Well, of course with the rise of smartphones and such, amateur repeaters face competition. But we have some advantages:
(1) Group round-table conversations, not possible on smartphones, I think -- but then, what do I know? I've never used a smartphone.
(2) On ham radio, we get to talk with strangers. On a smartphone, or any phone, if you're talking with a stranger, he's trying to sell you a product or a candidate, or maybe scamming you.
(3) After an initial outlay, ham radio can be free unless your transmitter is big enough to affect the power bill. Mine isn't, any more; it once was, about 40 or 50 years ago when I'd been a ham for only a couple decades or so.
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-- Carl
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