Why I Don't Like Repeaters, IRLP or Echolink

                        
                            Feb. 2008
                          
                            Why I Don't Like Repeaters, IRLP or Echolink
                          
                          I don't repeaters, IRLP or Echolink because I get the most enjoyment out of a contact when it occurs between my antenna and the other station's antenna. 
                        
                          If there's a "helping hand" between my station and the other station, then it's just not a contact to me. Also, while I'm not necessarily a QRP operator anymore, I don't use amplifiers. I view repeaters as external amplifiers. So, even if I were to make a contact through a repeater using only 1 watt output on my radio, I have effectively used an amplifier and the contact was "assisted". But, that's just my personal way of looking at things.
                        
                          To me, using a repeater to talk to someone in the same city is like getting out of bed in the morning and getting into a wheelchair even though there's nothing wrong with your legs. Repeaters, IRLP and Echolink offer that "instant on", works-every-time effect, sort of like a cell phone. Where's the challenge in that type of contact? I know, a lot of hams aren't interested in a challenge, all they want is that Amateur Radio Cell Phone Network to be up and running for the commutes to and from work… until they "destinate".
                        
                          Anyone can talk over the Internet without an Amateur Radio license anyway. Why should I get on there using my call sign and act like I'm accomplishing something technologically interesting to me. I know, not everyone can talk over the Internet while traveling down the highway in their car. True, but I'm not getting into that wheelchair as long as my legs are working.
                        
                          Having said all that, I really think Echolink, IRLP and repeaters are neat "gadgets" that should be enjoyed by all who like such things. Any and all Amateur Radio operators have as much right to enjoy these things as I have not to enjoy them. The above rant simply outlines why I don't enjoy them.
                        
                          My home town of Wichita Falls, Texas covers about 70 square miles. That's not very big area and certainly no challenge for effective 2-meter FM simplex coverage. This is especially true when communicating from one fixed station to another. 
                        
                          There is a small town by the name of Burkburnett about 10 miles to the north. Another town, Iowa Park, lies about 10 miles to the west. Both of these cities are well within the effective range of low-powered 2-meter FM communications. Not too long ago I used my Yaesu FT 1802M set on 5 watts and working into a Ringo Ranger II with the base just 10 feet off of the ground to work a mobile station on the southern edge of Burkburnett. 
                        
                          I would have had no trouble working him anywhere around Wichita Falls. If I raise the antenna back up another 20 feet where it was, then I'm just as effective within this 3-city area as any local repeater. So, since I don't need local repeaters, I don't use them.
                        
                          Now, you might ask what I would do if I wanted to talk into the Dallas - Ft. Worth area which is about 120 miles to the south. My answer is that since I can't effectively work that area using simplex, I would use HF. I would not use a "linked" repeater systems. The second part of that answer is that I have yet to feel this "burning" need to talk to someone in the Dallas - Ft. Worth area on simplex.
                        
                          Then there's this hourly repeater ID virus that seems to have infected machines nationwide. You know what I mean. Every hour the local repeaters begin their serenade with "This is the WWW5XYZ Repeater, The Time Is XXXX". Thirty seconds later here comes another one. Twenty seconds later, yet another one. Actually, the repeater ID'ing over a month probably constitutes more traffic than regular QSOs around here.
                        
                          I used to listen to repeaters for Amateur Radio operators passing through town who might need assistance. If they needed assistance from me after 10PM they were out of luck because I had to shut down the radio in order to get some sleep. 
                        
                          Now, I'm just tired of hearing them so I've locked them out of the scan altogether. Call me on 146.520 MHz if you need help. I'm usually listening there, fixed or mobile.
                        
                          In an emergency, any and all "helping hands" should be utilized. However, emergencies just aren't that frequent. And besides, any emergency involving only the small city of Wichita Falls can easily be handled using 2-meter FM simplex anyway.
                        
                          73,
                        
                          WF5TX