FD & the generation gap

[foggie]

Richard;

I wasn't "recruited" per-se. I volunteered to run cw for the club. A definite no
n
contesting club. Speaking of which if there is a contesting club within driving
distance (maybe 120 miles away tops) of my qth of fort polk, la I'd love to know
about it as I would join. :) but back to the issue at hand. I ran into much the 
same
situation. our club runs an uninspiring 3d effort every year. using not only
commercial towers, but one of the members 115' tall towers with a tribander on i
t.
(as if 15 or 10 panned out for me.) I managed to run off the portable 30 foot to
wer
and a tribander for the first hour before being booted off to let the ssb'ers
make qsos. Nothing against ssb. Though I doubt I'll enter too many ssb contests;
 but
in field day cw IS the point maker. most of these guys are semi OT'ers. most got
 into
the hobby about when I first did ('78) and I'd say 99% will admit the last cw qs
o
they had was years ago. One admited that it had been at least 10 years. There wa
s 
quite some amazement that you can run a 90 - 100 Qso rate on cw. (I ran 93 in th
e
first hour of ops.) Besides that there was not much interest. As I've said these
 are
semi ot'ers. 

Once I was booted off I was given the trap dipole that the other station had mad
e 5
(yes five) ssb qso's of off in the first hour. My rate plummeted I made only 3 q
so's
in the next 2 hours before getting the beam back again. (The ssb rig sat silent 
for
30 minutes while I was off feeling sorry for myself.) Of the non hams present th
ere
were no younger generation. They were all my age. (33) Of the no-code techs. One
 is
actually studying the code. I might have convinced one non ham to study code, an
d
some of the no coders may be slightly influenced towards contesting in general s
imply
because of my enthusiasm. The non ham said that the code was too fast to even
hear the dits and dahs. I usually start a contest at around 33 and move up as i 
get
in tune. (I improved my code speed by 13 WPM during WPX from 20 to 33 solid cpy)
I have found that 40 wpm contesting is usually fairly easy as the exchange is so
short compared to a ragchew. But I showed him how slow 5 wpm was. and then I sor
t
of saw a light turn on. This was the only non ham interested in code. Another ha
m
was interested but has sever limitations in the use of his arms and hands. He wa
s 
truly fascinated when I brought out the computer, set up tr log, and ran qso aft
er
qso without a pen, or someone to log for me.

The long and short here is that most of the OT'ers around here have moved away f
rom
cw with no intention of returning. and the no code techs have little to no desir
e
to learn. The one studying the code could pass the 5 wpm test, but I have to adm
it 
that after listening on the novice freqs there is little activity there these da
ys.
in the "good old days" one could improve faster because they could make contacts
on novice subbands, and improve. 

I don't know what the answer is, but I tried to persuade two people.

I doubt that but one will ever become a cw type.

73
Al - kk5zx
>pass) goes into a lengthy discourse on satellite communication for the next 
>15 minutes, explaining what the circles mean, the different satellites that 
>one can hear, and showing their orbits and footprints on the computer 
>screen.  My son is awed.  People crowd around the trailer outside.  It turns 
>out there s a waiting line for operating VHF and everyone s anxious to get 
>their chance.
>
>I take my position in the CW tent on the other side of the field and start 
>my stint.  For the next couple of hours, hardly anyone walks in, except for 
>an occasional OT er.  A couple of kids poke their heads in and look around, 
>but walk out indifferently.  I later take a break and decide to do some 
>market analysis of my own.  I ask the kids in the VHF trailer if they like 
>CW, and the answer is a resounding "NO!".  I ask why, they say it s too hard 
>and not enough fun.  Case closed.
>
>My son hangs around the VHF trailer all evening while I operate in the HF 
>tent.  During another break he tells me excitedly that he found out you 
>don t have to know CW to get a license!  I try (again) to explain why CW is 
>fun, but it falls on deaf ears.  His standard reply is that it s too hard to 
>learn.
>
>It doesn t take long to realize that CW needs some serious marketing if it s 
>going to stay around much longer.  It s not "cool".  My favorite analogy is 
>to compare CW with sailing.  The commercial viability of sailboats for 
>transportation disappeared a long time ago, yet sailing is still a 
>passionate sport for those who put in the effort to learn it.  If you don t, 
>you buy a motorboat.  To each his own.  A motorboat is obviously faster and 
>more efficient for going places and to be on time, but so what?
>
>Somehow, the fun and excitement of CW, especially for contesting, doesn t 
>seem to be catching on.  But nobody (including myself) went out of their way 
>this last weekend to show these kids what it was all about.  We were all to 
>busy enjoying ourselves, not realizing that we weren t introducing those 
>young hams to this aspect of our hobby, which we all grew up on and love so 
>much.  The generation gap was never any bigger at this Field Day.
>
>My son s been reading an old faded copy an ARRL introduction to ham radio 
>since we got home.  He wants to get his no-code ticket.  The code is "too 
>hard", even though he s known half of the alphabet since he was six.  I m 
>still trying to explain to a 12-year old that CW is fun 
>
>                         -- Rich K1CC
>                             assarar at utrc.utc.com

