Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
Scott A.Terry (KF4JDP)
on
July 9, 2003
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Since 1996, when I became a ham, I have noticed the radio's getting smaller and smaller. The shirt pocket HT's are in my humble opinion, not the way to promote the hobby, instead it seems to hide it. When was the last time you were operating your HT in public and have someone ask "Hey! What's that?" and of course you reply "Amateur or Ham Radio".
I still have that happen to me and of course when it does, it is hard to get me to shut up. I really enjoy a nice vehicle all covered in antennas. I would like your input on this and believe the solution to be to operate in public more often, get a HT that drags your pants to the ground and start answering the questions that people around you ask. If we don't expose ourselves to the public, they will not know we exist.
I have seen several shows on the Weather Channel about storm chasers and to this date, have not heard them once mention Skywarn, Amateur or Ham Radio, or anything even close. Does anyone know the reason for this? If so please tell me. I look forward to seeing the response to my opinion and would invite others to voice theirs.
Thanks and 73
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KB9WOO on July 9, 2003
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I suppose there may be a point there. I on the other hand have heard Ham Radio mentioned on the TV on the radio and in the news and the newspaper lately. Talking about weather and Field Day.
I like your idea about HT's, however personally, I think the smaller HT's are more apealing. You just have to make it noticeable. I think that the smaller HT's may be more apealing to people. You might get "that little radio does all that"? or something to the effect. Isn't everything getting smaller? People with cell phones would be turned off by a lunky HT maybe... I htink I would. This, of course, is just my oppinion.
I do think operating in public is a good thing, and we should all do it more often, however there is a time and place for that.
73's
-KB9WOO
Milwaukee, WI
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KB9YKY on July 9, 2003
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The weather channel doesn't mention amateur radio because it is not unique to storm spotting/chasing. Many other radio services are also used for such...and are much more effective. Yes the walkie-talkies are a terrible way to introduce the general public to amateur radio. It gives them the impression that amateur radio is just CBers, kids, and ding-a-lings playing with walkie-talkies and pretending to be cops or something. The use of small FM mobiles and/or repeaters gives the same impression. Unfortunately, most of the general public will never see a real amateur station in use. A couple of things that could help: (a)Make field day stations more visible to the public. (b) Maybe, put up special event stations up at local events, using 20 and 40 meters in like a hospitality tent or something...have some of the ops working cw so that the people will know that it is something more than just some CB nuts out being weird.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K4III on July 9, 2003
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You do have a few valid points. However, when some commercial interests consider us a "threat" because of our communication capabilities such as a few wireless internet and cellular companies, we respond quicker than media sometimes because of our public service roles and quantity of hams nationally, and other points, what can you expect? Yes, it is unfortunate...
The next time you talk with a wireless rep and he says "'Bloody' Part 15 FCC rules" after you show your mobile radio and/or HT equipment, you know he/she's envious.
However, I still think people will be AWE'd even more when you "pop-out" with high tech, minature "007" devices because they are unknowledgable about the Amateur service and we do have some very cool comm gear! Most, though could probably care less... I guess if each ham made a serious effort to get a new person into the hobby each year, our voices will be even more heard and we really wouldn't care about the media and publicity as much!
As for relations to size, sometimes smaller is better. Having smaller size radios allows people to carry one when they otherwise wouldn't! (Such as on the Beach/at work) I know parking for one ham club's meetings held at the hospital (parking garage)will take any antenna a foot above your roofline off that is if you aren't driving an SUV or Truck! (Then you only have an inch or two!) Although there are often very good reasons why sometimes bigger is better. However I don't see any major relation to coverage and public awareness. Most the stuff on TV nowadays is, well, to be polite to media, "ENTERTAINING" and 40-50% of the time you are watching advertising.
On a personal note: I don't even remember what the tornado was doing on the major network's premier movie the other night, other than that I was hoping the teenager would not be stupid and try to out-drive the F5 tornado, which is what he did and became the hero for anyways! I hope people would use TV only for entertainment, basic news, and an interest gatherer for further and deeper investigations. It's simply amazing what really goes on in the world not present in media or on TV, if you get "deeper information." If TV/media is the main tool by which people are using to educate themselves (believing whatever is said or shown on the screen), I have a 50K a year job opportunity for you for only a single 75K downpayment a year! HiHi
Game???
(Is "secondary school" material catagorized as the average public intelligence level used for deciding what is to become distributed to the general public?)
I would catagorize the communications intelligence of Amateurs and even other services such as GMRS anything but "Elementary."
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KG4VPV on July 9, 2003
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"get a HT that drags your pants to the ground and start answering the questions that people around you ask. If we don't expose ourselves to the public, they will not know we exist. "
Heh, I think if I had an HT that was dragging my pants to the ground, I WOULD be exposing myself to the public, a little more than I would like, lol.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KC8UNF on July 9, 2003
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I would like to see larger HT's. Equipment in general is getting too small for my liking these days. Too small is no good. Soon the radios will come with a tool desighned to push the buttons because our fingers will be too big. No thanks !!
TO THE MANUFACTURERS, YOU CAN STOP TRYING TO MAKE SMALLER AND SMALLER RADIOS NOW !
As far as no mention of ham radio storm chasers, maybe ham radio storm reporting is not as important to the national weather service as we would like to think. They just have not mentioned it to the ham community yet. ???
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KB5HWS on July 9, 2003
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To each his (or her) own.
I personally do not like to have a 'brick' pulling my pants down, nor an antenna farm on my car. I have one very discreet antenna on my car, and frankly, I don't normally carry an HT in public.
Despite what you might think, prostletizing is not a requirement of the hobby.
I am happy to encourage others to get interested in Amateur radio, but I don't feel the need to beat the public over the head with it.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K0BG on July 9, 2003
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Want a real look at what's next on the ham horizon? Look at the latest issue of CQ Japan on their web site. Even if you can't read Japanese, you will be surprised. Dick tracy's wrist radio (transceiver actually) is here!
Alan, KØBG
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W4MGY on July 9, 2003
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Great post. Promoting ham radio aside; I personally don't care, or like for that matter; the trend to make ham gear smaller. HT's are so small and cramped with all sorts of menus, you need a small tool and a cheat sheet to operate the darn thing. Forget it!!! Gimme a HT the size of a Motorola HT-200. Oh yeah, when it comes to HF radios in the shack; I'll take a man-sized, two fisted rig like Collins, Drake or a Ten Tec Omni V or VI.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W3RAZ on July 9, 2003
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Hmm....just yesterday? I operate on the public bus (with a earphone) all of the time. Darn near ran my battery out yesterday as our one main machine is back to full use! YEEHA! I show them what ELSE they can do. Some people have never heard NOAA except when the local radio station uses it to broadcast warnings. BBC? What's that? Extended recieve on these units could be used as a tool. Phone patches do not dazzle anymore (cell phones are better....they are Full Duplex). Sending pictures? We've been doing it ALOT longer then cellphones have! As for operating on the bus I have never had anyone question why am I doing it there. Besides a QSO is far less annoying then people talking about private stuff I don't want to know! (I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!) Anyway, operate where ever you can with whatever. On the contrary, people think of ham radio as OLD boat anchors. I think if we show them HT's like the VX-2R and all that folks will realize amateur radio isn't about big clunky radios.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W8LV on July 9, 2003
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I think that all of the manufacturers of HT's (and cell phones) should keep up the competition of trying to outdo each other in miniaturizing the sets even smaller. I think that pretty soon, they can get it down to where no one will ever be able to see the displays, ever. Think of the advantages. Live in a Commie CC&R development? Want to use the phone while driving in the state of New York? Tactical SWAT ops? Military/intelligence? All of these users will benefit from even further miniaturization. You won't ever have to worry about the public seeing you use the device, when you can't even see it yerself! Also, why should a single key do a single job, ever? Why not just put ONE key on the thing, and however many times you press that one key, you can bring up yet another function that you didn't want, so that you can really look like an idiot, plus not be able to use you radio/phone..This ONE KEY should handle power, PTT, DTMF, Power level, Time out, everything. I am to the point where I have to carry one of those thin-plastic frensel lenses in my wallet, and I use this just to see the display on my HT (and my cell phone). Am I the only one? Let the public actually SEE me trying to operate my HT? Boy that would sure 'sell' ham radio, methinks not!
