The AM Forum

THE AM BULLETIN BOARD => QSO => Topic started by: KX5JT on January 04, 2011, 06:58:15 AM



Title: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 04, 2011, 06:58:15 AM
I created an Amateur Radio AM community site for facebook.  It's there to promote the AM mode to other hams.  I know that I have many ham radio "friends" on facebook that might not be exposed to the AM stuff otherwise.

If you're a facebook user, please consider joining and liking this page and looking around.  If you are not a facebook user, you can still access some of the stuff there.  Be sure to look at the "Wall".

It's not a competition, it's just a place for AM on Facebook and should compliment this site and Steve's AMwindow site with links to them.  Any other internet resources / links /videos /photos /information is certainly welcome there.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amateur-Radio-AM-mode/167171563328186 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amateur-Radio-AM-mode/167171563328186)

Enjoy.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: flintstone mop on January 04, 2011, 09:01:24 AM
How would we behave in an UNmoderated environment??
Is it tech talk, or we just show pics of us and our stations and who has the biggest MAUL????

I'll check it out
Fred


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 04, 2011, 09:15:07 AM
At this point it is an experiment.  Obviously Facebook has a LOT of people and a lot of hams.  Let's try to make our AM community attractive and maybe we'll bring some good people into the fold.  At the very least it's something to "like".  8)


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KL7OF on January 04, 2011, 09:22:04 AM
no, thank you


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 04, 2011, 10:25:50 AM
Steve, it's not for everyone I suppose.  But if you are someone with a facebook account, then it's a nice gesture to support with a "like".  It's gaining fans already and I see someone has posted a picture of their station!  Exactly what I was hoping for.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KL7OF on January 04, 2011, 01:15:56 PM
I believe facebook is evil....


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KB2WIG on January 04, 2011, 01:17:55 PM
  '  I believe facebook is evil.... "


I'm very warry of joining a group that would have me as a member.


klc


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W2PFY on January 04, 2011, 01:38:54 PM
I am a member of FaceLook. I was dragged in kicking and biting all the way.

One of the things I thought was amusing was that other hams wanted me to be their friend on FaceLook? I couldn't understand why they wanted to be my friend when we don't Email one-another, we don't talk on the phone and seldom talk on the air? Now don't get me wrong, I like most who wanted to be my friend but I still wonder why or what they would have to talk to me about? I guess I'll never know.

 Well anyhow, if it makes you feel good and no one is injured in the process, why not go for your adventure but I'll not be joining, at least not yet ;D ;D


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W9GT on January 04, 2011, 01:48:24 PM
Facebook is addictive.  It is really a great tool for reconnecting with old friends, classmates and family.  I don't know if it is a needed or necessarily correct venue for radio amateurs because we have so many other outlets, including AM fone.  I, however, think that it is fine if you want to participate.  Any way we can get the word out and reach young potential radio amateurs has to be a good thing.  Certainly a lot of kids hang out on FB. As far as specialties within amateur radio....again we have many other ways to get together, but whatever works.

Enjoy!!

73,  Jack, W9GT


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: w3jn on January 04, 2011, 01:54:03 PM
How would we behave in an UNmoderated environment??
Is it tech talk, or we just show pics of us and our stations and who has the biggest MAUL????

I'll check it out
Fred

You know Fred I have been thinking for a very long time that I might create an AM Forum on my AM Forever site as well. I have unlimited bandwidth and storage, etc. Videos could also be posted.

I think having an unmoderated environment would be great. It could just be set it up to where is would scan and remove certain bads words and links etc. automatically. That way people could say what they want without have any political opposition and that would be very refreshing for once. More power to the unmoderated Facebook idea!

We've been there and done that.  Some of you might remember the late and unlamented AMInquirer section of AMFone.  It attracted people whose only interest in the site was to troll and engage in political arguments.  It spawned at least two short-lived separate forums, which attracted the same set of troublemakers.  Long-standing friendships were lost; hence, the rules of the road we have now.

