[higgmeister]

I know I am going to get yelled at by the hammers for saying this, but this elite organization and the FCC should consider opening up a few of the “long range” frequencies for general public use. It’s time, the public being limited to just a couple short range frequencies like CB and FRS and having all the long range frequencies restricted to a good old boys club is not quite fair to the general public.

Actually, it doesn't really work that way. Google HF radio. The only "long range" of HF is due to the very unpredictable and uncontrollable "skip" as the signal bounces from the earth to the changing layers of the ionosphere. It is called "Shortwave" for a reason after all. That isn't "Longwave" It is also so subject to atmospherics that it is only usable to aficionados who know how to make it work for them. Watch an old movie from the 1930's to the 1950's and see how hard it was to stay in contact with the other guy. It is really like that.

HF radio

[Openurmind]

I know how it works, been in it for years. Some frequencies just carry farther than others across distances, and these are all locked up from public use. These frequencies along with TX power output advantages are only being afforded to the good old boy club and not to the general public.

[Openurmind]

Just a thin slice of a good band is all.

[_Jim]

re: “ The only “long range” of HF is due to the very unpredictable and uncontrollable “skip” as the signal bounces from the earth to the changing layers of the ionosphere. It is called “Shortwave” for a reason after all.”

I can tell you’ve never actually worked 160 meters ... 160 meters is a MEDIUM WAVE band with DIFFERENT characteristics from freqs above 3 MHz ...