by "dieing", what I am talking about is the "reason" behind Amateur Radio. The #1 aspect was emergency communications after a storm, etc. That was the service to the community / and they were literally the forefront of every modern communication we have today.
Now most Police / Firefighters and EMS have the same or better equipment and in every vehicle. (Some still have inferior equipment, but using the same 2-6m bands we are in HAM)
Military certainly are beyond us now and so the National Guard, etc, really don't end up using HAM services any longer, etc. There is still a disconnect between military and local PD type communications but not stuff we helped with anyway.
The one service we do still provide is ways for CITIZENS to call out after a storm to let loved ones know that they are ok, etc. However based on some knowledge from folks surviving more recent Hurricaines, the cell folks had towers up and running within a day or two in most cases, etc. So the "queue" for users to use HAM services was not really that long, many of the volunteers ended up chatting with each other more than anything.
I said all of that to say this....Congress / FCC...really does not "see" HAM as a priority any longer. I was a member of AARL for several years and they were losing battle after battle over bandwidths getting closed (and SOLD by FCC to other carriers)
THAT is why I am afraid HAM is endangered...the "service" aspect has diminished, mostly due to the breakthroughs that WE created! Look at the HAM radio "sub-hobby" of packet communications if you want to see where I think we are still on the forefront.
With the "service" diminished, it is a MUCH harder fight to say why WE still need the large slices of bandwidth for our use. THUS the reason that despite the negative effect of Broadband over powerlines on our communications, Congress is basically allowing that to move fwd in a major way.
I would NOT read into any of this above as a warning or to "stay away" or anything else! Getting your Tech license is SUPER easy to do, gives you access to the 2 meter band which is where it is really useful for 4x4 activities.
I have a HANDHELD 5-6 watt 2m radio that I can talk to GREENSBORO repeater from the middle of Uwharrie. It easily talks to anyone there in the entire park by itself and it cost me less than $150.
I still keep it around since in an emergency anyone can operate a HAM radio to call out. It is good insurance if someone gets hurt and CB/FRS/cell coverage is so bad we cannot get a call out for help.
IF I was going to travel south of the border / Central / S. America I would not consider going withOUT HAM radio(s) with me! (Multiple) But there is also other devices such as SPOT that is probably even MORE reliable now?
SPOT SATELLITE MESSENGER :: HOME PAGE
I do agree there is lots of renewed interest in HAM recently, alot coming FROM 4x4, but I am still afraid they have the deck stacked against em.
Here is the one I decided to buy, I am not sure what frequency the "extra" 20 channels are but will be interesting to find out. There are 30 FRS/GRMS channels..
http://www.midlandradio.com/Two-Way-Radio.BS3/GXT900VP4
http://www.ba-marc.org/writeups/gmrs-frs-freq.htm
Sam