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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
from
orlandosentinel.com
on
February 5, 2010
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by KX1EQX on February 5, 2010
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"During the day, users can speak with people within the United States. At night, their reach is virtually unlimited."
Factually incorrect.
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by WS4E on February 5, 2010
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Yeah during this low solar activity, 20m during the day is much more productive than 40/80/160 at night.
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by KA3NRX on February 5, 2010
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I really wish this CRAP being spewed about ham radio being a "fading hobby" would stop. Have the writers of this story ever been to a hamfest in their area? Did they ever do any checking to see how many active radio clubs there are in their city's metro? I really wish this gloom and doom would once and for all just friggin end. This hobby is NOT fading, with or without emergency situations. That headline is extremely misleading and goes to show the lazy reporting that happens too many times in the media. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ham Radio. The only hobby on the planet that has been on life support for the last 90 years! STOP AND TELL THE TRUTH FOR A CHANGE.
V
KA3NRX
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencie
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by QRZDXR2 on February 5, 2010
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wow.. lighten up. I thought the article was pretty good and while the reporter may have had some words a little wrong the idea was correct.
Cause and effect... is what I say.. The hams that are whining about reporters getting it wrong need to take action. They need to call the reporters and HELP them to get it right. After all they are not seasoned hams like some of the whiners are. Then again lets not get into EGO's and Self proc-u-mul-ation as some of the so called hams seem to think they are a GIFT to the world. Supermen all...
As to the reasion why no youth in ham radio... they hit the nail on the head. COST. hams spend thousands of dollars on equipment--to do what? Look old time hams were do'ers and move'ers. They took JUNK and turned it into something that worked once again. From that action they also learned about the hobby and electronics--which then turned into a career or life long bread earning vocation. Where is the technology today. Lets face it when the ARRL dummied the testing requirements so as to get more revenues to promote their agenda-- is it any wonder that the outsiders look at ham radio as just a bunch of overgrown CB'ers that THINK they are something special?.
What ham radio used to be and is today is not the same caliber of users. Indeed their are some old fossels that harp about the good old days when they could take a tin can and turn it into a micorwave transmitter... but then again they knew what they were doing because of the training and learning experiances they had. Today its memorize the test... take their welfare check and go buy thousands of dollars of rice boxes... get on and start flapping their lips. So where is the education?
But, before we start blame'n the low-ly newbie ham for his condition we also need to look at the resources he can draw from. If he is to develop his knowledge where will he turn? Who is going to write the books? all the good old hams got old and are now looking at grass from the root side-- once we overcome that issue the next becomes where is he going to get the parts and equipment he needs to EXPERIMENT with? Used to be that electronic parts stores were located in almost every major town-- if not their was always war suplus stores selling the best the military had for its day that still was useable for the newbie.
Notice I said used to be... Today we have a hard time finding parts and pieces not because of the loss of the electronic parts store but the homeland based manufactures themselves as the electronic industry was sold out to off shore governments due to our nations leadership taking payouts and payoffs to insure that our own industries are put out of business and allowing their off shore products to be sold as a replacement. (Not parts but the whole unit)
Their is big money in the major three makers of ham radio rice boxes. They don't want competition from experimenters and thus you see them promote their bells, buttons and whistles through the major provider of "buy this its good" ARRL advertising.
They make the units so complex that even most hams can't even figure out how to repair them. forcing issues of outdating them so that the ham has to spend more money every 5 years for eqipment is not uncommon.
So all of this then causes the newbie to consider the options. Cell phone, computer or ham radio. We know which one they chose that is more economical,educational and fun.. hmmmm.
So in a way the reporter has it right when they said its a fading hobby.. until emergencies. That seems to be the only practical useage for it other than flapping ones lips during old age recession.
I think they did a good job of looking at ham radio from the outside.. weather you think they are critical or not.. it really is a reflection in the mirror of who and what hams today appear to be. Don't like it.. change the appearance to the public perception is what I am saying.. otherwise sit down, have fun and carry on...
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by AE5MW on February 5, 2010
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Everyone so far as made at least 1 good point. The media almost always wants to report gloom and doom. Just look at Toyota right now (most cases are operator error or 3 or more floor mats jamming things up). After hurricane Gustov my then 17yr old son decided to get his ticket and now the YL ive been hitched to for almost 20 years is starting to take intrest. At a club level we see growth here in the New Orleans area after Katrina did the dammage but we are growing.
73 Mike AE5MW
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencie
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by KJ6BSO on February 5, 2010
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"A beginning ham can buy all the necessary equipment — including a power source and receiver-transmitter — for about $150, said Jim Stout, a salesman at Amateur Electronic Supply "
Also factually incorrect. Well, it is unless the guy is talking about a 2 meter HT. Or maybe used equipment, but that's a huge crapshoot for a newbie.
