Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
from
Editor of QST, 1919.
on
October 16, 2005
Website:
http://earlyradiohistory.us/1919why.htm
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919
Editor QST:
Herewith enclosed is a suggestion on which I would like to hear the opinions of others in your magazine.
Ever since the earliest days of wireless, the many men and boys who have undertaken to build their own sets or to operate any set, whether for pleasure or for experimental purposes, that did not come under the classification of Commercial or military work, have been termed "amateurs".
In all other lines of work, "amateur" means one who is either learning or is not proficient in his work. Now can the people that are daily experimenting and operating their own sets be rightfully called amateurs? Hundreds of men and boys have sets that commercial companies might envy. Again, hundreds more can operate their sets every bit as efficient as the man in the land stations, ship stations, in the military and Naval Forces of the world, men who are termed "Radio Operators" in fact many commercial operators could well take lessons from some of our leading amateurs in operation of radio sets.
Really now, are these so called amateurs, amateurs in the true sense of the word?
An average outsider hearing the word "amateur" applied to somebody in the wireless game naturally concludes that this person is a beginner, and looks upon him as a "nut".
Many unknowing land wire telegraphers, hearing the word "amateur" applied to men connected with wireless, regard him as a "ham" or "lid".
"Ham"! Possibly, but not probably. Men who can show many of them up when it comes to receiving signals through static and other interference which corresponds to working a "bad wire" in land telegraphy. Men who can send signals twice as clear and readable as some of the land operators can send their Morse. Men who understand the technicality of wireless and the working of their sets and the subject of wireless in general. Whereas, nine out of every ten land wire telegraphers in this country do not even know the fundamentals and working of a simple duplex set, or a single wire repeater. Yet these wireless men are termed "amateurs" because they operate their own stations, and therefore the land wire man has a right to think this radio man is a "ham".
I am speaking of the more advanced men in the game; men who have studied the subject thoroughly and are experienced in the operation of their sets; not necessarily the eleven year old boy who has just taken it up and has a set consisting of a tuning coil, mineral detector and an old telephone receiver. These boys are true amateurs of course but with an average amount of study and experimenting will soon get out of that class.
Many men, previously Naval and Military wireless men, are coming back from the war and are putting up their own stations for experimental purposes and for pleasure. Are these men who have worked in some of the complex radio stations of the world to be called "amateurs"?
I, for one, favor the abolition of the word "amateur" used in connection with the wireless men of this country who own and operate their own sets.
What are opinions of others on the subject?
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 16, 2005
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Me too! I always thought of it as a "votary pursuit"!
I would like that. The votary radio service.
Meaning a devoted admirer, or a staunch advocate.
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by YI9VCQ on October 16, 2005
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We don't not receive compensation for our service. Therefore, we are considered "amateurs".
On the other hand, my job in the military involves line-of-sight radio operation. I am paid and formally trained and therefore considered a professional.
I've never had any problem with being called a ham radio or amateur radio operator. Either one fits me fine and has done so for 20 years.
Just my opinion.
73,
Korey
YI9VCQ/KA5VCQ
Baghdad, Iraq
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K0BG on October 16, 2005
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Personally, I don't like the term "ham". This stems from the time I tried to get my wife to become an amateur radio operator. She told me that a ham was half of a pig's ___, and one in the family was enough.
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K1CJS on October 16, 2005
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Why do we have to bring "correctness" into the hobby now? Just because one or two people don't like a term that has been used since the inception of amateur or 'ham' radio, now in this age of foolishness things have to be changed to accomodate the fools.
I agree with the person who said we are uncompensated for what we do--people who do just about anything for the sheer pleasure of doing it are most of the time--and correctly, I might add--considered amateurs.
And just what do you propose to change the name of this service to? The 'uncompensated professional' radio service? Foolishness indeed!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K8MHZ on October 16, 2005
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The root of the word amateur is from the French word amare which means 'to love'.
The first definition of the word amateur is one that does something for love, not for money. Over the years it came to mean 'unskilled' due to the word being slang for same.
What we should be striving to be are radio artists, as any English descriptive of being non-paid has evolved to the derogatory. (Hmm...there is a whole story right there, in America not paid equates to not good.)
I do question one line in the article: "Since the early days of wireless"
If the article was written in 1919, just what are the EARLY days of wireless??
Pretty neat article. So much changes and so much stays the same.
73,
Mark K8MHZ
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W6TH on October 16, 2005
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.
If the article was written in 1919, just what are the EARLY days of wireless??
Spark or quenched gap transmission.
.:
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by JGALT on October 16, 2005
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MHZ, your parenthetical statement really begs a very good question! Someone here should write an article about the way that Ham radio built capitalism in this country, and also the reverse. Also, how the ?New Deal? began to erode that.
The origins of Ham radio were in the late 1800?s. Hams of the first 20 plus years knew nothing of the ARRL or QST.
73 OM! John
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W6TH on October 16, 2005
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.