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote ???
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by LU1YNE on July 9, 2003
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I quite don´t agree with your point of view.
Carrying a big radio just to promote the hobby ?, I don´t think so...
I think we all should start elmering instead of SHOWING right now. As a young ham, I encourage you to do it, it wasn´t seeing a ham operating an HT why I got interested, why should I? policemen, firemen, CBers, civilians, and lots of people use one. I got interested in ham radio seeing BIG ANTENNAS and HF EQUIPMENT, that then turned out to be: GOOD PERFORMANCE ANTENNAS and... FUN!!!. And all of it, thanks to my greatest elmer: LU7YS.
If LU7YS would have showed me HT´s and VHF/UHF mobile rigs, and showed me the repeater we have here in our town and nothing else, I´ll probably not be a ham right this moment.
Of course he showed me that too.
But the things he showed me most, was DXing, contesting, HF, nice antennas, and of course much more. And now i´m a ham radio operator, instead of a repeater operator, and our club is now a Radio Club, instead of a Repeater Club.
As I said before, I encourage other ham to bring new people to the hobby by elmering, not showing, of course if your HT is small but has a full color display you will be noticed too. And if you carry a big backpack along, with a car battery and a double five eights vertical for 2 meters, and a mobile rig, and a big microphone, I asure you that you´ll not pass by without people saying "Oh look at that guy with the big backpack", but you´ll also cause comments like "look at that idiot right there". Something like that would be with the HT´s. There´s a balance.
Thank you all and 73 from Patagonia ...
LU1YNE - ED
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KD7VKB on July 9, 2003
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Small, big, don't you know it's all on how you use it??? (Sorry, couldn't resist) But actually I just had someone ask about my VX150 recently. I took that opportunity to briefly explain what it could do, ham radio in general...homeland security first responders, etc. I gave a couple people a brief explanation of how ham radio is now (or can be) computer integrated, satellite capable. That launched about 20 questions on their part and I passed along a positive, updated impression of how great ham radio is!!! So, again I just took advantage of an opportunity spurred by their interest in my radio.
73, Doug, W7MEX
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by KG4YJR on July 9, 2003
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I agree with KC8UNF, I wish the HT's were just a little bigger. Something that fits your hand not in the palm of it. Allthough I really like the features of my VX-7R I like the size of my wife's IC-2GXAT. Plus the fact that most larger or older HT's have a manual squelch knob is the biggest plus I've seen. I've kept my same cell phone for over 4 years now because of it's above average size as compared to todays newer phones.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W9WHE on July 9, 2003
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When I first became a Ham 25 years ago, I had a Motorola HT-200, or "brick" as it was called. It was 2 channels, VHF only, and about the size and weight of a brick.
Return to those days?
Not me!
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by CB on July 9, 2003
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I'm sorry, but you must be kidding me. Why on earth would anyone want to carry a brick with them rather then something the size of a deck of cards to promote this hobby??? If you use the HT with other people around they will ask what it is your doing, and you can explain the details. Personally I would rather not see people with 40 antennas on their car, or 6 brick sized HT's dragging their pants down promoting the hobby. I believe everything in moderation is good.
If you want to promote the hobby try to talk to your non ham friends and explain what it's all about. I bet you could convince one or two to try. If everyone did that we would grow by leaps and bounds!
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K5MAR on July 9, 2003
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I've seen two comments (so far) that say that amateur radio isn't important to the National Weather Service. One even states that other radio services do the job better than amateur radio. To that I say, if that's true in your area, then you're doing something wrong. Here in Oklahoma, both the Tulsa and Norman (Okla. City) Forecast Offices are actively involved with amateur radio. At their request, extensive networks of linked repeaters have been established covering most of the state, so the the NWS can receive the latest information from the large pool of trained amateur radio spotters as quickly as possible. You ARE trained, aren't you? The NWS FOs offer spotter training every spring.
Storm spotting/chasing has given me lots of opportunities to explain amateur radio to interested people. As you might imagine, weather is a big topic of interest in Oklahoma, and people are always asking about all the antennas and equipment in my truck. If the person acts as if they are interested, I'll take the time to explain what amateur radio is all about, and tell them where they can get more information. My latest opportunity was while returning home with a fellow ham from Ham-Com in Dallas. A waitress in a Denny's in Ardmore, Okla. asked about our radios, and by the time we finished explaining what amateur radio was, she was writing down websites and book names so she could see about getting her license. Guess that big H/H of mine (ADI AT-600) worked as suggested!
Mark Schneider - K5MAR
AEC, Payne County, OK ARES
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N8MMZ on July 9, 2003
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I'm strapping my Henry HT on right now! It'll go over the right cheek. My Drake TR-22C will go over the left cheek. I've got plenty of room in my rucksack on my back for a 22AH gel-cell and antenna wire. I'll also strap a homebrew qrp CW rig on my front leg and tie a brass key to my leg.
Guys my wife really loves me, but I would understand if she had me sent to the asylum.
What a way to promote the hobby to non hams - While it may be okay at hamvention to do all of the above, at all other times, one would look like a big dork!! (And would prob. be mugged in NYC, Atlanta, or LA) Makes a good billboard, huh?? Sends the right message???
Sorry guys -- the only right way to promote the hobby is by public service in the schools and in the community, not by dressing up as dorks!
Cheers'
Jonathan
N8MMZ
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by N4GI on July 9, 2003
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Huh??? If you want to promote the hobby why not try acting like normal humans?
Walking around like pencil-necked-geeks with pocket protectors and a bunch of walkie-talkies hanging on your belt presents a horrible image of what ham radio is about.
Remember, GEEK AIN'T SHEEK folks (accept at hamfests).
Blake N4GI
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by KB9YKY on July 9, 2003
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K5MAR: Actually I have attended spotter traing sessions, put on by the National Weather Service in Lincoln IL, since the spring of 1974. The early sessions were for the Civil Defense groups in my area...and after the county did away with such groups...I attended the sessions that were put on for law enforcement and volunteer firefighters. The weather service quickly learned that CB reports, and amateur radio reports, of tornadoes, and such, were usually just the imagination of the spotters (even if trained). Your spotter networks in Oklahoma, and some of the other states with "wide open spaces", probably are quite beneficial to the Weather Service...but in most of the overpopulated states the terrain does not allow for much at all for storm spotting to be effective...a view of the horizon from more than a quarter or half mile would be needed. Even if most states did not have a blocked view of the surroundings...the other states are, for the most part over-saturated with repeater clubs and have no available spectrum for wide area linked vhf/uhf amateur radio repeaters. In most states, it is just better to use public safety (fire, police, etc) to report severe weather to the sevice via the telephone. In most of the states, weather radar is the only really practical way of issuing storm warnings.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KG4OOA on July 9, 2003
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I don't think HTs are designed to promote ham radio. Hams promote ham radio. It isn't the size of the rig; it's what we do. I posted the following article here at eham bbut so far the powers that be have relegated it to be hidden somewhere in Byte Land:
As I roam around the ham sites on the web, I see all the articles all over the place commemorating the public services performed by hams. This is great! It one of primary the reason our service exists.
Well, take it easy guys and gals! Don't get to feeling too good! We have a problem!
Who comes to ham web sites but hams? The answer is no one. When was the last time, except for Field Day, have you heard, seen or read anything about Amateur Radio Operation in newspapers, magazines (other than ham publications), local television or network television? It has been so long I don't remember the last time I have seen anything in the print media or on television about the public service that we've been performing.