Brian, if you have issues with the moderation policies here you need to address them directly with me via PM or email.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: K1JJ on January 04, 2011, 03:06:54 PM
Unmoderated forums can be like the wild west. After awhile the bullies take over, the "good guys" finally give up devoting time to defending themselves and the remaining lurkers become too afraid to post. The climax is when people start threatening to sue each other for libel... ;D

Sure, they can work, but the several ham radio forum examples I've seen so far were stressful places to be...

A certain minimum level of moderation is a good thang for everyone.

That said, maybe Facebook could be a good media to showcase AM. It's worth a try.

T


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KB5MD on January 04, 2011, 03:19:58 PM
Yeah, my 20 year old grandson said he was bored on Facebook.  I told him to try getting out and find a job so he wouldn't be so bored.  Now my daughters won't speak to me. Go figure! ::) ::)


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: k4kyv on January 04, 2011, 04:04:37 PM
I think having an unmoderated environment would be great. It could just be set it up to where is would scan and remove certain bads words and links etc. automatically. That way people could say what they want without have any political opposition and that would be very refreshing for once. More power to the unmoderated Facebook idea!

We've been there and done that.  Some of you might remember the late and unlamented AMInquirer section of AMFone.  It attracted people whose only interest in the site was to troll and engage in political arguments.  It spawned at least two short-lived separate forums, which attracted the same set of troublemakers.  Long-standing friendships were lost; hence, the rules of the road we have now.

Brian, if you have issues with the moderation policies here you need to address them directly with me via PM or email.

But things can go too far the other way.  Like that other site we are all famaliar with, that has a "ragchew" forum similar to the QSO forum here.  They are so paranoid that something might turn political, or that someone might start a flame war, that as soon as the least bit of controversy shows up in a thread, it gets locked or deleted altogether.  The result is that the whole thing has become boring and for the most part, pointless.  I rarely post anything there any more.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W1RKW on January 04, 2011, 04:23:49 PM
Nice idea but not for me sorry to say. I'm happy with AMFone. I don't think anything can beat it.

Family members urged my wife and I to sign onto Facebook so we did. It lasted about 2 weeks. Then I was asked to sign up for LinkedIn by  a coworker which is similar to Facebook but more oriented to jobs and so forth.  I did that briefly as well then after thinking about the nature of my job I pulled the plug on it. I figured a resourceful and unscrupulous type could cause problems so no for me.  I suppose I should change my username (not use callsign) to something more innocuous if to remain as private as possible on the net. I thought about doing that here.  Still contemplating.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: K1JJ on January 04, 2011, 04:37:01 PM
Unmoderated forums can be like the wild west. After awhile the bullies take over, the "good guys" finally give up devoting time to defending themselves and the remaining lurkers become too afraid to post. The climax is when people start threatening to sue each other for libel... ;D

T

Ya just gotta have thick skin ;D  If you cant take the heat then get out of the fire, am I right?

The problem is that the more timid posters (and there are a lot of them on any forum) start dropping out and we lose their input completely. Many times the aggressive folks have little substance and the quiet ones are the real thinkers - esp in engineering.

T


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: WBear2GCR on January 04, 2011, 05:36:18 PM

Facebook is not unmoderated, and the people or person(s) who set up the group page can delete posts...

Fwiw.

                   _-_-bear

PS. Imo it's not that different than what we do here, except that everything goes away faster and less exposition on a topic is possible (limit on the number of chars you can post...)



Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 05, 2011, 08:44:47 PM
I'd like to thank all the facebook users that have come in and supported the Amateur radio AM mode community page with a "like".  

The idea came about after my place of employment sent me to a "social networking for business" class.  It seems facebook is being used by millions now and it is a great tool for business, hobbies and organizations.  The class talked about tying into other websites and services, so why not use facebook to do that for our great A.M. community.  After realizing how many ham radio people have become part of my social network it seems like a no brainer to have a page about AM operations for those that might wanna know more.  It's certainly a place where the average user can see related media very easily since it's built into the environment.  Some users have already started posting station photos and small video clips of AM in action.  My hope is to funnel those with new interest in AM over to this forum and to the other A.M. sites out there.  It's really a great *networking* tool.

