Hi Jim
Thanks for your disortation on Ham Radio. I ,no I should say we don't all
agree with all things you say but I can say that I support some of your
thoughts.
I do however resent your statement that "2-meters is not ham radio". Had
you been in our area during April of this year when a tornado passed
through our community and the majority of communications was on a 2-meter
repeator, by the way owned and maintained by our Radio Club, I am sure you
would have been thankful for that service. We sustained in excess of 50
million in damages and lost 3 lives.
Ham Radio was there and did do its job even if it was on 2-meters. I guess
I had bettr get off my soap box, sorry I got carried away.
It just might well be that the simplification of Amateur Radio Liscensing
could improve the hobby and service we both love.
Have a good day.
73 Tate KE4KRN
At 06:05 AM 7/27/98 -0400, Jim White, K4OJ wrote:
>Thanks to the sponsor of this reflector for allowing this discussion. I f
>you do NOT want to read a posting about proposed changes to Amateur Radio
>licensing, hit DELETE NOW!
>
>
>
>Tate writes us in response to my, at times, vitriolic posting:
>
>
>
>"I really take offense to the insinuation that if you are something less
>than an Extra we are "not proud to be a Ham". "
>
>HEAH, I did NOT say that!
>
>I do feel that those who have achieved the highest license should feel
>pride in having successfully mastered the hardest level of licensing and
>feel proud to hold exclusive frequencies because of their having reached
>this highest ham plateau. Like contesting, they have met the challenge
>head on and did what it took to get the Extra. How do you feel about a
>newcomer having an easier entry into ham radio than you had? Be HONEST!
>Can I assume that you would be proud of your achievements as you advanced
>up through the licensing ranks?
>
>
>
>
>"I must say I have been interested and involved in Amateur Radio since 1955
>and I am very proud to finally be a ham."
>
>Congratulations on your becoming a ham - and I am very pleased on your
>feeling good about it...I fell that being a ham is a LOT more than owning a
>radio. Much like the teenager who wants the car and Daddy buys them one
>not having the same feel of pride that the kid who earns the money to buy
>it himself has - you have earned your license and you SHOULD be proud of
>it.
>
>Those who say here is my MasterCard I want to buy a license will not feel
>the same way about being a ham! While the proposals do not completely
>eliminate testing altogether....is that next? Guys are already getting
>falsified doctors notes stating they cannot do the code test due to medical
>repercussions....isn't it interesting how these seem to run in groups of
>hams?
>
>I was born in 1955, my parents are both hams....his Dad was a ham, one of
>his first presents to my Mom was a book on electrical theory.....my Dad's
>brother in law was a ham. While not as old as yourself I am VERY
>ham-aware.
>
>Throughout my entire life I have lived surrounded by ham radio. Being a
>ham IS COOL...having friends around the world that I never have ever met IS
>COOL....and on those occasions when we meet at Dayton for example, this is
>WAY COOL....you see we share a common bond in our love of radio
>operating....not because it lowers our cellular bill, but because we love
>RADIO.
>
>
>
>
>Shame on you Jim.
>
>Why? You are ONLY reading of this posting is through the narrow viewpoint
>of my being an elitist you have missed the whole point! RE-READ WHAT I
>WROTE AS IF I WERE A HAM CONCERNED ABOUT HIS HOBBY BEING THREATENED. The
>point being made by myself and others is that you gain nothing other than
>sheer numbers whenever you lower entry requirements for anything -
>including ham licensing!
>
>This is nothing but a method to enhance the NUMBERS of hams...and in no way
>makes it a better group of individuals...I guess that means I can be called
>an elitist - okay. But, since these lowered requirements weaken ham radio
>by lowering the prerequisite knowledge....why not go all the way if all you
>care about is numbers? Heah - everyone, if you send 19.95 now you can be a
>ham, and that's not all...we will include a subscription to Readers Digest.
>
>
>Having served as past Vice President and President of the Mammouth Cave
>Amateur Radio Club I am proud of all Hams that are involved in there
>respective organizations. It is through these groups as well as the ARRL
>that Amateur Radio will progress and grow and not retreat into the past.
>
>I too have been VERY active in Radio clubs and even founded one which is
>currently rather healthy! I always encourage new hams to try the part of
>the hobby which gives me the most thrill by inviting them over during a
>contest to make some QSOs. I make myself available to them to answer
>questions because I want to put back into the hobby that has given me so
>much.
>
>And guess what, I worked at ARRL in my youth, yeah.....the ARRL in
>Newington. At that time I was very proud of the ARRL's actions...they
>seemed rather in favor of quality amateur radio.....in recent years they
>appear in favor of QUANTITY amateur radio. So you further understand how I
>work...I will continue to support the League, because it is THE
>organization which represents Amateur Radio in my country. Because I do
>not agree with this stance does not mean I will not support the League.
>
>
>
>
>
>Lets look forward to a good future for Amateur Radio both in participation
>and the economics of the industry.
>
>
>
>I certainly hope ham radio will be healthy I have invested many many
>dollars and many many MANY man hours in perfecting my skills in that
>particular arena of the hobby which gives me pleasure....because I feel
>that the quality of my hobby is threatened by the lowering of entrance
>requirements, I react.
>
>Some think my reactions are overzealous. The vast majority, like in
>anything in life DO NOTHING, other than gripe later on! In order to
>counter the OVERZEALOUS NO CODE PROMOTERS I have taken to using their
>tactics...if you do not think this is going on I suggest you read ANY of
>the mainstream amateur radio reflectors....the No Code Ineptitude guys are
>talking up a storm...since this is the real world, where the squeaky wheel
>gets the oil....I am FORCED to be squeaky.
>
>
>Wait a second.....did you say:
>
>
>"and the economics of the industry" - oh - okay I get it, you are in favor
>of greater numbers of hams since it will mean it is economically
>healthier........
>
>THIS IS MY POINT!!!!!!!
>
>If we have to sacrifice quality in order to increase the "profitability" of
>having ham radio then we have a VERY serious problem on our hands....if it
>is necessary that we have to have Amateur Radio be economically viable
>through an increase of numbers, I ask you WHY? Do I gather that there are
>not enough hams now to ensure that? Is there money needed to be raised by
>the government to support ham radio? Or is it that those who seek to
>profit from an expanded number of hams merely encourage lower standards top
>increase THEIR bottom line. If you do not think these types exist, ask
>W5YI or Gordon West if they are pro or against increased number of
>hams...and WHY. The League as the body which is representing Amateur Radio
>should NOT be economically motivated, it should be motivated by principals
>- not principle.
>
>
>
>Have a good day
>
>The only kind worth having, eh?
>
>
>
>Tate, please do NOT judge my prose through the eyes of the pro-no-code
>guys, but view this as a writing from someone who loves ham radio, one who
>spends hours upon hours with it EVERY WEEK......I LOVE HAM RADIO, AND WILL
>NOT STAND BY AND DO NOTHING ABOUT WHAT I FEEL COULD BE ITS DEMISE...IF
>ANYTHING, I SAY
>
>INCREASE
>
>THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS....there is already too much garbage on the
>bands...I am ashamed to even listen to 2 meters, THIS IS NOT HAM RADIO!
>
>
>
>Again, I encourage my fellow hams to let your ARRL Director, the guy you
>ELECT, know how you feel....it will take you ONLY A MINUTE to go to their
>website and answer a questionnaire...DO IT!
>
>
>Click on:
>
>http://www.arrl.org/news/restructuring
>
>
>Make a difference - speak up...do not sit idly by.
>
>
>73,
>
>Jim, K4OJ
>
>
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