I hear the wailing and wringing of hands. The lamentations that no one wants to become a ham anymore. Anybody put on sack cloth and ashes too? Seriously, how is a person to learn that ham radio exists?
In the sixties, when I earned my first licensed, It was easy to discover ham radio. There were those monster towers here and there around the city. There was always someone around who would tell you why they were there. The newsstand was full of books on ham radio. Last but not least. The old console radios. The huge things that sat in the living room but now demoted to the basement because the television sits in the living room. We found out that it received short wave bands. In the process we heard hams and said, "I want to do that!"
Today the console radio is gone. Publications are no longer in print like Popular Electronics. Even the towers are be hidden but that another story. We do have some people entering our hobby from CB and GMRS. The ARRL is trying with the Big Project. OK, We get some kids. How do we inform the average Joe, you know adults?
That brings me to the question that I want to ask.
What are you doing to inform the world? Does your club have a public relations officer? Has he/she developed a relationship with people at the newspaper, radio station, etc. Does he/she make regular news releases? Do the news releases go to all media in your local area, print, radio and television? We live in the computer era. Do you email your news releases to networks? Hey, why not? It might just work and we don't have anything to lose.
You don't belong to a club. I am not going to let you off the hook. You can do the same things when you get involved in public service. You can become a one person public relations outlet. With the boiler plate found on most word processors, you have the format.
All you have to do is fill it in and mail, email or hand deliver it.
Who knows, you might find a new career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Size of rigs? I don't care about the size, just let me be responsibile to tune ALL stages.
These are just suggestions but hams need to take a proactive part in public relations. Having an HT hanging off your body isn't much of an answer.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KC8WCW on July 9, 2003
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N4GI hit it right on the head. Tell me, is it because you really want to promote Ham Radio? Or, is it possibly because you just want to be seen with it? You can name any field in the world, and somewhere you'll find a person doing the exact same thing.
A classic analogy is the typical amateur photographer. Some time back, I had the rare and opportunity to serve for three years as an apprentice with a Master Photographer. When you really get into photography as anything else, you begin to notice things. One thing I immediately noticed, was that the most extravagent and "flashy" equipment was often used by amateur photographers. It was quite typical that the most knowledgeable and experienced photographers, used very simple and to the point equipment. Whenever I sat down and really talked to the people with the fanciest of gear however, they were generally void of even the most fundamental knowledge. I soon realized that the truth of the matter, was that they really just wanted to be seen with it. It generally isn't until you learn more and are on the other side of things, that you realize just how much of a nerd you were to the average spectator.
If you really want to promote Ham Radio, don't start by putting a couple of huge HT's on your belt, with accessory mics, your "callsign cap", and your ARRL T-shirt. When you do so, you appear to the average spectator as a guy who's in desperate need of a life. That doesn't sound like a motivation for someone to further explore the world of Amateur Radio.
KC8WCW
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by G3SEA on July 9, 2003
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With the aging of the 'baby boomers' ( and the greying of the ham ranks ) both groups are faced with the prospect of tiny,relatively inexpensive ( free cell phones too ) rigs that come with the required $1000 magnifying glass accessory :)
It's what hams DO that is important,whether advertising the purpose of Field Day or ARISS Operations,to the general public and media.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KX5FUZ on July 9, 2003
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Here's my favorite part, edited for brevity:
"get a HT that drags your pants to the ground - expose [y]ourselves to the public."
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by WB2WIK on July 9, 2003
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What I do to "promote the hobby" is to invite people in to visit my home station, where I can do something of greater interest to the majority, like have a nice chat with someone overseas on the HF bands. I've found this to stimulate greater curiosity than any quantity of hand-held VHF/UHF units performing any function. It also helps neighbors understand the need for that big tower and the antennas it supports, since for some reason even the very non-technical seem to know that making long-distance contacts requires some outdoor hardware.
Interestingly, when I've captained Field Day operations where we have dozens to hundreds of non-ham visitors, by far the greatest curiosity-arouser has been our battery-operated CW equipment. The non-technical seem to understand that code is something special used by a few highly trained operators to communicate with simple equipment, and they are fascinated to watch it all work. We've launched many a new ham career that way...
WB2WIK/6
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N8XRV on July 9, 2003
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I like the smaller radios, and in my situation, have been opposite of what you state. More people seem interested in the smaller radios. It's just you have to let it be seen more.
I've been working with a soon to be ham who thought he'd have to buy an HT another radio for his car, and yet another for home just to talk on the local repeaters.
for 2M, all I have is an HT. In my car, I also use it through car power, and a 35W amplifier. I also use the same HT at home, plug it in, connect the amp, and the outside antenna, and in business.
That was impressive to this guy, all that for less than just a base station radio. and it's very portable, and has battery power for an emergency.
Don't get me wrong, The big radios are awesome also, but more people are going to see something useable, than something that just looks like a piece of junk to them.
Feel free to strap an Icom 910H to your back, and carry around a generator, with a 10ft tower strapped to your leg. I'm going with the HT.
73's to all.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KB9YKY on July 9, 2003
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If being reliant on repeaters and playing with FM walkie-talkies is your thing...why not just get Nextel cellphone/walkie-talkies? Then you could tell everybody that is "ham radio".
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K9NYO on July 9, 2003
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I have to part company with this notion. I don't think HTs are the best way to promote ham radio anyhow. The average person will see no difference between using an HT or a Motorola Talkabout or a Nextel for that matter.
The best way to promote ham radio is with ATV, point-to-point long distance HF, space station contacts, digital modes like PSK31, and others, too.
To promote ham radio you must show them something that "wows" them...something they can't do any way other than with ham radio.
Showing someone an HT the size of a brick would be the opposite of impressive. How about showing them a 300 Bauds acoustic coupler the size of a shoebox? That won't encourage them to use the Internet ;)
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by MUNGO on July 9, 2003
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Me no like small radios. Me break cuz too small.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N6AJR on July 9, 2003
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Eham...You don't have to publish Everything summitted, PLEASE.. this is just plain stuipid..
And you hams Vote with your Dollars, if you buy small they will make small, if you buy big, they will make big.. supply and demand..
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N8XRV on July 9, 2003
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KB9YKY: What is 73 supposed to mean? It's the button combination on your nextel to turn it into a 2 Meter Digital radio. (Just Kidding)
Seriously. 73 means "Best Wishes" It is usually sent when using morse code to close a conversation.
Now, to keep this message on topic... We need an HT that will do 160 Meters, that fits in the palm of your hand.
(Half Wavelength Whip Antenna Optional)
That would be making a statement.
73
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by W5USB on July 9, 2003
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I could always mount a neon sign to my head pointing to my shirt pocket. "<--- Ham radio operator here" No way Jose! I think we have plenty of folks in the hobby right now, only the ARRL feels differently (because they get the dues from all these potential new hams). Get it? The people you send your money to are selling you out! If you don't believe me, just watch their actions carefully over the next few years.
Art Granda W5USB
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KG4OOA on July 9, 2003
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W5USB,
Art, you hit the nail on the head. The powers that be at ARRL are woried about their next pay raise. Have you looked at their audited financial statements located on their web site?
Because they are a non-profit corporation and as such have to use governmental accounting methods in addition to GAAP, they can be a little different to read. That said, if I remember correctly, their payroll exceeded 6 million dollars. I could be off by a million because I am doing this by memory. The fact is it is over 50% of the collected revenue. Now that don't include boondogle funds (attending meetings and conventions). Think they could take a real job?
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KB9YUR on July 9, 2003
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Why can't they make a simple HT with SSB capabilities ?!?!?!