The nomenclature of Amateur and Ham radio fits the bill more so for the use of radio operators in this day and age.
Possibly delete the words amateur and ham and just use the naming of radio operators as that is what it seems to be of this day and age.
There is absolutely no skill involved in being a radio operator today. Push a button and away one goes. Those that use the broadcast radios and also the use of television are also radio and television operators and by all means there is no skill involved.
Years gone by there was just two classes of ham radio; class "B" for beginners and then class "A" for advanced operators. Then came the Novice class and now look what we now have and to compare.
I am convinced that back in the year of 1919, the Amateurs, Hams and Lids were much prouder of the ham service than that of what there remains of this hobby we now have today.
.:
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by VE7RWN on October 16, 2005
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Perhaps we should be called Philanthropic Communications Individuals!
73, Rob.
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by G0GQK on October 16, 2005
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As you point out, there are many amateur stations in which the operators of the station are extremely proficient and knowlegable, and perhaps have established an amateur radio station with numberous large antennas on radio masts probably as high as 200 feet.
Such people,usually men, are the leading exponents of the hobby, and most often they are wealthy, with substantial property on which they have built their radio stations. They have a vast knowledge, but as they are not paid by a government, or a private company to collect as many call signs as they can from around the world in a 24 or 48 hour period, what they do is for their pleasure, so they can be called nothing more, or nothing less, than a radio amateur.
There are people who use their spare time in other hobbies, for example astronomy, and there have been a number of new stars and other bodies far out in space which have been discovered by amateurs.
This also applies to geology,same situation, people spend their time doing what they enjoy and find things which the professionals would not have the time to do.
There are people who spend their weekends and holidays diving and find old wrecks of ships, and perhaps find treasure. In fact many of the largest finds have been discovered by amateurs, The professional divers, trained by the navies of the world spend their working time doing what are regarded as far more important jobs.
There is nothing wrong in calling a person an amateur, but I understand your thoughts. If a person has passed a proficiency test, and is licensed by their government, and spends money buying good quality radio equipment, and operates their radio equipment, but hasn't got the foggiest idea how the damn radio works he can be called nothing else but an amateur!
There are those who believe a true amateur must know everything about his equipment, but I would say what do you know about your car ? What do you do with it ? Do you take it apart every week, strip down the gearbox, get your head inside the small computers which manage the car while you drive. Of course you don't, because you are an amateur driver !
Let's just be happy and enjoy the hobby and not pretend that we are more important than we really are.
73, Mel G0GQK
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by N5XM on October 16, 2005
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This is a non-issue for me. I'd rather focus on being the best op I can be, and remembering that, no matter how much I know and how many skills I develop, there is more to learn, and more skill to acquire. Maybe my Ego drives me to keep improving and learning, but having the recognition of my peers in the hobby outstrips my desire to be recognized by non-Hams 100-0. This is a great fraternity (apologies to YLs as I love your presence in Radio) and I prefer to honor those great Hams that came before me by being the best I can be instead of worrying about some "label".
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 16, 2005
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Hey ICOMTECH, your talking to a man who was probably middle aged in 1919. He probably died around 1960 or earlier. Who is the wiener?
Vito old friend, the only problem in what you say is -- those (most of them) who read it don’t understand what you could possibly mean.
Afterall, like ICOMTECH says, hams today are the gods of electronics. They can crimp on a PL-259, although most seem comforted in buying pre-made cables where you can wiggle the connector on the cable it is attached to. Or they have learned how to put on Anderson Power poles.
Gee Vito, what else would you have them know? Have they not grasped all that is possible to learn in the field of radio and physics?
73! de John
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W6TH on October 16, 2005
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.
ICOMTECH66
THE WRITER NEEDS TO GROW A SET OF BALLS AND STOP WHINING... I HAVE SEEN SOME STUPID SUGGESTIONS BUT THIS ONE TAKES THE CAKE...
You do not let us know who you really are.
Where are your balls? Between your teeth?
.:
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KD5ALU on October 16, 2005
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The word amateur has at least two connotations. In the first, more widely used manner, it means someone performing some task without pay, in contrast to a "professional" who would be paid for the same task. In this sense, labeling someone an "amateur" can have a negative connotation. For example, amateur athletes in sports such as basketball or football would not be regarded as having ability on par with professional athletes in those sports.
... To many, description as an amateur is losing its negative meaning, and actually carries a badge of honor.
The other, perhaps somewhat obsolescent usage, stems from the French form of the Latin root of the word meaning a "lover of". (See amateurism.) In this sense, retaining its French inflexion ("am-a-tEUR"), an amateur may be as competent as a paid professional, yet is motivated by a love or passion for the activity, like a connoisseur. In the 17th and 18th centuries virtuoso had similar connotations of passionate involvement.
It has been suggested that the crude, all or nothing categories of professional or amateur should be reconsidered. A historical shift is occurring with the rise of Pro-Ams, a new category of people that are pursuing amateur activities to professional standards.
