Interesting thoughts and observations. I'll put my wet blanket in the hamper
for now and see what others may have to add the items listed. And I think that
the observation about "instant gratification" is sort of another way of
restating what I said yesterday when I opined that it seems like nobody wants
to be challenged by anything anymore, and is also one of the ways that I see
where "the people have changed" that I remarked about a bit ago.
Instant gratification and challenge are mutually exclusive, and if trying to
mix the two, it will be the challenging endeavor, or its part of a combined
endeavor that will lose.
Duane
N9DG
--------------------------------------------
On Mon, 2/10/14, Joshua M. Arritt <jarritt@vt.edu> wrote:
Subject: [VHFcontesting] VHF En Vogue; issues and
To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Date: Monday, February 10, 2014, 9:33 AM
On 2/9/2014 5:49 PM, Duane - N9DG
wrote:
> This lack of curiosity to try things like VHF weak
signal strikes me as a side effect of amateur radio having
been promoted for a few decades now as being a utilitarian
communications "ends" vs. being it a lifelong continuing
journey focused on propagation challenges and technology..
>
> Duane
> N9DG
We have at this moment several counts against V activity
that have been outlined:
P1.) DC-Daylight includes HF, which at the moment (good
solar activity) provides the culturally-demanded "instant
gratification" expected of "technology" in the modern era.
P2.) Poor paper-chaser bait (VUCC as stepchild syndrome).
P3.) Dearth of good compelling and well-delivered
advertising/articles/published works which highlight the
_intrinsic_ rewards of riding V/U propagation.
P4.) "Poor economy" wag = declined income = more labor hours
to make bills = far fewer play dollars/hours (keeping me off
the air more often than not since 2010!!).
... I'll add a few:
P5.) Ubiquitous broadband internet as Entertainment Delivery
platform is eroding hours from all other activities among a
swath of demographics -- a trend which may level off as the
on-demand shine dulls a bit (see P1).
P6.) Local QRN condx (? maybe a minor factor, but I argue
SNR on V/U is critical to enjoyment) increasing as little
consumer noisemakers become re-produce like so many hares.
Suggestions**( I only ask we keep it positive/additive for 2
days; please try to add to this list _constructively_ --
THEN when we've collected all the dumb ideas, us curmudgeon
detractors, self-included, can RIP it apart with long
negative diatribes on why none of it will work at all!
;) ):
***** For the "NowGeneration" op candidates, pull V/U
operations down to low-common-denominator pop culture --
easier than ever:
S1.) Pitch new non-traditional awards -- things like an
Instagram/Facebook/etc photo contest of Rover/Hilltop
Portable set-up; Play the new social junkfood trends
to grab the younger audience attention. Possibilities
here are wide and far!
****SDR is the future -- and for those of us /already/ in
the future (like _you_), it's the present..... and
mobile-pocket SDR is close on the horizon:
S2.) Make monitoring portable/remote-able. Push
development of SDR V/U performance in small, efficient
packages (already suggested).
S3.) Push SDR application development for mobile device
interface/operation from remote and alerting of signal
patterns consistent with "activity", "propagation", maybe an
"auto-beacon-seek" or other indicators that help (nigh, they
just do the work) find Qs on V/U.
S4.) Push hilltop remote-base installation of the above
mentioned rigs in terrain-challenged areas.
**** "Community grass-roots organizing" might move the
S-meter needle a bit (hihi... but seriously):
S5.) Strategically encourage state QSO party sponsors
(again) to include V/U, as just bands; as band-point-mults
(Like June's point scheme); as full
category/categories (QRP, Multi-Op, Limited/Unlimited,
whatever)... perhaps best to start that in the
populated states where V/U has activity, and are sched in
times of year where propagation enhancements are likely to
make a "model" for other {ST}QP organizers to gaze
upon. Realizing this has been done w/
limited success, but times are changing.... ask: do
these events see suffering/stagnating participation numbers
in the modern era of digital distraction too?
S6.) For the next generation V/U op: V/U
Rover-Super-Hero/Heroine/Team comic book series? Think
STEM. How can V/U operations mesh with educational
initiatives at the /LOCAL/ level?
**** Passive-aggressive:
S8.) Wait for the sun to quiet down. ;)
More...?
73,
- Josh / KF4YLM
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