____________________________________________________________________________
E-Mail: foggie at dtx.net            | Snail-Mail: Allen Fogleson
Date: 06/22/96                    |             6121-A Nowak Court
                                  |             Fort Polk, La 71459
____________________________________________________________________________
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>From kr4dl at mindspring.com (Steven R. Schmidt)  Wed Jun 26 05:46:23 1996
From: kr4dl at mindspring.com (Steven R. Schmidt) (Steven R. Schmidt)
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 00:46:23 -0400
Subject: Steve Mendelsohn's letter
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960626044623.00679c74 at pop.atl.mindspring.com>

At 09:18 AM 6/25/96 -0400, you wrote:

>      Your perception that radio sales are as good as ever is not correct.
> The current state of the amateur domestic marketplace is called a recession.
> Some ham radio dealers have gone out of business (Erickson in Chicago for
>one) and many more are hanging on their fingernails.  

Steve, I challenge you to prove that.  Many businsesses go under, for many
different reasons.  One ham radio dealer falling out does not a recession
make. I can point to four more successes.  I've just bought a new radio (in
addition to myriad other peripherals) and quite a few of my friends have,
too.  Judging from the comments on this reflector, we are not a minority.

>Most of these no-coders just want a respectable CB
>radio in their car, something with which to talk to their spouses and
>friends on the way home from work.

     Tell me how this is different from 2 meters or 440?  

It's not.  That's my point.  I'm glad you got it (I think).  One
NT5something accused me of an "us vs, them" tone.  I ignored him, because it
sounded like he ate some sour cheerios for breakfast and frankly, he was way
off the mark.  I'm not at all distainful of no-coders; my point was simply
that they didn't sign on for HF!  I see it all the time at my VE sessions.

     Informed industry sources have told me that Kenwood lost $15 million
>dollars last year.  How long do you think amateur manufacturers continue to
>invest in R&D, manufacturing and marketing before they give up?  There are
>many other more lucrative markets for them to invest their money in.  

Informed industry sources would likely also tell you that Kenwood came up
the loser in the TS-870 vs. FT-1000MP or IC-775 war.  For me it was the lack
of a receive antenna connection (I bought a 1000MP) and the fact that the MP
seemed to be a better radio.  Kenwood (IMHO) has lost touch with it's
consumers.  I can quote many businesses that have lost money in lucrative
industries for the same reason.  I'm unfazed by this argument.  Tell me, how
is Yaesu doing?

>While
>Steve digs a hole to protect us from the falling sky, he's
>>digging it large enough to bury  us... if he continues to pursue corporate
>>and ARRL increases as if he was hounded by stockholders.

>     What do you mean by "increases"?  You lost me on that one.  If you mean
>income, we all need that.  Your Chicken Little attitude is only helpful if
>you indeed get other people involved.  I challenge you to do that.
>                   73,  Steve   K7LXC

Increases in profits for the manufacturers and increases in membership for
the ARRL.  Only the latter should be his concern.  If he starts worrying
about Kenwood's profits, he's lost his objectivity and the connection with
his constituents (us ARRL members) that he's in office to represent.
I currently run a monthly VE session sponsored by the ARRL (been doing it
for two years).  I encourage folks at my sessions to upgrade, offer
assistance, code tapes books and now I encourage them to join the league.  I
am currently President of the Southeastern DX Club and encourage amateurs to
join and become involved.  I invite people to my home to show them the joy
of intercontinental QSOs.  I've given away books and tapes to those who seem
interested.  In short, I don't need your challenge.  I'm already giving
everything that I have time for, and more.  You may not agree with me, but
don't do me the injustice you've inferred.

