Survey Comments
The Hobby in 50 years
GONE !! It is becoming an anachronism, sadly !
Posted by
G4RNW on 2007-01-01
50 yrs from now...
...about six feet above me
John K7FD
Posted by
K7FD on 2006-12-11
Think globally
It's a big world out there. HF is not limited to short distances like the higher frequencies. There will always be ham radio somewhere....
Posted by
WN3R on 2006-12-06
The Internet boost and kill for Amateur Radio
Having taught the Radio Amateurs Examination courses in the 90's at a local college in the North of England I could see how classes were gradually declining year by year as the Internet became more accessible during the the mid to late 90ies. The last class was taught in 97 before the course got culled due to lack of numbers. I think that a lot of people who would traditionally go into Ham radio moved into computing technology. The buzz of worldwide communication, talking to people who share your interests, exploring different modes can all be done for free on the Internet, so why study for 6 months to take an exam for something you can do instantly on the internet?
With that lowering the entry requirement for newcomers has been inevitable to avoid a pre-mature death of the hobby.
Rather as a be-moaned reality we should see this as an opportunity, to get new people in and to encourage them to take it further, to train them higher and promote good practice and technical expertise. In the end it is up to us the oldtimers to make this happen.
I have seen quite a few new entrants to the foundation exam who would not have stood a chance to pass the old exam. The good thing is that these guys turn up to our local club faithfully and are always working on little projects picking up skills on the way. I think that this is what we should promote.
Here in the UK I remember the bands being filled to the brim on VHF and UHF in the late 80ies - today you only occasionally here a QSO in progress with most of the participants being recent licensees. I remember many times driving from the North of England to London on Saturday afternoon without hearing anybody on 2m for all of the duration of the journey. With more newcomers I hope that old days of abundant activity will return. It would be nice to be able to actually talk to somebody without having to pre-arrange a sked. What it will be like in 50 years time I think is down to us as a community in how successful we are to recruit new people and to maintain our community without Hams bailing out on us.
The upside of the Internet is that there is now less pressure on the radio spectrum since a lot of services which used to be on HF and other parts of the spectrum have gradually moved over to the Internet, i.e. broadcasters, press services etc.
Personally I welcome the integration of emerging technologies like echolink and new digital modes and I foresee that this will continue to happen more so in the future.
In 50 years time I would think that Amateur Radio will look somewhat different. As a community we should encourage education through the medium of radio and be open minded about new technologies and new opportunities to expand research in Ham radio. We have a lot to offer right now and we will still have a lot to offer in the future.
If we succeed as a coherent community I am sure that we will still see the next generation of Hams being around in 50yrs time.
In the end it will be up to us to whether we manage to maintain standards and to make this hobby worthwhile and desirable.
Michael
73 de
G7IDJ@aol.com
Posted by
G7IDJ on 2006-12-03
The Internet boost and kill for Amateur Radio
Having taught the Radio Amateurs Examination courses in the 90's at a local college in the North of England I could see how classes were gradually declining year by year as the Internet became more accessible during the the mid to late 90ies. The last class was taught in 97 before the course got culled due to lack of numbers. I think that a lot of people who would traditionally go into Ham radio moved into computing technology. The buzz of worldwide communication, talking to people who share your interests, exploring different modes can all be done for free on the Internet, so why study for 6 months to take an exam for something you can do instantly on the internet?
With that lowering the entry requirement for newcomers has been inevitable to avoid a pre-mature death of the hobby.
Rather as a be-moaned reality we should see this as an opportunity, to get new people in and to encourage them to take it further, to train them higher and promote good practice and technical expertise. In the end it is up to us the oldtimers to make this happen.
I have seen quite a few new entrants to the foundation exam who would not have stood a chance to pass the old exam. The good thing is that these guys turn up to our local club faithfully and are always working on little projects picking up skills on the way. I think that this is what we should promote.
Here in the UK I remember the bands being filled to the brim on VHF and UHF in the late 80ies - today you only occasionally here a QSO in progress with most of the participants being recent licensees. I remember many times driving from the North of England to London on Saturday afternoon without hearing anybody on 2m for all of the duration of the journey. With more newcomers I hope that old days of abundant activity will return. It would be nice to be able to actually talk to somebody without having to pre-arrange a sked. What it will be like in 50 years time I think is down to us as a community in how successful we are to recruit new people and to maintain our community without Hams bailing out on us.
The upside of the Internet is that there is now less pressure on the radio spectrum since a lot of services which used to be on HF and other parts of the spectrum have gradually moved over to the Internet, i.e. broadcasters, press services etc.
Personally I welcome the integration of emerging technologies like echolink and new digital modes and I foresee that this will continue to happen more so in the future.
In 50 years time I would think that Amateur Radio will look somewhat different. As a community we should encourage education through the medium of radio and be open minded about new technologies and new opportunities to expand research in Ham radio. We have a lot to offer right now and we will still have a lot to offer in the future.
If we succeed as a coherent community I am sure that we will still see the next generation of Hams being around in 50yrs time.
In the end it will be up to us to whether we manage to maintain standards and to make this hobby worthwhile and desirable.
Michael
73 de
G7IDJ@aol.com
Posted by
G7IDJ on 2006-12-03
Enough Talk....
Amateur Radio is whatever you want it to be.
Lead, Follow or just turn in your license.
I keep seeing clowns like SSB posting what is obviously uninformed nonsense. Old Men whining about how it used to be. New Hams begging to be heard and helped.
Bottom line, shut up or put up. If you like Ham Radio great if you don't great. Its not like a life sentence you can always quit.
Posted by
KL1PL on 2006-10-04
Enough Talk....
Amateur Radio is whatever you want it to be.
Lead, Follow or just turn in your license.
I keep seeing clowns like SSB posting what is obviously uninformed nonsense. Old Men whining about how it used to be. New Hams begging to be heard and helped.
Bottom line, shut up or put up. If you like Ham Radio great if you don't great. Its not like a life sentence you can always quit.
Posted by
KL1PL on 2006-10-04
Leave a Legacy
I don't get the selfish attitude expressed by "I don't care, I'll be dead within fifty years."
Posted by
NI0C on 2006-10-04
Hams own worst enemy
If any one factor kills ham radio its the kind of people you see on this site which is probably a good sample of the kind of persons that cruise the bands. That kind of person is a mean, vindictive, nasty, judgemental, repulsive low life. Your average eHam person fits this description and who wants to get a license and pay $1000's for radios to talk with jackasses? Look in the mirror people and you will see the reason ham radio will eventually die. There aren't enough 'normal' people to keep this hobby going.
Alex....
Posted by
SSB on 2006-10-04
Glutton for punishment ?
So, "SSB," tell us why you hang around here?
Posted by
NI0C on 2006-10-04
"I intend to die with a paddle in my hand..."
Spoken like a real ham. I recently picked out my urn and had my ham callsign and the number of my T-2 ticket and my old First Phone embossed on the side.
When I croak, my ashes will be available to be buried in someone's new tower base...
Posted by
FORMER_W7LV on 2006-10-04
bigger than ever
Ham radio was big in the last Great Depression, and it will be
bigger in the coming Greater one. Mark my words.
Posted by
NS6Y_ on 2006-10-03
I didn't get into a "dying" hobby.
I've been a Technician since 3/06, am working on Elements 1 and 3 for General, and when I make it past that, I'll think about Extra.
There is one thing I can tell every last person here:
Amateur Radio will LIVE with me. I will make it so. In whatever form it takes or goes, I'll go with it. And I will be DAMNED if anybody tries to tell me otherwise or discourage me. So here's where I'm at. It'll outlive me.
Mark Hall by birth, KE5LIB by sheer desire and determination, application and adaptation!!!
Posted by
KE5LIB on 2006-10-03
ham radio in 50 years
I will be dead and will not care kg4dky
Posted by
KG4DKY on 2006-10-03
Amateur Radio will increase
.
Amateur Radio will be expanding as long as there are many purchasing radio equipment. Amateur Radio is now a business for the makers of radio and the people operating the radio equipment will be the ones that will carry on this hobby. In time ham radio will become a free banders hobby and as seen in the past the qualifications to become a ham operator has not been limited to a greater knowledge of electronics, but the encouragement of all sorts of life. (No need to know).
Anything that is given free, which will happen, you will find there are many that will join the free act even if not really interested. Something for nothing is always welcomed.
Ham radio will increase by the numbers, but the activity will be devoted to contests, nothing more.
73
.:
Posted by
W6TH on 2006-10-02
As long as you see the ARS as a HOBBY, the sooner it will go away.
Posted by
W1YW on 2006-10-02
As those with bitter, arrogant, and prejudiced attitudes leave the hobby, amateur radio will become stronger than ever.