See also hobby, particularly for Amateur Radio (also known as ham radio.)
Proud to be an AMATEUR radio operator
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K0PD on October 16, 2005
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ME think's some have far to much time on there hand's, like a previous person said much to do about nothing.....
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KB7LYM on October 16, 2005
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Now a license is available like you buy a can of
Spaghetti Sauce. We are almost on the level of CB and soon
when the HAM bands Frequencies are taken away by the
Cable, Radio etc Gurus then CB will survive the longest.
As it is now more then 85% of the Hams are those with the
ink still drying on their certificate and knows as much about
Electronics as a Fry Cook. Amateurs they are and the few who can glorify them self to be Professionals can do so with the help of the Lord. The same goes for some Medical Doctors I have encountered .
They are called Practicing Physicians. This means they are still practicing. So in fact they are not professionals yet. Maybe they can practice on the above Professionals but not on me.
Then we have the Old. Old Professional Hams who knows how to
fix any problem but when ask what a resistor is he will reply 10-4 Old buddy and then fall asleep.
Who cares how we are called Amateurs,Professionals,Lame Brains
Old Farts. Just fire up the radio ( what was called the Devil in a box )
in the late 1800's and shout.... Calling CQ...CQ..CQ This is W6----
a Professional calling...Calling CQ .............................................
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W6TH on October 16, 2005
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Vito old friend, the only problem in what you say is -- those (most of them) who read it don�t understand what you could possibly mean.
That is why many have waited for the drop to 5 wpm John. Many just can't cut it.
Fourteen years plus of CB and then came the "not hams", but the 5 wpm and the radio operators.
.:
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KK7WN on October 16, 2005
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As many have noted "Amateur" is a perfectly lovely and appropriate term. The meaning is unambiguous and positive in connotation.
However, "Ham" is somewhat ambiguous and rather negative in connotation.( I'm not referring to pigs, the animal. They are just fine folk. I'm referring to those "over the top" hominids who make their place out of everyone else's place.)
Bob KK7WN
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by AA4PB on October 16, 2005
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Remember this: An amateur built the Arc. It was the professionals who built the Titanic!
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC1XU on October 16, 2005
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Merriam Webster. Quote
"one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession"
The term "Amateur" is not incorrect.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC8VWM on October 16, 2005
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Quote: Bugs Bunny,
"What an Amateur..., What a Maroon!"
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W6TH on October 16, 2005
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Watching television, on the computer, on 15 meters, talking on my cell phone, who says a amateur is not a appliance radio operator.
.:
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W0SWR on October 16, 2005
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I suppose to keep with the times we might consider something other than amateur radio operator for what we spend our time doing. Perhaps 'plug and play' radio operators or 'credit card' radio operators would be fitting since few hams actually build any radios, matchers or antennas anymore. Since the word amateur comes to us from the french, and we all know the french have fallen from favor in recent times, perhaps its time to consider a new improved politically correct name for what we spent so much time doing. Well enough said from this soap box. Guess I'll get back to my burger and freedom fries.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KI4BNH on October 16, 2005
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Some even deplore the word Hobby being applied to what we do because some of us are involved in MARS or ARES. But golly our average "drills" in ARES/MARS don't exactly equate to what a Natn'l Guard Unit does.
(I.E. are we ready to goto Iraq?)
Amateur and Ham as designators never particularly thrilled me ....drums up images of Hamsexy Hamfests/Lightbars, but that is what is... Dem's da labels for what I consider as a "Hobby that has a helpful community purpose" on occasion. Those who really get uptight about HAM or Amateur, well I sorta understand but it's just not that urgent.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 16, 2005
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KB7LYM, you struck on an example that still remains with me since the time I was about 11 years old, and I’m better than four decades past that now.
Anyway, back in those days “Electronics Illustrated” magazine used to have a guy that answered peoples questions about electronics. I remember that some guy wrote in, “while I have been experimenting with and learning electronics for some years now, I have often wondered what resistors are made of”.
Now I kind of perked up as I read this, thinking, “yea hear is going to come an answer that may have good broad technical knowledge of value for me“. The answer that came fourth was, “Well, they are made of resistance”. Man I was pi**ed! I mean that really frosted my fern! Here I had been expecting an answer that might emphasize and explain how say wire-wound resistors can exhibit both resistance and also inductance -- even if the latter quality is not desired. I was hoping for an explanation in how the technique of “Q-spoiling” was discovered or developed, and how this could be used to advantage in certain receiver circuits etc. So, it may be a small point but, you might also be on to something!
Oh, and also, I have learned a few things as a Ham since then. So while I suspect you may well know these things yourself, is there anything I can tell you about resistors?
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JSR on October 16, 2005
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Dennis said, "Much ado about NOTHING!!!!"
Careful, sir, you could get BARD for that!
Please don't get mad, just get AVON!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by ICOMTECH66 on October 16, 2005
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W6TH
"Where are your balls? Between your teeth?"