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W5HTW on July 9, 2003
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Ditto W5USB. I thought that as a member of ARRL I may could have some influence. However, I learned that "influence" is spelled "d o l l a r s" and I don't have any of those. ARRL wants as many "hams" (in quotes cause I'm not too sure what they are today) as it can get as that is how they survive. They don't care about the quality, just "let's up the body count." Each year as my renewal approaches I have thought, one more year and I'll see how it goes. I won't cancel the membership, as that is foolish and childish, and I would not get my money back. But I won't renew. ARRL represents ARRL. Period.
Now, as to small? Small looks like: cell phone. PDA. pager. FRS. GMRS. And yes, we are confused with all of those by the non-knowlegeable public.
And I no longer care. I see no need to recruit new hams. The hobby is morphing into something unrecognizable, and I don't need more "Extras who can't read an ohmmeter" to speed the process. When someone asks me about my antenna on the vehicle, I answer honestly, but I do not attempt to pique their interest beyond a "it's a ham radio antenna." If they ask more questions, I'll answer. But I will not lead. That is a break from my old habits, where, if someone asked me even a tiny opening question, I would happily go into a long spiel about ham radio, how much fun it was, how to get into it, and "why don't you come to our club meeting?" Now I see no point.
So do I care if the public sees that HT in my shirtpocket and thinks it's a cell phone? Not on my chinny-chin-chin. The days of the Elmac AF67 mobile rig or the KWM2A are gone. Those things impressed people, caught their eyes. But times change, and now that do-all mobile HF through light beams radio is the size of a CB. And looks like one. I have no need to try to explain to the general public the difference between ham radio and CB, and, frankly, I'm not sure there IS much difference!
In fact, the HT I carry usually has only the public safety memories active, which is why I bought it in the first place, to allow me to monitor the fire, police, electrical power company when I have power outages, ambulance and weather. I chose to not buy a scanner only as I wanted that emergency capability to try to hit a repeater, but in the nine months or so I've owned the HT I have probably made three contacts on it, two of them on 146.52 to test it out with a nearby friend. So when someone hears it in my pocket, they ask "is that a police scanner?" My answer is "yes."
My vehicles have HF antennas. Most people think they are CB and that's OK with me, though I do have ham call plates on one of them. I no longer have that driving urge to recruit new computer operators into what once was the hobby of radio.
73
ed
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by WB4QNG on July 9, 2003
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I always carry two two meters HT's, a 440 HT and a 220 HT with me at all times. Never know when you might need them when you are in WAL-MART. When the bands are real hot I have been known to strap the Icom onto my chest and strap the car battery to my back. I have never been ask what they are yet by any cilvilians but I have spent a lot of time talking to the local police. I have also notice a couple of men in white coats seem to show up almost every where I go. People use to notice years ago when I talked on my HT in public but most of the time they thought I was a cop. Now I don't believe many people notice with every one with a cell phone to their ear. A lot of the stores around here the employees carry HT's. The one thing I don't see is FRS radio being used in the store. I saw more of them at Dayton then anyplace else. I thought that is what they were made for.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KC8WXL on July 9, 2003
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I will be honest its amazing to read these postings.I recently received my license with the help of an older ham in my area. He has been teaching me alot. I know that if it wasnt for people like him, people like me wouldnt be ham's now. I have seen posting just on this article ranging from bigger vs. smaller to arrl, and even people who dont want more ham's for whatever reason. I know in my area we (our club) try to promote amateur radio as much as possible. When it comes to weather related items, normally we are the ones giving accurate reports to local law enforcement as well as to the national weather service. I have seen amateur radio used for many reasons such as missing persons, fun walks, field day's. I also had the chance first hand to witness amateur radio ops. at the world trade center. I was amazed by the fact of how professional our "Amateur radio ops. were.
Now Big radio small radio who cares each person can make that choice for themselves as a new amateur radio op. I try to promote the hobby anyway i can depending on the person wanting to know. I use my radio everywhere and get asked alot of questions.
73
jeff
kc8wxl
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by NX7E on July 9, 2003
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Wow, Ed, you seem to be awfully bitter that ham radio has changed. I see this a lot with the old-timers and it doesn't make sense to me. The common thread seems to be that there are a lot of consumer gadgets like ham radios and you don't have to be a propellerhead making radios out of cat's whiskers so we aren't special anymore. Things change, so what? You have to put a little effort into finding what's good about the hobby, unless of course you want to just mutter to yourself about how thing's just ain't what they used to be. BTW, I've been a ham for 27 years, so I've seen a lot of changes myself. If they'd had something like the Internet for the past 100 years the archive would probably be full of cranky OMs complaining about the newfangled superhets being too much like ordinary broadcast receivers and that operating practices have gone to pot since we stopped using spark-gap transmitters.
My point, which really does relate to the topic, is this: This hobby has always been in a state of change as technology advances. Instead of complaining about small HTs (???) why not try to get some good out of them? I'm no pollyanna, but I see a lot of hams cursing the darkness and precious few lighting candles. Sure, I get nostalgic sometimes, thinking about the good ol' days with my boat anchor and its friendly, glowing tubes, or my xtal-controlled "luggable" rigs, but then again, I remember having to tune up all the time, having only a few channels, getting a hernia trying to go for a walk with my "HT", and am reminded that the new technologies are the kind of thing we used to pray for. Like xmtrs smart enough to shut down when the SWR's too high, or having a useful radio you can pack anywhere or being able to use all modes on HF/VHF/UHF without having 8 different rigs, etc.
So enjoying and enriching the hobby is up to all of us, and if you're the type who'd like to evangelize ham radio, do it by talking to people rather than looking like a dork with a whole shack strapped to his back. Be creative, find what's good in today's radio hobby, and you'll be much happier. Of course, you're free to just take a defeated attitude and give up. But I hate to see that.
So that's my complaint about complainers. Feel free to complain about my complaining about complainers.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by AA4PB on July 9, 2003
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An HT220? That was minaturization! When I got into ham radio we were running AM in the mobiles using tubes and dynamotors.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K8WV on July 9, 2003
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KC8WCW said:
"If you really want to promote Ham Radio, don't start by putting a couple of huge HT's on your belt, with accessory mics, your "callsign cap", and your ARRL T-shirt. When you do so, you appear to the average spectator as a guy who's in desperate need of a life. That doesn't sound like a motivation for someone to further explore the world of Amateur Radio."
Exactly. The _reputation_ of amateur radio operators for public service, especially in emergencies, is outstanding. The _public image_ of hams is something entirely different.
During the 1997 season the writers of "The Drew Carey Show" said:
"A middle-aged guy, living with his parents.
Dust off the old ham radio.
Raise tropical fish.
And be the biggest loser in the world."
Harsh, but it reflects the opinion many have of hams, including the opinion of some who are hams.
Several years ago at the Dayton Hamvention, while viewing the crowd from an elevated position, I was talking with the chairman of a major state university's electrical engineering department. He was a ham and we were discussing the "costumes" and general behavior of the people in attendence. I asked "Do you see anyone out there you'd like to get to know?" He replied simply "No."
Certainly hamfests are a special situation, and we both knew there were some very fine people in attendence, but the message is clear. If we want to promote amateur radio, we should present a reasonable appearance. Clean yourself up, and do not haul HT's around like omnipresent, obnoxious cell phone users. Minimize the hardware. Maximize the service. Be a positive role model.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W5USB on July 9, 2003
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My whole argument regarding "advertizing" of amateur radio centers on the fact that band space cannot be created out of thin air, We only have so much you know. Filling up the sometimes quiet repeaters around town is okay, but what happens when the HF bands open up bigtime half a decade from now? Then I presume the CW test will be gone and the written will be but a shell of its current self. There will be twice as many hams with HF privileges.
What of the Canadien and Mexican hams, do you think they want a more open and unlimited licensure drive in America? Do you think it's fair to them to have to cut through 4 times the QRM just because they are our closest neighbors? Remember this is not an exclusively American hobby...and HF travels far beyond our borders, as most of us already know.