Posted by
K8NWX on 2006-10-02
Ham in fifty years
The frequencies presently allocated to amateur radio will be, for the most part, given to other more important services.
The Ham license will be granted to any applicant with a few questions about use of the one remaining band. Building any RF equipment will be illegal, as well as the use of non-approved antennas. The CPSC will insist that no antenna may be placed upon roofs or towers; too many chances that people will fall and hurt themselves. Further, the CPSC will specifiy output of no more than two watts as it is possible that RF is dangerous to humans. All equipment must be covered with CPSC labels and warnings.
Otherwise, there won't be many changes.
RC, K5CO
Posted by
KD5PSH on 2006-10-01
Ham in fifty years
The frequencies presently allocated to amateur radio will be, for the most part, given to other more important services.
The Ham license will be granted to any applicant with a few questions about use of the one remaining band. Building any RF equipment will be illegal, as well as the use of non-approved antennas. The CPSC will insist that no antenna may be placed upon roofs or towers; too many chances that people will fall and hurt themselves. Further, the CPSC will specifiy output of no more than two watts as it is possible that RF is dangerous to humans. All equipment must be covered with CPSC labels and warnings.
Otherwise, there won't be many changes.
RC, K5CO
Posted by
KD5PSH on 2006-10-01
too much negativity
Boy, talk about negativity, gloom and doom. I did state in my earlier post the fact that young people are not being atracted to ham radio. But that's different than the negative attitude expressed in a lot of thest comments.
If ham radio is so bad for you, then quit. Otherwise, try to do something positive for the hobby.
As far as "no legitimate mission or use" I don't agree. Ham radio does still come in handy for personal communications between friends/fellow hams, and while by far not the be-all/end-all of emergency communications, there are a lot of valuable emergency and public service communications which without ham radio would not happen.
And even if there is not a big mission or purpose, so what? The same can be said of many hobbies, some of which depend on government rules/ regulations/ permission to exist and take up 'valuable assets' that could be used elsewhere. Such as private non-commercial aviation for example. How about national parks and recreation areas? We don't "need" them to survive. What's different with ham radio?
Posted by
KC2WI on 2006-10-01
Trained operators
SSB (Alex) said:
"The idea that the US needed trained operators is stupid. In a 100 years how many trained operators did much of anything?"
Where do you think the armed forces got their operators in WW2? If it weren't for hams you'd probably be speaking a dialect of German and Japanese.
Posted by
K2VCO on 2006-10-01
Growing
“The frequencies presently allocated to amateur radio will be, for the most part, given to other more important services.”
Most of the more important services are going to higher trunked frequencies leaving a lot of HF, VHF and UHF unused. If anything, I would guess that Amateur Radio will be getting more bandwidth in the future. I can't imagine a cell phone system using HF.
This is how the FCC defines the Amateur service:
“A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest”.
That leaves it fairly wide open. Nothing about special modes; “... solely with a personal aim...”
Amateur Radio is for anyone willing to qualify using whatever mode they enjoy. This is what makes me believe it will grow faster than it has in the past.
Mike
Posted by
WG7G on 2006-10-01
Whats the purpose?
This hobby suffers from having a legitimate mission or use. All the reasons that have been used justify the spectrum are no longer valid if they ever were. The idea that the US needed trained operators is stupid. In a 100 years how many trained operators did much of anything?
I think having spectrum to experiment with is probably the only decent reason left to justify this hobby. For the few that really use the ability to radiate RF to further their personal education with the generation of RF, this hobby helps.
Instead of arguing about CW requirements which were nothing but a "low life" filter to most hams, the written requirements should have been increased so that when somebody got licensed they knew allot more so they could use their license instead of going on the Elmers forum and asking the most basic questions that should have been already learned to get a license and have the knowledge to use it through station building, antenna experimentation, and equipment use. In other words, ham radio should at least in part be for those that obtain technical RF training and then can use it on the ham bands. This is not whats happening now. Ham radio is NOW nothing more than glorified CB.
Alex.
Posted by
SSB on 2006-09-30
How do you know that?
To the unknown entity SSB and folks who choose to think like that, I ask, "How do you know that?"
MFJ has not gone out of business. Vectronics and others are still selling kits. There are plenty of parts sellers on this site, in QST, in World Radio and elswhere. Antenna and antenna part sales are still going strong. Ham radio clubs are active. The truth is that you don't have a clue as to what amateur radio operators are doing. Many professional people are amateur radio operators. People from all walks of life are licensed. Information and learning about radio communications is flowing into and out of amateur radio activity every day in the States, in Japan, Down Under, in all of Asia, in Europe, in the Islands, everywhere, and just what do you really know besides having an empty attitude? The mission is to spread good will world-wide, and to advance the knowledge of radio communication. You are sitting on the sidelines looking at the mud. The rest of the amateur world is passing you by. If you have a call sign, use it, because, if you don't, you and only you are going to get nothing out of it. You need a mission. The rest of us have one.
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-09-30
Listen to what you got
If all you cheerleaders of bs just listen to your own bands, you will see what you think you have isn't what you got. Listen, listen, listen to 75, 40, 20, and especially 10 meters and show me the cream of the ham crop. Show me now.
Alex.
Posted by
SSB on 2006-09-30
The Future is Good
In spite of the doomsayers, the future of amatuer radio is built on a glorious past and a solid present. The doomsayers are isolated individuals who never did or no longer have what it takes to be a radio amateur according to Paul Segal's The Amateur's Code. It is truly a shame for them, because the only folks they convince is themselves, and they are the poorer for it. Every new ham who has just felt the thrill of getting his first ticket, and every experienced General who knows his way around the bands, and every Extra who has years of experience under his belt, each and everyone of these, is never going to be persuaded by these sad sacks that the future of amatuer radio is going to be anything less than rewarding. Why? Because these real hams who love this endeavor are too busy enjoying every minute of it to wast their time with the lame excuses of those who don't understand what it is all about.
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-09-30
Digital stuff
I'm working on my code and going to take the test, again, on Oct.13th. I'm excited to get my General ticket & speak to people around the world. If you hear me, please help me when I make mistakes, ok?
Bill
Posted by
KB9LAX on 2006-09-30
COMMUNICATION?
Well...As far as attempting to make a positive respectful comment about the "Ham Radio Bands and Ham Operators?" The Band and it's operators have most ALWAYS been known as the group... that practices "POLICE IT'S OWN BANDS" so, as far back as I can remember, and within the tales of wonderful (lost but never forgotten) Mentors and Wise Operators - Many more Experienced Hams have always attempted to TEACH the younger learning operator about what to do or what NOT to do! I can't speak for others but as for myself I have always appreciated the Hints, Tips and even some CONSTRUCTIVE COMPLAINTS spoken to me that in one way or another that HELPED ME to gain ground in operating a good CLEAN EFFECTIVE RADIO STATION and generally understanding what to expect while doing so! Many of you may know and understand what an "APPRENTICE" is! So...in understanding that ASPECT, I sincerely hope that the all the newer operators (Full of FIRE and SPIRIT)will never forget that most all of us started in the SAME PLACE...AT THE BOTTOM...And WORKED OUR WAY - UP! And I PRAY that most all of our MORE EXPERIENCED VETERAN OPERATORS and MENTORS - shall always remember that even "CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM" is accepted easier when RESPECT for another Human Beings basic rights, are never forgotten... Especially, while administering... Criticism! I always try to remember that old saying that "If anyone could do it, what FUN would that be?" and as in the case of RADIO?..."If anyone can do it...THAT IS CB!" As one of my old favorite mentors told me once, you want that kind of RADIO, WITH NO RULES...Stay in CB. You want an REWARDING EXPERIENCE YOU'LL NEVER FORGET?...Become a HAM and WORK FOR IT! Oh Yeah...and let's not forget a very old ands valuable saying... "LOVE IT...OR LEAVE IT!" but don't try to change it simply because you aren't willing to WORK AND, EARN IT! GOD BLESS
Posted by
NE5C on 2006-09-29
IN 50 YEARS???
If present day ops had any self-discipline the hobby would prosper. Unfortunately today's hams are in complete denial of rules and regs. And this is the problem. And it manifest its self in all aspects of our life. And let me say it's not just hams. Look how people drive on the highways. Just for ONE example. Our society refuses to obey laws anymore. FORGET ABOUT IT! IT'S GONE.
Posted by
N4VNV on 2006-09-29
As Good as it gets
Well one thing is sure, in the next 50 years most of us will all be dead. From the sound of it, some of you already are.
If the present is any indication, I think the future of ham radio is going to be just fine.
I’ve always wanted to get on the air with only equipment that I built myself. In the past two years after a 20 year hiatus, I’ve done exactly that.
I found the kit market alive and well and better than ever. Because of advances in circuit board design technology kits like those from Elecraft have far exceeded anything I ever built from Heathkit. I started with a KX-1, then a K2 and finally the K1. I also discovered that I didn’t need 100 watts to make a QSO.
