The Future of Ham Radio is Round
David F. Doler Jr. (WA3YAY)
on
November 22, 2007
View comments about this article!
I've had it up to here with the notion that Ham Radio can only survive if we bring in legions of new kiddies. Forget it. You'll assure the future of Ham Radio with legions of bored, middle-age dudes with a couple of bucks and some free time on their hands.
Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom and Ten-Tec want to sell radios by the thousands like they did back in the day. Ham Radio needs bodies. Lots of them…Big ones, small ones, skinny ones and round ones. Balding with a bit of gray hair? You the man! Nothing better to do on the weekends but wash the car and wait for the wife and kids outside of the mall? Great! A perfect Ham Radio recruit. We want QRM on every band, all the time.
Sure I'm being flippant here but please don't go all politically correct on me and speak about our responsibility to mentor young people with notions of public service and high technology. Pull-eez. That boat sailed. Please don't yell at me either, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Amateur too. But think about it. There is a lot of business interests at work here that need customers. Sure, kids have money, but Ham Radio is not sexy and that money is going elsewhere (XBox, Wii, cell phones, iTunes, cars, girlfriends, boyfriends). Maybe you know some kid who actually does want to work a big contest all weekend instead of going out with his friends. Maybe you know two or three. Won't do. Thousands of 52-year-old accountants half-asleep on a Friday night might be the new market for HF rigs.
OK, don't abandon the kids. I understand, we need to be altruistic and we'll snag a few. But lets recruit our baggy-eyed co-worker in the cubicle next to us. Put a 440 rig in the golf cart. Bring QST to read at the Chiropractor's office. Wear an ARRL pin on your lapel to the next sales call. Aging citizens are really where the future of Amateur Radio will be, albeit it the turnover will be more frequent.
I'm really serious here. Wayne Green used to get on his hi-horse about the growing flabbiness of the aging Ham community. Embrace the belly! Sell to the sagging. Open our doors to the hordes of girth-challenged professionals, semi-professionals, worker bees and retirees. That is the market. I'm convinced it's those guys who can save Ham Radio.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KH6JIM on November 22, 2007
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David you have nailed it. I was 13 when I first got a interest in "ham" radio...a long long time ago. Most if not all teen's today have no interest in our hobby, however many 40ish-and up seem really interested and I have 4 friends all over 60 actually ready to take the test (if they find a test..part of the problem)
Jim KH6JIM
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by KC8ZEV on November 22, 2007
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I, for one, don't want the amateur bands jammed packed all the time like they are on contest weekends.
I am sure Icom, Yaesu-Motorola, Kenwood, Alinco, etc. would, but not me. By the sounds of things last contest weekend, Ham Radio is NOT dying. Quantity or Quality??? Would still rather promote a career in the sciences or engineering and find the smart, nerdy kid than a well heeled 40-something lawyer with nothing better to do. Ham radio does NOT need to be the same size as the CB crowd was in the 70's. Would rather find someone who is truly a quality recruit rather than someone who just has the money. Just because one has a license, doesn't mean they will use it. Gotta look for the quality individual.
73
KC8ZEV
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KD8GVM on November 22, 2007
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Talk about hitting the nail on the head, I almost fit the profile to a T.
52 years young, government employee. I first got interested in Ham when I was a teenager but between a fear of code and no money I never could do anything about it.
Now? I still am afraid of code, I can read two letters if done slowly - S and O, HI.
I have had several of my co-workers talk about looking at ham as kids and not doing anything, now a couple of them are re-thinking about getting involved. I Can't wait to get them on the air.
Bottom line - the adults are the way to go. Especially the ones who can't get their bodies to put up with their previous hobbies (snowmobiles, dirt biking).
Have a great thanksgiving from a fresh caught ham who is like a kid in the candy store.
73
Kevin KD8GVM
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by N0BOF on November 22, 2007
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I would like to see new hams no matter what their age, waist size, hair or the lack there of. This hobby has alot to offer EVERYONE. Kids will be interested in ham radio if their interest peaked even if they own a cell phone, playstation, Wii, x-box, have a girlfriend, car, ect.
We have to make it interesting when are showing them about ham radio. Even I wouldn't get very excited if the only thing I seen was John Doe ham giving a demo by talking to his buddy two blocks away on the repeater. I show kids HF, VHF, CW, DIGITAL modes, Sats, ect., you know what I mean. Yesterday I had about 20 kids talking to kb6q in CA where it was 75 degrees and we had snow flurries out here. The kids learned about whales, redwood trees, and they had a blast. So what if you show a 100 kids and only 1 or 2 get the bug....it's not for everyone. My wife like to play bingo and cards. That bores me to tears. Have a happy Thanksgiving all.
Bob
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by N6HPX on November 22, 2007
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Age was never a barrier and has never been a problem as many have mentioned here..there were other problems and they were too wide to mention here..We have had 9 year olds come into this and one was a Extra class
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by RX1 on November 22, 2007
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"N6HPX"
"Age was never a barrier and has never been a problem as many have mentioned here..there were other problems and they were too wide to mention here..We have had 9 year olds come into this and one was a Extra class"
Unless I missed something, that is not the premise of the article. The author is not implying that there is a barrier for young persons to get involved. Quite the contrary. He's suggesting that in today's modern environment, the volume of potential young amateurs with INTEREST is simply not there. He's not saying that many couldn't pass the test. He's saying that generally speaking, they don't want to. I'm very inclined to agree with that.
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by W6WBJ on November 22, 2007
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Why do we really need more hams, anyway? And what about the possibility that it's simply a fairly boring hobby, and that's why people don't want to get involved? Why do we have to recruit them? I don't understand.
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by N6KYS on November 22, 2007
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There isn't even an issue here....sounds like a "made-up" issue with no facts to support it.
At hamfests today, I see everyone you've described.....(LOTS of fat, and not many skinny) older folks, but many sons and daughters as well. At last night's testing session....two very young kids, brothers I think....one was testing for General, one for Extra.
And where does this notion that the manufacturers are trying to sell radios "like they used to" come from? Our numbers are huge compared to "back in the day". At Dayton, people wait in lines to throw down large coin for new, modern rigs and accessories. Would Icom spend the developmental costs for the IC-7800, if the market was a small and boutique one?
The gist of this is OK....recruit everyone....but the SKY ISN'T FALLING, so relax and enjoy yourself.
Geeeezzzzz......
Brad
N6KYS
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by KC2OBG on November 22, 2007
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Wonderful article. I'm one of those "bald" guys who had an interest in amateur radio at a young age but it was 30 years later when I could finally devote time to it.
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by KE5GK on November 22, 2007
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Maybe a weekend Body Fat Index SSB Contest is coming!
Exchange: Give Callsign and Belt Size.
Winners in each call zone are determine by total inches of belt sizes worked.
CQ BFI CQ BFI CQ BFI CQ BFI
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by KB3PZU on November 22, 2007
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I am 51 and a local government public safety employee. I just got my call letters last month for the first time after being prodded by a co-worker friend for many years. I do have some electronics background and know my way around public service radio equipment, so this is a good marriage for me.
The comment about younger people is probably correct. The internet and other hi-tech toys makes Ham radio seem antique to many by comparison. That, and personal communication is a foreign concept to many of this generation.
I'm glad to be associated with this group of individuals and look forward to making new friends along the way
73 and a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W0CBF on November 22, 2007
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Another reason for why targeting the middle age group makes sense is that due to the cost of some of the quality rigs makes having at least a medium price income quite necessary. I know there are are cheaper ones and of course you have eBay and hamfests but generally you get what you pay for. As I get get older and larger around the middle I get I would prefer to buy a new rig.
Targeting the middle age - Isn't that called profiling!
How about a rig mounted onto a treadmill, changing freqs could be done by a series of huffs and puffs!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL
de WØCBF
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W4LGH on November 22, 2007
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I have said the same things for years. It the middle aged that you can and will attract. If Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood really wanted kids, they would build MP3 players into the radios. Icom comes the closest, with their "fish finders" on their radios. The FCC would have to change the rules again, and allow MP3's and videos to be transmitted digitally and downloaded. Heil has his Heritage Mic with "BLUE" leds on it, so he's looking at the teen market. Get all this done and the teens would be all over it. Especially if they could interface their Xboxes and play games over the air. Do we want this garbage on the air?? Not only NO ,but HELL NO!
I am NOT saying that kids can't play radio, they are more than welcome, but thats not want they want to do.
We need to go after the Late 30's, 40's and 50's ,these guys will be around for a while longer.
I am NOT and never have been Politically Correct, I believe if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, then damnit man, it must be a duck, and not a mentally challenged chicken! A SPADE will always be a SPADE.
So, as my momma used to say, "Be careful what you ask or wish for, as you might just get it!"
73 es Happy Thanksgiving...
de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com
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by K9ZF on November 22, 2007
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A very good point, I agree. I'm not suggesting we shouldn't recruit young people, but targeting the "more experienced" age group would likely be more productive.
People have a tendency to seek out friends in their own age group. If we had many thousands of teen agers in our ranks, then many thousands more teen agers would be interested in joining. We don't have that many young people, so it is difficult to attract more. However, we do have many thousands of retirement, or near retirement age folks in our ranks.
The author has another valid point as well. This age group generally has more resources to invest, and can better enjoy the hobby. For example, I started out in my mid twenties. I was always fascinated by satellites and EME operation. But there was no way I could afford to buy rigs, hard line, huge antenna arrays, or big amps. Luckily, I found other aspects of the hobby interesting, like homebrewing. If not, I may have dropped out as many other young people do.
I don't buy into all the "doom and gloom" dying hobby crap, though. I've been a ham for 15 years, and I've been hearing the same whining the whole time. I have talked to many OF's that can add decades to that number! The days of ham radio may well be numbered. But it is a big number! It is going to change, just as it always has. It will keep changing probably for decades to come. Instead of whining about the changes, let's get on the air and enjoy what we have!
73
Dan
--
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269
Check out the Rover Resource Page at: <http://www.qsl.net/n9rla>
List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
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by WA4D on November 22, 2007
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This piece is as witty, insightful and iconoclastic as I have read on eham. Creative too!
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by N9SKN on November 22, 2007
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Maybe both young and old, as I have read countless times here how a guy later reminisces of a sparked amateur curiosity or experience with an older ham or piece of equipment that happened much earlier in his life.
PLANT the seed in the youth.
HARVEST it later in life.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N6KYS on November 22, 2007
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OK, so how do we "target" these middle aged (like me) great saviours of our hobby? Kids are easy to target, since they have school science projects, school clubs, Boy Scouts, etc. That's a BIG reason why we're more successful in spreading the word in a formalized way to youth....because they're involved in the activities that permit exposure to ham radio.