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencie
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by QRZDXR2 on February 5, 2010
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my point exactly...
A beginning ham can buy all the necessary equipment ---
Bring money and enjoy the hobby.
heck he couldn't get the power supply for the sum the guy at aes suggested.
lots of good OLD used recievers out their in the used market. Why then one could make their own simple transmitter (of course then they also would have to learn CW .. as that is why we had to back years ago too)--oh thats too hard!!!
I had to laugh though when a newbie ham borrowed a radio for the swap net. Not only did he want a new solid state radio (no tube old radios for him) but he wanted it donated to him for pennies on the dollar kind of attitude because he didn't have any moeny--why old hams should feel obligated to keep them in the hobby I guess)
When someone came up with a good set of Drake 4 line radios... first question he asked was... do those have tubes (didn't know a drake R4/TX4 I guess) nope those have tubes and even though the owner said it worked find.. and was free for the taking... NOPE he wanted someting newer solid state. he went on to ask for something like a 706 icom or even a pro line... that was what he wanted. Nothing more or less.
My thought was echo'ed by the controller... beggers can t be choos'ie-- and the youngsters came back with.. well that is what I want if anyone has one that they want to donate call me... I just got my extra call sign...and am ready to get on the air... (grin)
Attitude... Check OK... LUCK.. good or is it the other way around?
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencie
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by K9NW on February 6, 2010
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The money/cost argument is convenient but in most cases isn't the real limiting factor. Ham radio isn't unlike any other hobby....one can spend as much, or as little, as they want. It all depends on how vigorously they wish to persue it. If you want it bad enough, you'll figure out a way to get it. And those outside of the hobby will never understand.
I could announce to a group of friends that I just bought a $1500 pool cue. And they'd go "Wow, that's looks awesome!"
To the same group of friends I could announce that I just threw down $10,000 on a new jet ski. And they'd go "Cool! When are we going to the lake?"
To the same group of friends I could announce that I just paid $3000 for a new ham radio. And they'd go "You're @#*@! crazy!"
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencie
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by N6DGZ on February 6, 2010
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I've had a ham license for years off and on. Got my Novice license in the 50's and built my own 40 meter cw rig, put up my own antenna, and had a Hallicrafters S-38D receiver.
What I learned allowed me to become an electronics technician in the Navy easily since I already knew a lot of the theory and the code. My license expired
and I lost interest for many years then for some reason the spark rekindled and I got my General ticket
and I set up a station and was active for awhile then lost interest again.
One night on the way home from work quite a ways from home my car broke down and that got me to buy a 2 meter handi talkie but as it turns out I ended up also getting a cell phone and used that a lot more so the hobby languished again. It seems like the issue is that none of the people I know are hams so if I want to talk to them I need a cell phone or email. Maybe I need to work on my Elmer skills.
Now I've got a motorhome and most motorhomes come with cb's in them. The radio in this one didn't work so I bought on ebay a nice Cobra 148 NW ST and got that running and doing that got me interested in amateur radio again.
So here I am setting up a station. At the moment I have an Alda 103 but need to get a decent antenna set up. I live in the redwoods in a deep canyon so it's a challenge for sure. I bought one of those ez hang slingshot devices and am assembling the parts for an antenna set up. I also need a new deep cycle battery as the two old wheel chair batteries have seen better days and I need a good charger so I don't over charge them.
My joy comes more from setting up a station and getting it working than actually using it afterwards. I seem to be surrounded by technology. I have a computer in front of me, an iPod and a pda nearby, cameras all over the place. How thin can a person spread themselves?
A friend of mine recently sent me an article about things that were disappearing and ham radio was on the list. I'm sending her a link to this discussion.
I don't think ham radio will ever die especially if we have a meltdown. It just irks me to have to pay to talk to people like with a cell phone but so many of the people have only methods that one has to pay to use to communicate. Even the internet requires some kind of a subscription if you want to be on it all day from home. Doesn't it? WiFi can be almost free if you want to hang out at a coffeeshop. . .
My dream would be to be living in an earthship way out in the boondocks living completely off the grid and have a nice radio station set up and also have a nice mobile station in the motorhome.
Michelle, n6dgz
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by KF5CDE on February 6, 2010
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The article should have been titled: "Newspapers: Why They Are A Fading Source For News"
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by K4RAF on February 9, 2010
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Alot of things are fading, including ham radio, newspapers & certain technologies.
Proof of ham radio fading is the quest to portray it as "saving the world" every chance you get.
