It's a rather interesting mix of SSB and AM stations which populate the phone band. Most of the AM stations have boxed themselves into a corner, operating on just a few channels around 3885 Khz, while most of the SSB operators have taken advantage of their license privliges, and can be heard anywhere between 3750 Khz and 4000 Khz.
It would appear that the AM folks are not taking full advantage of the frequency spectrum allowed to them. It's almost as if they feel that they must adhere to this limited frequency rule of operation or suffer the consequences.
The Buffalo Kilowatt Bookends for many years have felt that this one sided affair is wrong, and have made a practice of operating AM at the low end of the 75 meter phone band, usually between 3810 Khz and 3830 Khz, but not limited to these frequencies.
The idea, is to encourage and promote more AM activity across the entire 75 meter phone band, allowing the AM stations to take advantage of their license privileges, as do the SSB operators.
We are aware of the fact that in addition to The Bookends activity in the low end of the band, there is other AM activity around 3825 Khz. That's great, and it is a wonderful move in the right direction, but it doesn't have to stop there.
I'm sure that other stations, including some that now operate on 3825 Khz, could make the move down the band and spread out over a number of different frequencies. In addition, having more than four stations on one frequency at the same time, does not help promote the acceptance of AM across the band.
Operating on a variety of different frequencies, be it 75 meters or any other band, would help promote AM as a viable mode of operation, diminishing the idea that SSB is the only allowable mode that can operate anywhere in the phone band.
The Bookend Home Office has monitored a number of SSB conversations where the feeling toward AM is very negative. They think that most AM'ers are stupid for using such inefficent equipment, and that there should be new rules that would do away with the mode competely.
These are the same operators who think it is just fine to maliciously interfere with an AM QSO in an effort to discourage them from continuing to operate. They feel that AM is outdated, takes up too much room, and has no place on any of the amateur bands.
These are the same operators who use foul language, zero beat an AM station and make negative comments, and of course, without identifying themselves. A real bunch of gutless wonders.
There is only one way to dispel this attitude, and that is to spread out and take advantages of your license privileges. Perhaps this should be the prime resolution for all AM'ers in 2006.
Happy New Year!