        73,  Steve  KR4DL


>From kr4dl at mindspring.com (Steven R. Schmidt)  Wed Jun 26 05:46:43 1996
From: kr4dl at mindspring.com (Steven R. Schmidt) (Steven R. Schmidt)
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 00:46:43 -0400
Subject: Steve Mendelsohn's letter
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960626044643.00677acc at pop.atl.mindspring.com>

At 12:36 PM 6/25/96 -0700, you wrote:

>I bascially agree with the concept that "free stuff is not perceived as
>valuable" and easy testing to get licensed  probably means the licensees
>will have little repsect for ham radio and act accordingly.
>
>My problem is the concept that Morse code AND NOTHING ELSE must be used to
>make a new licensee work hard to get his license. I agree we need harder
tests and more stringent requirements to
>maintain quality among our ranks.  I just don't think Morse code HAS to be a
>mandatory part of the program.

Hi Stan.  One of the things that intrigued me about Mr. Reid's letter to
Steve Mendelson was the "endorsement" approach.  I see some real merit
there.  As long as the SSB endorsement tests aren't brainless, and include
real meaty questions on good operating practices and the like, I could be in
favor of that.  Especially if it helped to save my beloved CW segments.  I
love a good CW contest run! (Threw that in to cover your next point)

>It's a stretch to call this thread "contest related".

True, but it's interesting, ain't it?

73,  Steve  KR4DL


>From KD6WW at worldnet.att.net (bruce lee)  Wed Jun 26 05:49:49 1996
From: KD6WW at worldnet.att.net (bruce lee) (bruce lee)
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 04:49:49 GMT
Subject: looking for dx spot for ssb cqww
Message-ID: <199606260449.EAA05810 at mailhost.worldnet.att.net>

Hi folks:

At this point i have time off around ssb cqww and frequent flier miles expiring
end of the year but no firm plans.  i am most interested in joining a multiop,
prefer multi-single but multi-multi possibility. if you are planning a m/s
or m/m or know who is doing so and interested in another experienced op
would like to here from you. 73 bruce kd6ww at worldnet.att.net


>From k7ss at wolfenet.com (Danny Eskenazi)  Wed Jun 26 06:07:32 1996
From: k7ss at wolfenet.com (Danny Eskenazi) (Danny Eskenazi)
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 22:07:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: W6UQF SK
Message-ID: <199606260507.WAA00877 at wolfe.net>

Saddened to hear no more W6UQF!!

Up north here we could always count on Chas for 3 bands in the Sprint
,...EVERY TIME!
as well as every other contest...he was always there,,and now hes not.

Glad he was able to get in FD before leaving...

Never had a chance to meet him in person...but I feel Ive lost a
friend....thats what radio does to us all..

Happy Trails Chas......

de K7SS

At 07:50 AM 6/25/96 -0700, you wrote:
>Dave,
>I must tell you that on June 24, about 3 pm we lost Charlie, W6UQF.  Not
>sure yet if it was heart or a stroke, but it was sudden.  Apparently he had
>a flat tire in his neighborhood and was hoofing it back to his house, and
>just went down.  He had just enjoyed Field Day with a group the day before.
>
>Charlie was a real enthusiast and we will sure miss his activity in all the
>tests.
>
>73,  Glenn K6NA      
>
>


>From jon.zaimes at dol.net (AA1K Jon Zaimes)  Tue Jun 25 18:17:42 1996
From: jon.zaimes at dol.net (AA1K Jon Zaimes) (AA1K Jon Zaimes)
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 14:17:42 -0300
Subject: Mendelsohn to ARRL Board

At 17:57 6/23/96 -1000, you wrote:
>At 12:43 AM 6/24/96 PDT, you wrote:
>>Jim, do you know of any rule or whatever which can be used to implement a
>recall of
>>one or all of the Board at ARRL?
>>
>>73, Ed
>
>I wish I did;  however,  I have gotten a VERY interesting
>e-mail from somebody who found Mendelsohn,  who is "only"
>Advanced Class,  operating for unusual DX in the Extra

According to the SH/BUCK listing on our local packet cluster node, he is
Extra Class!
73/Jon AA1K