More listening than operating?

Those who remember Professor Julius Summer Miller will recall his trademark saying "why is it so?"

For two decades up until 1986, a series of television programs featured this Californian Professor of Physics.

His saying "why is it so?" can be applied today to query the lack of QSOs occurring despite many radio amateurs being in their shacks or mobile.

On last week's WIA broadcast, Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW said that an analysis of the broadcast callback statistics in VK7 had revealed, that the dropping of the code requirement has resulted in an increase in the usage of HF, for at least the callbacks.

There had been a doubling of the number of HF callback stations in VK7, but as Justin VK7TW observes, this has not resulted in an increase in Tasmania, of overall HF activity.

In other areas, there appears to be plenty of stations taking part in the broadcast callbacks on local repeaters, which at most other times remain silent.

Why is it so?

Another example is the 40 metre band along Australia's eastern seaboard in the afternoon drive time and pre-dinner period.

The Newbridge Radio Group runs a very successful net on 7085 which tops at some 36 stations logging in, with many more on the side listening.

Tune up and down 40 metres at the same time, and it is difficult to find any other QSO in progress. The band is open, the net proves it.

Why is it so?

The WIA Welcome to HF QSO Party on January the 1st 2004, also piqued band activity, but, has it been short-lived?

Jim Linton VK3PC

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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