Lloyd,

cthompson is absolutely correct. There is a fair amount of the 2-6 MHz range available to amateur operators but the higher class licenses are required. I have very limited operating privileges in these HF bands as I have a Technician class license. At the time I got my license a written radio theory and operation exam and 5 WPM Morse Code exam were required. To get more privileges in these HF bands I would need to go to the next step General Class license at the least.

New operators can receive the same Technician class privileges now with only the written exam, no Morse Code. This is excellent for VHF but limited for HF. For me, VHF has worked well, but like you say once you are really "out there"; it is pretty quiet on VHF.

These rules were designed to make amateur operators responsible etc, but make it a pain to get your ticket so fewer and fewer people are doing so. With the proliferation of alternate easy-to-get communication tools I see a near death of the amateur service. Recent FCC changes to allow operators without code were designed to get more people involved who would then be so excited they would advance into the higher operating classes. I have not seen this happening. Our local VHF repeaters which were very busy 10 years ago are getting very quiet. It is not uncommon to find no one else on a system with very wide range coverage. This is making my original use for VHF less and less useful. Repeater operators are getting fewer contributions and are forced to reduce their services like phone patch and and remote transmitters.

I am a member of our local Auxiliary Communication Service which is an amateur service connected to the city of Seattle Emergency Response Center. Most of my colleagues are pushing 50+ years old, (Hey, so am I), and we are having trouble getting new younger members.