The only solution is to "shut up" about it, the truly "enlightened" potential candidates WILL find their way to ham radio...like flies find their way to your picnic feast. Un-aided!
Who keeps saying ham radio is dying...and needs an infusion of new blood? I seem to remember this almost verbatim from QST.
The ONLY beneficiaries of more licensing are:
1: Kenwood
2: Icom
3: Yaesu
4: TenTec
5: Alinco
6: ARRL
etc. etc. etc.
We will be the losers here, as always.
Art Granda W5USB
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K5MAR on July 10, 2003
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To Joe - KB9YKY I'd respond to you directly, but as you don't have an email address listed with eham, here goes. My responses are inserted into your comments.
"K5MAR: Actually I have attended spotter traing sessions, put on by the National Weather Service in Lincoln IL, since the spring of 1974. The early sessions were for the Civil Defense groups in my area...and after the county did away with such groups...I attended the sessions that were put on for law enforcement and volunteer firefighters."
Same here. I started with the local CD agency in 1970. Fortunately, the CD agency transitioned directly into a EMA with no gap.
"The weather service quickly learned that CB reports, and amateur radio reports, of tornadoes, and such, were usually just the imagination of the spotters (even if trained)."
While that there will always be a certain amount of that, the local NWS offices tell us that they rank spotter reports from the trained hams (and they have a pretty good idea who knows their stuff) higher than law enforcement reports. Listening to the law enforcement agencies during the recent Okla. City outbreak on May 8th/9th, the officers in the area were not reporting in a useable manner. (When asked where the tornado was, one officer kept screaming "Right in front of me!" without saying, however, where HE was.)
"Your spotter networks in Oklahoma, and some of the other states with "wide open spaces", probably are quite beneficial to the Weather Service...but in most of the overpopulated states the terrain does not allow for much at all for storm spotting to be effective...a view of the horizon from more than a quarter or half mile would be needed."
OK, I'll give you that one, no argument.
"Even if most states did not have a blocked view of the surroundings...the other states are, for the most part over-saturated with repeater clubs and have no available spectrum for wide area linked vhf/uhf amateur radio repeaters."
The system the Norman FO uses is only linked as needed. The system put in for the Tulsa FO is a full-time UHF linked system, but UHF is still under-utilized around here. Your local conditions would dictate what you can put in place.
"In most states, it is just better to use public safety (fire, police, etc) to report severe weather to the sevice via the telephone."
The garble factor of relaying reports through multiple hands, not to mention the time lag, make this a less than optimum solution. And the public safety agencies (at least around here) are so busy during active severe wx events, they really don't want or need the additional load due to severe wx reports. Our local EMAs, on the other hand, work closely with the amateur radio community, and often use the amateur radio lnked repeaters to pass information th the NWS.
"In most of the states, weather radar is the only really practical way of issuing storm warnings."
Let me just pass on to you what the WCM (Warning Coordination Meteorologists) at both the Norman and Tulsa FOs have repeatedly told us: Doppler Radar can't tell if there is actually a funnel on the ground, it can only detect the presence of the proper conditions (rotation, shear, etc.) for the development of a tornado. Radar detection needs to be confirmed by visual observation, that's where the spotters come in. That is why the radar warnings always say "A possible tornado was detected by radar..." They don't know if there is one there or not. And it's entirely possible for a tornado to develop, touch down and do damage, then dissipate, with no detection by radar. In their words, nothing replaces a trained set of eyes in the right spot.
And for what it's worth, 11 employees of the Norman FO are themselves hams. And the main repeater used by the Norman FO is sponsored by the Okla. Dept. of Civil Emergency Management, as after the April,1995 Murrah Building bombing, and the May, 1999 Okla. City F-5 tornado outbreak, state E.M. officials are well pleased with amateur radio also.
Sorry it's not that way in your neck of the woods.
Mark Schneider - K5MAR
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by X-WB1AUW on July 10, 2003
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My last HT ceased being useful to me when I turned to the internet for DX spots. I moved here in 1989, made about 6 Qs with my HT, and then promptly set it up for packet cluster communications for DX spots.
VHF repeaters never interested me. My first ticket was for HF; I skipped the tech ticket and went straight to General.
Since I've never be enamored with VHF repeaters, I never think that using one in public would interest non-hams.
When people visit my home, if they show any interest in what all of those radios in my play room do, I turn on my rig and let them talk to a ham in one of our states, Antarctica, Australia, or I'll contact a DX station and chat with them for a bit.
Let us know how you do carrying around a larger, more conspicuous HT.
73
Bob, AE7G
PS: don't let the mean spirited people on the internet, who happen to be hams, get to you.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KB9-YKY on July 10, 2003
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Well I just love to sound like a homophobic, whitetrash, redneck that likes to blame my perception of societies ills on liberals and gen-X'ers. I never apply critical thinking to any of my posts, I just react emotionally. I love to display my ignorance because I thrive on attention. And by attention I mean negative attention. This helps me pass the time while I wait for my welfare check. I also like to live in the past and am hostile about pretty much every thing. Of course it goes whithout saying that with this attitude, female relationships are non existant. In reality I sound off alot to bolster my fragile self worth, but with the help of www.rara.org I'm finding the help I need.
Peace and love to all :-)
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KF4JDP on July 10, 2003
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Well I have read a lot of the post on here thus far and believe some of you were helpful with very good comments as well as humorous ones.
BUT!! the insults can stop. I think my article was taken a little too seriously by some and if my post was misread, I regret the lack of understanding or my lack of being able to express my point.
I have seen in other threads, downright mean people and comments and wonder if Nextel isnt the answer to my question. My goal is not to make us or myself look like geeks, nerds, dweebs, weirdo's, low lifes, welfare cases, and any other insulting thing you can think up. The fact is there are plenty of ways to promote the hobby and one person is not any better than another.
My main point was the lack of mention on the part of commercial media ie Weather Channel and Discovery. Ham Radio is just as scientific as the weather and both are close in relation where severe weather are concerned. I have not heard the words (Amateur Radio or Ham Radio)ever mentioned on any of the many weather related shows they have on and I am sure a great many Hams would have some really great stories to tell.
I look forward to more of your input and to all the Hero's that happen to be Amateurs or not...Thank You for your service.
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For what it may be worth to you
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by DOO-DAH on July 10, 2003
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I do not think that Ham Radio is a matter to be "promoted" or otherwise "publicised". There is a problem of course; but it is not one of quantity but of quality. And it is not one of "image" but of "substance" The Dallas HamCom showed that the ARRL is currently concentrating on "quantity" by emphasizing "visibility" and "inclusion". This emphasis has gone to the extreme of placing W1AW/5 in a REACT trailer with REACT hosts replete with shoulder patches, name tags, and pith helmets! "Unit 42" met me at the door and "Unit 38" invited me to transmit from W1AW/5! But W1AW ("portable 5" not withstanding) is an ARRL station and not a REACT one (at least not yet!). There is nothing wrong with increasing the quantity of members in the ARRL. But from my own vantage point it would appear that the end of increased membership in the ARRL is being justified by means of embracing the proposition that the bar be lowered as far as quality is concerned. And if there were a concommitant emphasis on quality to supplement that emphasis on quantity which is so copiously obvious, then i would maintain that amateur radio would be rendered more attractive with the result that the numbers of members would further rise. Quantity is a good thing. But Quality is also a good thing. We could "have the cake" of greater numbers by making the the basic level of licensure easy to obtain as is the case now. And we could "eat a higher quality of cake" by making an advanced level of license require a substantial amount of electronic knowledge PLUS proficiency in CW. Two classes of license should suffice. But the ARRL has been ever so much ado about increasing numbers, yet emphasizing quality has been very conspicuously absent. Why do i say this? 1. The ARRL abstained from voting on Article 25.5. This means that they did not take a postion on the matter of requiring (vs. not requiring) Morse code proficiency for amateurs wanting to transmit below 10 m. 2. They exerted zero leadership on the matter of a universal 300 kHz allotment for the 40 m band. Indeed one (or at least "I") get the impression that there is a lot in the way of talk and shmooze but little in the way of action and results on the large scale at the ARRL these days. They have become iteraters, reporters, and describers but they do not lead. The ARRL and their directors do serve a noble purpose and are sincere in their efforts to better amateur radio. I am a member of the ARRL with long standing for this very reason and I am equally sincere in my hope that my criticism will be considered constructive. 3. Some have wondered if the directors are capable of forming an opinion of their own. By avoiding controversy, they avoid confrontation. And by avoiding confrontation they approach the appearance of being weak. From this it has become easy for some to jump to conclusions such as that they may be without opinion, without courage, and without principles. Now you my be asking "where do i get this stuff?" ANSWER: I get it from other amateurs. Now let me state here and now that i myself do NOT believe this. REPEAT: I myself do NOT believe this. But let me also state here and now that there are many who do. I have given offerd some observations and some reasons why i believe this is the case. If I am wrong or if my understanding is incomplete or in any other wise flawed, please do feel free to respond and let me know so that i will be straight on the matter. I know that i have a stupid ID-- no doubt about that. After all i did select it. But I too talk to a lot of Hams and i know that all of us are interested in the betterment of both QUANTITY AND QUALITY of amateur radio. There is no doubt but that there exists a leak coming from a hole that needs a patch affixed thereonto.