From there I found the QRP community, and because of the internet, how well organized it was. The various clubs also make kits – most of them are excellent. I have built the following kits:
IQ-VFO, DDS VFO, FCC-1 frequency counter/display, Softrock40 Software Defined Radio (versions 1 through 6), ATSIII, and two NC2030’s.
This is State-of-the-Art equipment that almost anyone can build. The NC2030’s have the best receiver that I’ve ever heard and will rival or exceed anything presently made. It has over 400 smt components and I built two of them! Am I proud of this – you bet! I had never done a complete smt project before and at 60 years of age, it required learning something new.
Mind you, I just built them - there seems to be some top notch hams out there willing to give up their time to design, procure parts and package these kits for my gratification. Most of these kits are dirt cheap allowing anyone to partake of these emerging technologies. The Softrock radios are less than 30 dollars and the software for them is free. The software will allow you to see a real time spectrum display of a large chunk of what ever band you build your radio for. It’s a small price to pay for an exceptional experience.
The fact that licensing requirements have loosened really doesn’t bother me much. There will always be those that will be curious beyond the little technical prowess it took to get a ticket now or in the good ole days.
I see the future in this hobby driven by the same kind, gentle, giving people that have always contributed to ham radio. Rest assured, there will always be the doomsayers and bed-wetting malcontents around to say otherwise.
If your not having fun, it’s your fault – not ham radio!
Tom, AK2B
p.s. all of the above mentioned kits can be found by Googling.
Posted by
AK2B on 2006-09-29
As Good as it gets
Well one thing is sure, in the next 50 years most of us will all be dead. From the sound of it, some of you already are.
If the present is any indication, I think the future of ham radio is going to be just fine.
I’ve always wanted to get on the air with only equipment that I built myself. In the past two years after a 20 year hiatus, I’ve done exactly that.
I found the kit market alive and well and better than ever. Because of advances in circuit board design technology kits like those from Elecraft have far exceeded anything I ever built from Heathkit. I started with a KX-1, then a K2 and finally the K1. I also discovered that I didn’t need 100 watts to make a QSO.
From there I found the QRP community, and because of the internet, how well organized it was. The various clubs also make kits – most of them are excellent. I have built the following kits:
IQ-VFO, DDS VFO, FCC-1 frequency counter/display, Softrock40 Software Defined Radio (versions 1 through 6), ATSIII, and two NC2030’s.
This is State-of-the-Art equipment that almost anyone can build. The NC2030’s have the best receiver that I’ve ever heard and will rival or exceed anything presently made. It has over 400 smt components and I built two of them! Am I proud of this – you bet! I had never done a complete smt project before and at 60 years of age, it required learning something new.
Mind you, I just built them - there seems to be some top notch hams out there willing to give up their time to design, procure parts and package these kits for my gratification. Most of these kits are dirt cheap allowing anyone to partake of these emerging technologies. The Softrock radios are less than 30 dollars and the software for them is free. The software will allow you to see a real time spectrum display of a large chunk of what ever band you build your radio for. It’s a small price to pay for an exceptional experience.
The fact that licensing requirements have loosened really doesn’t bother me much. There will always be those that will be curious beyond the little technical prowess it took to get a ticket now or in the good ole days.
I see the future in this hobby driven by the same kind, gentle, giving people that have always contributed to ham radio. Rest assured, there will always be the doomsayers and bed-wetting malcontents around to say otherwise.
If your not having fun, it’s your fault – not ham radio!
Tom, AK2B
p.s. all of the above mentioned kits can be found by Googling.
Posted by
AK2B on 2006-09-29
Who cares?
You OF will have passed on by then. I'll be needing someone to change my depends for me. The liberal taxes will be out of control. And you guys want to argue about this...
WHO CARES!!!
Posted by
SSBHAM69 on 2006-09-29
50 years from now
I dont believe the question can be answered as
posed. Maybe the question should be "what form
will ham radio take 50 years from now?"
Very few of us will be around to answer the question considering the average age of people active in our hobby. Things change over time and so will ham radio. I was first licensed in 1959 and it has changes a lot since my novice days.
Its been fun and there are a lot of good years left, enjoy them until switching power supplies and BPL polute the radio spectrum beyond use.
Ron KH6DV
Posted by
KH6DV on 2006-09-29
50 years from now
I dont believe the question can be answered as
posed. Maybe the question should be "what form
will ham radio take 50 years from now?"
Very few of us will be around to answer the question considering the average age of people active in our hobby. Things change over time and so will ham radio. I was first licensed in 1959 and it has changes a lot since my novice days.
Its been fun and there are a lot of good years left, enjoy them until switching power supplies and BPL polute the radio spectrum beyond use.
Ron KH6DV
Posted by
KH6DV on 2006-09-29
50 years from now
I dont believe the question can be answered as
posed. Maybe the question should be "what form
will ham radio take 50 years from now?"
Very few of us will be around to answer the question considering the average age of people active in our hobby. Things change over time and so will ham radio. I was first licensed in 1959 and it has changes a lot since my novice days.
Its been fun and there are a lot of good years left, enjoy them until switching power supplies and BPL polute the radio spectrum beyond use.
Ron KH6DV
Posted by
KH6DV on 2006-09-29
based on present trends...
Based on present trends I don't see a bright future for ham radio. We are not attracting young people to the hobby. This is a fact that can not be argued.
IF commercial interests and government greed don't win out resulting in the total loss of spectrum, then ham radio will still be around but the number of hams will be even a smaller minority than today.
And I suspect there will be even less home-brewing of equipment than there is now.
Talk about CW becoming obsolete - analog AM/SSB HF is going to go away as people become less tolerant of the noise. I love HF, but do get very tired of listening to static crashes, QRM, etc. CW will still be around but only an attraction for a few people and it might be 'simluated' CW with the information actually being sent as digital data and then converted into CW (i.e. no different than digital voice.)
Possibly there will be growth in digital modes but it had better be in digital voice because let's face it, what most hams really like to do is TALK on the radio. Digital data is cool, but you can type on the computer.
We don't even know what new wireless communications techniques may be invented by then, but it's a pretty safe bet that most people will be even less able to construct 'modern' gear. It's pretty tough now, with surface mount, etc.
I might be around in 30 or 40 years and I hope ham radio does survive, but I'm not certain it will.
Posted by
KC2WI on 2006-09-29
For the hobby to continue the attitudes MUST go!!! I mean the attitudes the older guys put towards the newer ops and vice versa. The constant internal bickering is nothing like ive ever seen in any other hobby anywere, ever. Its always over stuff like code/no code, code speed required to pass the General or Extra, ex CBers getting into the hobby, use of proper terms of endearment over the air, ect,ect. A newcomer getting into the hobby sees this juvenile activity and then decides the hobby is not for them and then leaves to never come back.
Posted by
KC9GUZ on 2006-09-28
ITS DEAD
No one builds antennas,No one works on or builds radios,No one can copy code,No one know how to program there radios,No one knows how to putup or installs antennas.
Its a plug and play hobby now,More like a give me the license so i can TALK....
Posted by
N2BR on 2006-09-27
where is the ART of the HOBBY going?
The main problem I see with the so called promotion of Amateur Radio is all in the presentation. The manufacturers are promoting the sales of appliances ! The ART of building home brew station equipment is indeed dying. Hence, IT'S all about THE MONEY. That has nothing at all to do with the educational factors of the radio art.
The whole idea and tecnique of links and computer transfered amateur radio lacks the true form of the ART. Yes, there is a LOT of technical form and knowledge needed to accomplish these new wave communication practices; However, the pure form of propogating a radio signal therein dies.
Personally, the whole thrill of the radio ART to me is home brewing things at the station. Building my own antenna (however unsightly some may find it) and sending / receiving signals from who knows where... That's what it is all about to me. The feeling of accomplisment in the ability to travel at the speed of light, from somthing that I built, to various far points across the globe, WITHOUT THE AID OF COMPUTERS, SATELLITES, LINKS OR ANY OF THE OTHER NON PROPOGATIONALLY CHALLENGED FORUMS...; That is what amateur radio is to me. I would rather work a station 50 miles away which was built by his/her own resourses and abilities from scratch, with a chirpy weak 500 mw signal and a s2 report, than work some person from half way around the globe who ran to the radio shop and bought a 2000 dollar radio, 700 dollar antenna, 3000 dollar 150 foot tower and 100 dollars worth of low loss coaxial feedline and ofcourse the thousand dollar microphone and audio processing equipment and legal limit amplifier (then just plug it all in and knob it into working) ...
