An unusual band opening on 2 meters allowed for FM contacts to be made on simplex and repeaters further than two hundred miles away late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning (16-17 November 2016). 

The ARRL sent a mass email soliciting member support and action to encourage elected representatives to vote in favor of the Amateur Radio Parity Act.  The league has made it easy by pre-loading a form on a website where members can type in their information, and an email is sent to the appropriate representatives.

You can help, too!  Go to: https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-us-senate-to-pass-amateur-radio-parity-act

I went to the link and followed the instructions with a small twist...

A petition submitted to the Federal Communications Commission suggests limiting a vanity call sign grant to the duration of the amateur radio license.  

Occasionally, we hear them on the air... the 'lids' or 'trolls' or otherwise just sorry hams.  I like to think that most of the time it's a non-ham who has an illegal radio.

I can't imagine how or why anybody with a ham radio license would want to bring discredit to the hobby.  The first lesson every ham should learn is what's in the very first part of Part 97!

Do you enjoy using the Freedom Link or NCTC linked repeater systems?  Prepare to be insulted!