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RE: For what it may be worth to you
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by KF4JDP on July 10, 2003
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Just Kidding,
Good reply, If it were an interoffice memo im sure the CEO would have you rewrite it.
Thanks
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RE: For what it may be worth to you
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by DOO-DAH on July 10, 2003
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KF4JDP: FYI I am also a "4" who lives in MI (about 150 km from you)! So, HAH!!
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K4CMD on July 10, 2003
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What's that, you say?
Ham radio is having enough trouble keeping up with technology lately. Now we've got some guy who thinks we should go in the reverse direction and go back to big hunka-chunka man-pack style radios to show off the hobby? What, you mean something like the General Electric "SEVEN TRANSISTOR" (proudly inscribed on the front panel), "TWO CHANNEL CITIZENS BAND TRANSCEIVER" I used to carry around on my bike when I was 13? The one whose antenna was about five feet long and had a faux plastique loading coil halfway up?
Or should we go back to the high-tech look of the original Korean War walkie-talkies with their peanut tubes, two-foot cases and brass hardware?
C'mon. People of the 2000s are gadget hounds. Smaller is better and far more likely to get somebody to come up close to see what it is that's making all those bleeps and bloops.
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Keep 'em small
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by KD7KGX on July 10, 2003
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I like the trend to go to smaller and smaller HTs. And, the general public likes this trend also, as evidenced by the plethora of smaller and smaller cellphones with more and more features.
Most non-hams who see a big, clunky 2m HT will think that it is just another business-band radio, or a CB walkie-talkie. In other words, something that they really aren't interested in. However, when they see a credit card-sized radio that someone is talking in, that stirs the interest. I also find that non-hams are intrigued when they see me with my Icom T90A, because it is about the size of a cellphone but is obviously not... and when they see that I can communicate with it as well as listen to TV stations, radio stations, WX broadcasts, police and fire freqs, etc.... well, they are VERY interested.
Keep 'em small!
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W9WHE on July 10, 2003
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Want to improve the image of Ham radio? Want to promote Ham radio? Then we need MORE hams to:
1) Bathe; 2) Shave; and 3) Brush whatever teeth they have left (while in public).;
At the same time, we need FEWER hams to:
1) Be seen in public with 2 HTs blairing LOUDLY from their belts, trying to attract attention and to look important with revolving lights on the dashboard; 2) Drive around in cars with 5 element Yagi antennas on the roof; 3)Wearing patches, displaying badges and wearing helmets; and 4) discuss their hernia operation or rectial incontenence on HF.
These steps will go a LOOOOOOOONG way!
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KE4SKY on July 10, 2003
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I agree with Mark, K5MAR that amateurs are crucial to Skywarn spotting, not only in "tornado alley" but here in and around our Nation's Capitol as well. The National Capitol Skywarn program out of the NWS Forecast Office in Sterling Virginia near Dulles International Airport is widely supported by amateurs throughout the entire forcast area and uses multiple linked repeaters and regional sub-nets. NWS Wakefield near Richmond, VA and the Blackburg office near Roanoke do the same thing. Interest in Skywarn is one of the best recruiting tools we have for ARES and RACES, and most ARES and RACES members in Virginia, DC and Maryland first became active through basic Skywarn spotter classes and net participation. Having timely weather reporting undoubtedly saved lives during the LaPlata tornado, and I'm certain there would have been more fatalities had the warning been later.
I'm not a big fan of the micro HTs because I don't think that they have enough heat sink for heavy duty cycle operation, but I still have one for when I want to monitor in the office and must do so discretely when i don't want to carry my converted GE M-PD around. The GE stays in the truck in case I need a wheel chock!
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RE: Keep 'em small
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by KB9YKY on July 10, 2003
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No, the real small walkie-talkie makes them think FRS and/or CB. And using it to receive police/fire calls make them think that you are a screwball with a scanner.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KE6OUD on July 10, 2003
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Well, I too like my nice 4X4 rig with all my antennas & off-road lights & some have asked what all the antennas are for. I've even had people tell me if I should roll over, the antennas will spring me back onto my wheels! Even my "Big Truck" gets attention by other truckers as to"Hey driver, you got enough antennas on there?" I reply, "Nope, still looking for 2 more places to mount more."
BUT.......I would not think of parking either vehicle out of my site in larger cities because of the fact that thieves are ALSO looking for a nice array of antennas. HHMMnn? Easy pickins' But good posts here!
73, Charlie KE6OUD
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K0RGR on July 10, 2003
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KB9YKY - sorry to hear that the NWS in Illinois has a dim view of ham weather spotters. They should talk to NWS in Lacrosse, WI. Several of the NWS people there have earned their licenses so they can talk directly to hams in WI and MN during storms. They have a very fine ham station - WX9ARX.
Our county - Olmsted, MN, has a well equipped EOC. During Skywarn events, 1-2 hams man the EOC and use NWS radar and other information to deploy ham spotters.
They sit next to the Public Service dispatchers who coordinate the Public Service spotters, so that we don't have duplication. The ham network also provides a backup for the Public Service network, and sometimes we can get through to the next county more easily.
One problem with using the volunteer fire department from Podunk City to do weather spotting: once the storm passes Podunk, they no longer care - it's the next jurisdiction's problem. They may not even be legally able to go any further with it - can't spend Podunk's gas money in the next county! The ham spotters around here, on the other hand, have been known to follow suspicious storms for many miles. Last year, one of our fine female ham spotters followed one to the next county and was able to provide 30 minutes advance warning of a tornado that struck a town there. None of the Public Service spotters paid any attention once it left their area. As a result, there were no fatalities or major injuries, despite the fact that the downtown and part of the residential area were destroyed at a busy time of the evening.
We get a lot of great publicity from our Storm Spotting here. To be a spotter here, you either have to be a ham, or work for an agency or company with reliable 2-way capability. You need to be recertified in a NWS class every two years - we're covered by their insurance when spotting. The weatherman for the 9 and 10 oclock news here is a ham, too. So is the weather professional at the airport.
If you want information on how to build something like this in your area, drop me a note and I will try to put you in touch with the local gurus.
Now, I agree with others here who suggest that the best way to advertise the hobby is probably through the schools, scout troops, and low-profile involvement in public service. I try to avoid looking like a geek any more than I have to.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KB9YKY on July 11, 2003
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Well, the NWS in Illinois is not totally wary of amateur radio spotters. For instance the Quad Cities office at Mount Joy does use them and is able to use spotters out as far as Henry Co, IL. And it is done to some extent in some other areas of the state, but still is not the norm. Some of it to has to do with ESDA and some other agencies...they just plain do not want volunteers out spotting. It threatens their positions on the public dole.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KA4KOE on July 11, 2003
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I personally prefer to load up our child's Radio Flyer All Terrain Wagon (with pneumatic tires), good for about 250 lbs.