Also, quit lamenting kids' fascination with video games and cell phones. Last I checked, I've seen most adult drivers in town yapping away on their phones rather than paying full attention to their driving. Oh, and as for mindless entertainment (like video games).... lots and lots of Joe Sixpacks in your neighborhoods are watching NASCAR, and couldn't care less about ham radio. Why do you give these "round" people such a pass for their slovenly and lethargic living, but go on a sanctimonious rant about youth?
Yes...recruit everyone. Nope, kids aren't the problem.....and I'm still not convinced that there is any real problem in recruiting to begin with.
Brad
N6KYS
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by AA9YA on November 22, 2007
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No recruitment needed.
The bands are already over crowded
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WL7BPY on November 22, 2007
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I Have told people, to which I believe is true.
The generation that started HAM radio, one from prior armed services and the kids who heard a strange signal
from the crystal radio they just built, gentleman, when that info and experience goes when that person passes. ( It doesn't mean the hobby goes away )
ALL that we enjoy in this hobby is becuase of the frontier they blazzed before us. I want to say : Thank You !
I love this hobby. Out of all the HAM's that I know, in this area, I'm one of the most active. CW fore-ever !
( Also let me add. The gent who wrote the article
about CW and increasing your speed and metioned the 30mtr band, I have made soooo many new contacts and living the CW dream ) !
Thanks again to all you HAM's for helping me enjoy this hobby. 73 Kevin
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Look to the technically curious folks!
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by AI2IA on November 22, 2007
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I consider being an Elmer just as much a part of my ham radio activity as putting up an antenna. I look for candidates all the time. Yet, the folks that I have Elmered all turned out to be people with some electronic background, however slight, and folks who have a lasting curiousity about techncial matters. All my new hams have stayed active so far.
As I see it, ham candidates are where you find them. One other factor though is cost. Used equipment for reasonable prices and generous hams are essential for the support and encouragement of new hams. Don't narrow your search for any reason. Take 'em where you find 'em!
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WA3YAY on November 22, 2007
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Ham Radio growth is not assured.
Facts:
Licensed US Hams
Dec 2006: 656,068
Apr 2000: 678,539
Licenses (Loss): -22,471
Percent (Loss): -3.3 %
between Dec.2007 and Feb.2018, 654,378 Hams will lose their privledges if not renewed. If 22,471 are silent keys and 22,471 are not recruited, the net gain is 0% over the 3.3% loss after restructuring occured.
Source: http://www.ah0a.org/FCC/
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by KG6WLS on November 22, 2007
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
That's all I'm going to say.
73 de KG6WLS
Mike
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WA4DOU on November 22, 2007
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
Reply by WA3YAY
Ham Radio growth is not assured.
Facts:
Licensed US Hams
Dec 2006: 656,068
Apr 2000: 678,539
Licenses (Loss): -22,471
Percent (Loss): -3.3 %
between Dec.2007 and Feb.2018, 654,378 Hams will lose their privledges if not renewed. If 22,471 are silent keys and 22,471 are not recruited, the net gain is 0% over the 3.3% loss after restructuring occured.
Source: http://www.ah0a.org/FCC/
------------------------------------------------------ In 1962 the population of the country was about 180,000,000 and the ham population was about 239,000. That is, there was about 1 ham for every 750 people in the general population. Today the population is about 300,000,000 and there are in excess of 650,000 licensees, a ratio of about 1 in 450. 45 years of historical change in amateur licensing requirements, the explosion of prosperity and pursuit of leisure time activies has produced a change of no greater magnitude than this? You couldn't produce a significantly different change upward in the number of licensees if you gave away licenses and stations.
Amateur radio is not dying! The numbers are going thru an adjustment period to reflect the real rather than imagined interest of a few years ago that swelled the number of licensees without producing active amateur's.
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by KT4WO on November 22, 2007
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KB9CRY----
Well,,, maybe not in your area... but come to Western North Carolina..Repeaters on every mtn top and not a QSO to be found! Ill take the Fat Guy!! ..hihi
Trip - KT4WO
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W5ESE on November 22, 2007
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I think we're doing fine. Nothing to worry about.
Year Population # Hams Hams as % of US Population
1913 97225000 2000 0.002%
1914 99111000 5000 0.005%
1916 101961000 6000 0.006%
1921 108538000 10809 0.010%
1922 110049000 14179 0.013%
1930 123202624 19000 0.015%
1940 132164569 56000 0.042%
1950 151325798 87000 0.057%
1960 179323175 230000 0.128%
1970 203211926 263918 0.130%
1980 226545805 393353 0.174%
1990 248709873 502677 0.202%
1997 267783607 678733 0.253%
2000 281421906 682240 0.242%
2005 296410404 662600 0.224%
2006 299291772 657814 0.220%
Many folks consider the 1950's as the "Golden
Age of Amateur Radio", but as you can see, the
fractional part of the US population that was
licensed was between 0.057% and 0.128%.
That is much lower than the 0.220% of the US
population that are licensed today.
I don't think it would be a disaster at all if
we stabilised at about 500000 USA hams. The rest
of the world needs to catch up.
We need more licensed amaters in VK/ZL, VU, BA,
ZS, XE, UA, HB, EI, etc. There are plenty of us
in this country; we could use some more DX
stations to work!
I've never been a believer is "selling" amateur
radio, but simply "present" it so that we're not
invisible to those that may be naturally drawn
to it. At whatever age they happen to be.
73
Scott
W5ESE
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by N7BUI on November 22, 2007
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I've had FAR better luck getting co-workers and friends to get their ham tickets rather than young persons. (Like my kids!) So far two have gotten their tickets and I'm working on a couple of others. When the subject comes up I always toot ham radio's horn. All of them are middle age, are working in decent jobs, and could afford a newer type of radio.
When I've spoken to young persons about ham radio, I tend to get some interest and try to direct them to web sites that might encourage them (and steer them away from some of the ones that won't). If they come back, then I'll try to reel them in and help get them on the path to getting their license.
My youngest daughter did shock me once when she was in high school (as most kids do anyway) by approaching me wanting to learn the "Morse Code"! I thought "WOAAAAAAAA! thats a new one she's interested in Dad's hobby.) Nope it was a fad that was going around the school to talk encrypted of some sort. But she did take the time to learn the code to about a 5wpm level. But hopefully the seed has been planted and maybe in the future when she is needing a hobby, ham radio might spring to mind and she will pursue the hobby.
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by KC0SHZ on November 22, 2007
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1. Amateur Radio is not dying.
2. We need to be open to kids, not just for our hobby, but for all those proto-engineers out there that start down that route listening to Antartica on HF.
3. We need to be more visible to mid-life people as the hobby seems too dense to most of the people my age, and that turns them off. By emphasizing that there is usually always a band opening somewhere, HF radio becomes one of those "Have 2 hours? Do some fill in the blank" hobby.
This is an important part of the appeal of HF radio. I can do the hobby while on call. I can't go to a movie, or do some detailed hobby like wood working as the concentration I would need for the wood working is too much if I am getting paged every 20 minutes. Movies don't work for the obvious reason. HF works great for me as I can always put down the mike to answer the call, and then get right back to it.
There are a lot of us 40-60 year old guys that live this kind of a life. Ham radio makes a great hobby as its interesting, diverse, and something you can just do for a couple of hours between other committments. (And the QSO's to Finland are fun to share with your XYL, hi,hi!)
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Moon Bouncing
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by KT4HT on November 22, 2007
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May give new meaning to old concepts.
Example: Amateur Radio Moon Bounce
Line up a few middle-age fat hams, have them face backwards and bend over. See how far you can bounce a signal off their behind.
Dave, you are 100% right. Ham Radio is for us middle to senior agers. The ARRL, etc., are way off the mark with their promotion of the hobby. Irresponsible.
Hey, perhaps we should also encourage our ham brothers to take a shower and brush their teeth before attending hamfests and club meetings.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KI6EAA on November 22, 2007
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I am a relatively new General, at 54, and probably typical for the "target" that the writer is searching for. Unlike the majority of attendees at local hamfests, I am in decent shape, however.
Why Ham radio now? Kids are older, house is finished, time on my hands, some disposable income. I am a livelong tinkerer, so this is a great hobby for me. That is probably the profile for the new hams. I had neither the time nor inclination to learn code, so I never was interested in this hobby before.
My teenagers will never be hams, as this is not a hobby for their generation, I do not believe. Too many other distractions.
A neighbor of my family while I was a teenager restored old cars, like 1 cyl. brass cars. I was building small block Chevys. I could not understand why anyone would want to chug along in a slow Bush or Dort when they could peel rubber with my car. He understood that, and simply said that each generation had it's own unique hobbies that will decline with their demise. Aspects of Ham radio will also decline. Other aspects may increase, who knows. My point - it is what it is, don't try to force things..
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by KC9MAV on November 22, 2007
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Im the youngest ham in the area seriously but I love but i notice at school all the kids say its "gay" "whats the goddamn point?" i really think there is a big difference in 1958 and 2007.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N0AH on November 22, 2007
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snag a few????? I don't mind your statement about recognizing a potential target market not being taped into to it's potential, but your statements abut kids is off base.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by G3LBS on November 22, 2007
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We wouldn't have to see their pictures on eHam Spotlight would we? Because some of them dress very badly.
(I am 72)
Buffalo Gil W2/G3LBS
(An Englishman always dresses for dinner, but serves the salad undressed)
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by KF4HR on November 22, 2007
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Good points David. I have a tendency to think the trend is for older (rounder, as you say!) individuals to be the main group taking up a amateur radio as a new interest now-a-days. I certainly saw evidence of this at the last VEC testing session I attended earlier this year. Not a young kid to be found anywhere in the crowd of 60+. In my particular VEC seesion I saw middle aged individuals and older getting their license (or upgrading). There's certainly nothing wrong with that - and perhaps it's a blessing. Older individuals have a tendency to be able to spend more money on their gear - thus keeping equipment manufacturers in business, which benefits us all.
There's no doubt that cellphones and the internet "do it" for the younger crowd, (at least many of them).
With changes over the last several years in cellphone & internet usage and that obvious popularity, and the lessening & eventual elimination of CW requirements, it would be interesting to see if licensed amateur numbers really are decreasing or increasing, and if the average age of a licensed amateur is changing. Anyone know where that information might be found?
KF4HR
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by K0DCH on November 22, 2007
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Good point David. Like Rotary, we need to recruit people with disposable income and time.
As for the belly fat, I think that works against us in the long term by increasing the number of SK's perhaps faster than we can recruit replacements.