Yes, CW is out dated. In saying that I must add some other comments on the matter. First off, I LOVE CW ! Passed the 20 WPM in 1998 with no problems and work regularly between 25 and 35 WPM. Not because I have to but, because I WANT TO ! This is a mode of communication that has the ability to be used (proficiently) by me to work stations where voice communications are next to impossible due to band conditions, QRN, QRM, or the language barrier. I am not concerned in the least if the controling entities decide to eliminate the code requirement... Those of us that love and use the code will continue to do so ! Those that don't want to use the code or are too lazy to learn it , won't... simple as that.
The hobby may indeed dye. The HF bands may indeed be sold out to corporate interests (this I doubt). It will all be ok though. I will at that point, in the event that amateur radio service goes belly up, continue to BUILD MY STUFF AND TRAVEL THE GLOBE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
Now, All you pathetic whine bags who are CRYING your way into better band priviledges and purchasing the vanity callsigns that you DARN sure do NOT deserve... Be careful what you wish for because you may just end up getting it. Remember that we Amateures out here who EARNED our privs will be savy enough to figure out who you are with your cracker jack ticket and you will be known as and treated as a mockery of the TRUE ART FORM...
Have a BLESSED time and Learn and Enjoy the ART.
73 & 88's
jim
KC8BYF (non vanity) soon to be extra and still no vanity call. : )
Posted by
N8NSN on 2006-09-27
KC8BYF
I couldn't have said it better myself..
Posted by
KB6QXM on 2006-09-27
Click the "post" button JUST ONCE PLEASE! =D
Posted by
AD5TD on 2006-09-27
Whiners
"The main problem I see with the so called promotion of Amateur Radio is all in the presentation. The manufacturers are promoting the sales of appliances ! The ART of building home brew station equipment is indeed dying. Hence, IT'S all about THE MONEY. That has nothing at all to do with the educational factors of the radio art."
I'll give you THAT one!
"The whole idea and tecnique of links and computer transfered amateur radio lacks the true form of the ART. Yes, there is a LOT of technical form and knowledge needed to accomplish these new wave communication practices; However, the pure form of propogating a radio signal therein dies."
If you think it's dead, you haven't been listening or looking at some of the propagation sites on the Internet.
"Personally, the whole thrill of the radio ART to me is home brewing things at the station. Building my own antenna (however unsightly some may find it) and sending / receiving signals from who knows where..."
Yes it is, I home brew my antennas also, I also have a good three element beam that I BOUGHT. It works very well on 20M. A LOT better than my wire. But I do love to make stuff for the station, that's part of the fun.
"That's what it is all about to me. The feeling of accomplisment in the ability to travel at the speed of light, from somthing that I built, to various far points across the globe, WITHOUT THE AID OF COMPUTERS, SATELLITES, LINKS OR ANY OF THE OTHER NON PROPOGATIONALLY CHALLENGED FORUMS...; That is what amateur radio is to me. "
Me too, I can remember when I built my first crystal set and heard the ball game come out of my old military headphones, it was magic! I dreamed of sending my voice around the world on the ether of space. I built a code practice oscillator from a kit that my grandfather gave me on my 12th birthday. But, I never went as far as getting my ticket at the time. I found cars and girls a little more interesting at the time.
"I would rather work a station 50 miles away which was built by his/her own resourses and abilities from scratch, with a chirpy weak 500 mw signal and a s2 report, than work some person from half way around the globe who ran to the radio shop and bought a 2000 dollar radio, 700 dollar antenna, 3000 dollar 150 foot tower and 100 dollars worth of low loss coaxial feedline and ofcourse the thousand dollar microphone and audio processing equipment and legal limit amplifier (then just plug it all in and knob it into working) ..."
You are correct, the satisfaction is wonderful. Experimentation is not as prevalent as it once was, it's still out there, just look in any QST.
I want to see the return of Heath kit, I built many electronics projects that kept my interest in radio working as I grew up. I was still intimidated by the code, however.
"Yes, CW is out dated. In saying that I must add some other comments on the matter. First off, I LOVE CW ! Passed the 20 WPM in 1998 with no problems and work regularly between 25 and 35 WPM. Not because I have to but, because I WANT TO ! This is a mode of communication that has the ability to be used (proficiently) by me to work stations where voice communications are next to impossible due to band conditions, QRN, QRM, or the language barrier. I am not concerned in the least if the controling entities decide to eliminate the code requirement..."
Bravo! You do so and so will thousands of others, however don't put those of us that don't in a "box" as inferior operators.
"Those of us code will continue to do so ! Those that love and use the that don't want to use the code or are too lazy to learn it , won't... simple as that."
No, it's not. One of the best operators I know, polite, helpful, encouraging and giving. Had to take the code test five times to pass just five WPM. His brain is not geared to the code. He studied day and night for over two years. He tried every kind of teaching aid, and nothing seemed to work. However, he persevered and finally passed. He has NEVER (as I haven't also) used it again and most likely never will. Does that make him a bad operator? HE11 NO! He makes his own gear and works as many as he can and religiously QSL's. You are wrong there.
"The hobby may indeed dye. The HF bands may indeed be sold out to corporate interests (this I doubt). It will all be ok though. I will at that point, in the event that amateur radio service goes belly up, continue to BUILD MY STUFF AND TRAVEL THE GLOBE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT."
I don't think they will be sold out either, nobody wants the HF spectrum, it's to slow for data. However, BPL may render it unusable.
"Now, All you pathetic whine bags who are CRYING your way into better band priviledges and purchasing the vanity callsigns that you DARN sure do NOT deserve... Be careful what you wish for because you may just end up getting it. Remember that we Amateures out here who EARNED our privs will be savy enough to figure out who you are with your cracker jack ticket and you will be known as and treated as a mockery of the TRUE ART FORM..."
If anyone is whining, it's you. Sure, there are horrible ops out there. A lot got their tickets in the last 5 years. However, many of them are 20 WPM Extras like yourself. No manners, horrible language, QRM, etc. (not saying you are this way, I have never heard you on the air, but you have heard them yourself)
Being an "Extra before 2000" doesn't make you "Super Ham". Just someone that can copy code better than me.
"Have a BLESSED time and Learn and Enjoy the ART."
That's what it's all about.
73 & 88's
jim
KC8BYF (non vanity) soon to be extra and still no vanity call. : )
Posted by KC8BYF on September 27, 2006
BTW, my call is NOT a vanity, I "earned" it the old fashioned way.
73 es gd dx de AD5TD
Posted by
AD5TD on 2006-09-27
A slow death
This is strictly my opinion, based on simple obeservation. This commentary was not written to upset anyone. Read, reflect and comment if you feel you need to.
I feel that in 50 years through the lowering of the licensing standards and the lack or inability of rules enforcement will dilute the hobby to something not much better than the US-based Citizen's band radio.
I have had a direct experience of this transformation directly. When I went to a local ham club and inquired about having a tower party to put up a couple of towers. I recieved a worse than luke warm response. A good portion of ham these days carry their entire station on their belt. In the old day, they would line up to help and reap the avantage of the brotherhood of ham radio and of course the good BBQ afterward.
Call me a traditionalist, that is why I am so pissed off with what the ARRL and the equipment manufacteurs have done to ham radio.
Oh.....code is too hard, not present technology or a host of other so-called justifications.....whine whine whine...
When I was in college did I say Oh, the math is too hard...whine whine...NO, I did what it took, and suffered through it and became a stonger person. The educational requirements for any degree is based on traditions of what it takes to earn that degree. In my case as an engineer, this was based on educational traditions for many engineers that came before me.
When I earned my black belt in traditional Japanese Karate...did I say..whine whine...oh it's too hard...No, it took me 4 times to test before I earned my full blackbelt rank...4 times!!!!, but I did not quit. The requirements to make the rank of blackbelt is based on age old tradition of martial artists that came before me.
I had problems with my code...did I whine?...no I studied harder, became more proficent and did it again to pass. No whine, I just did it. CW might be a outdated technology, but it is based on the age old tradition of hams that came before us.
That is the reason that the United States has to import a great portion of our intellectual workforce from many parts of the world.
The parents of our present generation do not teach their children that education is paramount in this world, if you expect to go anywhere. When was the last time you heard a child say that they want to grow up to be like Albert Einstein or Louise Pastuer?
No they say that they want to grow up to be another Steve Young or some other athletic sports figure. The probability of becoming a multi-million dollar sports figure is so much less than someone becoming educated and being the leader in their given industry.
The old days of hard work in the US, as far as the new generation are over.
The present world is too much about instant gradification. Not earning something through blood, sweat and tears and downright hardwork.
I offer this perspective not to rain on anyone's parade, but to present my point of view, that this outlook of eliminating a barrier to obtain an amateur radio license makes the license diluted and not so special anymore. That is why I have not upgraded from the advanced license, to make a statement that I did it the hard way. The extra class was a difficult barrier I was working on when they took away the 20wpm. That was quite dissappointing.