Easily will handle my portable tube HF station, inverter, 3 car batteries, and screwdriver antenna.
Plus, lets not forget the horn type loadspeaker I'm using for audio.
This arrangement never fails to get attention, especially in the local malls parked out front by Rat Shack.
Philip
KA4KOE
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by AB9DF on July 11, 2003
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I am not sure really if it makes a big deal. My interest in Ham Radio did not come from the media or the type of equipment someone had. The nice thing about Ham is that it is so more robust than 11 meters and its all about the passion we have for the technology and learning. When I was young a older man introduced it to me and taught me about electronics an so on. Now that I am an adult, I have really enjoyed being envolved in this hobby. I think that too many want to think of Ham Radio as just 2 meters and HT's. This hobby is so much more broad and the motivations within are deeper than the CB crowd. I think Field day, emergency services and things like Kids day go a long way to promote the hobby. As far as hearing about Ham Radio in the media, well I live in Indiana and rarely does a severe storm come by without hearing about ham radio spotters on the television and radio. Sometimes I feel like Ham Radio is nice because the masses are not in it. Its sorta of a well policed society. Oh well, a thought provoking article. 73,
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We're Geeks. Deal.
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by KC0ORP on July 11, 2003
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We. Are. Geeks.
We're geeks with an occasional public service usefulness, that's what we are. The hobby will only appeal to those it already appeals to.
Life IS high school- The normals don't want to be us. The normals get all the utility they need from commercial electronics, and don't find geekstuff interesting. Just try picking up supermodels with "I can send and recive CW, baybee!".
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RE: We're Geeks. Deal.
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by KB9YKY on July 11, 2003
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ORP, when I was your age the only "supermodels" we had to pick up were the ones with lots of horsepower under the hood...and then most of us couldn't afford both the payments and the insurance. :-)
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by W9JCM on July 12, 2003
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" I really enjoy a nice vehicle all covered in antennas." This is why I dont put a mobile in its GEEKVILLE ehhe.. I am not making my 30,000 dollar ride look like that. I have my nice stereo and cell phone. And I do have a pocket ht. You guys have to be kidding this whole premiss of the article is silly. Fist off I dont carry any ht pocket or not around with me everywhere. I dont have a need to look like melvin. I enjoy radio but dont live it. I think the small HTs are great but I also thing HTs are toys. If you want to talk use a mobile.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by STILLSTUDYING on July 13, 2003
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I'm completely new to this forum, and I'm just now getting into ham radio, I'll be taking my test in a month or so. But I must say that what you guys are saying ranges from getting me REALLY excited about what I'm going to be enjoying in a few months, to depressed, at wandering why am I spending $200-$300 that's just a fancy CB or FRS radio.
But I don't care much to read those depressing replies to the article. But what I did find interesting the other day was telling a few of my friends about what I thought was so cool. I was explaining ham radio to my friends. From one, I got a sense of misguided enthusiasm from him, he's sort of interested, mainly because he's a scanner buff. The other friend, I got little interest from in fact his exact words were "heh, they still use those things, there ancient aren't they?"
I think ham radio is doing just fine as a hobby as of now, and that maybe with a few big advances (maybe new emission priveledges or something) people might become interested.
I didn't get interested by some moron walking around the mall talking on his HT, wearing a shirt with his callsign in huge, bold letters. I got interested in ham radio by going to a local air show, and meeting one ham working with ARES, who talked to me for a while, and then directed me to their net control station. (They were running comm for the show.) These guys really got me interested. They weren't wearing anything really identifying them as ARES other than a orange vest, (take into acount that there were about 20 other agencies with people working wearing orange vests.) What got me interested was the cool events that I could get behind the scenes at and working with emergency management officials. Maybe someday, I'll be the forty year old dork wearing the shirt with my call sign in big letters, but for now, I'm happy with the small Yaesu triband handheld that I've picked out (and will be ordering once I get a license) from HRO.
Some of you might get the thrill from having people ask you questions, and talk to you about ham radio, but for me, it's about talking and asking questions ON the radio. And I emphasize the words "ON THE RADIO."
73
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by WA2JJH on July 14, 2003
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The small radio's seem to be dispabable thses days.
Lotsa bells and whistles, few drops to the ground...dead!
No I do not want to go back to the days of a HT-200 or MX. A compromise might be nice.
How about a dual bander the size of an HT-220 Slim line. All the bells and whistles, and a radio case made of lexan and metal. Drop proof.
I have in the past put Ham radio's in Motorola cases.
It looked stupid but I had an Icom W2A inside an MT-1000/HT-600 case.
Strange look, nice feel, nice balance, and a battary that would not quit.
I think some hams would want a slightly larger radio for better drop resistance, more battary life, and I guess you show off ham radio to the public.
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RE: We're Geeks. Deal.
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by KC0ORP on July 14, 2003
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"ORP, when I was your age the only "supermodels" we had to pick up were the ones with lots of horsepower under the hood...and then most of us couldn't afford both the payments and the insurance. :-)"
Had a chance to pick up a SuperBird for $4000 in 1976. I had perhaps $40. Oh, well. Back then I was spending my money on flying anyway, wet rate was $17/hr for a 172.
Wally, KC0ORP
(USAF,ret)
Ozark Radio Poodle.
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N3TNQ on July 14, 2003
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If "other" radio services are "more effective" for Skywarn in any area, then I agree with the post that said somebody in that area is doing something wrong. FRS, GMRS and CB could never be "effective" in most areas. The range is too short for one thing. As for why Discovery channel and other channels don't mention us has nothing to do with "other services". It is simply a matter of ratings. People are impressed by the chasers. They want to see those videos. A Skywarn member (if he is worth anything as a spotter) is more interested in getting his reports in and assisting the NWS. I too, feel somewhat offended when Discovery Channel spouts off this tripe about how storm chasers are saving lives and advancing science. Yes, there are a few out there who are, but the majority are most interested in getting the video. I'm not even saying that there is anything wrong with that. If that is a person's thing, go for it. I'm just tired of hearing what heroes they are.
By the way, I am not guessing as to why DC doesn't mention Skywarn. I sent them an E-mail a year or so ago asking about that issue. It took them quite a while to respond and the answer was pretty much that they give their viewers what they feel the viewer wants to see and Skywarn isn't it.
Howard
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N7TRZ on July 14, 2003
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I started out with a ft-470 (small for its time and still not bad). But here in Oregon's own intermod alley, I looked at several schematics and picked up an Icom 2AT. No
more screeching intermod (until you actually went to a transmitter site). The nice side effect was an increase in bystander interest in what I had with me. It looks like a serious radio, sounds like a serious radio, and still operated when other club members were reaching for spare battery packs. Some folks see "phone" when they see a keypad. But when I tell them I can talk to dozens of people at once for free, some people ask more questions. Gottem! I think maybe what is needed here is something that an observer won't assume is just another microwunderfone.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KG4FET on July 15, 2003
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I don't see the size of the HT as the problem. It's the noise coming from it that matters. I walk the neighborhood, go in the grocery and convience stores with the HT on and get questions about it. The HT, BTW a Yaesu VX 1R just about as small as they make them. Some kids in the park the other day asked me about the HT as I was walking my dog, and I explained to them what it was and what it was for and even invited them to come by the shack one day WITH THEIR PARENTS! This not only gets the child interested but the parents get interested too! The mobile rig I run, The FT 100D, also nearly as small as they make a mobile all mode/all band rig, and the ATAS 100, get as many looks and comments as the HT and more so because I can show the rig's capabilities better as far as bands and what the 100D can do. So I guess what I am saying is that we, as hams, are the best advertisment for Ham radio and I think the declinig size of the rigs of the future a plus not a minus. Imagine trying to mount an FT 840 or an Alinco DX 77 or on a regular basis run your FT 847 mobile in a Toyota Camry or what have you. I bought the 100D and traded an HTX 202/404 and a Kenwood Th25G for the VX 1R because of its size. Remember Folks again, our behavior, knowledge, and our efficiency, are the best advertisemnts for Ham radio, Not the size, or lack of, of our gear.
