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Author Topic: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?  (Read 1273 times)

W4JF

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #30 on: December 16, 2022, 08:05:17 AM »

The purpose of my post was to enlist comments from new licensees on what us old timers can do to enrich their newly-found ham radio experience.  There are some good comments from some relatively new hams that do a good job of summing-up the issues.  Also, some good comments from some seasoned hams on why they think we have so many technician class operators turning away from the hobby (or service, if you will).  You know we used to call it the Amateur Radio Service, but I see "hobby" thrown around a lot these days.  Things change I guess.

ARES and emergency communications are still semi-viable functions of the ARS, but even that is becoming less relevant than ever.  Now that the emergency management folks have their own VHF and HF systems, they rarely need 3rd party communications assistance.  That wasn't the case years ago when emergency communications between disaster sites and service agencies was critical.  Ham radio played a significant role back then in the pre-internet era with CW, RTTY, and voice communications.  I remember after one hurricane sitting in a tent in my operation position, sending via CW sensitive information about hospital bed and various medicinal availability as well as other tactical details that didn't need to go out over a scanner. 

The stat I quoted has nothing to do with licensing or license expirations or the number of techs licensed.  It has all to do with what the Techs are doing with their ham radio privileges AFTER they are licensed.  Many are falling away and becoming disinterested.  That 55% figure was reported around 2 years ago by some ARRL insiders that were making an effort to try to understand how to encourage and empower the new Tech licensees and give them the resources needed to learn and subsequently hunger for a fuller ham radio experience.  Hence the publication of some of the new periodicals and podcasts from ARRL that are written and produced for the benefit of the new ham.

Frank, W4FMH, has my utmost respect when it comes to professional data gathering, questionnaire/survey construction, statistical analysis, and using that data to reveal trends and answer questions.  Frank, I do not know how the number was derived, but I heard that alarming stat from a number of folks in leadership roles, none of whose names I am obligated to share here.   The important thing in all of this is not so much the number, but the cause and if there is anything we, as seasoned and experienced hams, can do to help the Techs enjoy amateur radio and incent them to to delve deeper within the "hobby".  It's a real problem, a current problem, and one that we cannot pretend does not exist.

For me, I stay motivated with the pure fascination of radio, the love of technology through radio, and the comradery we have with each other.  Over my 48 years as a ham, I have noticed that we seem to have lost the ability, and in some cases maybe even the desire, to actually talk and "communicate" with one another.  Sure, we have some problems on certain frequencies on certain bands, but that by no means defines who we are as hams.  Those issues seem to work themselves out with time.

So if you are a Tech licensee and reading this, welcome.  Don't give up, don't paint ham radio with a broad brush based on your experience on a VHF or UHF repeater or maybe a few luddites in a local club that are socially despicable.  Get connected and networked with other hams and ask questions.  That's the only way you will learn.  You must train yourself to enjoy other modes besides FM, and that is on you.  Then get on the air!  You will make mistakes, but don't be discouraged.  As they say....If it was easy, everyone would do it.   

73,
Joe W4JF
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AF5CC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #31 on: December 16, 2022, 10:23:42 AM »


Yep, I think the only reason for ham radio nowadays is the fact that you just like radio,

That has always been the primary reason most people become hams.  That is why I became licensed.  That should be the main reason people get a license, not for some other motive.

73 John AF5CC
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W3PX

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #32 on: December 16, 2022, 11:52:00 AM »


Yep, I think the only reason for ham radio nowadays is the fact that you just like radio,

That has always been the primary reason most people become hams.  That is why I became licensed.  That should be the main reason people get a license, not for some other motive.

73 John AF5CC

I agree with John 100% on this. Ham radio is a pursuit that can be very rewarding to the participant who has a great deal of curiosity and wants to explore and learn. If old-timers have to "incentivize" newcomers to explore the hobby, they're probably not right for ham radio  anyway.

