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Author Topic: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?  (Read 1265 times)

W7XTV

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #45 on: January 17, 2023, 07:36:39 PM »

I think building your own antenna, station or parts of it has been a long-time attraction to ham radio, and one very important key to retention of members.  But interest in "homebrewing" has dropped considerably in the past 15 years or so.  Even ARRL's Handbook has moved away from its former construction project focus.   I remember when the whole point of buying a new edition of the Handbook was to see the newest cool receiver or transmitter projects, but it's not the case these days.

The same change happened with computers.  Nobody makes their own motherboards now, but we sure did so in the 1970s!

Nowadays the "makers" mostly congregate around the robot hobby:  hardware and software technologies to build the coolest "mechatronic" gadget and battlebots -  it's a huge hobby.  Young builders are outside of the ham radio sphere.  It will take a lot of effort to get builders back into ham radio so they won't quit the hobby.  We need interesting transmitter and receiver hardware and software project ideas.  If we resign to leaving all the new hardware and software ideas to the commercial suppliers, then we have lost.

Thoughts?

73, Ed

There are more than enough ham websites with projects that can be built, with new circuits and old.  The ARRL Handbook is almost redundant by including them.  QST only has one per month on average.

One advantage ham radio has is that circuits don't become obsolete, even if the devices shown on a particular schematic turn into Unobtanium.  Anything old can be adapted to modern technology and devices.
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He speaks fluent PSK31, in FT8...  One QSO with him earns you 5BDXCC...  His Wouff Hong has two Wouffs... Hiram Percy Maxim called HIM "The Old Man..."  He is... The Most Interesting Ham In The World!

K2WPM

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #46 on: January 23, 2023, 04:08:49 PM »

I think the actual percentage of Techs who drop out is much higher than 55%.

Last year, I sent out about 100 letters and many additional emails (if I could get an email address) to all hams listed as licensed in Accomack and Northampton Counties, Virginia, soliciting them to come to Eastern Shore Amateur Radio Club Field Day.  As I searched the QRZ database, I found that many of the Techs' licenses had expired.   So I of course did not mail to them, only to "active" licensees.  About 40 of the snail mail letters came back, about 30 (out of 50 mailed to Techs) were Techs, or 60%.  No signs of ham activity anywhere.  Add that to the expired licenses.  I'll do this again this year and be specific and scientific about it, but I think the percentage is more like 75%.

Why: (1) lack of interest in electronics or radio or ham radio as a means of emergency communication, and (2) not being embraced by a local club or elmer.

We can do something about #2.....
And maybe snag a few preppers (Baofeng got me into it, though I've gone way beyond that).

David, K2WPM
« Last Edit: January 23, 2023, 04:12:05 PM by K2WPM »
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VE3WGO

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #47 on: February 01, 2023, 07:22:31 AM »

well, we can speculate all we want, but we can't deny one thing:  the way Ham Radio is evolving isn't very interesting to most new hams.

Seasoned ham:  "a new ham will love to have a cheap HT"  or "they'll love DMR!"

New Ham at hearing this suggestion:  "  ::)  ...seriously?"   after all,  they already have a multiband high-speed digital data/audio/video always-connected pocket-sized transceiver (aka Smartphone) that makes an HT look like something from the Flintstones.

73, Ed
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W1VT

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #48 on: February 01, 2023, 07:35:54 AM »

well, we can speculate all we want, but we can't deny one thing:  the way Ham Radio is evolving isn't very interesting to most new hams.

I can't do anything about the situation with Techs and HF privileges, but there are plenty of new hams in other countries that I can work on HF.
Hams in Asia find it exciting to work hams in New England.  Digital modes like FT8 allow them to make contacts despite antenna restrictions and  high local noise levels.
Hams in Europe enjoy the challenge of working across the pond on 160 and 80 meters.  It bothers them not that they have to learn to use a digital mode to do so.

Zak W1VT
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AI5BC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #49 on: February 01, 2023, 08:10:46 AM »

Pretty simple, younger generations do not like Boomers.
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K6CPO

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #50 on: February 01, 2023, 12:56:18 PM »

Pretty simple, younger generations do not like Boomers.

And they seem to forget that they wouldn't be here without the boomers...
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KT4QD

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #51 on: February 02, 2023, 07:56:49 PM »

Harley Davidson’s marketing department is dealing with the same issue.  There are alternative leisure hobbies - more than ever.  Many more young people live in areas hostile to ham radio. 

Visit Reddit and you’ll find a slew of younger people enthusiastic about radioing.  See why they deal with. 
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W7XTV

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Generation Gap, in perpetuity
« Reply #52 on: February 02, 2023, 08:48:28 PM »

Pretty simple, younger generations do not like Boomers.

And Boomers didn't want to do things the way "the Greatest Generation," aka their parents' of the Depression/WW2/Korean War era, did.  Before that, the WW2/Korean War-era folks resented the Doughboy Generation (World War I).  And so on, and so on, and so on....