Dude if i could do that I would spend allot less time on this forum...!!!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 16, 2005
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Yea, well let me just get Stratford to the point!
In fact, let me get Stratford-on-Avon about that!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 16, 2005
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Careful there ICOMTECH, he will pull out his “weapons of masturbation”!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by OZ8AGB on October 17, 2005
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Check out what the word originally meant:
[French, from Latin amtor, lover, from amre, to love.]
Source: www.yourdictionary.com
So, we are radio lovers!
73 de OZ8AGB
Michael
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KG4RUL on October 17, 2005
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"[French, from Latin amtor, lover, from amre, to love.]"
Yeah but is our amtor FEC or ARQ?
Dennis KG4RUL
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 17, 2005
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Amateur means "unpaid", one who does something for the "love" of it. Excellent definitions that fits us perfectly.
Has nothing to do with skill, and we're not the only ones - in the athletic field it is widely recognized that some amateurs are better than some professionals (and vice-versa).
Professional means paid, that's all it means, and can also relate to someone to whom it is "just a job", and willing to do just the minimum to get by. I'd much rather have an amateur do a job for me in that case.
Nothing wrong with the word. It is accurate and we should not change just because the slang is now popular.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W5HTW on October 17, 2005
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What in the world is a "votary?" Is that like a Rotary, but it uses Volts instead of wheels?
Ed
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W5HTW on October 17, 2005
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More and more frequently today we find the new ham radio entrant who is hoping that, by qualifying for a ham license, he has become professional level at communications and/or electronics. More and more, the new ham feels he has found a delightful shortcut to being a true professional, skipping schools, degrees, formal training, and other qualifying factors. So he hates being called "amateur." He wants to be considered a professional technician, professional cop, professional EMT, professional everything.
But more and more, amateur radio is more amateur than professional, and gets so more with each passing year. It is NOT a shortcut to being a cop, an electronics technician. Yet it is viewed by many as a shortcut to some professional level of expertise. The exact opposite is true. It is more and more like the guy who flies a radio controlled model airplane who thinks he is now certified as a real airliner pilot.
We are hobbyists, today more than ever before, and many of us aren't even very good at doing it as a hobbyist. The trend is to make it far less "professional" than it has ever been before, or even is now.
There are those who will respond to this with the, "Oh, yeah? I took the test and I AM professional level." To which I say "horse feathers." Knowing how to plug in a radio just out of the box, and switch channels does not make one a "professional anything."
We are amateurs. We have always been amateurs, we will always be amateurs, and that is a good thing.
Stop fixing ham radio! We can fix it completely out of existence.
Ed
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by N7IOH on October 17, 2005
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It is too bad that the word amateur has had a negative meaning attached to it. The meaning of, a beginner, someone who knows little about what he is doing, etc. I know with the negative meanings now given to the word amateur. I would feel a little nervous about being treated by a retired medical doctor who introduced himself as an, "amateur medical Doctor". As far as changing the name, let me see. How about, "Radio Gurus", "Radio Geeks", "Radio Nerds", "Heavy Radio Dudes", "Radio Explorers"? Gee this is a tuff one, I just don't know.
Al, n7ioh
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by NI0C on October 17, 2005
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"Professional means paid, that's all it means, and can also relate to someone to whom it is "just a job", and willing to do just the minimum to get by."
That's not an accepted definition of "professional." People who ask you, "Do you want fries with that?" definitely work for money, but no-one considers them "professionals."
See the four page essay by D. Allan Firmage, "The Definition of a Profession," reprinted in Deborah Johnson's 1991 book, Ethical Issues in Engineering, published by Prentice-Hall.
73,
Chuck NI0C
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by N3AIU on October 17, 2005
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Some of the best golfers in the world are amateurs. I don't know if they get the recognition they used to get.
Some of the best astronomical telescopes and equipment have been built by amateurs. Just go to any star party and you'll see. As a professional astronomer who looks at a computer screen 99.9% of the time instead of through a telescope, they put me to shame.
An amateur does something because he/she loves to do it, not for pecuniary interest. I have no trouble with that label for ham radio.
73, Nick N3AIU
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA1RNE on October 17, 2005
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Jim, K4JF;
>>> "Nothing wrong with the word. It is accurate and we should not change just because the slang is now popular."
Over a year ago, I made the suggestion that we consider a different word for "amateur", and once again just recently in an eHam news article concerning a BPL deployment in Virgina.
What you're saying may be true in the "offical" sense.
However, I think we should pay more attention to the stigma that goes along with "amateur" instead of insuring accuracy.
This may seem like a bunch of nonsense and a complete waste of time, but consider this:
When law makers are consider a BPL proposal and the only thing stopping deployment is interference to "Amateur" Radio operators, the word can imply a group that is experimental in nature and is therefore expendable.
