[amsat-bb] Re: Amsat-BB

[Jim Danehy]

The ham population in the USA is ~ 800,000 + . Those figures are taken from 
the Federal Communications Commission data. Some years back the FCC went to 
a 10 year license. If someone decides to drop out it might be a number of 
years before their license would expire. Of course you do not write the FCC 
and turn in your ticket. The above of course is only an American view of the 
ham  population. I used to operate a lot of 7 mhz CW. Now it is difficult to 
get a QSO during the daylight hours. At night when the propagation is longer 
you can find a QSO but not many. A lot has to do with the level of sunspot 
activity too. But to say : " the ham ranks are way bigger" is, in my opinion 
not accurate from an American view point. You might think that the codeless 
license would have made a big difference. It did not. I often kid some of my 
friends with the statement that there are only two modes : CB and CW. Of 
course CW is the oldest digital mode. I believe that the USA ham ranks 
peaked about a decade or two ago.

Jim W9VNE
on the air since 1952


>> now!!!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Simon Brown (HB9DRV)" <simon at hb9drv.ch>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:58 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Amsat-BB


> From: "Jeff Moore" <tnetcenter at gmail.com>
>
>>
>> 2.  Compared to 10, 20, and 30 years ago, the ham ranks are way bigger
>> now!!!
>>
>
> And older - much older. Older means richer, just look at the radios we're 
> buying and stations we're building these days.
>
> Anyway, it would take one wealthy Ham to leave his estate to AMSAT DL to 
> be used to launch P3E in his memory. Any volunteers on the list?
>
> Simon 'Not Dead Yet' HB9DRV
>
>