I realize it is a hobby and I also realize the economic criteria behind the equipment manufactuers wanting to make more hams to generate more revenue and to band load, so that the interests of corporate world do not take away anymore bandspace.
Life is about challenges. You get a sense of accomplishment when you work hard and succeed. If everything is given to you, then where is the pleasure in that? It is about the journey and not the destination.
Enough said..I think you all get my point. Hopefully noone will take offense. Just the way I lead my life and it is strictly my opinion.
Posted by
KB6QXM on 2006-09-26
A slow death
This is strictly my opinion, based on simple observation. This commentary was not written to upset anyone. Read, reflect and comment if you feel you need to.
I feel that in 50 years through the lowering of the licensing standards and the lack or inability of rules enforcement will dilute the hobby to something not much better than the US-based Citizen's band radio.
I have had a direct experience of this transformation directly. When I went to a local ham club and inquired about having a tower party to put up a couple of towers. I recieved a worse than luke warm response. A good portion of ham these days carry their entire station on their belt. In the old day, they would line up to help and reap the avantage of the brotherhood of ham radio and of course the good BBQ afterward.
Call me a traditionalist, that is why I am so pissed off with what the ARRL and the equipment manufacteurs have done to ham radio.
Oh.....code is too hard, not present technology or a host of other so-called justifications.....whine whine whine...
When I was in college did I say Oh, the math is too hard...whine whine...NO, I did what it took, and suffered through it and became a stonger person. The educational requirements for any degree is based on traditions of what it takes to earn that degree. In my case as an engineer, this was based on educational traditions for many engineers that came before me.
When I earned my black belt in traditional Japanese Karate...did I say..whine whine...oh it's too hard...No, it took me 4 times to test before I earned my full blackbelt rank...4 times!!!!, but I did not quit. The requirements to make the rank of blackbelt is based on age old tradition of martial artists that came before me.
I had problems with my code...did I whine?...no I studied harder, became more proficent and did it again to pass. No whine, I just did it. CW might be a outdated technology, but it is based on the age old tradition of hams that came before us.
That is the reason that the United States has to import a great portion of our intellectual workforce from many parts of the world.
The parents of our present generation do not teach their children that education is paramount in this world, if you expect to go anywhere. When was the last time you heard a child say that they want to grow up to be like Albert Einstein or Louise Pastuer?
No they say that they want to grow up to be another Steve Young or some other athletic sports figure. The probability of becoming a multi-million dollar sports figure is so much less than someone becoming educated and being the leader in their given industry.
The old days of hard work in the US, as far as the new generation are over.
The present world is too much about instant gradification. Not earning something through blood, sweat and tears and downright hardwork.
I offer this perspective not to rain on anyone's parade, but to present my point of view, that this outlook of eliminating a barrier to obtain an amateur radio license makes the license diluted and not so special anymore. That is why I have not upgraded from the advanced license, to make a statement that I did it the hard way. The extra class was a difficult barrier I was working on when they took away the 20wpm. That was quite dissappointing.
I realize it is a hobby and I also realize the economic criteria behind the equipment manufactuers wanting to make more hams to generate more revenue and to band load, so that the interests of corporate world do not take away anymore bandspace.
Life is about challenges. You get a sense of accomplishment when you work hard and succeed. If everything is given to you, then where is the pleasure in that? It is about the journey and not the destination.
Enough said..I think you all get my point. Hopefully noone will take offense. Just the way I lead my life and it is strictly my opinion.
Posted by
KB6QXM on 2006-09-26
A slow death
Dude, that rant was fricken awesome. Well said and well done!!!!
Posted by
K3NRX on 2006-09-26
KB6QXM what you post sounds noble and well-intentioned, but .....
I wonder if you are out of touch with today's youth. I wonder if you have had the privilege of attending a meeting of a ham club at a local technical college. I wonder if you have shared much with young people in the area of digital communications.
I have 13 children. Six of them are college students. Most are in their late teens and twenties now. One is a ham, and others may come on board soon. I get to see them and their friends, and, I get to share a few things with them. I just don't see what you see. I, too, am a traditionalist, but unlike you, I am an optimist.
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-09-26
Strong Growth
When I took my tech license the first part of the year there were 20 people who showed up. Some were upgrading but most were there for their first license. This particular organization has tests every month and this is just one of hundreds of such organizations.
Our 2 meter repeaters and simplex are relatively busy.
I don't believe exams have been dumbed down. The old Novice test only had 20 questions of the variety of “Which way does an apple fall when it falls out of a tree”? The Tech exam has almost twice as many questions, and while they are not all that difficult (I've had a GROL for years,) they are sufficient to demonstrate if the examinee has done his/her homework and has at least a basic knowledge of Amateur Radio.
My uncle, who has been in Amateur Radio since the early 50s, was quite pleased that I got my license. We have a regular contact schedule on 2 meters simplex where we discuss and try out different antenna designs. He still has fun building his own stuff and really enjoys doing it with one of the family.
Mike
KE7HFQ
Posted by
WG7G on 2006-09-25
Strong Growth
When I took my tech license the first part of the year there were 20 people who showed up. Some were upgrading but most were there for their first license. This particular organization has tests every month and this is just one of hundreds of such organizations.
Our 2 meter repeaters and simplex are relatively busy.
I don't believe exams have been dumbed down. The old Novice test only had 20 questions of the variety of “Which way does an apple fall when it falls out of a tree”? The Tech exam has almost twice as many questions, and while they are not all that difficult (I've had a GROL for years,) they are sufficient to demonstrate if the examinee has done his/her homework and has at least a basic knowledge of Amateur Radio.
My uncle, who has been in Amateur Radio since the early 50s, was quite pleased that I got my license. We have a regular contact schedule on 2 meters simplex where we discuss and try out different antenna designs. He still has fun building his own stuff and really enjoys doing it with one of the family.
Mike
KE7HFQ
Posted by
WG7G on 2006-09-25
Brave New World
Ham radio as a hobby will continue to exist but in a radically different form. Its current reliance on computers and the Internet will continue to grow until it ceases to be an independent user of radio spectrum.
Modern equipment is increasingly software controlled, and hams have already discovered that, using the Internet, they can remotely control their equipment from anywhere on the planet. Clearly the next logical step will be to interconnect the control interfaces of these (and eventually all) stations to each other through the Internet and eliminate the troublesome RF links and unsightly antenna installations. In this respect EchoLink is a shadow of things to come.
"But where would be the challenge?" you might ask. To be sure, something will be lost, but much more will be gained.
Since ham radio will no longer occupy radio spectrum, it will be removed from FCC jurisdiction and privatized. All domestic signals will be passed through a large central server, say, in Newington, where they will be processed and rerouted to their recipients. Other nations will have similar centralized servers for their amateur populations.
Central processing will take into account a station's location, frequency, power, modulation characteristics, and virtual antenna orientation. Signal levels and noise levels will be adjusted to reflect band conditions one might actually encounter in the real world. Contest results will be tabulated automatically and virtual awards generated. Virtual QSL cards will also be sent automatically. Those who prefer boat anchors (actual radio-frequency equipment) will be able to purchase special Internet interface boxes with dummy loads, that will digitize the outgoing signal from the transmitter and provide a low-level, incoming slice of spectrum to satisfy the receiver.
Band plans will be a thing of the past. Instead, one will subscribe to various virtual "radio worlds," much as one now subscribes to various cable TV channels. We will have Contest Worlds, Net Worlds, DX Worlds, etc. And each of these will be subdivided into SSB Worlds, AM Worlds (complete with heterodyne squeals), CW Worlds, Spark-Gap Worlds, etc. Artificial intelligence will provide simulated QSOs with famous SKs and other operators from the past. Imagine the thrill, some April evening, of intercepting the final, frantic transmissions of the Titanic, and participating in the resulting pileup! The resulting loss of life would be virtual, so no real harm would be done.
We no longer have the opportunity to fly combat missions in WWI or WWII aircraft, but sophisticated simulators provide a taste of that experience. In the same way virtual ham radio will provide future generations with a taste of what real radio was like.
And the freed-up spectrum? It will be given to the utility companies, who will indirectly make all of this possible through the magic of universal BPL Internet access.
Tim / AD7EQ
Posted by
AD7EQ on 2006-09-25
Brave New World.
Pass the cyanide capsules please. Boy, I'm glad I'm not young any more.
Posted by
W2RDD on 2006-09-25
Can't compare !!
