Re:Hams (Score 1)

Also, consider that once BPL comes around, it probably won't be long before the same company sells digital phone over the same lines. Therefore, there will be internet and phone communications as long as BPL signal is up, and if lines or the signal are down, then ham can cut in.

Ham radio is not only for emergency use. It is primarily a hobby (note: hobby as in volunteer); albeit one that promotes technology, expertise and the ability to provide emergency communications in those times when other communications infrastructures falter or fail.

Hams enjoy their hobby for uncountable reasons but some the most important reasons stem from the freedom and capability of talking to people in other places outside of their own state or country. The High-Frequency (HF) segment of the radio spectrum is where hams have the ability to talk betond line-of-sight for any distance beyond a few miles.

When there is no emergency, hams experiment and practice their art through drills and simulations of various disasters. Also hams encourage goodwill and promotion of knowledge of others through casual world-wide communications.

If we hams are only "allowed" to communicate during an emergency when other communication infrastructures are down, then I can just about guarantee that there will be few, if any, hams there to provide critical and vital communications.

Suppose you could only use your coding skills or perhaps even your computer altogether unless there is an emergency? How well could you jump into the fray and perform efficiently? If you absolutely could not type a line of code unless and until an emergency comes along, how fresh in your mind would be the code and procedures? If you could only use it (voluntarily) would you even spend the time and money building or acquiring the equipment?

During non-emergeny times, hams practice (whether they think about it as such or not) their skills and procedures. They enhance their operating skills and usually improve their equipment and performance.

I am a ham. I regularly talk to people in other countries via the HF segmant of the RF spectrum. That is the main spectrum segment that is threatened by the majority of BPL offerings. If BPL eliminates the use of this segment of the RF spectrum then I, like many, many others, will have no reason to maintain my HF equipment, keep in practice or even spend the money and time to buy or build or improve HF-capable radios or antennas. The emergency needs of the community will have to be provided and paid for by some one else; like government--meaning you--through taxes.

Enjoy. nn5ks TX USA