The facebook page is moderated.  Posts can be deleted by the admins.  It's not so much about discussion forums however, because we have that here.  It's more a place where people can post media, events and links and other stuff to showcase what we do as AM operators. 

John


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: Steve - K4HX on January 05, 2011, 08:54:41 PM
Thanks for getting the word out and spreading the net (no pun intended) wider. Great idea!


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W1UJR on January 05, 2011, 09:29:00 PM
Great idea!
Just "liked"!


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KE6DF on January 06, 2011, 11:41:28 AM
I think an AM facebook page is a good idea. Anyone who doesn't like the idea can ignore it.

Facebook takes a while for some of us to "get".

I created my face book page a couple years ago.

Within about 10 minutes I had a post by the computer engineer son of one of my college friends saying "aren't you too old to be using facebook".

I'm 61, and now, a couple years later, I'm finding more and more of our friends of similar ages on facebook also.

So it takes a while for us "old" guys to find uses for something that was started by college age kids for other college age kids.

BTW, most businesses have facebook presences now days.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KF1Z on January 06, 2011, 12:21:28 PM
The last AM facebook page went away due to lack of interest... I assume...
Had "liked" it...  but now it's no longer there..

Who knows....


Been said before.... if you don't like facebook... don't use it...



Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 06, 2011, 11:02:32 PM
Well it's not something setup to just "go away".  It's simply a place to archive and showcase.  Sure, at first people will add more stuff to it, as in station photos and videos.  It's also the job of the admin of the page to keep things going and add more content.  I'll try to do that but of course it all depends on the fans themselves adding stuff and supporting the page.  We have 41 fans already and a few have already started utilizing the possibilities.  For instance, Bruce, W1UJR has posted and linked to his iPod streams and quicktime videos.  I have enjoyed that and I'm certain others have and will.  I've linked some of the classic AM videos out there on youtube.  It's nice to have a place with them all linked where one can sit and watch through quite a few of them.

Those who care to use it will likely enjoy it very much.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W1RC on January 07, 2011, 04:51:33 AM
I think maintaining a AM presence on FACEBOOK is okay but as far as I am concerned AMFONE is only place on the Web I will visit for information and an exchange of ideas due to serious time constraints.  It's kinda like "one-stop" shopping.

Thanks Steve, Todd, Johnny et al for "carrying on the Grand Tradition!"



Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W1UJR on January 07, 2011, 05:45:07 PM
I think I still have that website backed up onto a safe and secure floppy disc...re, hard drive.

Ah, the 1990s, the cutting edge of internet ugly!
Lots of colors, shapes, fonts, and odd animated images!

I kept the "AM Glossary" but out of a sense of politeness moved it to a "hidden" spot on
the W1UJR page....http://www.w1ujr.net/glossary.htm


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 07, 2011, 10:19:59 PM
Darnit Brian!  I kept trying to click on the posts in the pic.  8)


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W2PFY on January 09, 2011, 01:58:51 PM
Quote
The other side of the coin is forums that are over moderated. These tend to reach a peak and then slowly wither and die. The key is to find a balance somewhere between the two extremes. My gut feeling is this is easier said than done.

I think this one has been fined tuned and will be around for a long time. It's just an OK FINE bunch of guys in here now . I say FB to our fearless leaders ;) ;)



Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KC2ZFA on January 09, 2011, 02:48:32 PM
I think this one has been fined tuned and will be around for a long time. It's just an OK FINE bunch of guys in here now . I say FB to our fearless leaders ;) ;)

I fully agree. And I have to say that what distinguishes AMFone is the willingness of
the mods to disappear threads that show clear signs they're going to degenerate.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: W1UJR on January 09, 2011, 06:52:48 PM
Well it's not something setup to just "go away".  It's simply a place to archive and showcase.

