+1.
My son is about go to school but I'm sure glad that in my country we don't
have to take measures like Scott mentioned (jet).
But if we in are not careful we will go down that same road.
I have been envolved in a couple of JOTA events at our local scouting group
and even there it's hard to compete with the Internet because of JOTI
(Jamborree On The Internet).
I think kids today just don't experience the excitement we had about making
contact via the ether. With today's cellphone its just not that special
anymore. When we grew up, the only way to communicate mobile was via radio.
In the Netherlands we also had a lot of CB activity. A lot of those guys
later progressed to amateur radio. The same thing with a lot of 3 meter
(broadcast) "amateurs". After they got caught and lost all the equipment a
couple of times, most moved to amateur radio and continued their hobbies
legally.
Today in Holland 27 Mc is not popular anymore and the same thing goes for
the 3 meter scene. Unfortunately this also means a lot less people moving
up from CB to amateur radio.
In addition, besides a few die-hard volunteers, there are hardly any people
around that are capable and willing to help people study for the exams.
There are some good projects regarding on-line schooling and they have had
a lot of succes.
I thinks it's going to be difficult to get people exited about our hobby.
But wait, wat if we could induce an massive EMP that would kill all our
modern means of communication? That we certainly get our hobby back on
track ;-)
73, Maarten PD2R
Op maandag 28 maart 2016 heeft Taylor Kelly <ve4xt@mymts.net> het volgende
geschreven:
>
> > On Mar 27, 2016, at 7:30 PM, ScottW3TX <scottw3tx@verizon.net
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> >
> > Jim makes some excellent points.
> >
> > Let me expand on one point, plus add a bit more editorial
> >
> > As a parent of three school age children, one each in grade, middle, and
> > high school, I can tell you that school security is paramount.
> >
> > If one or a group of older guys approaches a school to demonstrate radio
> > science then invite the students to his/their homes to operate a radio
> > station then alarm bells will go off full force.
> >
> > In our school district it is impossible to be involved as a parent with
> > any school activity unless one has state security clearances. The
> > background check and clearances are easy to apply for but take a while.
> > Also be prepared to be TB tested and have all your vaccinations.
> Inviting
> > students to ones home to demonstrate radio would get one immediately shut
> > down as a basic safety concern.
> >
>
> This is terribly sad. How did we let society get this bad?
>
> > My recollection is that ARRL and The Radio Club of America (RCA) have
> > developed programs for schools to introduce Amateur Radio. This may be
> > the best place to start rather than re-inventing the wheel.
> >
> > Ideally the students would have a "school station" to use on-site and via
> > remote control. What a great way to bring together science, geography,
> > math, and social skills. A big challenge is having a teacher that is
> > licensed and motivated to keep the station going, and having a school
> > board that will support an Amateur Radio class so that many students can
> > experience the avocation.
> >
> > 73, Scott W3TX
> >
> >
> >
> > On 3/27/16 4:36 PM, "Jim George" <n3bb@mindspring.com <javascript:;>>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Seems to me that if no one hears about ham radio any more, the chances
> >> are
> >> dim that there will be enough new people in the hobby to keep it viable.
> >> I
> >> recall when any day, the 40 meter novice band was a beehive of activity.
> >> That's no longer the case. Certainly, radio clubs in schools are a great
> >> way to encourage that exposure. Others include Boy Scout merit badges
> and
> >> visits to local ham radio stations. Another historically good "exposure"
> >> is
> >> Field Day, since that includes both the hobby in general as well as a
> >> very
> >> spirited operating environment with contacts coming lickety-spit. There
> >> are
> >> a lot of other "killer apps" for ham radio, including the electronics
> >> (kit
> >> building projects) and operating (DXing, radiosporting, IOTA, SOTA,
> QRP).
> >> Several of these involve travel (IOTA?) and hiking/climbing (SOTA).
> >>
> >> I spoke with the new ARRL president at Orlando's HamCation about radio
> >> clubs in schools and he cautioned me that security in public schools is
> >> so
> >> critical, in addition to the cost matter, that private/charter schools
> >> might be easier for getting club stations installed and mentored. I'm
> >> less
> >> concerned about radiosporting, per se, than the more fundamental matter
> >> of
> >> the hobby overall, and especially with the younger people. Radiosporting
> >> and DXing will be with us always, if there are people to talk with.
> >>
> >> Jim N3BB
> >>
> >> At 09:22 AM 3/27/2016 -0500, Kelly Taylor wrote:
> >>> Paul is right: what he says is what attracted us and continues to
> >>> attract us.
> >>>
> >>> That's not the relevant question, however.
> >>>
> >>> He's also right to say apples and oranges. But the problem is the kids
> >>> like oranges and aren't even trying our apples.
> >>>
> >>> We can't continue trying to market ham radio the same way it was
> >>> marketed
> >>> to us. When I got my licence, my friends were blown away by my ability
> >>> to
> >>> work Europe. Today, kids see that and go 'meh.'
> >>>
> >>> "But why can't you see their faces? And what's that weird beeping
> noise?"
> >>>
> >>> Competition will attract some, but to slaughter an old saw from Alfred
> >>> P.
> >>> Sloan, you can sell an old man a young man's hobby, but you can't sell
> a
> >>> young man an old man's hobby.
