While the advice from John is good, I think it's also reasonable to think
that Joe knew what he was asking about.
That said, I do remember the last FD operation I was at (other than my own
solo 1D effort): the average age was 60, guys would sit at the radio, one
logging and one operating, with an hourly rate of about 10Qs. At their
invitation, I sat down, politely declined logging assistance ("Really? You
don't need help?"), and started banging off rate of more than 100. Their
jaws dropped. (And I'm not all that great, either.) Just old-fashioned,
keyer and paper operating.
At another FD event, one shack-on-belt op sat down and swear to God, she
took five minutes JUST TO TUNE IN an SSB signal, never mind work the guy.
"Where's the channel selector? What's the offset? Do I say 10-4?"
So there's a lot of basic operating skill that can be taught: to the right
operators.
Other operators know how to do it, but don't want to. Those outside the
hobby may see it as quaint, but not all that exciting.
In 40 years, we'll all be dead, and so will amateur radio. Particularly if
we have powerful elements that insist on clinging to tradition. Tradition is
fine if your hobby is growing as it is (sailing comes to mind). But
tradition can also be the death knell. Ham radio used to be really cool:
what kid in 1970 ever spoke to someone in Germany? Ham radio used to have
practical career applications: as late as the 1990s there were still
telecommunication classes at the local trades college. There also used to be
the concept of electronic repair of consumer electronics.
If we don't want amateur radio to become just another exhibit at the
Smithsonian, we have to recognize the world has passed us by. We have a lot
of work just to catch up.
73, kelly
ve4xt
On 6/9/10 8:35 AM, "Joe" <nss@mwt.net> wrote:
> No these guys are die hard Feild day op's Been since the 70's almost
> every Fd thay have done. so many are actually decent contesters, but
> most won't even try other actual contests. Sad some are pretty good too.
>
> Thought maybe bring something different into the mix may spark an
> interest in another aspect of contesting?
>
> Joe WB9SBD
>
> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
> Idle Tyme
> Idle-Tyme.com
> http://www.idle-tyme.com
>
> On 6/9/2010 5:36 AM, jpescatore@aol.com wrote:
>> If you are introducing potential contesters to contesting via Field Day, I
>> think it is much better to get them running stations, vs. using spotting -
>> they will be much better off getting comfortable with running, since that is
>> often a real big obstacle to non-contesters.
>>
>>
>> If you introducing new hams to ham operating in general via Field Day, I
>> think it would be much, much better to have them turn a dial, recognize calls
>> themselves, vs. at an early stage in their operating start out being "click
>> and shooters."
>>
>>
>> For introducing contesters to spot-assisted computer logging, or for
>> contesters looking to maximize FD contacts, sure - but for newbies, FD should
>> really be about improving basic operating skills.
>>
>>
>> John K3TN
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
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