I'm 58 and got into the hobby when I was a kid, but didn't really have the money or time to indulge myself until fairly recently. However, my belt size is still 32 and I am in better shape than when I was younger (though a bit more creaky.) I am in the hobby for the long haul.
Thanks for the article.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N6QL on November 22, 2007
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1. Ham radio IS dying as we know it.
2. Kids are not the answer.
3. Dumbing down the hobby because it is "too dense" for the technology challenged majority of the population is a horrible idea.
So, now that I made some controversial statements I'll explain.
Ham radio is dying - at least as we know it. Why? Because it's a hobby predicated on mostly old and antiquated technology which older generations find "magic" while newer generations find no nostalgia in it. As the old guys die off that find CW, SSB, DX, HiFi SSB, and other aspect of our hobby that have no real useful purpose in today's world other than to make 45+ year olds who thought that radio was magic when they were a kid feel a sense of accomplishment. Those guys (I'm one of them) are the majority of the hobby today and we will go away eventually and be replaced more and more by "appliance" operators (already happening)
Kids are not the answer. Why? Radio is not "magic" to anyone born after 1980. Spending thousands of dollars to talk to someone on the other side of the world using old, unreliable technology for the only purpose other than being able to say you did it or to be able to say you did more of them than another guy has almost ZERO interest to those folks. They are more interested in communications as a reliable tool to communicate to their friends rather than an unreliable game. To them a hobby around radio is like having a hobby around antique can openers.
Dumbing down the hobby is a horrible idea. It doesn't make the hobby better it merely makes it a different and dumbed down hobby. Amateur radio was never about having lots and lots of completely non-technical participants. In fact, it used to be primarily about being technical so as to enable the communications. The dumbing down of America and creating "access for all" by making everything simple enough for the lowest common denominator is the very same mentality that has permeated our schools and the entitlement society we have today and reduced our world-wide competitiveness and does not make for a better amateur radio hobby. That turns amateur radio into "Family Radio". I recently saw this very same thing happen with a small aircraft flying group I belong to. The formation of the group was predicated on the technical aspects of flying and maintaining airplanes. A group of people came in who were non-technical and valued social events more than talking about the technical aspects of flying and keeping them flying. They tried to change the organization and when they could not they bitterly broke off and started their own group which initially appeared to be successful due but ultimately failed. Why? Because if you remove the unique nature of the hobby (the technology) and it becomes merely an excuse to socialize it becomes no different than the senior citizen's center, CB, or a weekly "get together for lunch". Ultimately if technology is removed to the point that there is nothing to talk about that you wouldn't normally talk about via some simpler easier means (like a cell phone or an Internet forum) then what's the point?
Same is true for amateur radio. If amateur radio is dumbed down so that those who find it "too dense" are comfortable how is it different from a cell phone or an Internet forum? In other words, without the technical piece this isn't Amateur Radio it's something else - CB or Family radio.
I'm perfectly satisfied to keep amateur radio a technical hobby (actually get back to our roots) and if the majority of the population who still haven't figured out how to use the basic features of their cell phones find it "too dense" let them go find a hobby more to their likiing. Don't abandon the charter of amateur radio to suit them.
Ron
N6QL
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KI6EAA on November 22, 2007
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"No recruitment needed.
The bands are already over crowded"
Really? Where? I have 20 meters on now, and hear exactly 4 QSOs in progress, 2 of those nets. That is normal for a weekend/holiday day, it seems. Running a typical station - midrange Yaesu and a multiband vertical at 30ft.
Problem with my station? No, there were wall-to-wall QSOs last weekend during the SSB contest on this band, and I had to use the narrow filter setting. Logged stations from all over, including QRP ones.
People seem to be on only during contests. I would consider the bands dead on non-contest days, at least here. May be different in your locations...
Randy
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N4KC on November 22, 2007
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Good article, and well presented. No, ham radio is NOT dying! But one reason for that is that it has plenty of missionaries who continue to sell its virtues. Yes, that includes manufacturers who want to sell stuff...and there's nothing wrong with that (look at the promotional videos at http://www.icomamerica.com/en/media_events/videos/default.aspx for example)...the ARRL, and a whole batch of us who want to spread the word so others can enjoy something we like so much. Would we continue to maintain and grow in numbers if nobody was doing anything at all to encourage interest in the hobby?
I suspect if you could see valid research into who is the prime target for kindling interest in ham radio, you would see a window from about 13 to 16 years old, before cars and girls, college and careers, kids and more career, and another window from, say, 40 to 60. I'll bet most of us who started young in this hobby fit into the first window. That bunch is probably skewed by the ones who became interested because a family member was a ham. That's about when they either caught the bug or didn't.
For many of the reasons cited in David's article and by other posters, the really fertile ground is probably the second group. But any successful marketing campaign identifies a bullseye as well as circular rings around that bullseye that may not be a prime target but a target nonetheless.
And it's important to make all of them aware of whatever we want them to know about.
73,
Don N4KC
www.n4kc.com
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W1YB on November 22, 2007
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I agree fully!!!!
When the current generation die off (WWII-era folks and the first Boomers) Amateur Radio will succumb to the demand for frequency allocations by other groups and to a lack of participants.
The only kids I see at Ham related gatherings belong to a very narrow segment of their age group. (I know what that segment is, but I won't identify it here just to avoid the insults.)
Although, I must admit I've paid my debts to society and I'm not really sure I feel a need propagate the Amateur Radio Service. I really enjoy Ham Radio, but I doubt that I'll be looking in on it from some afterlife.
Just my $00.02 - YMMV
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WA9PIE on November 22, 2007
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All I can say is...
In order to attract young people to ham radio, manufacturers will need to make handheld radios that:
- are as small as a cell phone (and look similar), and
- have text messaging abilities
Otherwise, it won't happen.
Mike, WA9PIE
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WX4O on November 22, 2007
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I had to retire to afford the ProIII I have now. Without us 'old' guys with a few bucks to sell stuff to, manufacturers wouldn't bother with the extensive R&D and advertising that costs them money. I like to see all the ads in ham mags for the latest equipment. Shows development and sales are still going on. Buy buy.
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Makes perfect sense to me.
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by WB4M on November 22, 2007
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Amateur radio is a perfect hobby for older people like me. Older folks have more time and money to invest in the hobby than teenagers. Most young people today couldn't care less about ham radio and technology is leaving ham radio behind in the dust. I'm not saying we don't need younger people, but I do think older people are much better "recruits".
BTW, I agree with N6QL.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by K8PJM on November 22, 2007
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I'm one of the middle aged new hams. Fooled around with the CB thing back in the 70's, but didn't like the talk on it. Radio went by the wayside untill the age of 51. Got into Ham after learning how to fly, got my pilots license but don't have the money to keep it up.
So at 51 I went out an took the Tech' test, then a few months later got my General ticket. Now studing for the extra. I am now in the process of buying new and used equipment as money comes availible. Thank God for you elder Elmers! I have learned a lot from you in my short time being around Ham radio. Thanks for being here to help. I now have many good friends over the age of 70!
73
Phil, K8PJM
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KF4HR on November 22, 2007
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W5ESE's numbers are interesting. It looks like we peaked in 1997, and decreased 3.3% through 2006, even though the 13 and 20 wpm code requirement tests were dropped during that time period. It'll be interesting to see if the numbers for 2007 increase due to the December 2006 decision to eliminate the code requirement.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by G0GQK on November 22, 2007
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I don't think some of you fella's will be satisfied until the bands are blocked solid from one end to the other.
Then, when you can't find a space to squeeze in, and you're getting QRM so loud it drives you nuts, and you switch off the rig and go and watch the baseball, there'll be something else for you to write to e-ham to complain about.
Is it because you're short of people to talk with or do you have shares in the big three, or perhaps you have a CB or radio shop and you need more business ?
Just start learning to be satisfied with what you have, just wait for four years and you'll be happy again.
G0GQK
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KA8OCN on November 22, 2007
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I think its a great idea to go after middle aged people. I know that I got my Novice in 1981 and did a year of code. Then I passed the Tech test. After that I stayed on 2 meters because I just could not get the 13 words per min (I tested 3 times and just could not get it, I know there are people that will say if you wanted it bad enough you would have done it but for me Ham Radio does not pay the bills).
When the FCC changed the rules to allow no code Techs there a lot of new people on the repeaters that was good except I was ashamed to be a OLD Coded Ham because of the way people treated the new people on the repeaters. In our area we have a few Extras that think its their mission in life to hammer these new people every time they keyed a mike.
This was so uncomfortable for me that I quite using 2 meters for a few years.
When the FCC changed the rule and let people like me to upgrade to general with the 5 word per min I finally got to play on HF and had and still do have a ball on HF. My favorite mode is PSK31 (I used to run RTTY on 2 meters years and years ago)
I have even found a group of (Middle aged guys) on 2 meter simplex (Some of the people that were shuned when they were first licensed)
In the last 2 years since I have moved to working from home (I own 2 retail stores but after being injured at work I no longer can be on my feet more than a few hours at a time) I have spend more money on Hamradio in the 2 years than I ever have in my life! I wont keep spending the money (I hope my Icom 756 Pro III lasts the rest of my life) My Mosley beam will be here the end of January and my tower is all ready for the antenna. When I got into Ham Radio I was in my early 20s and I could not have afforded any of this then. Unless you call 1 two meter handheld a Ham Radio Station its not a cheep hobby!
We raised 3 Children and I had a standing offer to each of them if they would get their license I would buy them any radio of their choice. None of them took me up on it.
27 years ago if a Young person loved electronics there was not a lot of different ways for them to get into it so Amateur Radio was a very atractive choice. Now kids sit on the interent and have cell phones and a lot of stuff that I done even know about.
I say if there is a group of middle aged people that are interested in Ham Radio lets do our best to bring them in to the fold, this does not mean we have to give up on kids.
Something I would like to say to the people that are still mad about new people getting licensed since they dropped code. I remember when you had to throw you call out on a repeater in our area and wait your turn to make a call. Now you can monitor all day and not hear anyone. How about HF, What is I called CQ CQ CQ and no one was there to come back to me? This hoppy SUCKS if you do it alone!
73 to everyone, I hope to catch you on the bands.
Delbert McCord KA8OCN
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KE4ZHN on November 22, 2007
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Interesting observation. The majority of new hams I work on HF are in the middle aged group. Frankly, young or old I dont care what age the ham at the other end of the qso is as long as they are enjoyable to talk with. Trying to get todays youth interested in hundred yr old technology is an exercise in futility. Too many of them Ive seen in this area seem to be bent on emulating "gangsta's". When you go out and see teens wearing pants that are 5 sizes too big and their ass crack hanging out theres a fine example of what our society is breeding. Do we really want to encourage this street mentality trash into the hobby? No thanks. Stick to the middle aged folks who arent future criminals.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by DH5JBR on November 22, 2007
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A word from Germany.