It's a fact of life that young adults would rather do their own thing, apart from their parents and grandparents.  Accept it.  Like we were, they are.

Now get off my lawn, youse meatheads!  ;D
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He speaks fluent PSK31, in FT8...  One QSO with him earns you 5BDXCC...  His Wouff Hong has two Wouffs... Hiram Percy Maxim called HIM "The Old Man..."  He is... The Most Interesting Ham In The World!

VE3WGO

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #53 on: February 03, 2023, 07:38:44 AM »

.....  There are alternative leisure hobbies - more than ever.  ...

Yes, and sadly, most of these "hobbies" involve having their eyes focused on a tiny screen.*

73, Ed


*according to the American Optometric Association  (aoa.org)
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K7JQ

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #54 on: February 04, 2023, 05:47:11 AM »

We’re already seeing a major change in HR evolution. Except for major contests, CW is wallowing in the mud, and with those licensed in the 1950’s, 60’s, and early 70’s dying off or unable to operate, will probably be mostly gone in the next 10-15 years. Voices you hear on SSB sound “mature”. And now FT8 seems to be the overwhelming favorite mode, in just 3 kHz of bandwidth. HOA/CC&R communities will be more prevalent as older homes deteriorate, further restricting the ability to erect antennas. And young folks have many more other technical things to occupy their time.

Tough times ahead for the viability of ham radio, in my opinion.
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KF6QEX

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #55 on: February 04, 2023, 11:10:47 AM »

Quote
It's a fact of life that young adults would rather do their own thing, apart from their parents and grandparents.  Accept it.  Like we were, they are.

Divide and conquer!
or divide and sell!

Not your father's oldsmobile doesn't fall onto deaf ears.
Marketing is king.
It's far easier to create new markets by separatiing the generations rather than not.
Not your father's oldsmobile,  radio,camera,tractor,rifle ...whatever the thing sold
Not your mother's washing machine
Not your grandmother's oven
...and the list goes on
My father didn't have a radio, I liked my mothers washing machine (haven't seen socks come out as white since), and I miss my grandmother's wood burning oven.
To most people, all these phrases "make sense" and push them towards getting into something new and different from before. Most people just can't resist the marketing message.
Like "true direct sampling SDR".
Apologies if any of you resemble these remarks :)





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W6BP

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Re: Generation Gap, in perpetuity
« Reply #56 on: March 26, 2023, 12:30:55 PM »

It's a fact of life that young adults would rather do their own thing, apart from their parents and grandparents. 

Most kids love their grandparents, but that doesn't mean they want to hang out with them.
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VE3WGO

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #57 on: March 27, 2023, 08:01:25 AM »

Ham radio has been a hobby for something like 110 years.  That's 4+ generations! 

Regardless of the differences between them, every one of these generations was interested, and the hobby evolved over time.  SSB was going to be the end of Ham Radio.  Packet was going to be the end of Ham Radio, and FM was going to be the end of Ham Radio.  Now FT8 is going to be the end of Ham Radio.  But the reality is that none of them ended Ham Radio.  What's next?  This isn't really about Boomers, or Gen-X, or Y or Z causing the end of the hobby due to lack of interest...  it's really just that the hobby adapts to new technologies and interests, but it always persists.

Long live Ham Radio!

73, Ed
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KC3TEC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #58 on: March 27, 2023, 10:16:48 AM »

I think there is too much generational discrimination in all things.
Read into too many things.
Not enough involvement between generations leads to discontent.

I'm 62 and with a heart condition I can't play sports anymore.
Yes it annoys me that I can't play with the younger generation.
Technology wise I'm used to working with older and newer equipment alike, so I'm not afraid of learning something new.
The fact is our opinions tend to get jaded based on a few bad examples.
That is not always the case!

Youth face the same situation,
When they encounter a disgruntled curmudgeon what kind of opinion do they end up with?

Younger people will respond to something that holds their interest.
But it's up to us to cultivate that interest and encourage the growth of it.
Cw is a bit of a touchy area because many youth and adults alike will feign disinterest for fear of appearing ignorant.
That why learning it should be made as entertaining as possible.
In other words, get them laughing and you will get them learning.
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KD6VXI

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #59 on: March 30, 2023, 10:59:54 AM »

What I witnessed was:  They came on, gung ho.  Baofeng and a couple batteries, reflective vest, etc. having read (outdated) books and articles that stated Ham Radio operators where the thing and would save the world in the event of an emergency.

And then they found out EmComm, for the most part, was laughed at by first responders.  In a lot of cases, deservedly so.

I watched this unfold when watching a fire that happened at a race I was working as a check in at.  Car left the track, started a fire.

Couple guys there where "emcomm" prepared.  They thought the fire helos and the firefighters where going to use them as the IC, the way these guys where acting.

When they find out that's not the case, they lose interest, sell their "go box", and move on.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI
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