> >>>
> >>> So, how do we sell it as a young man's hobby? By showing young people
> >>> enjoying it. I've seen photos of some mall displays, Field Days, etc.,
> >>> where the average age of presenters was between 60 and 70.
> >>>
> >>> Bless them for trying, but the image is of a hobby that's dying.
> >>>
> >>> The nerd factor also cuts both ways: jocks won't get it, but the kid
> who
> >>> revels in his electronics class will love it.
> >>>
> >>> 73, kelly, ve4xt
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>
> >>>>> On Mar 25, 2016, at 3:46 PM, Paul O'Kane <pokane@ei5di.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On 23/03/2016 21:01, David Gilbert wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I enjoy contesting, but it's a legacy that isn't going to
> >>> successfully
> >>> compete for attention among anything beyond a very small percentage of
> >>> today's youth. Most of the young ops at Field Day or contest stations
> >>> are only there because of some family connection, and most of those
> >>> don't
> >>> last. Even the great majority of new hams the ARRL likes to tout as
> >>> evidence of a growing base don't stick with the hobby ... if they did,
> >>> we
> >>> wouldn't be having these discussions. I do think that contesting is
> >>> drawing a growing percentage of hams, but the base is getting old fast,
> >>> and from my perspective here are some of the reasons:
> >>>>
> >>>> David is right, but also wrong - especially when he compares
> >>>> ham radio to the internet - that's an apples and oranges
> >>>> comparison.
> >>>>
> >>>>> 1. Ham radio is expensive, especially of you actually want to be
> >>> competitive instead of just participating. Rigs and antennas cost far
> >>> more than a decent computer or smart phone, both of which offer far
> >>> more
> >>> effective communication and opportunities for competition.
> >>>>
> >>>> "Expensive" applies to all competitive activities when you
> >>>> want to be competitive - to include time and money spent
> >>>> on diets, training, equipment, travelling and expenses.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 2. Ham radio requires antennas. Theey are physically obtrusive and
> >>> often create conflict with neighbors. Hardly anybody has to fight to
> >>> get
> >>> connected to the internet.
> >>>>
> >>>> Apples and oranges.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 3. Ham radio is real time and unreliable, subject to the vagaries
> >>> of
> >>> propagation and activity on the other end.
> >>>>
> >>>> That's precisely what attracts us, and what distinguishes
> >>>> amateur radio from most other forms of communication.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Why do some people still compete in sailboat racing,
> >>>> subject to the vagaries of wind, waves, tides and
> >>>> currents? Because it's hard and they enjoy it - it's
> >>>> what gives the activity its name, sailboat racing.
> >>>>
> >>>>> Applications like Twitter, Facebook, and online forums (like this
> >>> one)
> >>> are precise, dependable, and "sticky" (you can read and answer at your
> >>> convenience). Online game competition against real opponents from
> >>> around
> >>> the world is available around the clock every day with virtually no
> >>> waiting.
> >>>>
> >>>> All hosted on the internet, a public worldwide communications
> >>>> utility and, for all intents and purposes, free.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 4. Ham radio requires a license, one which many of us perceive as
> >>> relatively easy to get but which isn't needed at all for any other
> >>> pursuit. It's a roadblock with no particular advantage to the user ...
> >>> it's not like it keeps LIDs off the air.
> >>>>
> >>>> Licences are required for many competitive pursuits,
> >>>> including some motor sports (on land, sea and air), and
> >>>> competition licences are required for some athletics
> >>>> events.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 5. Almost any video game out there is more immediate with more
> >>> intense real time competition than ham radio contesting has.
> >>>>
> >>>> Apples and oranges - powerboat racing can be a lot more
> >>>> immediate and intense than sailboat racing.
> >>>>
> >>>>> I honestly hope that radiosport hangs around for a while ...
> >>>>
> >>>>> I do too - it's fun for me and I have a lot of money invested in
> >>> it. But it needs to change if it's actually going to draw new people
> >>> to
> >>> the game.
> >>>>
> >>>> Does sailboat racing have to change? If not, why not?
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> I've tried to come up with the idea of a contest format that would
> >>> capture some of the real time features of a video game, particularly
> >>> the
> >>> ability to directly and immediately counter (either by action or by
> >>> score) the actions of another contester,
> >>>>
> >>>> Don't golfers (other than in matchplay) compete in
> >>>> isolation? The all have access to real-time scoreboards,
> >>>> and we could have them too, although some contesters
> >>>> prefer others not to let others know how they're doing.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Ham radio simply doesn't have the fascination for anybody today that
> >>> it did for us ... and if we were young again in today's world it
> >>> wouldn't
> >>> for us either.
> >>>>
> >>>> Why then, some two hundred years after the introduction
> >>>> of mechanical propulsion, do some people insist on
> >>>> racing without it? The answer is they do it for its
> >>>> own sake.
> >>>>
> >>>>> If we want to change the demographics of our hobby, our hobby is
> >>> going
> >>> to have to change. It's as simple as that.
> >>>>
> >>>> Sure - change is good so long as our hobby, amateur radio,
> >>>> doesn't change into another hobby.
> >>>>
> >>>> 73,
> >>>> Paul EI5DI
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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> >
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