Some decades ago, the world experienced considerable trouble from our side.
What had happened? How did a disastrous political idea get into the minds of the biggest part of a nation?
I watched a documentary on how the Hitler youth was organized.
Did the man himself talk to the kids? No!
Care was taken that the age difference from the guy who spread the news to the recipient did not exceed two years.
18-year-olds were being "taught" by 20-year-olds and all the way down to, say, 10-year-olds.
That worked!
Okay, so, if you are 54, you can talk a 52-year-old into ham radio, but you are lost trying to do that to someone who is 16.
Getting 52-year-olds (I am 52, but with the hobby for 10 years now, also SWL and afraid of code for decades) is one thing, but we could work our way down the age ladder. I presume that with increasing age, the required age difference will also increase, but for effective youth work the tutors had better been young, too.
Encouraging 52-year-olds is a start, but we should also have a go at those 45-year-olds and so forth.
Having said this, I will try and organize a Kid´s Day affair on January 6th and have invited young and not so young kids of all ages with the suggestion to make ham radio the family hobby and take the test collectively.
We´ll see how that works.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N6KYS on November 22, 2007
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>>>>by KE4ZHN on November 22, 2007 Interesting observation. The majority of new hams I work on HF are in the middle aged group. Frankly, young or old I dont care what age the ham at the other end of the qso is as long as they are enjoyable to talk with. Trying to get todays youth interested in hundred yr old technology is an exercise in futility. Too many of them Ive seen in this area seem to be bent on emulating "gangsta's". When you go out and see teens wearing pants that are 5 sizes too big and their ass crack hanging out theres a fine example of what our society is breeding. Do we really want to encourage this street mentality trash into the hobby? No thanks. Stick to the middle aged folks who arent future criminals<<<<
That's a sick observation. Many, many, many kids are great and are an inspiration.....with even the smallest amount of effort, you'll find them. Maybe they're not interested in your pathetic attitude. Without getting into politics, remember what generation is signing up to go and fight for your freedoms in some real Sh$%hole countries. I know....I've seen them and served with them.
Get a life.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by AD5VM on November 22, 2007
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Case in point:
I went to Phoenix to do a job at Intel, one of the local guys (age 60) met me in the parking lot of my hotel and I followed him to the fab. His license plate read 'K1AHV' so at a stop light I honked 'HI'... He pulled over to see what I was honking about. Turns out he's not a ham, but his late father was and his license plate was his way of remembering his father... He said he would love to do it but he doesn't want to learn Morse code... I said 'well friend, this is your lucky year.' He is studying for the exams now.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by K8QV on November 22, 2007
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1. Ham radio IS dying as we know it.
2. Kids are not the answer.
3. Dumbing down the hobby because it is "too dense" for the technology challenged majority of the population is a horrible idea.
So, now that I made some controversial statements I'll explain.
Ham radio is dying - at least as we know it. Why? Because it's a hobby predicated on mostly old and antiquated technology which older generations find "magic" while newer generations find no nostalgia in it. As the old guys die off that find CW, SSB, DX, HiFi SSB, and other aspect of our hobby that have no real useful purpose in today's world other than to make 45+ year olds who thought that radio was magic when they were a kid feel a sense of accomplishment. Those guys (I'm one of them) are the majority of the hobby today and we will go away eventually and be replaced more and more by "appliance" operators (already happening)
Kids are not the answer. Why? Radio is not "magic" to anyone born after 1980. Spending thousands of dollars to talk to someone on the other side of the world using old, unreliable technology for the only purpose other than being able to say you did it or to be able to say you did more of them than another guy has almost ZERO interest to those folks. They are more interested in communications as a reliable tool to communicate to their friends rather than an unreliable game. To them a hobby around radio is like having a hobby around antique can openers.
Dumbing down the hobby is a horrible idea. It doesn't make the hobby better it merely makes it a different and dumbed down hobby. Amateur radio was never about having lots and lots of completely non-technical participants. In fact, it used to be primarily about being technical so as to enable the communications. The dumbing down of America and creating "access for all" by making everything simple enough for the lowest common denominator is the very same mentality that has permeated our schools and the entitlement society we have today and reduced our world-wide competitiveness and does not make for a better amateur radio hobby. That turns amateur radio into "Family Radio". I recently saw this very same thing happen with a small aircraft flying group I belong to. The formation of the group was predicated on the technical aspects of flying and maintaining airplanes. A group of people came in who were non-technical and valued social events more than talking about the technical aspects of flying and keeping them flying. They tried to change the organization and when they could not they bitterly broke off and started their own group which initially appeared to be successful due but ultimately failed. Why? Because if you remove the unique nature of the hobby (the technology) and it becomes merely an excuse to socialize it becomes no different than the senior citizen's center, CB, or a weekly "get together for lunch". Ultimately if technology is removed to the point that there is nothing to talk about that you wouldn't normally talk about via some simpler easier means (like a cell phone or an Internet forum) then what's the point?
Same is true for amateur radio. If amateur radio is dumbed down so that those who find it "too dense" are comfortable how is it different from a cell phone or an Internet forum? In other words, without the technical piece this isn't Amateur Radio it's something else - CB or Family radio.
I'm perfectly satisfied to keep amateur radio a technical hobby (actually get back to our roots) and if the majority of the population who still haven't figured out how to use the basic features of their cell phones find it "too dense" let them go find a hobby more to their likiing. Don't abandon the charter of amateur radio to suit them.
Ron
N6QL
- What he said bears repeating.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W5HTW on November 22, 2007
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Agree with N6QL. On everything.
We pretend it isn't true, but it is. When I got into amateur radio at age 16, I had no iPod, no MP3, no cell phone, no pager, no Xbox, no GameBoy. I had a car, a girl friend, and a guitar. Those were my diversions. None of them were very technical, though keeping the girl friend happy and the car running, did take some effort.
I had been very briefly exposed to ham radio at age 11 and it didn't 'take' as I really didn't know what it was. The fellow tried to interest me, but I was into learning guitar at that point, and realizing girls weren't all bad.
We have had school teachers attempt to recruit entire classes of 25 students into amateur radio. It doesn't work. There has to be, and there should be, an 'interest.'
One of our club members just made a suggestion to the club a few days ago, regarding possible participation in a public event where LOTS of kids attend. He said we should promote it as "See a real old-fashioned shortwave radio station in operation." We should put up a HF station that not only works, but looks impressive. Boat anchors if possible, so that it doesn't look like CB. Bring back the spirit of the ocean going vessels. Nearly every kid has seen the use of a key or bug on maritime emergencies in the movies, and though they may not be interested in it, seeing that kind of thing in action just may would at least draw some attention.
To be honest, the normal hook today is to show some kid PSK31. And I ask, how in the hell does he know that isn't an internet chat room? It looks like, walks like, talks like the internet duck, so in his mind it IS the internet duck. He has seen nothing at all he isn't doing at home. That black box is just another ISP in his eyes.
Show him RADIO. Show him its history, show him how it was. Make it interesting, don't duplicate IM.
Our club is starting to have quite a bit of success recruiting members and ALL of the new members are over 50. Several are retired. What's wrong with that? Some are new hams, just exploring the possibilities. It is just as exciting to teach them, at age 55, as it is to teach a 14 year old. It is just as exciting to find some gal aged 55 just got her ticket as it is to find some kid age 14 just got his.
There is one key word in all of this. That word is RADIO. If you make it look like the internet, it has no appeal at all, not even to middle aged adults, as they are doing that already. Make it look, smell, taste, feel, like RADIO. Sure, it can be CW, it can be voice. But it needs to be RADIO, that talks to faraway places, not the guy down the street on the repeater.
That is our plan. An operating HF station, on both voice and CW, that brings to the public, young and old, a view of RADIO, the way it was.
People don't know what we do. We have so blended with CB and FRS they they cannot separate us in their minds.
You want to appeal to people of any age? Show them RADIO. Turn off the computers - they have computers in every room of their houses, in their offices, at work, in their cars, microwaves, televisions, everything they touch. TURN OFF THE COMPUTERS! Show them RADIO.
Yeah, it's an antique hobby. Take advantage of that!
Have someone walk by your PSK31 position, and see you tpying on your keyboard.
Have that person walk by your CW position and see you using that VibroPlex.
Which is going to be unique to that viewer?
Ed
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by K6AER on November 22, 2007
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Ron, N6QL hit the nail on the head.
• Ham radio IS dying as we know it.
• Kids are not the answer.
• Dumbing down the hobby because it is "too dense" for the technology challenged majority of the population is a horrible idea.
The fascination with the hobby is the technical. I have given many hundreds of license test over my 47 years in this hobby and what I have noticed is when a new ham gets involved in the technical and building side they stay with the hobby.
The casual operator gets bored and in a few months or years they show up with the latest chrome monster from Harley. The radio equipment is on E-Bay,
The ARRL has not helped here either.
I get the feeling the only reason we send astronauts into space is to talk to kids on ham radios.
Average technical article in QST is how to build another “J” Pole.
Hams are not FEMA. The push to have hams as first responders is a joke.
This months QST had a article about building a discrete AGC system. 99.9% of the ham population would have no idea what to do with the information in the article.
The technical testing of new equipment has also become a joke with intercept levels being tested at 0dBm level at the receiver input. That is S9+73dB. Now every transceiver has a great IMD3 level because the AGC is shut off.
I would like to see a lot less fluff articles in magazines and more actual building with a soldiering iron.
Ask a ham what he is proudest of and he’ll show you something he built, not the latest country worked.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is what it is!!!!!!
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by WA2JJH on November 22, 2007
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I stated as a Novice when I was a teenager. It is 30 years later.
I remember when ham radio attracted more scientific,engineering,medical and other mid aged hard working professionals.
Today, any dipstick can pass the General test. Just for kicks, I took a few on line EXTRA "multiple guess"
50 question tests.
I did not study one bit. I took 3 different exams in less than 2 hours. I passed with an 80& or better.
You did make a good point. There are plenty of 40 something Hams out there.
I went to a GRAD school reunion. There were many engineers and scientist that Had been licensed and used
to be active. MANY JUST LET THEIR TICKET EXPIRE!!!
DARN SHAME,IMHO.
I saw on the News, a disturbing trend. The new college kids are not self starters!
Unless you know NOSTRADAMAS, Nobody knows the future.
