I know this does not directly relate to a Ten Tec discussion, so I ask
that you bear with my view of this subject.
I got my WN4BQF novice ticket in 1951. At that time there was no
requirement for a 13 year old to know anything about electronics. To
pass that test I had to do the very same thing that prospective hams
have to do today...I had to learn/memorize the ARRL Novice test
questions and just hope I recalled enough of the 100 samples to get 25
of them correct. No one every told me that code was like high school
mathematics, so I never looked at it as being hard to learn.
During my career I spent 11 years as a navy aviation electronics tech,
then 18 years as a microwave design engineer, countermeasures and
counter-countermeasures systems design engineer, and the past 12 years
as a computer/network systems specialist. Each of these areas of work
were always complimented by being a very active ham.
I, personally, have never considered there to be a class of Extra class
hams. The 5-wpm Extra's have to study for the same questions as I did.
Since I was very active in traffic nets, the 20 wpm was never a problem.
But just because I can copy code in my head at speeds in excess of 100
wpm does not make me anything other than another Extra class ham.
As to the 'dumbing down' of this hobby, I personally squarely put the
blame for that on the ARRL and my neglect to not letting my opinion be
heard. It was not hams who dropped the code requirements, it was the
ARRL. It is much easier to design and build a SSB/FM xcvr than it is to
also include really good CW capability. It would not surprise me to find
out that there was a lot of 'collusion' between the off-shore ham radio
manufacturers and the ARRL to ultimately drop CW completely from this
hobby, for profit reasons. I think we are fortunate that both Ten Tec
and Elecraft have not followed the ARRL's intended path.
I do not like the term 'dumbing down' and I'm not at all fond of the
reference to CB'ers as idiots. I think it's a very simple principle that
the older hams MUST make an effort to elmer the newer hams. It just
makes good common sense. We older hams can teach newer hams volumes more
practical information in two hours than they can ever learn in months
reading any of the ARRL publications (with the exception of the Handbook
and the Antenna Handbook!). Because a ham may be a truck driver, a ditch
digger or whatever, does not ever mean that person can not enjoy and
learn in this hobby. If we help them as they need it.
This is a hobby and should be enjoyed as such. When it becomes a 'life',
then we might should trying to get one!
Tom/W4BQF
Chester Alderman
calderman@cox.net
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of tlogan7@cox.net
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 12:29 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; JAKidz
Cc: tentec reflector
Subject: [TenTec] OT- RE: Extra Lite and in praise of Elmers
Hi folks -
Sunday morning coffee time and I thought I would chime in on this
topic.
I agree with some of John's thoughts. Many of us are new to the hobby -
2
and 1/2 years for myself. I do not have the time to become competent
with
all of the RF design and electrical basics that many Hams with 30 years
experience have. A fellow once said that there are about 40
sub-specialties
in the Ham world from code to antenna design to DXing etc. One cannot do
them all. I got a short Extra vanity call (NZ7C) because it is a good
practical call for cw use. My chosen area of interest is cw and becoming
a
solder jockey (ie an assembler, but NOT an understanding technician).
With a
full time job and a primary hobby of Scottish fiddling, it is simply not
possible to gain the knowledge level that many of the great folks on the
Elecraft, Ten Tec and other reflectors have....that's why it is so great
when they help us "Extra-Lites (chuckle)" out.
In my area of chosen interest I DO learn. I was actually able to copy
in
my head the other night at 24wpm - in my world this rates as a
significant
accomplishment and I will keep working until I can copy 35wpm. So, it's
not
that many of us newer Hams are lazy or "have it easy" because of the
change
in testing. we are just working with what was there when we got
interested
in Ham radio. There are people on these reflectors whose professional
careers as well as avocations are both in electronics (my livelihood has
nothing to do with electronics). Only a small number of them will
belittle
seemingly stupid questions from newbies with an Extra license. The
others
are great and patient Elemrs that are a true tribute to this hobby.
People
like Tom, Gary, Ron, Frank, George, Adam and the list goes on and
on....are
really troopers for us newbies and you only have to see how many people
miss
and worry about Tom's recent hospital stay to realize how many people
really
appreciate the help of those who will always know more than us newbies!
HOWEVER, since my chosen interest is cw, I will say look out guys
because
one of these days I WILL hit 35 wpm head copy!!!!!!!!!!!....of course if
the
radio doesn't work I'll have to call Gary...but what the heck - it's a
buzy
world!
73 Tim NZ7C
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