In a message dated 1/26/99 3:42:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, mgilmer@gnlp.com
writes:
<< The technical and competitive
aspects of amateur radio must now be addressed in separate magazines
(both QST and CQ have these sister magazines). Perhaps this is good as
it allows more comprehensive coverage of the topics, but is perhaps
equally due to the less technical nature of the organizations in general
which coincides with the dumbing-down of Americans.
>>
I think that fractionating publications is detrimental to the whole cause. I
think it would be more beneficial to have one strong publication (see Japanese
CQ), and stuff that is "specialized" could be done in a smaller print. Benefit
is that people who are bored with building dipole, could find out about crazy
contesters stacking 8 yagis and have more interesting reading and some
stimulation and "role models" to shoot for. More value for the money. I refuse
to pay extra for NCJ or QEX, CQ Contest or CQ VHF.
Push for the cheapened (easy exam, no CW) licenses is not going to revive
the hobby. It might bring more low class licensees with shacks on the belt,
but those guys are not going to join ARRL or read QST. After they buy their
$200 walkytalky, that's it! End of spending!
It is the CONTESTERS (and other "competitives") Stupid!
We are the long lasting, equipment buying, literature reading, building better
stuff, radio loving fools! Now whom or what should ARRL support and promote?
If I wasn't contester, I would be "dead" ham by now.
Yuri Blanarovich
K3BU, VE3BMV, VE1BY, P40A
celebrating 40 years of loving radio
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