Will it be round, quasi-elliptical,square,or turns into a 1.8-30mhz CB like service. I HOPE NOT!!!!!
You have the good intentions. It would be great to have a more rounded age grouping. We used to have it that way.
Some of the New, young hams are very bright! They bring a lot to the table.
Statistics show Gang bangers end in prison or get whacked in a turf war or O. D. The middle age CONS are lucky to get a G.E.D/2 year community college.
IF YOU ARE INACTIVE, please renew. Ham Radio is a good retirement hobby. A hobby you can take long breaks from as well.
The ARRL seems to no longer represents the type of person the FCC had in mind.
I like what you had to say. Entropy is a physics.
Seems like Social/psychic entropy could be real.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KI4ZCU on November 22, 2007
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Well you just described me.
Im middle aged, time on hands,
always loved radio but just
didnt have the time until now.
Im sorry I didnt have time to
enjoy the last cycle but I will
the next.
For me I passed both tech and general
tests the same day at the shelby hamfest.
Can't wait to go for extra....
I had a great time looking over
the gear at that hamfest and am now
in the process of setting up my
station.
We need old and middle aged and
young too. However you might be
right about the younger ones
with video games and internet
on their minds....
All are welcome!!
Now does anyone near me have a
used ts-850 or ts-870 or ts-950
or ts-950sdx for a reasonable but
fair price. Hard to decide to buy
that 47" LCD vs a nice kenwood
or icom....joking.. but not about
the kenwoods... hihi
KI4ZCU
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is what it is!!!!!!
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by WA2JJH on November 22, 2007
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Then again, I have to agree with many other posters.
1)The ham/gen. pop. has it's upward trends in quantity of Hams.
2)The Quality seems to inversly with the quantity.
3)EBARF and other factors,doomed hamfest's
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY!!!
There is some retired Korean war MOS dude that just popped up and started thread-hogging. He brags that he just got his "minute rice extra" a few months ago.
When you see him on EHAM.....YOU WILL KNOW IT.
He claimed to have had his 1st phone years ago.
He feels we should all "PAY TRIBUTE" to this Newjack no-nothing.
AGN QUALITY OVER QUANTITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HPY TNX GVN
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by KI4ZCU on November 22, 2007
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BTW
As for the new testing without
morse code.
I didnt think that general test
was easy at all considering they
changed the test pool on me..lol
Glad I invested 6 months studying
the materials ahead of time
before taking the tech and general
tests last august.
And I'll spend another 6 months
studying for the extra, hey wait
are they not going to change the
test pool for extra next summer??
Oh well been down that road before!!
So for me that would be a total
of one year of studying the materials
to gain extra class. In any rate
thats a lot of time. I definitely
earned it.
One problem I encountered was not
studying the materials but lack of
testing and convenient times.
Once set up I'll probably become
a volunteer tester in hopes of
providing more convenience to those
who may want to join our ranks.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W6WBJ on November 22, 2007
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N6KYS wrote: "Too many of [the teenagers] Ive seen in this area seem to be bent on emulating "gangsta's". When you go out and see teens wearing pants that are 5 sizes too big and their ass crack hanging out theres a fine example of what our society is breeding. Do we really want to encourage this street mentality trash into the hobby? No thanks. Stick to the middle aged folks who arent future criminals."
That is FUNNY! Post more stuff, 'KYS!
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N6KYS on November 22, 2007
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Hey W6WBJ, re-read my post will you....you'll see it was something idiotic KE4ZHN wrote. Unbelievable.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KI4ZCU on November 22, 2007
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I think the biggest obstacle
into recruiting new people
into the hobby is the price
of new equipment.
What does it take, a nice
$2000+ rig etc.
You can easily chew through
3 grand just to set up a
new station without a amp.
Thats a hard sell to anyone new
to the hobby unless they really
want to become a operator for the
long haul.
In reviewing the threads here on this
subject, I do take notice that some
are highly critical of new hams not
being required to pass morse code tests.
Being one of them, I can tell you that
I have both a BS in Business and a
Masters in Computer Science. Please
don't degrade me because I didn't
have to pass a morse code exam.
Morse code is just one of many ways
to communicate. I wonder how many
existing hams would like it if they
were now required to write a 1000 line
program in 'c' or assembly language
just to qualify renewing their license
using the software based digital modes
available in the newer radios?
How does the DSP really work? What
clever computer programs are really
behind the newer radios? My bet
would be most hams don't really
have a clue. I would love to
see this technical hobby rise to
this level. I would love to see
and understand the programs in the
Icom Pro III. I would like to
see hams sharing open source
programs making their radios better
instead of relying on Yaesu, Kenwood
or Icom for their updates. Right
now we are rapidly becoming end users
of the newer radios dependent on
the manufacturers for providing
software updates.
To me the splendor of the hobby
is how diverse the people are.
From Doctors to just plain folks.
No need to require new or current
license holders to learn computer
programming just as morse code.
Maybe the real answer is to require
both morse code skills and computer
programming skills. I'll be glad
to be your Elmer with regards to
computer programming.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W7ETA on November 22, 2007
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Dip stick?
Is that a new type of 2 meter antenna?
Or, do you slide that inside of a coil instead of tuning a slug?
Rig here, 5 tube receiver with one dip stick-xmitter 3 tube with 2 dip sticks. HW? K
best Wishes
bob
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KL7IPV on November 22, 2007
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The premise is right and a little wrong. If we get the younger people interested than we have a seed to be grow on later. I am not saying NOT to get them licensed, but don't push. Show the teenagers what radio is about and how it works. I know personally that cars and girls superceded any interest I had in radios. I had a lot of interest too! But later on when things in life settled in and I had the time, I then found the time and where with all to get back to radios. That was over 40 years ago and I still am interested. I have a son and daughter that were both licensed when they were very young. One has given up the license but the son still carries on. So maybe the real game plan is NOT to push licensing at a early age but just let them know that at sometime in the future radio MAY play a role in their lives. If they do get a license, so much the better. But if not, the future for them may be far different then if we didn't introduce radio to them. That may do more to ensure ham radio's future growth then anything else we can do now.
Frank
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WA2JJH on November 23, 2007
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MARK, listen to 14.178mhz. Iets have s QS0. That is my fsvorite frequeny. It is the old freq. It was the frec,
that the HI-FI audio group. The got really got Reiley rialled,rude,red,racing,and riffed.
They were running with 4KC audio. The most excellent
TX audio. Some even TXed SSB so good,it sounded like AM
BDCST AUDIO. (unless you had a Drake TR-7 or any rig with NO FM rx/tx.
Drakes have such a narrow 1st IF xtal in them.
They were designed for 2.3khz BW. It was amazing, Almost like my old tubed rx's
Many hams rolled to Reiley. It was only in the past 20 years, that FM was on any radio mode switch.
Sure,it ws great to get Ca and Japan with 100W of
10M FM. However many rigs could then use an eight pole
filter (2.3kc)right at the output of the 1st mixer.
Only 2 HI-FI ops The infamous notice from a FEDERAL CANDY COMMISSION.
However,I learned a lot about SSB DSP.I used to listen to their GREAT PSUEDO_BDCST audio. They also talked about RF design. I felt unworthy speaking to them with my POS KENWOOD TS-50.
Reilly ruled. No more HI-FI SSB.
Hope to work you some day. I CQ on 14.178, because
That freq. always has little QRM, IMOD from locals and so many Hams are Paranoid about getting a warning letter.:)
73 N Hpy TNX GVG to you and yours.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WA2JJH on November 23, 2007
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<<<<<The Future of Ham Radio is Round Reply
by KI4ZCU on November 22, 2007 Mail this to a friend!
Well you just described me.
Im middle aged, time on hands,
always loved radio but just
didnt have the time until now.
Im sorry I didnt have time to
enjoy the last cycle but I will
the next.
For me I passed both tech and general
tests the same day at the shelby hamfest.
Can't wait to go for extra....>>>>>>>
NO, I was not you I had in mind. Lighten up dude :)
You are very bright. More importantly is the Manifest
enthusiasm to learn more and achieve. You work hard, you play hard.
Many can "talk the talk". dilude(did)(medical joke)
them selfs with self praise. Then debate on and on about how they should be treated. They are too proud to ask questions. They will then go off tangent with War Stories.
The dude I had in mind, claimed to work in defence contracting.
He is in ACT-3 of his life. I lives long he lives another 50-60 years. Perhaps he will learn to take his socks off,....before he showers! :)
73 DE MIKE. P.S. You can buy an ICOM 718 FOR $575.
Nice front mounted speaker and built in AC supply.
Visa-vi, getting a Kenwood TS-850. I have the 950SDX
and a TS-850. I also have 3 dead TS-850's, I purhased cheap and broken. Perhaps I can man make one good one from the 3. The Kenwood RF speech procs are the best!
HI-HI :)
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KE4ZHN on November 23, 2007
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Hey Brad, are you one of those asscrack showing gang bangers too? Perhaps your kid is one of them and thats why you got on your high horse? In any case my observations are my own. If you dont like them tough shit.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by G3LBS on November 23, 2007
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There will now be a short menopause in the transmission I hope
Buffalo Gil AKA Dr Gil
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by K0PD on November 23, 2007
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Granted if you come to my small city (25,000) you will more than likely not hear any Ham's transmitting and all the younger people we got licensed no longer operate.Our Ham club is all but dead and let's face it most of our Ham's here are OLD including me and lot's of our enthusiasm has wore out.And i'd bet if we could come back in twenty year's the younger not now active Ham's will have picked up the mantle and will be the old codger's we are today.It also just could be about Ham Radio dieing a self fullfilling prophesy....
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OLDER FARTS-RIGHT ON!
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by KU2US on November 23, 2007
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BRAVO! I am also sick and tired of hearing about the new younger "Techie" generation playing with MP3's, Cells, PS-3's, and other stuff, when they absolutely know NOTHING about the inards of what they are playing with. Yes, I say recruit the young as well as the old, but it will be the middle age person who will show more interest and willingness to LEARN SOMETHING TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING and APPRECIATE that something (Pardon my yelling)..WE have the $$$, the desire and the drive to succeed. I also was interested in ham radio as a young lad. I bought a SW reciever and a CB (Puke). But, I was more interested in my 1969 Z-28, girls, and beer. I got my license when I was 30 years old (Im 58 now)..Yeah, we will die off faster, but we will be replaced faster too-with less effort. NO ham radio is not dying, as long as the mystique of using radio waves to communicate using our "antique" radios and outdated code still exist. There always will be that facination. Great post and right on the money. NOW, I will be politically incorrect and wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS..
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RE: OLDER FARTS-RIGHT ON!
