Truly, I've not monitored much for quite some time. But in this area, much of the positive and interesting activity that has been mentioned used to be regularly and intentionally interfered with (jammed) to the point of uselessness by illegal operators. Sadly, some of this activity was even generated by advanced class licensees themselves. The FCC enforcement reports used to be full of it. I hope that this has burned itself out. Ham radio was once a highlight of my life, and I hope people can still get some of the charge out of it that I used to.