Anyone who has been in it for more than 15 minutes can tell it is fading, unless they have blinders on, over their rose-colored glasses.
Raf
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RE: Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by N6DGZ on February 9, 2010
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One sign of the times is the library. Our local library doesn't have one book on ham radio. I found that sad.
There is always an upside if you can find it. One upside is the bands are less crowded. I'm a person who loves radio no matter what kind it is. My partner is a non-ham so we use the family service radios. We have a motorhome so we have a cb radio there since they come as standard equipment and that's a good way to monitor highway information from others on the road and to caravan with others in a motorhome as well. There was a time when the cb bands were so full of fowl language they were unusable, now that so many have switched to cell phones we have that band back.
That's a good thing.
QRM is bound to be less.
Michelle, n6dgz
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by K2JX on February 10, 2010
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Ah, the sky is falling again ! Can we please stop hurting my hobby of 45 years ? It was going away in the 60's too ! Guess what ?
de K2JX
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by WU5E on February 11, 2010
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I read the story. What I got out of the story was good. I talks about what ham radio operators can do in a certain facet. In fact if you check the numbers of ham radio operators has risen over the last 12 months. I think he could have chosen a different title for the artcile.
Pick up a hand mike an call CQ have fun in ham radio.
73's
Jim
WU5E
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by KD0JJP on February 12, 2010
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I am a new ham, if it was not for the drop of the code requirement and the fact I leave cell range often, I would most likey not be here! I am a medic, and the amatetur community does provide a great service in disasters! This service makes things much much easier but emergency services could survive with out it! Much of their radio systems are similar and more advanced then HAM! The fact is that if the requirements where the same as 20 years ago amateur radio would die! It is hard to convince a group kids who have had their own tell phone since middle school to take time to take a test to talk to who??? A group of old guys that gripe about things not being like the old days?
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Ham Radio: A Fading Hobby ... Until Emergencies Hit:
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by G4OWY on February 18, 2010
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No, ham radio is not a fading hobby - merely a hobby that has faded,by default.
Ham radio is and has been since the inception of commercially manufactured rigs a hobby destined for a fading future. However, the irony is, without the input of commercially manufactured rigs, our beloved hobby would not be where it is today. As someone else rightly commented, if ham radio had stayed where it was "20 years ago", it would have to all intents and purposes, almost disappeared.
Nothing is like it was even 10 years ago - let alone 20 years ago. We all face a reality of where almost everyone can communicate with whoever they like no matter where they are located. Once upon a time, ham radio was the only preferred method of communication from a remote area - or even a not so remote area. And until the advent of commercial equipment, communications was the preserve of those could build their own rigs or, afford to purchase very expensive communications equipment etc.
Then, the bubble went bang. The sixties happened. ham radio arrived to embrace the masses. Those who really wanted it bad enough, could join the ham radio fellowship. Rigs were not exactly cheap as chips, but you could slap down a deposit and walk away a happy man with your transceiver of choice under your arm.
Those of stronger stuff, resisted this temptation and built their own rigs. Not only was it far cheaper, you could, if you wanted to, brag about it with your QSO partner. Admittedly, these home-built rigs were usually CW. But, as SSB became the mode of choice, a few clever fellows built these too. AM, hung on. In fact, it still does. And why not?
One bright day, the Internet dawned. Mobile phones,after an inauspicious start, began to be a must-have. The Internet was just too mesmerising to be ignored. So, consequently, many young people who may have been drawn into ham radio, didn't. They decided (even if they knew about it) to abandon ham radio - and wrap themselves up in the comfy confines of the electronic wonderland known as the WWW.
Ham radio has to attract the young and the young at heart. But is ham radio a better place just because of sheer numbers - be it young or not? How do we make ham radio so appealing, that not even a hardened internet junkie with perhaps just a tinge of interest in amateur radio, could resist the allure of it?
Has the abolition of CW made the attractions of ham radio more interesting? Has the inception of an easier entrance ham exam enticed those who might be sitting on the fence - to reach a conclusion on which way to jump?
Our future depends on those that experiment - those people who refuse to go with the crowd. Our great hobby has much to celebrate and much to applaud. We need far less bystanders and many more do'ers. But as with most facets of life, the future will always be carried upon the shoulders of the few and not the many.
Yes, ham radio does still has a bright future,and those that bang the drum for the doom and gloom movement are being just that, very gloomy! Everyone within ham radio has their place - and their purpose. Whether we choose to build or not is irrevelant. How we operate and how we would like our hobby to expand and prosper is more important. Modern-day technology will be our friend or our foe - that is our challenge for these times.
Ray J. Howes - G4OWY.
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