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by W9OY on November 23, 2007
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Of course ham radio is dying. We're all dying.
I'm just havin a blast on the way down
W9OY
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WA1RNE on November 23, 2007
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
by N6QL on November 22, 2007
1. Ham radio IS dying as we know it.
2. Kids are not the answer.
3. Dumbing down the hobby because it is "too dense" for the technology challenged majority of the population is a horrible idea.
>>> Ron, although the high level summary is fairly accurate in the broad context it is presented in, the reasons you present for the "dumbing down" are IMO a bit of a generalization.
"The dumbing down of America and creating "access for all" by making everything simple enough for the lowest common denominator is the very same mentality that has permeated our schools and the entitlement society we have today and reduced our world-wide competitiveness and does not make for a better amateur radio hobby. That turns amateur radio into "Family Radio"."
>>> Personally, I don't see a "dumbing down of America". It's true, there is a push for access to all - for Internet and broadband. The ARRL and ham community pushed for a CW-less amateur radio, but unfortunately, "WE" did very little "out of the box" thinking around keeping the technical standards up. "WE" is everyone, including the ARRL.
Otherwise, what exactly is being made so simple? In Massachusetts, a program called MCAS was developed to insure kids are being tested periodically to insure they aren't getting a rubber stamp education. The schools test kids periodically starting from elementary school to insure they are "getting it" and must ultimately pass all the exams to get their HS diploma. Of course this exact program is not being utilized all over the country but I'm sure other states are implementing something similar, maybe better.
There is a lot of truth in the phrase "entitlement society", but I don't believe it is the direct cause of any reduction in the numbers of ham operators. The type of entitlements that are concerning to me are 2, 3, and primary languages and the embracing of illegal aliens and the sudden idea that they all should be given clemency - heck, that IMO is nuts. But that's much bigger than ham radio.....in comparison, our problems are down in the noise.
The Internet, cell phones and video gaming technology has created a revolution in society. We are now "connected" like never before - and for the most part better and more reliably than ham radio can provide, except under emergencies when all power and infrastructure is down.
Deep down, does that make some of us feel a bit inadequate? I think it might.
I like seeing "computer savy" kids, as long as that means using the computer as a learning tool, not just a dumb video terminal for accessing and playing games.
In some ways I'm jealous of what kids have today. Imagine where many of us "old timers" would be on a technical level today if we had access to computers back then......
....WA1RNE
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N6KYS on November 23, 2007
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>>>>RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round Reply
by KE4ZHN on November 23, 2007 Hey Brad, are you one of those asscrack showing gang bangers too? Perhaps your kid is one of them and thats why you got on your high horse? In any case my observations are my own. If you dont like them tough shit.<<<<
Oh man, you're a class act. BTW, nice beard and pony tail, Richard.....you're a real inspiration.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KC5R on November 23, 2007
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Old, middle-aged, or young...what's the difference. I got my license because of interest from boy scouts. That is the best avenue for youth ham recruitment in my mind, as it represents youth that really want to explore stuff besides video games and parents that aren't content to just let their children do that. Who do you think is going to help them stick up a dipole or throw up a little VHF antenna?
As far as middle-aged, it is a great hobby for folks looking for something new. Many times we hear of someone buying a corvette at 40, etc (fast car)...well why not build a radio station and contest rather than race? That "big signal" doesn't have to come from a muffler. To me, contesting is real positive for HR - look at the bands during one of the dozen big contest weekends - packed from all over the place.
As far as retirees, great. Hey many folks need to keep their minds from going inactive after they retire, and ham radio is great for that. Plus, being able to talk to other peers is comforting...maybe these retirement homes and communities could put in ham clubs?
Anyway, I don't try to force others to like my hobby, but to me I see how it can appeal to many - I agree it should be "marketed" to everyone. The biggest thing I see as an issue for the future or the hobby on all levels is to promote good PR and to get antennas protected from extinction by CC&Rs - after all labling antennnas as bad hurts the hobby and those who want to get involved but aren't willing to fight just to try it.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W7AIT on November 23, 2007
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I read your article with great interest.
What motivates more people becoming hams?
It is my observation of ham radio operators that:
1. Most hams are considered “nerds” because we need to study math and science, even a little bit, to get the license. The rest of the population thinks this is not cool or hip.
2. Sorry if I hurt your feelings. Consider – its not cool to go figure the “Q” of your 40 meter traps. Go look in the mirror then go to a ham fest – god I look like a nerd, they look like nerds, gees we must be nerds, sorry.
3. Ham Contesters are motivated by scores and being the winner – they will spend tens of thousands of dollars on a huge antenna farm and station to work a contest 3 weekends a year.
4. Ham DX’er is motivated by distance – they again will spend 100’s of thousands of dollars to go to St Brandon Island for 2 weeks.
5. Ham Rag chewers are motivated by being able to talk.
6. Ham CW ops by sending code.
7. Digital hams are motivated by computers and keyboards (just being a computer guy with out being a ham automatically qualifies as a “geek”, add the ham radio to the computer and you’re definitely a “nerd”.
8. Newbie hams – the “HT Crowd” aren’t motivated – rather the whole lot are forced into the hobby by peer pressure and then drop out.
9. Satellite hams are scientific “super nerds” and are highly motovated by the super technical, the scientific, pushing science to the extreme limits (think Star Trek), and there aren’t very many of us.
Consider:
1. Most people are not motivated by ham radio.
2. Not all people motivated by ham radio are nerds
3. Very few people are “super nerds”.
4. “Nerds” are a small segment of the population.
5. “Super nerds” are a VERY small population of people interested in ham radio.
6. Yes, I am a super nerd. I was fascinated by radio at age 9. I had my General ham license by age 14. Then when satellites first orbited in 1957, I was fascinated by that. As a “Super Nerd”, I was chasing OSCAR 5 in 1969 and always pursued satellites for the 43 years I’ve been a ham; I’m hooked, a super nerd!
7. Part 97 is working quite nicely thank you. It IS providing a pool of trained electronics experts, always has, always will. This is supported by the numbers in one of the previous answers. And consider that when I got licensed in 1964, there were 203,000 hams and today in 2007 there are over 600,000 hams. I think that growth is very good and impressive. The sky is NOT falling and I wish those that keep saying that “the sky is falling” would keep their traps shut.
By its very specialized nature, and stigma for being “nerds”, ham radio will only attract a small portion of the population.
By its very extreme super specialized nature, satellite work will only attract a very small portion of the population, “Super Nerds”. This ends up being even a smaller number, after considering those super nerds who also overcome cost, effort, time, knowledge to setup and operate a satellite station. A lot of super nerds drop out of satellites after the gee whiz factor wears off.
Also consider:
1. Forcing Ham Radio down school kids throats does not work. They should be exposed to it in Electronics Class or Science class, but the ARRL organization and the classroom teachers have totally unrealistic expectations of getting the whole class of 50 students interested in it at all. Getting one or maybe two nerds PER SCHOOL, 1 out of 1000 students is more realistic. It’s a sad state of affairs that our schools do not produce more nerds – scientists and astronauts; and people interested in math and science; and radio – but that is for another discussion.
2. Forcing satellites down school kids throats does not work either as in “ISS satellite QSO’s and Satellite Stations” at the local School or Science Center. Again they should be exposed to it in science class, but the AMSAT organization and the classroom teachers have totally unrealistic expectations of getting the whole class of 50 students interested in it at all. Getting one or maybe two super nerds PER SCHOOL, 1 out of 1000 students is more realistic. Again it’s an extremely sad state of affairs that our schools do not produce more super nerds – scientists and astronauts and radio people – but that is for another discussion.
And, be careful what you wish for, you might get it! Do we really want 1,000,000 hams jamming the bands?
And lastly, be careful what you wish for #2, you might get it! Do we really want 10,000 satellite hams jamming the 3 remaining operational satellites? Do we really want or need to orbit 25 more satellites to handle those 10,000 new ham satellite operators? Remember, of these 10,000 brand new satellite ham operators, only .001% of those are really the super nerds, and 9,990 will drop out from operating satellites after the “gee whiz factor” wears off.
Now for my real answer to the question: We could get a few more ham and satellite operators by close elmering of those who are truly interested nerds or super nerds. I’ve had probably 15 hams over at this shack this year, which is also a fully equipped satellite shack, and not one is interested in satellites. They all express “gee whiz” but that’s it; none are super nerds. Realistically, I think AMSAT’s got most of the people they are going to get, into this hobby – about 4200 people world wide.
Finally, we also need to be realistic. We need to have realistic expectations about the number of ham and satellite operators and the number of ARRL and AMSAT members. I think we’ve been unrealistic for far too long. As Dr. Phil says “Get Real!”
Signed (a super nerd)
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WB9AUJ on November 23, 2007
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Hey now, this sounds like one I could have a good chance with. Grey hair, fat, short....darn, when do we start???
John WB9AUJ
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by SM5IUF on November 23, 2007
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I'm sad to learn that you guys are so much into obtaing diabetes.
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Time to chime back in...
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by WA3YAY on November 23, 2007
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I have the deepest respect for all of you. I do. Not one reply here, even the ones I couldn't quite understand, went unread or unappreciated. We only want the best for our hobby, so I know that in all our interactions with non-Hams, young, old and in-between, we represent it in the best way we can.
So it's with that sentiment that I wish all of you the happiest of holidays and hope we can have a nice QSO someday on the air.
73
Dave
WA3YAY
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KE4ZHN on November 23, 2007
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Whats the matter Brad, is it that time of the month again?
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KB2DHG on November 23, 2007
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You know you are 100% right! We focus so much on the youth that we forget that there is a big enough market out there in middle aged people!
After all, Our hobby does not have to rely on youth there will always be middle class people!
AND honestly, What a better hobby for a middle class person who been there done that with parting, raising family ETC. and now needs a hobby to fill in time! And WHAT A GREAT HOBBY TOO!
SO BRAVO and thank you for the nice article!
73 DE: KB2DHG
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KI4ZCU on November 23, 2007
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When I get set up I'll
definitely be listening for you.
I can't wait to get on the
air.
73's
KI4ZCU
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by NM5X on November 23, 2007
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David..I totally agree with you. The young people I come in contact with are not interested in this hobby. Too slow, not enough bling as it were and there are VERY FEW of their peers present in this avocation. In your favor, I've been able to introduce several people in your proposed target market to amateur radio and they really enjoy it. Very Smart Insight David!
JW NM5X
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W6JAK on November 23, 2007
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Everything dies. People, nations, civilizations, technologies, and, yes, even hobbies. Get over it. Ham radio is alive today so enjoy it, participate in it, share it, and have fun with it today. Doing that instead of fretting over whether ham radio is dying will actually make it (and maybe you) live longer.