Why? Because a Risk/Benefit analysis could very well conclude that by approving BPL, the potential revenue they set in motion for their consituents will offset the puny costs for litigation from actions by an "Amateur" Radio Relay League.
Even though this may be just "perception", and to us is totally false, it's still there.
In contrast, how would the "Amateur" Radio Service be perceived before law makers if a BPL operator was causing knowingly harmful interference to the "General Communicator Radio Service"??
Companies are a good example. They often change names to instill a perception in people's minds about a product or service.
I believe amateur radio needs to do the same thing.
Historically, we have been a bit on the slow side when it comes to "rolling with the changes" but it's not too late......
73, Chris
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 17, 2005
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Chris, I think that the most important thing that Hams should do is be more active and aggressive in promoting the present day technical and scientific achievements they are involved in. We should also probably be more “media savvy”.
Read the “UTARC” web page at the University of Tennessee. These guys have put together a very good up front explanation about what Ham radio is. They point out that, “it is a way that you might get to know a trucker on the road, a business executive, a rock star, or even a king. Where else could you meet such people without a direct introduction.” Their main interest is in their high altitude balloon telemetry experiments!
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC8VWM on October 17, 2005
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I still think it's Bugs Bunny's fault...
Ok, here's a few suggestions for a new name to replace the term "amateur" to sound more important that you really are:
Radio Frequency Emission Spectrum Dispersion Technicians
Intra / Extra(lite?) Terrestrial Radio Propagation Utilitarians
Electro Magnetic RF Physicists.
Catagory PL 259 Research Engineer.
Geomagnetic Propogationist.
....
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KE4ZHN on October 17, 2005
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I agree with the others...much ado about nothing.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by N0TONE on October 17, 2005
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We are amatuers. Plain and simple. The requirements for operating do not include a high level of proficiency, and never did.
As the original letter to the editor demonstrated, amateurs never did (and never do) realize that the "art" is about communicating. Having a good "set" (high performance station) is only 10% of the battle. The rest relies on performance of the human being.
Amongst licensed hams, the only sub-group that I can count on for high performance behavior from the humans is the contest crowd. I find the emcomm group too ego-heavy, and generally of poor performance in communications. Have you ever heard of someone who failed an EMCOMM class? Probably not. The classes are adjusted so that everybody passes, whether they shoud or not.
The service is amateur as long as the entry requirements permit the entry of people who are not of extremely high caliber
back in the military days, you were not permitted to become a telegraph op unless you were proficient at a minimum of 25 wpm - and you did not stay in the service unless you grew to 40 wpm. Dropout rate was 50%. They had similar testing requirement for phone ops' ability to correctly receve a message buried in noise. Amongs hams, only the contesters are good at pulling a callsign effectively out of noise.
We're amateurs. It's true. get used to it.
Be proud of it, too. In days past, doing something because it is a good thing to do was considred more noble than doing it for money.
We are amateurs. Be proud of it. Quit complaining.
AM
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 17, 2005
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""Professional means paid, that's all it means, and can also relate to someone to whom it is "just a job", and willing to do just the minimum to get by."
That's not an accepted definition of "professional." People who ask you, "Do you want fries with that?" definitely work for money, but no-one considers them "professionals." "
I don't care whether anybody considers them "professionals". They certainly are. By any logical definition. They are trained and paid. They are by no means "amateurs". And I know quite a few people who fit even the extended vernacular of "professional" to whom it's "just a job".
And remember, unless he/she is communicating with family, ALL CBers are professionals (except the illegal ones, of course).
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 17, 2005
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Because we have lowered any hint at standards, Hams today have a difficult time understanding concepts.
Good example, pulling a signal out of the noise.
If you talk to many new Hams, with say 5 years experience (number chosen advisedly) and ask about noise level, they will say “what noise level, there is signal, or the squelch is closed, what noise.
If you express anything as a ratio (such as noise level) they are also lost.
They cannot conceive of 50% quieting. They cannot conceive of “quieting”.
If I say, when you double your communications path, you have lost 6 dB of signal. They as, but how much signal would that be?
Amateurs such as Grote Reber were very good amateurs. Whether or not they were also professional in their electronic and radio pursuits -- they were very expert!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by NI0C on October 17, 2005
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K4JF says: "I don't care whether anybody considers them "professionals". They certainly are. By any logical definition."
I'll take Mr. Firmage's extremely coherent and logical definition of a professional (the one I cited above) over yours. He is qualified to speak on the subject. Apparently, you are not.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC0KP on October 17, 2005
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The bottom line is that we will be called whatever the popular press wants to call us.
Paramedics cringe when they are referred to as ambulance attendents.
Cops would like to be referred to as police officers.
We had a local club here called the Hamsters that seemed to embrace the name.
I signed onto the fire department as a Lineman but that had to go since it was sexist. I am now a Fire Systems Technical Specialist. My pay did not go up. Then again, it did not go down so I really don't care. Just the name badge is going to get bigger and heavier.
