Amusing Post from another Forum about ham radio

[W7KKK]

I found this post in response to a post about whether to use CB, FRS, GMRS or Ham Radio for communications on an RV forum.
I thought you might enjoy this idiot and what he had to say.

"FRS would be the way to go. The ham band is line of sight also and very expensive...license is no charge. You would probably have a 5 watt HT with a range very close to the FRS. For less than $60 you're on the air vs. perhaps $600 for the 2 meter sets. If you're looking at a vehicle install you could go with the 50 watt HT and get up to maybe 15 miles line of sight...but again very expensive plus passing the FCC exam."

I added my responses about only line of sight. (I assume he never heard of a repeater)
I queried him about a 50 watt HT!, the license being free and the $600 for a two meter rig.
Idiots are everywhere.

[N2RJ]

Why encourage them? They're only interested in utility communications. Don't force them to be hams.

That's how we got in to this WinLid mess in the first place - the whole "utility ham" concept.

[W7KKK]

I just hate to see such bad information out there about us and this hobby.
I could not resist correcting the poster.

[WA6MHZ]

A 50 WATT HT?????? Now I remember the BRICKS of the 70s but imagine what a HT that would do 50 watts would take! More like a Suitcase!!
Or a backpack at best.

[KU0DM]

I would've just sat their and smiled.

They were making points why not to use ham radio, and they seem like people we don't want free banding.

I agree, FRS is way better.

[KC9JIQ]

Why encourage them? They're only interested in utility communications. Don't force them to be hams.

That's how we got in to this WinLid mess in the first place - the whole "utility ham" concept.

My, my, such hatred! You conveiniently forgot the emcom folks.

[W7KKK]

Hey, I just found out he is a currently licensed Extra and has been since before 1991 anyway.
I think he is either out of touch with reality or trying to discourage someone from getting into ham radio.

[N2RJ]

My, my, such hatred! You conveiniently forgot the emcom folks.

We could do without some of the emcomm folks as well.

Mostly employees who get ham radio licenses strictly for emergency communications, can't even remember their callsigns or don't even know how to use the radios.

There are commercial radios for that purpose.

[KD8HMO]

Whats wrong with using 2m for traveling if they get their licenses? Most of the 2m repeaters in the US are pretty much dead anyhow...

[W5HTW]

We could do without some of the emcomm folks as well.

Mostly employees who get ham radio licenses strictly for emergency communications, can't even remember their callsigns or don't even know how to use the radios.

There are commercial radios for that purpose.

We could get rid of about 94.663 percent of the EMCOM types, and no one would miss them. We could ditch the cops and firemen and medics who get ham licenses because their EM told them to.

I do not encourage anyone anywhere to enter amateur radio unless they can demonstrate an INTEREST in amateur radio. Cuts out most of them today, it seems.

Ed