73
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N6QL on November 23, 2007
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"Everything dies. People, nations, civilizations, technologies, and, yes, even hobbies. Get over it. Ham radio is alive today so enjoy it, participate in it, share it, and have fun with it today. Doing that instead of fretting over whether ham radio is dying will actually make it (and maybe you) live longer."
Totally agree!
Ron
N6QL
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by K2WH on November 24, 2007
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Ham radio is dying again? I must be a rotting corpse.
K2WH
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KE7NFB on November 24, 2007
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Fits me pretty well, too. I got my first license at about age 11 (WN8TRV), let it expire as teenage concerns distracted me. After college and medical school had gone by got another license KE4HZL, but after a few years the pace of military deployments and a young family with multiple moves dried up my involvement. Now that I'm in my 40's, with time, money, a "permanent" home and children old enough to be interested as well, I've having a lot of fun with amateur radio. I agree the middle aged guy is a good target group.
J Brown
AD7QQ
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KB3PZU on November 24, 2007
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At this point, all should realize that there is some argument for both sides. I do believe in the following.
1) Ham radio is not dying. The reality is that if it was, there wouldn't be as much new equipment on the market as there is. Just if you look at it from that standpoint alone, what is a company like Icom or Yaesu, etc. in business for? To make money. If there wasn't enough demand for their products, they wouldn't be selling them. Everyone considered an OF cannot buy new rigs and peripherals that often to support the companies by themselves.
2) Numbers can be deceiving and shouldn't be taken as an absolute marker of where this hobby is at.
3) There is truth in that the more entertaining the thing, the more attractive it is. That has always been the case. Now, there is more to be personally entertained than ever before, the only difference. Many feel that the net and other techy items are more inviting than talking on a radio, but there's some that obviously don't necessarily feel that way. I don't agree that the hobby should be dumbed down, either just for the sake of enticing new applicants, but I don't believe that eliminating CW as a licensing requirement is necessarily doing that.
4) Should there be any concern about the current younger generation allowing this hobby to fade away? Maybe some, but let's not get alarmist. I restore cars, primarily older police cars, and all of us in the classic car hobby have some concern that the younger guys look more favorably on ricers than classic Detroit iron. Then, when we see a 20ish fellow in a '63 Chevy at a car cruise or I see my 19 y/o son driving what used to be my '76 Ford, you don't worry so much about it.
If we keep the hobby visible, it will survive. Pushing it isn't the answer. Worrying about it won't help. Beating the topic (any topic for that matter) to death just incites discord.
Just my observations from a middle aged newbie that's been around the block a couple of times.
Hope y'all had a good T-Day.
Wes
KB3PZU
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N5EAT on November 24, 2007
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I generally agree with this. Most of the new hams I see are between 25 and 55. They have school out of the way, a little cash, and some free time. Most of the teenies I've seen enter the hobby are hot and heavy for about 6 months and they are never heard from again.
I have several friends who are working on their licenses, and they are both way over 45...
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N6HPX on November 24, 2007
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RX-1 Maybe so on that and I might have missed it too, many of the kids I know will listen to the radio and do want to join like in the place I been staying for the past 22 years, but because of the law there can't. Why its just the way the law is written and those same kids end up going to other so called sports like Playstations and Game Boys..And outside sports, but still wished they could have joinned up. I mentioned this to PARA and they mentioned it an on going battle for years. My Daughter wanted to apply for a commerical Radio License but because she was under age she couldn't.
I have chatted with other countries like China and Korea and many of there kids are on the airwaves using Ham radio for various programs, in fact many chat the same as we do on groups like friendster or eham. As it helps them to develope english skills.
Seems like our country just cant seem to draw the same group of kids and there are probably alot of them but nervous about asking.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W6TH on November 24, 2007
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.
...........Agree with N6QL. On everything...........
............ ham radio is dead.......................
There is no ham radio although it is now still called ham radio, but from the past dumbing down of knowledge it is an increase in population and in band coverages for the Citizen Band Operators.
Ham radio is dead, but CB continues on.
You people have been tricked and moved most all UHF and VHF to the HF bands, now the less use of the higher bands leave it wide open for the FCC to sell those VHF, UHF frequencies for commercial use.
Trick or treat is year round with the FCC.
.:
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by KI6JUU on November 24, 2007
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My Grandsons were totally uninterested in Ham radio, with electronic games, text messages, computers and cell phones filling their communications requirements...This last fall, I took them deer hunting with me up in the Four Corners area of Utah, Arizona Colorado and New Mexico...The WiFi failed about San Berdo, the cell phones went "no service" outside Las Vegas...That evening, I set up my rig and chattd with friends in the Bay Area, and down in San Diego...The next evening after dinner, they drifted over to "see what Gramps is up to"..They are both studying for their tech. license now that football season is over.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KE5LDO on November 24, 2007
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You are right. I went from no license to Extra class in one years. I think the future is both getting youngsters and oldsters involved. The code requirement is the major reason I had not been able to qualify before the change.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KE5LDO on November 24, 2007
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You are right. I went from no license to Extra class in one year. I think the future is both getting youngsters and oldsters involved. The code requirement is the major reason I had not been able to qualify before the change.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KC5CQD on November 24, 2007
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"I'm sad to learn that you guys are so much into obtaing diabetes."
I'm assuming you're making reference to the "girth" of American hams, right? Well Gunnar......this is America. We're a very wealthy country with access to lots and lots of food. Go talk to the Ethiopians about being "thin".
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KI4VWB on November 24, 2007
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I have been in the cellular business for 24 years and just got my tech ticket.
The reason I waited so long was I didn't have any friends that were hams until just a few years ago and they pushed me to study and take the test.
I have to give a big thanks to them and the W4CUE club for the free testing they give at the hamfest.
I think that by clubs offering free testing it will encourage people to become hams.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by K8MHZ on November 24, 2007
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I didn't take the time to read every response but I thought the author did have a point and I enjoyed his comical prose.
That being said, I am 6'2" tall and weigh 180 lbs. and have a 14 year old daughter that has been a ham since she was 11 years old so we don't really fit the profile.
That being said, I am ALL for quality, not quantity. I would rather have 100,000 polite, courteous, knowledgeable hams in the US than 1,000,000 morons. The ARRL may not agree with me, however....
73
Mark K8MHZ
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by W3HR on November 25, 2007
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How soon we forget. Amateur Radio is NOT dead; the no-code Technician license saved it, just like they said it would.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by WI7B on November 25, 2007
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Hams die. Ham radio does not. This is history.
Center you recruit effort on a demography of bored, middle-aged, out-of-shape men? There doesn't seem to be a problem in recruiting them.
Why not center your efforts on those less easily recruited and who value their little free time? They will bring quality to the service, not the bored.
73,
---* Ken
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by RX1 on November 26, 2007
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"Hams die. Ham radio does not. This is history."
No, at some point, it all dies. That is history.
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by WI7B on November 26, 2007
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Yes, you are corret. Entropy wins.
73,
---* Ken
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KI4WAF on November 26, 2007
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When they were talking about marketing ham radio to youngsters, I always thought they were talking about me. At 33, I'm nearly half the age of the average ham :-)
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KA2DDX on November 26, 2007
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I think you make a good point. Years ago, I hosted a computer users group. I noticed after a while that a number of the members were glad to get out of the house and be with others of their kind. Most, not all, were middle aged. The group flourished for a number of years to the benefit of all. It didn't hurt that they had money to spend (on stuff I sold) but also filled several of their needs.
In other words, it worked both ways.
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by AA9F on November 27, 2007
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Am a member of a church in an older city neighborhood. We finally got tired of the "accepted" idea of growth through attracting young families. There are very few in our aging neighborhood. It wasn't working. So now we gear our programs for middle age and older members.
My radio club continues to agonize over how to recruit youth, with zero results. But we continue to get new members-mostly middle aged and older.
73
ray
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by N6HPX on November 27, 2007
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At least we live in a country where we can attract young kids when we can..and there are probably some out there...seems the ideas of talking to astronauts might be ok but the price of our toys might not be ok..HT's for some kids are still pricey and even worst with the new d-star stuff.
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N2ZXE on November 27, 2007
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Hmm...
1. Well, you can always have a combined Weight Watchers+Ham Radio Club if the concern is weight. I mean, I'm middle aged and I'm about 10 pounds heavier than when I was in Graduate School.
2. I entered into amateur radio 15 years ago, it was the same time that the NoCode Tech was instituted. 2 Meter operations were akin of being in the wild west. I operated for a couple of years, then I QRT for a couple of years sorely disappointed with the hobby, when things "improved" and most of those folks started using a cell phone and being on the internet, I came back. I'm not saying that things are perfect, but at least most of the folks that are in the hobby do have a genuine interest in it.
3. I keep saying that Ham equipment is just plain ugly and that's the reason it is not appealing to young folks. A state of the art 2 meter HT is no much different in appearance and functionality than one 10 years ago. Yes, we may store more channels in memory, yes you can have a 4 bander HT in 1/2 the size. However, if we compared to the evolution of the cell phone, it still looks dated.
4. I agree on my sentiment on the contests, case in point, I never heard 15 meter so filled with signals until last week-end. I almost fall off my chairs (what is that thing about the sun spots excuse again?).
Ok, lunch break is over.
73
Luis
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by WN3R on November 27, 2007
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Or Grey. I was the proud elmer of an 80 year old gentleman. He learned his 13 wpm code and moved up to his Advanced Ticket. It was 14 years ago when he started. He doesn't do much with radio today as his hearing is shot.
That old dog knew how to stay young and inherit good genes.
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RE: The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N1EY on November 27, 2007
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The radio clubs that I have been involved have geared themselves towards older members. As a result they have slowly disenfranchised the 20-40 year old crowd. When no other 30 year old shows and the 65 year olds do not talk to you and you sit talking with the two 80 year olds you beginning to wonder about this BABY BOOMER generation, which is so self-obsessed.
Consider how you can ostracize someone when they in the 40's and have two kids. They can not have a breakfast meeting to discuss club business at 10 AM in the morning. Nor can they drop everything in the middle of a wednesday to complete activities for the club. Actually making statements in the club meetings that we should only look for older people really turns people off; I know of a whole bunch of hams under 40 that do not participate in your club meetings. Most of the clubs do not have anything worthwhile to draw attendance to meetings.
I think that your concern is really more about who you see at the local meeting. The first thing is for some of these clubs through out the country to organize themselves better and review their meeting times and locations. Change the meeting time if it doesn't work. The other thing is to have interesting presentations.