73 and God Bless
DE KG4FET Sandor
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N0TONE on July 15, 2003
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I agree, but only partially.
Keeping the hobby hidden does not help, I agree with that.
Having an HT making noise, however, also does not help, because most hams have no idea how to make it discreet enough that interested parties can notice, but it does not annoy. You have all heard how folks get annoyed at folks talking on cellphones in public. Do you think the noise coming from an HT bothers them less?
Also, the HT itself is problematic. What I've noticed is that VHF FM often engenders a very bored reaction from others. "You have to get a license, and then spend more than a cellphone costs (since they're often free with service) and you end up just talking with people who are local?".
I borrowed an FT-817 from a local ham, configured a vertical dipole affixed to the outside of the pack, put on a set of headphones, strapped a set of paddles to my belt and went hill climbing. Lots of other hikers were curious about my get-up. I was able to let them hear signals - SSB and CW - that came from the other side of the country. They looked incredulous when I told them that there was nothing between my radio and the other guy's radio. No internet, no phone system, no cellular base station. And this is being done with only 5 watts? Wow! They immediately could see that it was something different, a way to communicate that would still be there if the existing infrastructure went down. Believe me, hikers understand this problem - cellphones do not work in many of the better hiking spots because they are remote. You should have seen their fascination when I made a QSO with a ham in New Zealand - only to discover that he, too, was portable in the hills!
Not too many years ago, I had a Kenwood mobile HF rig. It was a lot less convenient, but I could also put that rig into a backpack, and the gel cell batteries went into another pack. I didn't get a lot of operating time out of it, but I could, in fact, make some QSOs while portable hiking, etc. Same reactions. What mystified them, and got them fascinated was how far away I could contact people, and the only thing the two stations depended on was their own setup.
People have ALWAYS been curious about "how would we get along without cell phones and if the electricity went down" and the big issue is how far away can you send a message. A two meter HT, working through a repeater, doesn't answer the question for them - you are now dependent on someone else's repeater. You can explain all you want that the repeater has backup batteries, etc (but so does the phone system and the cellular system), but to no avail. It becomes interesting when it is simplex, and distant.
With that same Kenwood mobile rig, I used to go shopping with my wife. While she did the actual shopping, I'd sit in the car and make QSOs. CW or phone, didn't matter. I'd park near the entrance to the store. The antenna on the car drew attention (I used a top-loaded vertical - very visible!) and in that case I tended to operate phone (which I never do at home). Again, the curious became fascinated when they realized that I was talking to people halfway around the world, and not depending on any technology that wasn't right there in the car.
So, back to the title "Go Big & Promote!"- great idea. BUT- make sure you are promoting something worth promoting. Two meter FM communications with locals that depends on repeaters is NOT fascinating to most people. And, as the last ten years has shown us, it is not fascinating enough to keep people in the hobby if that's all they do.
Put an HF rig in the car, and operate it from visible places - in a kind and gentle manner, visible but not intrusive.
Get a portable HF rig and make DX (or semi-DX, like two states over) QSOs while walking. Believe me, a six foot whip sticking out of your packpack is a LOT more visible than an HT.
Anecdotally, about three months ago, I was involved in an exercise that had me carrying an Icom W32 on my belt. The non-hams who saw it laughed and said it reminded them of old technology "brick" cellphones. So, be careful that bigger may not be better in terms of promotion. It also must be visually different than a cellphone.
AM
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KS4XN on July 16, 2003
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my local 16 screen movie theater uses frs ht's to talk back and forth with their workers. -gordon KC0LDD
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by KE4ZHN on July 16, 2003
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Radios dont promte our hobby, WE do! Our rigs are merely tools of our hobby. If promoting amateur radio is the goal, it takes people to do so. Namely, hams themselves must be willing to form clubs, or host events to promote our hobby to the rest of the world. Many people dont have a clue what ham radio is, only due to never being exposed to it. Also, the key to promoting this hobby and keeping it alive is to appeal to the young kids. Youngsters are the future of this hobby, so if we allow older folks alone to participate, we are NOT doing anything for the future of the hobby. Maybe some amateurs with children in school can convince the PTA to hold special events and operate from the classroom? This has been done many many times, but its great for exposing young people to ham radio. Let them talk on the air! Show them what SSTV can do, or PSK31 or satellites. You could even launch ad campaigns in your childrens school with approval of the schools staff of course. Got older children in school? Try to talk them into forming a ham radio club at school. All you will accomplish carrying a 40 pound HT on your pants is gathering many strange looks! Not to mention the risk of REALLY exposing more then you bargained for!
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RE: Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by DOO-DAH on July 18, 2003
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You might want to think about this matter of visibility and "amateur exhibitionism". At the Dallas HamCom this year, there was a guy dressed up in an orange monkey suit, a hard hat with a revolving blue light on the top, and the name "Radioweenie" written on the back of the monkey suit. It was the most ridiculous sight I have ever seen. Most people were amused at what appeared to be derision but some were not. In any event that sort of "publicity" is hardly something I would cherish...
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by K9EZL on July 18, 2003
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"I have seen several shows on the Weather Channel about storm chasers and to this date, have not heard them once mention Skywarn, Amateur or Ham Radio, or anything even close."
Perhaps because we are not "storm chasers". Only a fool would do that.
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by WA2JJH on July 18, 2003
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K9EZL, have a similar story. There is thiss comedy show called "MIDNITE INSOMNIAC" with David Tell.
Have to admit the show is pretty funny.
This Polookah goes all over the U.S. getting drunk and finding unusual scenes most americans do not know about!
Location is Arizona. He comes across a bunch of hams having their usual midnight foxhunt(DF). You see all the equipment. Not once is HAM radio mentioned!
So it comes off that there are just wierd guys that plant hidden transmitters and look for them.
I am sure during taping the hams gave thier names and calls. It probably is on the editing room floor.
What can ya do?
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Small = Hidden. -- Go Big & Promote!
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by N3XCE on July 21, 2003
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Having read many of the comments I thought I would share my method of promoting ham radio. When anyone questions me about my HT (YAESU VX 5) I go through a brief description of what it does and usually get a few positive responses but when I tell the following story the interest level increases significantly.
A few years ago my son and I were at the local science center on New Years Eve to attend an all night open house. Around 3:00 AM we decided to call it a night and headed for our car in the sub-zero cold typical of Pittsburgh's winters. Parked next to us was a young couple with an older car and they asked if we could jump start their car. I told them I didn’t have any jumper cables and asked if they belonged wanted me to call for assistance. They said they didn't have enough money to pay for a service call. The young man said he thought I was in law enforcement because of the three antennas on my car. I told him no, that I was a ham radio operator. I realized then that maybe; I could get on the local repeater and see if we could find some help. Immediately after placing my call on the repeater three hams responded and in a few minutes one was on his way to help start their car. While waiting we talked about the hobby and I knew he saw that not only was it a great hobby but it also comes with a free membership to a group of great people. He couldn't believe that a fellow ham whom I talked with before but never met face to face would respond to a request for help at 3:00 AM in the freezing cold. I don't know if he ever got into the hobby but I am certain his opinion of ham radio operators was a lot more positive due to what happened that cold night. What kind of HT you carry is not nearly as interesting as the great people you meet and how they make ham radio worthwhile.
Regards,
N3XCE
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