get the most on those bands.
You need good height, antennas with reasonable gain, excellent feedline, and reasonable power output.
Then for 2 meter SSB, horizontal beam antennas are a must. Though there is a group here locally that uses SSB and run vertically, normally only during what I call "drive time" hours mornings and early afternoon/evenings.
I can work stations on 2 meter FM SIMPLEX normally in the range of 50-100 miles away most times during the day, with a very modest setup.
(80-100 watts output...Vertical antenna with a modest gain of about 8 dBd gain @45 ft.) (ERP is around 400 watts+)
You're set-up if you are relying on low power (50 watts or less) with virtually no gain for antennas and repeater usage. Then I can understand your frustration.

My contacts on 6 meters, "the local contacts" are in the 30 to 100-mile range.
I would not call Fla/Lou/Tex/Caribbean etc. locals from Central Indiana.
All the Best
Gary

i got good db gain antennas,connected to low loss lm 400 ,low swr, 1 at 35' another at 48 '. I got 90 watt capabilitiess. Im in a high piont in my county. I get out far.there has to be recievers to intercept me,if none then im alone. I got couple friends on simplex 45 miles away i talk with when they are on. Several repeaters too.

 

[HomerBB]

...

(Texas Midget: I'm still laughing. It’s got legs. Even if they’re short & real, real busy in gettin’ it done).

.

We were twice as tired as everyone else after a day. Had to do it at a quicker pace just to keep up.
But, we did it bigger and better...

 

[Crawdad]

Why can't I model the antennas I love to build? Because the modeling program is not wysiwyg. It should be. Isn't this the 21st century? I can't stop my life to take up cryptology, so I imagine I'll never learn to model.
What do I like? One word - easy. That's what I like.

Model, schmodel. Crunch a few numbers, stick it in the air, see if it works. (No offense Marconi, love what you do)

73