Of the three clubs immediate to my location none of these clubs have sustained a serious program of interest for more than a year. The people that get interested in ham radio want to learn NEW THINGS. They are not the type that will sit idly. Give them something! Change the meeting times and dates when your club is not responding to meetings.
n1ey
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by KG6WLS on November 29, 2007
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And, at least we live in a country where we can buy whatever radio we choose, operate whatever modes we choose, and on whatever bands we choose that our amateur license allows. ;-)
73
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by N9IFG on November 29, 2007
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This post was right on the mark!
While I started WeLCARS (www.welcars.org) to primarily focus on youth and technology training, few of them have the interest, a small percentage of those kids had the time and a percentage of that had the money to effectively pursue ham radio. That leaves next to nothing. Even though we invite them to our monthly club operating events, few show up due to sports and Scouting conflicts. We are lucky if they make one operating event yearly!
We continue to make the opportunities available to youth, and we have tested out 4 youth hams, our club has added 16 middle age ot elderly adults to the mix with no advertising and little training!
We will continue to work with interested youth, but are adding adult classes to the mix. I won't go into details, follow our web page for updates on that if you wish, but suffice it to say that our experience has been just what the original post stated. More middle age men (and women!) have been licensed by our club, a 4:1 ratio, and we were focusing our advertising, etc. on the kids.
Needless to say, we are rethinking about the youth. We will continue to offer the programs, but are working toward advertising toward the target audience that seems to provide more in the way of results!
As to the complaint about overused bands and poor operating, pardon the harsh language, but everyone needs to quit the bitching and participate in an elmering program for new hams. That's what our club is becoming well known for, especially with our monthly operating events (including contest participation).
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by G3LBS on November 29, 2007
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Couldn't we re-incarnate a few SKs to hell (sorry - swell) the ranks?
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The Future of Ham Radio is Round
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by KA3NRX on November 30, 2007
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Good Article. All I have been hearing forever is how the median age of the American ham radio operator is 55. My response to that is WHO CARES???? Why is age so important? Remember, this is not a poor person's hobby. Most people with money to burn are going to older. And those are the people who will make ham radio purchases. Regarding young people, and this commment: Most if not all teen's today have no interest in our hobby. My response to that is, did they ever??? Even back when KH6JIM got licensed? Seriously, when I was a teen ager, I was into radio, yes, but a little thing called girls got in the way. I was 19 when I was licensed. Guys like us are a rarity. It's time to get over that, and stop this whining that the hobby will die if we don't recruit kids.
Vince P
KA3NRX
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The future doesn't HAVE to be round
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by KASSY on November 30, 2007
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Have you been out of touch?
The boomers who are today retiring have a new-found grasp of fitness; most people lose weight and get in better shape in their 50s, because the kids are gone and they have time. Today's teens to 30-somethings are more out of shape then their parents...on average.
So, the future need not be round, even if it has thinning hair.
OF COURSE ham radio "as we know it" is dying. SO ARE ALL HOBBIES! A living hobby is always dying...the old must make way for the new. If you try to glue it in place, then the unwashed masses will pass it right by! Anything that you want to keep alive must evolve. Attitudes on the air, modes in use, etc, will always be in flux, and if that were not true, then the hobby would definnitely die.
Look at photography - those who tried hard to keep film photography alive lost that battle. Just how much money do you suppose today's amateur photographers are spending on printing paper and darkroom chemicals? That's where WE will end up if we don't allow ham radio to evolve.
I'm starting to think that ther'es a "critical mass", above which there are too many hams. This may be caused by collisions on the air, QRM, etc, but at some level of hams, it will become difficult to find a space to have a QSO. Perhaps we're there now...500,000 to 600,000 in the US, plus whatever elsewhere?
- k
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by N9IFG on November 30, 2007
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Where did this head toward a fitness topic??? :)
We had an open house for Scouts last night. 50+ kids. 4 interested enough to attend training. Not a bad ratio really. And they seemed really interested.
To hold their interest, and bond our club, we do monthly operating events. Contests, public service events, parades, whatever. We do all contests from the field, with all members bringing something out. Screwy as that sounds, it works out really well and we are hoping that come Field Day we get it together really well!
Anyway, the new hams and soon to be hams get a kick out of all of this, and we let them get plenty of operating time. They all pick it up really well, and it makes for some great elmering sessions!
Just my thoughts. Without elmering we would not keep the hams around, this way they learn, experience, and develop their own niche in the hobby.
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by N6HPX on December 2, 2007
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Must be nice Mike but in some parts of the world why waste the money if there is no one else using it or interested. No one here has D-star and can't afford the price. And for many would rather spend the hard earn money on better toys like a new HF Rig.
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by KG6WLS on December 2, 2007
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Larry, just to correct your little humble error, I didn't mention anything about D-Star in here. Maybe you have a new ax to grind away at? Hmmm?
Save your "somebody is doing something I don't like, and because I don't like it they shouldn't like it either" rant for somebody else.
I'm not sure where you got off course. I simply stated that it's nice to operate whatever modes and amateur radios our amateur license allows. The money that I've spent for amateur radio (and computers) has not been wasted because it actually gets "operated".
BTW, it is nice to be in the radio room and operate when time allows... and I work for my Uncle Sam too! ;-)
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by KG6WLS on December 2, 2007
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And BTW, I don't think I was talking to you either...for that matter.
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by N6HPX on December 3, 2007
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sorry Mike and pass a apology to you on that didnt know who you directed it to, just passed my simple comments on those who show interests in certain modes like D-star. In my side of the world there is zero interests at the moment
73's mike
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by N6HPX on December 3, 2007
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BTW the only radio room on my ship that is allowed is the one authorized by the ships Captain and he maintains that under strict guidelines. I can not have a radio room on the ship for any reason. So my next avail to even listen in on a Radio Is on KH2 in 2 weeks.
73's to all
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by N2BIX on December 5, 2007
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Dave , great idea about bringing ham radio materials to the Dr's office. It seems like every time i go all there is ,is womens magazines or magazines about stars etc. Totally boring ,i sit and look at the walls.I am going to take a pro-active stand on this and start bringing in QST and writing my email address on the magazine for anyone interested in the hobby.I am also going to write on the magazine that code is no longer required for a license (something i don't really agree with)because it may encourage more people to look into it. Doctors offices , hospitals,clubs of other kinds,schools,etc are ripe places for recruits. As an ex-HVAC instructor for a major utility I can tell you that most kids today are not at all impressed with Ham radio(at least by the time they are 18 or so) , they are too busy with their cell phones and games , which require no real thought.Anything which must be studied seems to be viewed as WORK. That evil word , which does not spell FUN.
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by N6HPX on December 7, 2007
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I agree with the QST Magazines at the Barber shops or even at places where many will venture to pickem up and might want to read. I have done this with the magazines I collect here I pass em on to my fellow shipmates and some do end up taking them home.
My son is of age 17 1/2 and has shown zero interests in the hobby and I have often times left the magazines in the living room just for him and my daughter to pick up.But they go without being looked at. It depends on the mood. And in the Philippines they cant get licensed until 21.
Larry,n6hpx/du1
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by K2GW on December 7, 2007
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As was shown in a previous post, the percentage of the US population that is currently licensed is far greater than it ever has been, so there's not much cause for alarm.
Middle age folks are also a good target but not the only one. We run a Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge Day locally each year. Because of facilities, we have to limit attendance to 60 Scouts and turn additional kids away every year!
If you want to run such an event in your area, all the materials you need to do so can be found at
http://k2gw.tripod.com/radiomeritbadge/
So it's very easy to attract both young and old to ham radio if you just go out and do it instead of sitting here on e-ham and talking about it!
73
Gary, K2GW
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by N6HPX on December 8, 2007
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Actually thats alot easier than said and done as many have done just that but still trying to convince the one's who you pass the booklets to and see them join up has been a real challenge. Some places have age limits and others have still certain technical requirements that scare future one's away. For example in the Philippines we still require a Morse code test and it at the 5 wpm examination, and also the age's have to be around 21 to be a Ham. Many of my friends in the Philippines spend countless hours showing teenage girls how to become Hams. The question how many do and how many go past those HT's.
I have to admit that the exams arent that hard as they once was as I heard from my friends who been licensed for many years before me mentioned they had to write out the answers. And for me the code wasnt a barrier but there are those who claimed it was, question is how many actually joinned up after it went away,was the numbers large or small.
In my case I always donate my magazines to the ships I come off of and many of the fellow shipmates look em over but many have no interests in the hobby...takes up to much family time..or beer money..
I cant sit in front of my station everyday and being on a ship that carries weapons I am not allowed to transmit..I was told by a 1st Mate they have strict rules about HF...which there reason is dumb..they say itsfor security reasons as we might give off ships location but every person here with a cell phone does the samething even before we get in to port.
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by VA3API on December 9, 2007
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I think the best way to save Ham Radio is for the governments of the world to delcare ham radio as an essential emergency service.
They should tie in ham radio in with emergency volunteer services such as The Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, REACT and The Salvation Army. This would also help to protect our frequencies from private corporations.
I'm 42 years old and have been a ham since 1989. I operate cw almost exclusively. In the past five years I have yet to have a QSO with any ham that was no less then 50 years of age.
I haven't spoken to a young ham in years, where are they? I worked a university station in Korea once they were young teens.
My kids can chat with anyone from anywere in the world right from their cell phone. Ham radio is a hard sell to kids these days. If you could add emergency services to the sell it might be more attractive.
I remember when they had that big power failure in North America years ago. The repeaters were jumping and the hams in my city were all over the air. Hams were doing everything from working with the Red Cross to directing traffic because the traffic lights were out. Those dead 2m repeaters came to life on the day of that power failure.
I know it's a given that hams will jump in an emergency but I think it has to be legislated and pushed.
Just an idea,, for what it's worth.
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by N6HPX on December 9, 2007
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Seems to be the case with the young hams I have worked alot of Chinese and Korean kids from my home in the Philippines some on the weekends and some during the work week. Many operate from a Sports club type activity and I think many are in it for the Hobby and also the learning of English..I recall talking to one young lady from China and we chatted for over an hour, later to follow by a Korean who had trouble with phonetics and I tried to use the word Hotel on my call he couldn't understand it. One of my long time friends from Australia, who spoke the language told him the word in Korean.
I wish the kids were into this and like my son's girlfriend mentioned all those years they wasted on Playstation video games.
The comments on emergenices, seems like every place we turn to in Ham radio is mostly comments about some form of emergency program. I think also this brings some into our groups with the idea of doing just that. Just a food for thought but it seems like its more common now days...
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