Ref KE7HFQ: Maybe there was'nt many questions on the old novice test Mike. Maybe the ones on there were pretty stupid too..what did we do with it though?? We got on hf, on "cw" and made contacts. They gave us an entry class license and we had to develope our skills to use it. I worked lots of dx back in 81 with my old novice license "ka8ryc". They'd come into the novice bands from time to time looking for newbies. Everybody wants an entry class license with hf privileges. I thought the one i had back then was really nice. I was really proud to call myself a ham operator. I had earned the right to hf. There's no way you can even bring up that novice class ticket and say your tech ticket in the same breath. The old novice ticket brought hams into the hobby. Some really pitiful acting and sounding so called hams are getting into the hobby via the tech ticket. Now don't go getting all fuzzed up at me either. I'm sure you're a fine young person and my comments are'nt directed at you. You just have no idea what the tech ticket has brought into my ham neighborhood. 73 and have a good week. John WR8D:
Posted by
WR8D on 2006-09-25
filters
John, I agree with you. My comments were directed at the survey question; “Where do you see the hobby of Ham Radio in 50 years”? I see it growing. I didn't make any comments on quality other than stating that I think, actually, I know, that the Novice exam was easier than the current Tech exam.
It makes no sense to argue if one exam is better than another. The FCC has already settled that matter regardless of what we think.
The quality of Hams you are seeing these days is a product of society, not what the exams are able to filter.
I am not that young. My GROL exam was based on tubes. Only question on the exam about transistors was to be able to tell the difference between NPN and PNP on a schematic. We did have to know how many and what type of tube to have in reserve on a ship.
I am not really new to Amateur Radio, I just didn't have time before to take the exam or participate in the hobby. I did a lot of listening and worked a bit in business and marine radio. VHF/UHF FM is still my mode of interest.
As others have stated, Amateur Radio of today has a lot of modes for Hams to work with. CW doesn't keep the bad ones away. Every Ham who has a license is a real Ham regardless of what mode he/she is interested in, unfortunately, even the bad operators are real Hams.
I have absolutely nothing against CW or HF DXing but it takes time to accumulate needed equipment, learn the code and wait for the sun to cooperate (got a few years to go on that one.) I would have gone for the General License if sunspot activity had been nearing a peak.
I know what you mean about bad operators. We have one repeater at some distance from me that has a few of those. But that is the only one. All the rest are used by a bunch of great people who fall over each other trying to help. I am proud to be among them.
The Tech exam is the new Novice exam of this century. It will bring a lot of new Hams into the hobby. Most of these will be great people regardless of their age. Bad operators will be ignored and find some other venue to attract attention, but there will be a lot of good ones left.
73 Mike
Posted by
WG7G on 2006-09-25
Ham Radio in Kuwait
I know we are a small country and won't effect the world ratio for hamradio, but we have a steady number of hams coming in every year, approx. 12 to 15 new Hams every year. Which is a good number for our size.
Posted by
9K2HN on 2006-09-24
"but we have a steady number of hams coming in every year, approx. 12 to 15 new Hams every year"
Are these 'new' hams teen aged or over 50 years old? Here in the U.S. most of our 'new' hams are in the latter category.
In my opinion, the increase of numbers of amateur radio operators is due to lowering licensing requirements rather than an overall increase in interest.
Posted by
W7RJR on 2006-09-24
Even if the "new" hams coming in are 50 or so, they will still have 20 good years or so. And if you keep getting the 50 year olds in year after year, you will have stability and perhaps even growth.
While I think getting the kids in is fine, we shouldn't overlook adults. The kids will go through several periods in life when they are busy with families or broke or both. The older person is generally more stable in life and in his employment and can spend some of his discretionary time and money on hobbies.
Posted by
N8UZE on 2006-09-24
Viewpoint
Recent years have seen an upturn in the number of new amateurs coming into the hobby, due mainly, I believe, to the lowering of licence standards. Many of the 'newcomers' have already fallen by the wayside having found that the hobby was not what they believed it to be. Many older licence holders, like myself, have given up the hobby due to the lowering of standards & lack of operating procedure on the bands. Cheap computers, internet connection & reliability of coms via the internet, plus the selling offf of valuable frequency space to commercial operators I think will spell the death knell for Ham radio in the next 50 yrs.More's the pity!!
Posted by
G4MJA on 2006-09-24
Viewpoint
Recent years have seen an upturn in the number of new amateurs coming into the hobby, due mainly, I believe, to the lowering of licence standards. Many of the 'newcomers' have already fallen by the wayside having found that the hobby was not what they believed it to be. Many older licence holders, like myself, have given up the hobby due to the lowering of standards & lack of operating procedure on the bands. Cheap computers, internet connection & reliability of coms via the internet, plus the selling offf of valuable frequency space to commercial operators I think will spell the death knell for Ham radio in the next 50 yrs.More's the pity!!
Posted by
G4MJA on 2006-09-24
Amateur Radio as a licensed service will be gone in no more than 20 years.
BUT...
More hobbyists than ever will communicate by HF radio and they'll be able to use practically all of the HF frequencies. That's because commercial use of HF will be pretty much abandoned in the next few decades.
ARRL will adapt to the new paradigm and will still be around, selling their publications, putting on seminars and training sessions, and sponsoring contests.
Posted by
K3AN on 2006-09-24
Ref: Us/World hams
I think one reason for us here in the us is we are greedy and work much longer hours than most others in the world. We don't have the time and another thing is we're all fighting over this or that rule change. Pretty soon the sunspots are going to start their climb back up and you'll be right in the middle of it with the rest of us. I work dayshift, have to get up at 4am eastern. On site at 6am until 4:30 pm. I'll be getting up a few hours early some mornings to work the world a little before i have to go to work when it all "wakes" up again. --... ...-- John
Posted by
WR8D on 2006-09-23
Quality of Hamming
You hear people talk alot about quality of life (baby boomers getting old and getting all the problems of the aged). I think there is a quality to anything like ham radio. There was a time when playing with equipment, putting up a new antenna every other week, modifying a new piece of junk, or actually building and using equipment was common. Now alot of fun is gone. I don't even want to look inside my IC 718. I can't even find resistors and caps locally anymore since all the parts stores when out of business, there ain't no more gov surplus, and the general behavior of those on the bands is less than inviting. And the ability to put up antennas is getting almost as hard as getting a bazooka on an airplane. Playing with a 'new' TR4cw I bought is the only link left to more fun times.
Alex....
Posted by
SSB on 2006-09-23
No Youth, No future
The future of amateur radio depends upon young people joining our ranks. This is not happening. Large numbers of older hams cannot make up for this obvious and ominous fact.
Someone has to operate the rigs of tomorrow.Who will it be?
Posted by
W7RJR on 2006-09-23
No friendly old geeks, no future.
Why would a young person want to come on board when there is a bunch of old geeks waiting to call him a tech-lite? My vision is not that good so I asked a young person to help me assemble a kit. Next he started asking questions, then he wanted to try it out. Now he has a technician license. It is up to old geeks to pass on the torch. Now when I want to build a kit, I ask for help.By the way, anyone who says that he can't get resistors isn't fooling anyone.
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-09-23
Sure, it will still be around
Of course there are more obsticles than a half-century or more ago. We read about them here every day. We just have to deal with them exercising grace and understanding and cooperation.
We talk about amateur population numbers. Now consider non-amateur population numbers. Check them out in an almanac...1946, then 2006...we sure have increased and multiplied. Some think that's the right thing to do. But, it does mean more next-door neighbors with a catalog of perceived needs, wants, and complaints...not to mention our own.
Our interests and the non-ham population's interests are sometimes in conflict. Thus, the need for cooperation.
As for operating, there are so many more choices. I operate cw and imagine I'll be in that mode until the end. However, there are many ways for hams of all license classes to really enjoy the world of amateur radio.
73 and have fun
Posted by
W2RDD on 2006-09-23
Ham radio 50 years from now
I voted "Somewhere in between". The first hundred years should tell us something. Threats to ham radio have been around since its beginning, yet ham radio is still alive and well.
Contrary to what all the "drop the code requirement" advocates keep telling us, ham radio is not dying. There will always be new people who will have a love for radio. These are the people who will keep ham radio alive. They will discover the magic and thrill of wireless communication without the aid of infrastructure, and the magic of bouncing signals off the ionosphere. Tinkerers and experimenters will always be around to experience the thrill of wireless communication on a piece of equipment that they designed and built themselves.
The future of ham radio does not depend on licensing requirements. Remember that there were no licensing requirements when this hobby began.
Posted by
AG4RQ on 2006-09-23
"The Internet will continue to erode the ranks"?
I'm not sure how "the Internet will continue to erode the ranks" in fifty years. At that time, the Internet will be rather "long in the tooth," itself, from a technological perspective. Inherent in the question is this: what will be the more innovative technology breakthroughs in the next fifty years and can they attract the attention of "techies, experimenters, and gadgeteers"? I can't answer that. What I do know is this: the radio frequency spectrum has been attracting the attention of experimenters for some time now (over a hundred years) and it will continue to do so. Our capacity to effectively mesh digital technology into that spectrum will only enhance what evolves in the future, not detract from it.