As a resident of Denver (as Alan K0BG used to be) I was just curious about the source. BTW, they still call us hams in Denver.
73's
Craig
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by N7IOH on October 17, 2005
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Originally a professional referred to someone usually with a college degree, i.e. a doctor, lawyer, dentist, teacher, etc. Later the term was used to refer to those in the union trades, not just union members but your bricklayers, pipe fitters, electricians, carpenters, etc. Now just because a person picks up a hammer and a saw does not make him a carpenter anymore then if I were to wear a stethoscope around my neck would make me a doctor. The term professional has been watered down over the years. If you use the loose definition of anyone who works for a living, now you have to define works. Is the guy that has lost his regular job and now stands on the corner for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week begging for money a professional beggar just because he is making money for what he is doing? If you answered yes to the last question, you are evidently really lacking in intelligence or just need someone to talk to.
Al, n7ioh
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC8VWM on October 17, 2005
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Originally a professional referred to someone usually with a college degree, i.e. a doctor, lawyer, dentist, teacher, etc.
----
So, you mean an individual pumping gas is now generally referred as a professional petroleum distillate dispensing technician?
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 17, 2005
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I have been a distillate dispensing technician, after doing my best to get around a bottle of the Jack of Daniels!
As a friend of mine associated with our chemical monitoring business once said, “anybody can synthesize urea”!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 17, 2005
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"I'll take Mr. Firmage's extremely coherent and logical definition of a professional (the one I cited above) over yours. He is qualified to speak on the subject. Apparently, you are not."
You are free to accept whatever definition you wish. You are NOT free to determine my qualifications.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 17, 2005
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"So, you mean an individual pumping gas is now generally referred as a professional petroleum distillate dispensing technician?"
Only by the same kind of idiot that would call him an "amateur".
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K3WVU on October 17, 2005
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Don't pay any attention to ICOMTECH66. He isn't a ham, but he is (or was) K4FAU/GHOSTRIDERHF/IMBACKHF/ARRLFAN. Check it out; same misspellings, same goofy phrases. In his different guises, he's contradicted himself more than any politician you can name! Really a sick, lonely puppy. LOL!!!!!!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by NI0C on October 17, 2005
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"You are free to accept whatever definition you wish. You are NOT free to determine my qualifications."
It goes without saying you are free to remain in ignorance and not learn something new. Sorry I wasted my time on you.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by N5EAT on October 17, 2005
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I think Radio Geeks or Dweebs is pretty nice. Both of those terms tend to imply that the job will get done. How about Non-Profit Broadcaster? Or perhaps Non-Pirate Licensed Radio Operators?
I always liked being called "that guy who does morse code in his car". When I have a really nice antenna on my car, people may think of me as "the guy who will never get a date".
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KK7WN on October 17, 2005
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The title amateur fits what most of us are, by training and function. The term Ham should make us cringe however. Ham clearly has primarily negative connotations when used to describe behavior. The word ham is not only negatively asssociated with swine like behavior. It also is associated with poorly trained entertainers and those who overplay their social role. Come to think of it, Ham does accurately describe some "Amateurs" who do things such as claim priority to a frequency based on previous use and social priviledge based on license class.A Ham may be an Amateur but an Amateur should not aspire to be a Ham. Lets move on.
Bob KK7WN
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 17, 2005
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""You are free to accept whatever definition you wish. You are NOT free to determine my qualifications."
It goes without saying you are free to remain in ignorance and not learn something new. Sorry I wasted my time on you. "
No ignorance here, as advanced degrees and professional certifications can attest. However, despite the protestations of some, I am not a professional, as I am retired, and cannot claim the definition. Can you honestly attest that recent retirement has diminished my competence in my field? You would assert that the day I stopped receiving a paycheck I forgot all I knew that took me high in my field? That would be ridiculous.
Again: no matter who disagrees, the status of paid or not paid does not determine competence. Astronomy is one of many fields that prove my assertion. There are many more.
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by AI2IA on October 17, 2005
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Amateur and ham are merely labels. They are long standing and harmless, even good in themselves. The labels were never intended to replace the opeators for which they stand. If we could look into all the amateurs and operators that ever were, or will be, for the most part we would see a very special and honorable, and neighborly serving group of people. This is where all of us should want to belong. Amen.
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K0COS on October 18, 2005
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Here's a link I found very interesting........
http://www.sparkmuseum.com/RADIOS.HTM
Kinda puts the article into perspective.....sure doesn't look "amateur" to me when they were building their own radios and such. We are more "amateur" today.
I would have loved to have been around to pick up the herztian waves with my homebrew apparatus.
Michele - K0COS
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 18, 2005
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AI2IA, you are exactly correct. Thank you.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 18, 2005
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K0COS, so you believe that no Hams today build their own equipment anymore?
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by N8CP on October 18, 2005
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Call me what you want, just leave the freq allocations alone
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K0COS on October 18, 2005
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WA6BFH - John, I believe there is a small minority of hams that still build equipment. I wish there was more interest today in the history and knowledge that brought our hobby to what it is today.