73 Frank W3PX

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KC3TEC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #33 on: December 17, 2022, 06:29:31 AM »

Techs have HF phone and cw privileges on 10m

Techs also have HF CW privileges on 80, 40, and 15 meters.  Only a very few take advantage of that resource, and complain instead.
One thing  ham needs is an interest in electronics!
In order to understand the myriad levels of amateur radio they need a dedicated mentality to pursue the hobby.
Amateur radio is not cb by any means and the that idea needs hammered out.

Stressing the importance of building and homebrew is a crucial part of our hobby.

Buying radios without knowing how to make some repairs, or building antennas, keyers, amps and such only exacerbates the problem.
Then there is the financial and availability
 aspect!
Most techs who are not actively employed such as retirees or teens find it very hard to garner the resources and justify spending hundreds to thousands on a hi quality , high power hf rig.
And a lot of young adults may be busy raising a family.

Availabilities !
Many quality kit companies quit producing amateur radio focusing on audio, computer,  and cellphone technology.
What kits are available are generally qrp of 5 watt all the way to 200 milliwatt.
And many of them are costly for the low power levels.

The used market is no better.
Electronics are the only thing that devalues faster than cars.
( after 40 years of computer repair I can attest to this fact)
So purchasing used equipment is a gamble on its efficiency and effectiveness.
And let's not forget, even looking for parts you can expect to pay through the nose for them.
I'm a retired individual with some health issues.
So my choice is pay for my meds and food or pay for a radio, ( which takes priority?)

I'm not complaining about cost as I build my gear.
My complaint is the disdain many elitist have in the hobby.
We have many in the hobby that are irked because the morse code requirement has been dropped from the license tests.
And constantly b!t(# about it.
And a few overrun the forums trying to get the fcc to change the laws ( and end up screwing many Amateurs over)
How many of these are shilling to get the fcc to sell more of our bandwidth?

A part of the amateur radio hobby is and always has been to Elmer and or help each other.
Are we losing sight of that?
With what has been posted is it plainly visible why some lose Interest.

A lot needs to be changed if we expect retention of our hobby.
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NN4RH

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #34 on: December 17, 2022, 08:29:21 AM »

What was the drop-out rate of NOVICES back in the day?

I don't know what it was, but it would not surprise me if it were in the 55% range, also.

Not everyone who gets a ham license sticks with it forever.
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AF5CC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #35 on: December 17, 2022, 12:22:21 PM »

What was the drop-out rate of NOVICES back in the day?

I was licensed thru a club in our junior high. The 3 years I was there we had 9 or so of us earned out Novice license.  4 are still licensed but one of those really isn't active that I know about.  So 55% was about the drop out rate there.

73 John AF5CC
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WB8PFZ

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #36 on: December 20, 2022, 12:48:14 PM »

I had more fun as a tech working 6 2 432 and up. Now I listen to the hf bands and hear people arguing how f up the government is what there weather is and worthless garb.l
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K7MEM

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #37 on: December 21, 2022, 11:20:39 AM »

What was the drop-out rate of NOVICES back in the day?

I guess that depends on how far back you go. When I first got my license (1965) a Novice license was only good for one year and was not renewable. You could get a Technician, but then you lost all low band privileges, and Technician was not considered a upgrade. You were expected to go to General next, if you wanted to keep you low band privileges. Not everyone was ready for General in a years time. Luckily, the FCC saw the error of their ways and changed things.

I was working and in school at the time, so I wasn't ready for the General and went for the Technician license. Had a great time with my Heathkit Twoer on AM. Finally let the Technician license expire and retested for the Novice. By then, the Novice license was renewable and the Technician no longer lost privileges.
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KC3TEC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #38 on: December 22, 2022, 06:59:02 AM »

Now amateur radio is by all definition to the fcc a hobby!
We are not commercial entities or enterprise.
We cannot advertise and sell products outside of equipment on a regular basis.
That this even a question in the tech test.
Technology aside the hobby has always been about communicating,  education, and fostering goodwill.

Are you a home brew?, are you an appliance user?, are you a code hound?
Are you a youth?, are you a yl?, or are you an om?