Yes, that's exactly it, the Internet, like radio itself, evolves...the old gets pushed aside, the new, more functional comes on the scene, finds favor for a bit, then too takes it's own place at be back of the bus. Nothing wrong with that, it's just the natural order of things.

Some time ago, the AM Window was the focus, then came AM Fone, just wait, the next incarnation will be up around the corner. It's really not so important exactly what that new form is, but I rather think the key thing is to not just read and then discard information, but rather as John puts it, to "archive and showcase", allowing it to serve as a reference to those looking back. That is one thing I greatly appreciate about the AM Window, that Steve kept it up so we could all look back...

As one deeply interested in radio history, websites like the AM Window, AM Fone, and yes even the humble AM Buffalo have become the Radio News, Short Wave Craft and QST of our day. Like its paper counterparts, this electronic media is volatile, not so much by dust or damp, but rather by neglect. While our own individual archives may be far too disparate to effectively search 25, 30 or 50 years in the future, a mirror of the AM Window and AM Fone sites will not.

In due time AM Fone will too be eclipsed by the next greatest thing, it may be Facebook, or something we haven't even heard of yet...the only constant is change. The key thing, in this ham's view, is to archive the material, so even when the "next great thing" comes along, we can all look back on where we've been. That is going to be the great challenge for the current group entrusted with this page, they too will be replaced or move aside in due time, again the only constant - change, the prime challenge is to keep the fundamental knowledgebase we've created intact. I see AM Fone as a tremendous reference, a Encyclopedia of sorts, a brain trust for a specific slice of the amateur radio community, and each and every one of us is a stakeholder in that knowledgebase.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KD0HUX on January 11, 2011, 08:39:37 AM
ANOTHER WAY 2 KEEP THE AM MODE ALIVE ;D


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 17, 2011, 01:06:28 AM
Hi Brian.  As far as forums go, I always thought these here amfone.net forums are everything we need.  I love the stuff on your site, but I think most of the online AM community posts here.  It's established and well kept and has so much great techincal information already archived and continuously being added too.

What did you have in mind for another set of forums?  Maybe I'm missing something and it's focus would be something different that what is here?

The Facebook AM community is not really focused on discussion forums.  I don't think it's in anyway competing with this place.  It is there to showcase and highlight and expose others to AM.  The focus is more for collecting media and updating the community.  Facebook works well for media sharing.

Nevertheless, I'm going to go check it out and I'll let you know what I think.

That's my opinion and feedback and it's worth every penny you paid for it.

John


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KX5JT on January 17, 2011, 01:14:27 AM
Brian, I just went take a look.  I DO like the way you have a separate forum for each band.  That is a great idea.  Maybe another idea could be a forum for each brand/type of popular transmitter/receivers.  Like EF Johnson, Heathkit, Elmac, National, Knight, QRP, Flex... etc etc.

That's more of my feedback and worth every penny you paid for it.   8)

John


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KF1Z on January 17, 2011, 08:38:08 AM
Even the Class-E AM forum has "gone to the back of the bus"...

People just post their class-e stuff here now.

Just the way it is.


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KF1Z on January 17, 2011, 05:33:38 PM
Didn't say it would "go away.."...
MAybe it will flourish and be the next big thing!

Just saying that after a while, interests change, other "big things" come along...
People don't make as many posts...

That's all.....



Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: WD8BIL on January 18, 2011, 09:23:08 AM
Quote
I think you will discover in time the one I just created isn't going away

Unsinkable Titanic........ 1000 Year Richt ........ Gilligan's permanent glue........


Title: Re: AM community site for Facebook users
Post by: KB2WIG on January 18, 2011, 12:32:08 PM
" ........ Gilligan's permanent glue........ "


I thought it was Oscar and his dentist.


klc
AMfone - Dedicated to Amplitude Modulation on the Amateur Radio Bands