Michele - K0COS
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC8VWM on October 18, 2005
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One of my favorite things to do is "Homebrew" equipment. Just because most people operate appliance rice box radio gear these days doesn't mean you can't engage in homebrew activities.
For example, Do you have an "ON AIR" light in your shack yet? These are fun easy projects that anyone can build on a Sunday afternoon.
Another favorite one is homebrew power supplies. Some of these actually work far better than anything you can buy.
Do you have emergency backup power at your shack yet? Well that can be a homebrew project all on it's own...
I can think of 100's more. Maybe someone should write a book on the subject?
I know, I'm probably off topic.
Well, that's my 2 cent contribution anyways...
73 Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6BFH on October 18, 2005
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Michele, Ok, just asking!
The way you had worded that, I just wondered if you thought it could not, or was not being done by yes -- at least a few. I still build a fair portion of my own gear, because not a great deal of manufactured gear exists for the bands that I prefer.
Charles, I built a cute little pink pig “On the Air” light. I got the pig (ham) from a pet store (it’s a squeeze toy), and built a little RF detect circuit to turn on a couple red LED’s. He has a curly cue wire that comes out of his a** as the antenna!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W6TH on October 18, 2005
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.
I would have loved to have been around to pick up the herztian waves with my homebrew apparatus.
Michele - K0COS
-----------------------------------------------
This I have did and done. Today one cannot have the feeling as most of us from the past have enjoyed.It is not the same.
Today we are not even amateurs, but hams to be true to facts. At the rate of dumbing down we will be back to the CB age and then not called hams any longer , but back to CB'ers.
Back in the year of 1919, Amateur/Hams were in the professional field and the gateway to engineering one way or the other.
As has been said earlier; we will become extinct.
.:73, W6TH a non vanity call
.:
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC8VWM on October 18, 2005
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I built a cute little pink pig “On the Air” light.
----
lol, I gotta see that one!
Well, this creativity just demonstrates that amateur radio is more than just picking up a microphone and talking into a squak box. But hey, if that's what floats your piggy...
In fact, I just rather enjoy time spent exploring and tearing down a good boatanchor over some everyday no nothing chitter chatter sometimes heard on my squak box anyday...
Alright, ..I know, ..I know.
73 Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by NI0C on October 19, 2005
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Quote from K4JF:
"No ignorance here, as advanced degrees and professional certifications can attest. However, despite the protestations of some, I am not a professional, as I am retired, and cannot claim the definition. Can you honestly attest that recent retirement has diminished my competence in my field? You would assert that the day I stopped receiving a paycheck I forgot all I knew that took me high in my field? That would be ridiculous."
I know nothing about (and therefore said nothing about) your education, your competence in your field, or your employment status. I've been pointing out that your working definition of "professional" is incorrect. Unless I missed some subtle indicator of sarcasm or tongue in cheek on your part, you disagreed with me when I argued that fast food workers do not qualify as "professionals."
Again from K4JF: " the status of paid or not paid does not determine competence."
True enough; however being paid is a necessary, but by no means sufficient, condition for judging an occupation as a "profession."
Since the previous reference I cited (D. Allan Firmage) is contained in an out of print book, and I could not locate it online, here is a more succinct definition of a profession obtained from the Online Ethics Center (http://onlineethics.org/glossary.html):
"An occupation, the practice of which directly influences human well-being and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills. requiring both formal education and practical experience."
Thus, being paid for one's work, plus being competent and responsible, are all included in what it means to be a "professional."
73,
Chuck NI0C
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W4GLX on October 19, 2005
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We are'nt Amatures,... We are Professionals!!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WB4QNG on October 19, 2005
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I agree with WA1RNE it is not what we think of the terms but what other people think of them. I wish they would have changed it in 1919. Take Ham for an example. What does it mean? I think I have read at least 5 different explanation of how the term came about. While we all know what we are as amateur radio operators the term has a lot to be desired. I don't care what the word really means I think the adverage Joe on the street relates to it to it like a amateur baseball player or football player. In most cases these people want to become profesionals. I know I have been ask more than once when I was going to become a DJ. I just don't think the word paints a picture of what we are. While we are on it who came up with the names of our license classes. The lowest class of lisense has the best name. Technician. This sounds good. People can relate to that. I tell people I have an Advanced class they ask advanced of what. General, Extra what do they mean. Just my 2 cents worth.
Terry
WB4QNG
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KILOWATT on October 22, 2005
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>If the article was written in 1919, just what are the EARLY days of wireless??
Spark or quenched gap transmission<
Early days of wireless? Nikola Tesla. That's about as early as it gets. Circa 1890's.
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KE7ATE on October 22, 2005
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I feel the term is endearing of the history and development of the hobby and radio technology. It is not a left over term that must be discarded, just because some are beyond the beginnings of radio and learning about radio. We are all learning new things about the hobby even if we just read a short article about it. It is an opportunity to recognize our past as experimenters.
