The Phantom Net: Yesterday and Today
A Journey Through Time
The Phantom Net was established in early 1992, a time when the advent of the No Code Tech License sparked a surge of young ham radio enthusiasts eager to get on the airwaves. The early ’90s witnessed a boom of new hams joining the community, but with this growth came challenges. Most of the 2-meter repeaters were jam-packed, and the acceptance of no codes (often referred to as “nose cones”) in the ham radio world was slower than anticipated.
Being primarily composed of ex-CBCers, it was inevitable that integrating with the tech-savvy newcomers would present difficulties. Many no codes lacked the necessary experience and common sense, leading to friction within the community. Looking back, it’s clear that while we were all a bit immature, our eagerness to learn and grow helped us navigate these early challenges.
Early Days and Memorable Moments
I vividly remember walking into the family room as a 17-year-old and seeing my dad (K1JTV) watching TV. He quickly paused the program to ask me how things were going and how I was enjoying being a new ham. I excitedly shared that we were having a great time on 2-meter simplex, surrounded by a fantastic group of guys who were power-hungry and rarely used repeaters. We relished making long-distance simplex contacts and pushing the envelope with big beams and powerful 2-meter amplifiers.
In that moment, my dad came up with a brilliant phrase: “Power Hungry Amateurs Never Talk On Machines PHANTOMS!!!” I couldn’t believe it. The phrase was so clever that it immediately resonated with us, leading to the creation of the Phantom Net on 146.580 MHz. Our reputation quickly grew, establishing us as a formidable presence in the ham radio community.
The Original Phantoms
Over the years, many dedicated individuals became part of the Phantom Net family. The original Phantoms include:
- N1LHP
- N1KXT
- N1QIG
- N1QCW
- N1KWP
- N1HZC
- N1QDY
- N1KYJ
- N1KMC
- And many more to be added later
Reuniting the Phantom Net
As time passed, members went their separate ways, and the vibrant community began to dwindle. Not until recently did I decide to rekindle the spirit of the old gang, welcoming fresh blood into the fold. In honor of the 20-year mark, I felt it was time to document our journey and share it before memories fade.
The New Phantoms
Ironically, the new Phantoms are primarily composed of members connected through my repeater system, aptly named the Phantom Net. Our current repeaters include:
- 444.100 MHz
- 224.160 MHz
- 224.520 MHz
- 441.900 MHz
Rest assured, we continue to embrace simplex operations whenever possible, alongside exploring all other bands. Our commitment to fostering a strong and active community remains unwavering.
Staying Connected
We maintain a PhantomNet mailing list. We treat this list with the utmost respect to your privacy and reserve it’s use for only PhantomNet related business and activities. The list helps keep us in touch with both old and new members, ensuring that the Phantom Net remains a vibrant and active community for years to come.