- Today on Ham Radio Q&A, it's a topic
that's not without controversy
but maybe it is an answer
to why our local repeaters
are so quiet, and what
we can do to fix it.
Please keep watching for more.
(upbeat motivating music)
Hi, I'm Michael KB9VBR,
your host for Ham Radio Q&A.
I'm on a mission to inspire and educate
the amateur radio community, so if this
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Well this is a common question asked
by hams, new and experienced
alike, where is everybody?
When you turn on the
local 2-meter repeater,
more often than not, it's
nothing but crickets.
I'm sure you can relay past experiences
and stories about how the repeaters
were busy 24/7, that there would always
be someone on and willing to talk.
But nowadays, it seems like
it's just the opposite.
Well why is this?
Well I'm gonna explore this topic
a little bit and give my opinion
to why we don't hear the activity
that we once used to.
Of course, one easy
response to this question
is that it's the internet and smartphones,
they're all killing repeaters.
Why should I carry a
radio when I can just use
my phone to text my
spouse, significant other,
kids, or friends?
It's so much more
convenient, and I don't have
to worry about the peanut
gallery chiming in.
But I think that's only part of the story.
Yes, I'll admit, I probably message
my ham buddies more than I talk
to them over the air, and this may not
be a good thing overall
as it dilutes the advocacy
of the amateur radio service.
Maybe it's because everyone is upgrading
and spending more of
their time on HF and less
on VHF and UHF.
It would be great if that were the case,
and there is certainly evidence
of increased HF activity,
but I don't think anyone
is talking local on HF,
at least I know I'm not talking
to my local ham buddies on 80 meters.
I'm going to contend that the reason
we don't hear more hams
on the local repeaters
is the increased
fragmentation of the airwaves.
There's a geopolitical
term called Balkanization
that describes this.
Balkanize, to break up
a region, group, etc.
into smaller and often hostile units.
Or, divide or compartmentalize, such as,
now pop culture has been Balkanized,
it is full of niches with
different groups watching
and playing their own things.
Well that second
definition aptly describes
what's going on here.
But for a little bit of context,
the word Balkanize comes from
the word Balkan Peninsula,
a mountain range which
stretches through Bulgaria
and Serbia to the Black Sea.
This region, which included the countries
Albania, Greece, and
Romania, and part of Turkey,
fractured during a
series of revolts towards
the end of the Ottoman Empire.
This unstable coexistence led
to the breakout of World War I.
Since that time, the
word Balkanize has come
to refer to the kind of divisive action
that can weaken countries,
groups, and other things.
So often, we hear the word Balkanize
thrown into the discussion on wedge issues
that divide us apart.
But how does this apply to ham radio?
Well I think it manifests
itself in the 2-meter landscape
of FM repeaters.
When repeaters were a new item,
we may have had one or two in a community
and they were constantly busy.
As time went buy, systems were built out,
and people became entrenched
on one particular system or repeater.
That's okay, because everything back then
was analog and we all put our radios
in scan and listened to whatever
was active at that moment.
And then along came
digital, and we started
to see the silos erected.
First it was the analog people
that couldn't talk to the digital people,
and now it's, now with
several digital modes
competing, nobody really
can talk to anybody.
Icom's not compatible with the Yaesu,
nor DMR compatible with P25.
We've all walled ourselves in.
Now I floated this concept
in the DMR presentation
I did last month, and I
had one commenter feel
that what is happening
is more like tribalism than Balkanism.
And I can see an argument for that.
But I believe the key difference
as tribes have a strong loyalty
to their group, much to the
detriment of another group.
I think the best way to describe this
is that tribalism grows
from the ground up.
Tribes are formed and rally
around their tribe or ideal.
Balkanization is a top-down fragmentation.
Unified groups are splintered
into smaller and smaller niches.
Of course these niches can
lead to tribes forming out
of those splinters, and I know
that there are factions
within the digital realm
that believe their mode is the best,
and all others should be eliminated.
That top-down fragmentation
better explains
where we got to where we are today.
Okay, I'm not gonna say that digital
is a bad thing, because it isn't.
I enjoy digital modes and own several
different digital radios.
But we have come to a point where
the sum of the parts is no
longer greater than the whole.
So what do we do to fix this?
Well I don't think there's one easy answer
to solve the problem
with VHF/UHF repeaters.
But I do have a few ideas.
Now first, embrace the dominant mode.
Well this is probably the toughest
as it requires making choices.
But look at the available
resources in your community
and select the one that's most active.
Is it the DSTAR repeater
is the most active,
then go with DSTAR.
DMR popular in your community?
Well then get a DMR radio.
I hate picking winners and losers,
but this might be what it takes
to grow a community on a repeater.
Next, build bridges.
Digital hotspots are great, as they open
up vast communities of users through
their various talk groups and reflectors.
The newer hotspots can even cross mode
and hams have created bridged talk groups
so that users of disparate
digital modes can communicate.
But this voice over IP
solution doesn't make
our repeaters busier or draw
in over-the-air listeners.
But nonetheless, I'd
like to see more bridges
and cross links that help
encourage that communication.
Foster a community, well this
is an interesting strategy
that seems to be working in our area.
Our System Fusion repeater saw little
to no use, so one ham decided it would
be a perfect place to build a community.
He formed a breakfast
group that would meet
on the repeater and
then encourage activity.
Monthly breakfast meetings were then
a part social, part
educational, and it helped
other hams get on the air
with that digital mode.
The best part was that it wasn't listed,
it wasn't limited to
just System Fusion users,
as everyone was invited,
and anyone could take
part of the activities.
Maybe spend more time on analog.
Like I said, digital is great,
but sometimes you need to default
to the lowest common denominator,
and that would be analog.
Listen to the analog channels throughout
your call sign and be prepared
to strike up a conversation over the air,
which brings me to my last
point, just be more plain
active on the air.
Be it analog or digital,
System Fusion, DSTAR or DMR,
get on the air and make some noise,
the amateur radio service is a vast hobby
with so many opportunities.
So let's not forget our
local ham radio community,
and get on the air and
talk to your friends.
Let's blow the cobwebs
out of those repeaters
and put them to work.
There was a common saying in ham radio
that you need to use it
or you just might lose it.
There's a near-constant threat
of bandwidth being taken
away, be it the FCC
or the owner of a tower site.
It is easier to justify the existence
of a repeater if it is
part of an active community
and provides a demonstrable service.
So what are your ideas of creating
a more open and inclusive communities
on the VHF and UHF bands?
I'd love to hear them.
Please leave them in the comments below
and I'll pick out some of the best,
and for my next Your
Questions Answered video.
Well for more articles and information,
be sure to check out my blog
at www.jpole-antenna.com.
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Well I'm Michael, KB9VBR,
have a great day, and 73.
(upbeat motivating music)