W4JFR. Jim
Posted by
W4JFR on 2006-09-23
"The Internet will continue to erode the ranks"?
I'm not sure how "the Internet will continue to erode the ranks" in fifty years. At that time, the Internet will be rather "long in the tooth," itself, from a technological perspective. Inherent in the question is this: what will be the more innovative technology breakthroughs in the next fifty years and can they attract the attention of "techies, experimenters, and gadgeteers"? I can't answer that. What I do know is this: the radio frequency spectrum has been attracting the attention of experimenters for some time now (over a hundred years) and it will continue to do so. Our capacity to effectively mesh digital technology into that spectrum will only enhance what evolves in the future, not detract from it.
W4JFR. Jim
Posted by
W4JFR on 2006-09-23
It is up to old geeks to pass on the torch.
---------
Good luck with that!
Posted by
KC8VWM on 2006-09-23
Amateur Radio from a non American perspective
One additional observation--virtually all of the comments, thus far, to this forum tend to focus attention on amateur radio in the US, as if we have a monopoly on it. What about the future of the service worldwide? In particular, in the developing world? I have not seen data on the growth (or decline) of amateur radio in those regions. It would seem that as those states develop, technology will grow and new amateurs will be added to the ranks worldwide. Has anyone seen data from the ITU?
W4JFR, Jim
Posted by
W4JFR on 2006-09-23
"""If you look at the current numbers, 81% are either sounding the death knell or are pessimistic. """
I heard the same crap when I was first licensed - in 1974. 32 years later, we are still here.
How anyone could listen to the HF bands on any weekend and think the hobby is dead is beyond me.
Posted by
WR8Y on 2006-09-22
Try to Think Objectively about the Trend
In 50 years I would be 99 years old; it's not likely, statistically speaking, I'll live to see it.
The terms optimist and pessimist tend to be bandied about, and plastered onto others when their opinion differs.
I am still fascinated with radio, even after 40 years of fooling around with it on one level or another.
I got to be middle-aged, and now I see everything as generationally-defined. I don't own a cell phone, or an I-Pod, but am typing this on my home-assembled PC--- why, I have no idea! This needs to be a younger person's life.
I have all kinds of amateur, hi-fi, and test equipment around the house, some built with vacuum tubes, other gear with discrete transistors, later stuff with integrations both large and small using through-hole technology, and also newer rigs assembled via automated process using surface mount technology. The newer the gear, the less serviceable it becomes. It's the trade-off for greater operating convenience.
Nevertheless, my point is amateur radio can only ever appeal to a small slice of society, and that demographic is getting smaller.
You can give the license away, and turn the ham bands in a free, over-the-air internet service provider and still find very few takers.
The diminishing examination requirements have been dumbing down the hobby for 30 years. 75 meters is particularly awful. Tune into 20 meters and listen to the crappy sounding offshore SSB stations; this problem is not limited to the US.
I still listen to the ham bands. Some of the time I turn the receiver off when it gets too stupid. I have difficulty getting motivated to get on the air, or to repair any of the nice old equipment I've stockpiled around here. Why bother? Yet occasionally, probably a few times a month, I get on the air and invariably have a pleasant experience, but a little operating is enough for me.
My area of interest these days with regard to radio is technical reading. This is the aspect of radio I find enjoyable... but I wouldn't have needed to acquire an amateur license for that!
So it's back to UHF RADIO SIMPLIFIED by Milton S. Kiver, D. Van Nostrand Company Inc, 1945.
Posted by
W3DBB on 2006-09-22
Try to Think Objectively about the Trend
In 50 years I would be 99 years old; it's not likely, statistically speaking, I'll live to see it.
The terms optimist and pessimist tend to be bandied about, and plastered onto others when their opinion differs.
I am still fascinated with radio, even after 40 years of fooling around with it on one level or another.
I got to be middle-aged, and now I see everything as generationally-defined. I don't own a cell phone, or an I-Pod, but am typing this on my home-assembled PC--- why, I have no idea! This needs to be a younger person's life.
I have all kinds of amateur, hi-fi, and test equipment around the house, some built with vacuum tubes, other gear with discrete transistors, later stuff with integrations both large and small using through-hole technology, and also newer rigs assembled via automated process using surface mount technology. The newer the gear, the less serviceable it becomes. It's the trade-off for greater operating convenience.
Nevertheless, my point is amateur radio can only ever appeal to a small slice of society, and that demographic is getting smaller.
You can give the license away, and turn the ham bands in a free, over-the-air internet service provider and still find very few takers.
The diminishing examination requirements have been dumbing down the hobby for 30 years. 75 meters is particularly awful. Tune into 20 meters and listen to the crappy sounding offshore SSB stations; this problem is not limited to the US.
I still listen to the ham bands. Some of the time I turn the receiver off when it gets too stupid. I have difficulty getting motivated to get on the air, or to repair any of the nice old equipment I've stockpiled around here. Why bother? Yet occasionally, probably a few times a month, I get on the air and invariably have a pleasant experience, but a little operating is enough for me.
My area of interest these days with regard to radio is technical reading. This is the aspect of radio I find enjoyable... but I wouldn't have needed to acquire an amateur license for that!
So it's back to UHF RADIO SIMPLIFIED by Milton S. Kiver, D. Van Nostrand Company Inc, 1945.
Posted by
W3DBB on 2006-09-22
Advancing...
Think of how this hobby got started. When it was
discovered that you could transmit and receive
electromagnetic waves, there was a real interest by
amateurs to help push the the state of the art forward.
There was just something about "radio" that captured the
imagination and creativity of a lot of people. Thus,
amateur radio was born and still lives on today.
Yet, it is very clear that times have changed over the last
100 years. In the beginning, new dicoveries and new
machines were appearing here and there. Now, hardly
anything new is created. I don't mean the new rig
produced by Icom or Yaesu and I don't mean the new
circuit you read about in QST. I mean something really
new and unheard of before. So, the hobby is indeed
turning into a kind of steady-state activity that we see
today.
So, what I would hope for in the future is not the
continuation of this hobby so much as something new and
totally different that would capture again the creative and
experimental imagination of so-called amateurs. I mean
people who do not need 6 and 7 figure government grants
to discover some new process or understanding. No one
knows what that might be, no one can guess. If you can
guess, it wouldn't really be knew would it. After all, who
knew about radio in 1850.
Something interesting...I read once of predictions of the
future made by some scientists back in the late 1800s.
When it came to telegraph, some actually predicted that
there could be means to send morse code around the
world without any wires. They knew nothing of
electromagnetic waves at the time. What is interesting
about this prediction is that they DID NOT predict radio,
they did not predict television, or any of the other
extensions of the idea of doing things without wires.
So, if we are fortunate, we will be experimenting with
something totally new and different and not doing ham
radio in 50 years.
Posted by
K7PEH on 2006-09-22
Mistakes...
There are two kinds of people. There are people who
think and imagine primarily using aural senses and there
are people who think and imagine using visual senses.
What I mean is that if you count to 100 in your head there
are some people who "hear" the number being counted
and other people who "see" the number being counted.
I must be one of those "hearing" types because I always
make spelling mistakes that are the result of typing in the
wrong word. That is, "hear" instead of "here" or "knew"
instead of "new".
Therefore, please forgive those mistakes of mine in my
previous post as clearly it is a mental thing.
Posted by
K7PEH on 2006-09-22
Dead?
For a dead hobby, I sure have a hard time finding a clear frequency to call CQ on any band with propagation. Last night 30m was a madhouse, just totally booked. We need more bandwidth on 30m!
10-12-15m will sound that way once again in 3-4 years when we see more sunspots on Sol's smiling face.
Nobody has a crystal ball...but I'm 55 and plan to be active on the bands until I can't push the paddle any longer, which might be 30 more years or more based on how my ancestors did. 50 years isn't much longer than that...
Posted by
WB2WIK on 2006-09-22
Naysayers abound once again!!!!!!!
You gloom and doomers are pathetic! The hobby is NOT dying. As for this: "Why would people who seem to have a high interest be on the internet more than actually on some band?" Hey, Einstein! Maybe because the Sunspot Cycle is at it's lowest and bands are dead as a result! It's easier than ever before to get a ham ticket, this country now has the largest number of ham radio operators in it's history (around 670K), and the bands are packed on the weekends especially during contests!!! STOP WITH THE NEGATIVITIY!!!!
Posted by
K3NRX on 2006-09-22
Hey KB2HSH.....
Do you really think that anyone who signs off their post with "Viva Chavez" will have their comments taken seriously??? I laugh at you, but feel sorry for you at the same time!
Posted by
K3NRX on 2006-09-22
Not dying yet
"Why would people who seem to have a high interest be on the internet more than actually on some band?"