Does it really matter? You are in the hobby and on the air.

Splitting hairs and categorizing user types is doing the exact opposite of what the hobby is about.

Here's a bit of gratuitous sarcasm
Talking with a fellow on 2 meter exchange information whe he finds out you talked to him on a baofunk you get the cold response  and are ignored by anyone else.

Elitism and bragging about your kilobuck shiny toy and bird frying power antenna, while crapping on everything else does not foster goodwill,
and think about it any one can read the forums, what do you think puts ham operators in a bad light quicker >:(

You would not believe the amount of crap dumped on me by trolls infesting qrz.
Yeah I've only held my license now for 2 years, but that doesn't mean I'm a lid.

Industrial electrician with a very good background in electronics plc,slc automation control, and computer specialist for 31 years prior to retirement
And navy computer tech before becoming electrician.

Yet only having a license for 2 years  lumps me in the lid category by a lot of hams.

I built my first am transmitter at 12
Very low power with a transmit range of 300 feet, you could turn any am radio to a dead station, tune the transmitter to it and send morse code. ( used to annoy the crap out of my brother)

That was almost 50 years ago.

Should everyone home brew?
Probably not, but it's something that can easily be learned.
And you don't have to build radios,
Learn about antennas, how they behave under various conditions,  learn how to make them, because even the best radio in the world won't work worth a damn if it's hooked up to a crappy antenna.
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AI5BC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #39 on: December 22, 2022, 10:59:29 AM »

Technology aside the hobby has always been about communicating,  education, and fostering goodwill.

Splitting hairs and categorizing user types is doing the exact opposite of what the hobby is about.
KC3TEc with all due respect do you really believe what you are saying? One of the main reasons younger generations have no interest in the hobby is because it is full of hate as you correctly pointed out with many great examples. It is a generational thing, the hobby in this country is dominated by aging white male Baby Boomers and Great generations. Those two generations are not diverse, and intolerant of other cultures and ideas. They were taught to hate in schools, by the government, and the media.  In nutshell younger generations see you guys' as uninvited dinner guest who ate and drank everything in sight, then you left, leaving it upon the others to pay the bill and clean up the mess you made of everything. 

Today ham radio is nothing more than a CB radio. Fun to play in your silver years with and spread propaganda, but no real use anymore. The world moved on to better things, , or not. 

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KC3TEC

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #40 on: December 22, 2022, 05:12:47 PM »

But you can't lump everyone in the same category that's what's wrong!
You don't know me but you put me in a category that suits your vision.
It's just as bad as discrimination.

Call me a dreamer if you want,  but the stereotype bull$#!t is something I've worked on changing all my life.

I don't care what your skin color is, I don't care what your religion is or isn't, and I damn sure don't care what your preferences are.
I do care about the good we can do.
Because that is how I was brought up.

I do what I can to change things to the benefit of everyone but I can't do it alone.

So what I'm asking is, is it so hard to get together and change things or just too easy to give up?
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K3UIM

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #41 on: December 22, 2022, 06:47:55 PM »

+1, TEC!
Charlie
K3UIM
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AC7CW

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #42 on: December 23, 2022, 03:36:24 AM »

Hams stay in the hobby in spite of all the lowlifes that don't care if they ruin it. The reward from a hobby has to be intrinsic. When someone incentives me I feel like whatever they are incentivizing must not be worth much otherwise I'd find it myself...
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N2EY

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #43 on: December 27, 2022, 12:43:31 PM »


Yep, I think the only reason for ham radio nowadays is the fact that you just like radio,

That has always been the primary reason most people become hams.  That is why I became licensed.  That should be the main reason people get a license, not for some other motive.


I use the phrase "radio for its own sake" (or "Radio for Radio's sake").

Radio as an end in itself, not a means to an end. The journey more than the destination.

Some folks understand - most don't. And that's OK.

73 de Jim, N2EY
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VE3WGO

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Re: Why do more than 55% of new Techs drop-out or quit?
« Reply #44 on: January 12, 2023, 09:28:36 AM »

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
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