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KILOWATT on October 22, 2005
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>Today we are not even amateurs, but hams to be true to facts. At the rate of dumbing down we will be back to the CB age and then not called hams any longer , but back to CB'ers.<
What do you mean, "will be back to being called CBers."? Have you listened to that disgraceful, shameful mess called 80 meters lately? IMHO, as long as we have that kind of scum prowling our bands we should be very careful about whom we deem unworthy(CBers). As 80 meters clearly points out; a ham license doesn't suddenly make you superior to those without a license. Our hobby(?) has just as many losers, nutbags and just plain rude people as does the CB band. Even more so now days. Citizen's Band is DEAD! On any given day you may hear one or two people on the air. But 80 meters? It's overrun with foul-mouthed, smart asses that thumb their noses at the FCC on a daily basis.
I love my hobby but I keep things in perspective.
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA6FHX on October 22, 2005
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I have been proud to be called an amateur or a "Ham" for over thirty years and think this is a lot of ado over nothing. From my novice ticket to my Extra I'm glad I'm a Ham!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by NN6EE on October 23, 2005
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I've been a "Amateur Radio Operator/HAM" for 43yrs!!!
Our country's "POLITICAL-CORRECTNESS" fetish is OBSCENE!!!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by NN6EE on October 23, 2005
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Let all of us be "NON-DEVISIVE"!!!
ARE'NT WE ALL AMERICANS??? (Those of us who are LEGAL???)
The federal government SUCKS!!!
Jim/ee
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 25, 2005
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"We are'nt Amateurs,... We are Professionals!! "
No, we're not. By LAW!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WA9SVD on October 26, 2005
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I have no problem with the term "Amateur Radio Operator;" it signifies we are NOT paid for our work/experimentation/enjoyment of Amateur Radio (with VERY few, specific exceptions.)
It seems the issue has has been with us since (almost) time immemorial, but was discussed not too long ad nauseum (IMHO) beginning with a QST "OP-ED" article, and being discussed here and at QRZ.
The point is:
1. Wa ARE NOT professionals; we are NOT paid to perform communication skills. We do it out of civic duty, personal satisfaction, or whatever reason, on a non-paid basis. (As such, our performance is voluntary.)
2. Wa ARE NOT "first responders;" even if we are the first on the scene of a disaster/emergency, any more than "John Q. Public." We have no blanket special authorization or privileges bestowed upon us as Amateur Radio Operators. If we are also mekmbers of some other group, (e.g. EMT, Paramedics, Fire Fighter, Law Enforcement Officer, whatever) THAT is the authority that gets priority, not merely being an Amateur Radio Operator.
3. Our function should be assistance and communication backup, NOT primary ommunications, (whether in our own mind or in the mind of others.) Our activity and authority should be governed by that.
4. We ARE expected to ACT professionally, whenever we are exposed to the public. We are supposed to be friendly, courteous, helpful, (sorry to sound like the Boy Scouts here) and willing to help whenever necessary, but a part of that is to be able to understand when it's important to stand back, and WAIT for our assistance to be requested, not try to force it upon any individual or organization, government or otherwise. It is the only way to gain and maintain respect.
I'd much rather (deservedly) be called an "Amateur" who acts in a professional manner than be called an "Amateur Professional."
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by W9WHE-II on October 27, 2005
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NN6EE writes:
"I've been a "Amateur Radio Operator/HAM" for 43yrs!!! Our country's "POLITICAL-CORRECTNESS" fetish is OBSCENE!!!"
I'm a newbie, only 30 years. But I agree. Liberal censorship, better known as "political correctness", has gotten wayyyyy out of hand!
W9WHE
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by KC0NVI on October 28, 2005
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Leave well enough alone!
If it's NOT broken, DON'T fix it!
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RE: Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by K4JF on October 29, 2005
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WA9SVD, you have it absolutely right. Kudos. (Except why did you apologize for sounding like a Boy Scout? The 12 Scout Laws are the best goals for ANY person I have ever heard!)
We are Amateurs! And we are darn good at it!
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Denver, Colorado, Oct. 22, 1919 -- QST
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by WB2GMK on November 1, 2005
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Geez what a flap about nothing! Neither the term ham nor amateur bother me .....however ..... it seems that some of our brothers and sisters in Europe refer to our hobby as "radio sport". For those of you who are troubled by "ham" or amateur", why not call yourselves "radio sportsmen/radio sportswomen"? After all, do we not participate in this leisure activity, much as those who love golf, fishing, hunting, tennis and whatever else participate in their activities? When I go out into the woods in the fall in persuit of the elusive whitetail deer, if someone referred to me as a "professional hunter" I would laugh so hard I'd drop my gun. Refer to me as a "sportsman" in this context and I take pride in the appellation. Just food for thought.
73
Greg WB2GMK
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