----- Original Message ----- From: "Nate Duehr" Subject: [OT] RACES/Ham Radio (was: Re: [OT] New Orleans) > RACES is all but dead. It is not possible to get a new RACES license in > the U.S. and hasn't been possible for some time. If one is accidentally > allowed to expire, it's gone forever. The ARRL is working to kill RACES, but depending on where you are, it's not going quietly. The lack of a RACES license isn't much of a problem. State RACES officials can authorize operation on RACES frequencies when needed. > ARES is the newer, generally better, replacement.. if that's the right > word. I'm sure the RACES guys don't want to be "replaced". Sigh... Some would view ARES as a "better" replacement, but that is not generally true of the served agencies, especially state and local government agencies. RACES is more tightly controlled by the state government, which is why governments like it, and the League does not. > Dave's comments really lead to a different problem... the average age of > Amateur Radio operators is slowly going up. This is a problem. And it especially a problem if you consider emergency response under physically demanding conditions such as NO. > Right now I try to bridge the gap (I'm a 30-something) between the > groups... convince the younger guys to settle down a bit... convince the > elder hams to get on that repeater and elmer the new guys a bit... it's > kinda fun. Our local club could use some of you. We have a few kids ... under-20 types, then a lone 40 year old, then after that it's all 50 plus. > My choice? More systems, more coverage, everything with real emergency > power backup, and lots of linking capability to hook the systems > together in case of REAL emergency communications need. Just the other day I had to pass some welfare traffic into Louisiana. I managed to get into 5RN but the La rep had already left. Our 8RN nets are real tough this time of year. I could have waited until the section nets in the evening, but then it would have been another day at least to get to 8RN, and probably another day or two to get into Louisiana. I finally managed to get the traffic out over Echolink. As communicators, we need to be open to ALL technologies. These young kids bring us those skills. I would much rather it had gone out on a CW net (my personal favorite), but in my mind, getting the traffic through was much more important than whether somebody or another thought it was "real ham radio". 72/73 de WB8RCR http://www.qsl.net/wb8rcr didileydadidah QRP-L #1446 Code Warriors #35 -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist