Well, it looks like the time change idea is a non-starter so let's forget that. I can, indeed, hear those guys, if they are transmitting. I have no trouble hearing the whiner when he comes up ib 3,952. So I guess that means I now have to start going to 3.950 and asking if THAT frequency is in use as well. I fully agree with the point that we all have VFO's. I've made it myself a number of times in the past. Mine hasn't froze up yet, either. I can make the moves, it's just a question of how many follow me. You can't make everybody happy and I'm about finished with trying.
Maybe this is a good time to get something else out there. I've thought that the NTS and traffic handling are worth preserving for quite a while now. I've done my best to do so. This is not, however, my only interest or activity. I have several others. I try to make most of the nets but making all of them will just never happen. It does make for a little extra effort in being on the air on time (usually early) but so far it hasn't been an insurmountable bother. Guess what? When I have to miss a net anymore it's actually starting to feel pretty good. I take that as a bad sign.
We may be chasing after something that cannot be caught Here are some other things that trouble me:
Participation is down.
Traffic is down.
Outlets are really difficult to find.
Liaisons are difficult to find.
The same few people account for most of what is accomplished.
We're having to deal with more obnoxious behavior everywhere
People can't make the net on time. Maybe we have to spot them that if they make it at all (see above).
Participants show up and don't even know for sure what traffic they have to list. We waste time getting that sorted out.
Proper procedure is not followed even though it is readily available for reference and has been proven to be a help under difficult conditions.
There are probably a few more but these make the top of the list. As Net Manager I guess I'm responsible for correcting this. I have tried but haven't gotten too far when I did. One thing that did not/does not help is poor conditions that make it quite an accomplishment to even call a net and move some traffic much less hold a tutorial.
I've had the MACS net since December of 2012 and MITN since January 2014. It may be that I'm reaching the limit of my shelf life. I'll let you know when it happens.
73,
Mike WB8TQZ
On Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 at 9:12 AM, John Tallman via <kb8pgw=
[email protected]> wrote:
About a dozen or so nets I got on 3950 about 20 minutes before the net- here are my observations.
I have heard the raucous noise they complain about when you call the net- and they really are having an ongoing qso.? The splatter from above covers them up completely.
The general comments- "the idiots are back again.."??
When you call "is the frequency in use?" on 3952, all they hear is something that resembles a loud thunder.? No amount of filtering or i.f shift cleans it up. I've tried.? By the time somebody comes up to complain on 3952- you're half way through the net.?
I heard ZCM just fly off the handle and engage them then with obscenities.. when the guy had a LEGITIMATE complaint.
You say that you cannot hear them.? I can.? Very well.? Maybe I have a better antenna.. I don't know.??
In my opinion- we've made an enemy.? They will now engage you with your behavior.? Mark called up higher on the band to avoid this the other day- there was incessant tuning up when I tried to pass traffic.? I wonder where that was from..
I think that you have them so angry that they will chase you up and down the band to deliver paybacks.?
This kind of infighting among hams, obscenities, bad behavior.. is what kept me away from the microphone for a very long time.? I don't need this kind of drama.??
I think that it is too late to make peace with these guys- you have one of the callsigns- maybe it is worth a try?
If not, go ahead and fight it out among yourselves.? I cannot participate with the MACS net under current circumstances.? I'll just deliver DTN traffic myself if I have to.
KB8PGW