Because I can get on eham.net at work! They won't let me put an antenna on the roof, and financial means won't let me get the TS2000 right now so I can do crossband repeat from the office like I did in 2002. Great to work 10 meter FM while I was at work!
73s John W5TD
Posted by
FORMER_W5TD_JOHN on 2006-09-22
WR8D
Every comment that John, Wr8D makes I think has a large basis in truth. John, you and I see eye to eye in many things and you are not afraid to call a fish, a fish.
John, if you ever get a chance to see any of my posts in the surveys, such as the 160 meter band survey or the forums such as licensing forum, you will see that you and I see eye to eye. Nice to meet you
Posted by
KB6QXM on 2006-09-22
It's already dieing
Yup, I was on 10 meters today and even last night and couldn't hear any stations. I was on 160 meters at noon and again I couldn't hear any stations. Obviously, ham radio is dieing.
Posted by
SSBHAM69 on 2006-09-22
It's already dieing
Yup, I was on 10 meters today and even last night and couldn't hear any stations. I was on 160 meters at noon and again I couldn't hear any stations. Obviously, ham radio is dieing.
Posted by
SSBHAM69 on 2006-09-22
Why Worry
Nobody in my family ususlly lives much over 75, I'm 56 now so I give my self 20 more years + or - a few, Mike WA3SLN
Posted by
WA3SLN on 2006-09-22
"Why would people who seem to have a high interest be on the internet more than actually on some band?"
The flaw in this way of thinking is that some people actually have the capability of doing both at the same time.
After all, most hams DO have computers in their shack these days.
Posted by
KC8VWM on 2006-09-22
Stronger than ever!
Ham radio will be stronger than ever. The are 3 times the number of hams than when I started 43 years ago. There is much more fine state of the art equipment; inexpensive too. There is much more activity albeit contests. There are all sorts of new modes, bands, Microwave activity, satellites that never were 43 years ago. TECHNICAL RESEARCH!
And the hoards of CB’er won’t ever overrun ham radio, in fact they are a source of hams, the ones who are truly interested and technical.
The naysayers are chicken Little’s: The sky isn’t falling my friend.
Posted by
W7AIT on 2006-09-22
US HAMS vs World HAMS
first let me inform you that I am no-code tech. I have General Element Study guide sitting here next to my computer. Ok now, why are US HAMS spending down time on the internet. I have my HF rig ready to go in November. When I spin the dials I hear lots of CQ. However the only pile ups are found, when I use the internet DX spotter. The internet has now dictated when people heat the tubes and pound the brass. I am sorry that I was introduced to DX spotters on the internet. Right now I am listening to AM Broadcast because the only DX activity is RTTY.
I know propogation has been low and the number of sunspots have practically disapeared. But how come the world HAM population has more activity (according to the DX spotter)than HAMS living in CONUS 48?
I am now taking more time to learn the rules and correct CW techniques. The airwaves cannot be handed over to wireless information technology. I am hoping to be around for another 43 years..........73,
Posted by
KI6ADA on 2006-09-22
Similar Population, but heavy on Digital
If past performance means anything, I believe that the future will see CW still there, even AM still there. There may be much more digital activity. Licenses and testing will still be required,with probably one class of renewable lifetime license with a periodic fee. The bands will move and freedom of operation, construction, and experimentation will remain as it is.
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-09-21
Legislation?
I think unless ham radio is legislated out by the Feds, it'll still be around.
It's already been around 100 years, so another 50 is a short time. I intend to die with a paddle in my hand, and hopefully 30-40 years from now...I'm sure many others feel the same.
WB2WIK/6
Posted by
WB2WIK on 2006-09-21
In Trouble
If you look at the current numbers, 81% are either sounding the death knell or are pessimistic.
Dropping the code requirement for HF access will change this trend for the positive. The push by government to regiment amateurs for emergency ops will be negative. More depenence on computer based/aided operation will be a negative. The internet will continue to erode the ranks.
All told, I find myself fairly strongly on the side of the pessimists.
Posted by
KG4RUL on 2006-09-21
Tired
This hobby is dying. I come on this site once or twice a week for a few minutes. I have little active interest in this hobby after 40 years. So I don't visit here often. But I see the same people on here day after day what seems to be all day long. Why would people who seem to have a high interest be on the internet more than actually on some band? Apparently, active hams like the internet more that doing something else. If this doesn't predict the death of part 97 radio, I don't know what would.
Posted by
SSB on 2006-09-21
Hams will die, but not Ham radio
People will be attracted to amateur radio in the future, as in the past. That is, for the freedom to experiment and communicate. As history has proven, even oppressive governments or governmental regulations have not been able to squelch this "thirst".
Posted by
WI7B on 2006-09-21
To those whe are tired:
"I have little active interest in this hobby after 40 years."
Put the thrill back that you had when you first got your ticket. I go to eHam.net often more than once a day. I am retired now, so I can go on often. I have one rig or another on 18 hours a day. I go on UHF, VHF, and HF. My vision is not so good, but I still build kits. You can do that. Find a ham buddy or Elmer one. The future is what you make it. The thrill is still there. Ham radio hasn't changed, so why should you? Call CQ again, and again, and again!
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-09-21
Predictions ...
The terrible spelling from some folks on this site must rub off - the word "existant" is non existent in the English language ...
That said, predictions are difficult, especially if they concern the future :-) If ham radio is still around then, I suspect that analogue voice modes will probably have been replaced by digital voice modes for most communications. And I'm pretty sure that CW will still be there, representing then as now the essence of ham radio.
Posted by
N2DE on 2006-09-21
In severe trouble!
First i must say i'm really glad i won't be around to see or hear it. Our society is devolving. We care for nothing, especially each other. We are being over ran as we speak with those that just could not make the grade years ago. So what do the powers at hand do, they lower the requirements for the license. I'm not talking about code either so lets not turn this thread into another dumbass free for all about it. I've not tested in over fifteen years, hey i'm a dozer operator and work long hours. I recently took four online tests and passed all with flying colors. When a young child can hold our highest license someone up the chain of commands needs to open their "blind" eyes. I understand though and see through all the smoke. This is just about getting more endorsements, more bucks. I hope in the end all involved get to live to see the mess they've made of this once great hobby. It won't happen over night either, it will just be the steady downward spin of our time honored traditions and requirements to be an amateur operator. Soon we'll all sound like and behave like freebanders on 11meters. I can say this because i already see and hear it right now in my part of the country. Many of these types come into the hobby and get a ham license just so they can call up some ham store and buy a nice rig and amplifier. They get the mars mod installed and right to cb they go with their modified ham rigs. I'm not making this up and any weekend i could take any of you around the country here and let you listen to these people. What's it gonna be like in fifty years??? Cb on steriods. 73 John WR8D
Posted by
WR8D on 2006-09-21
No Gloom - No Doom
Firstly, they will have repeaters on the moon. The callsign of this repeater will be G0MOON
Next, we will have this new capability to harness and modulate certain waves of light which are on the nano-molecular level emitted from the sun.
This new communication technology has yet to be discovered because it's still only 2006 and it won't be discovered until at least 2012. These are special light waves emitted by the sun that we cannot currently understand yet because the current technology we have in place today cannot detect they are there.
Because this light is on the nano-molecular level, this light emitted by the sun will travel at six times the speed of conventional spectral light wave radiation. Because of this new discovery and communication technology, hams will be capable of talking great distances into space. An important news article will be broad casted around the world in 2056. This is because a certain ham operator, who's callsign I cannot reveal at this time because it will alter the future events of time, used this technology and successfully contacted a floating space object which was previously thought to have been lost in interstellar space forever. This ham operator will contact what was known as the "Voyager 1" spacecraft originally launched from Earth during the summer of 1977. This contact will occur using this new nanomolecular light wave communication technology on field day 2056.
:)
Posted by
KC8VWM on 2006-09-21
Does anyone REALLY care anymore? We're all pessimists....so kiss HF goodbye...plug your microphone into the MICRO sized PC that fits in your pocket, and "chat" with the "hams" on any of the VoIP services that will abound....\
Viva Chavez!
JM
Posted by
KB2HSH on 2006-09-21
Does anyone REALLY care anymore? We're all pessimists....so kiss HF goodbye...plug your microphone into the MICRO sized PC that fits in your pocket, and "chat" with the "hams" on any of the VoIP services that will abound....\
Viva Chavez!
JM
Posted by
KB2HSH on 2006-09-21
Same but better
I was a ham almost over 40 years ago. When I got back on the air, I still operated CW, we still say 73, FB, OM. Today we have PSK and computer control, DSP and toroids. But it is basically the same.
I say - better equipment, a few new modes and probably no one to share the bands with because all commercail activity will have moved to the internet. Ham radio will own the HF airwaves because no one else wants them.
Posted by
K4IA on 2006-09-21