The Future fo Ham Radio

[foggie]

On 28-Jun-96 Lee Buller wrote:

>1.  Should established amateurs (via clubs or individually) try to make the
>time and effort to offer up-grade classes? 

I think so. It seems like we used to do this more back in the early 80's. It
may have been my old club, but it sure seemed that way.

>2. I believe people are frustrated learning the code because they are trying
>to do so singularly..or without the encouragement or coaching of a teacher.
>Code tapes and computers go so far, but do we need to take the time to
>inject the human element into teaching our hobby.  Again, are we willing to
>spend the time and effort?
>
That is a possibility. We are all strapped for time, but if we spend the time
to teach the code will we have the people willing to learn. My personal opinion
is to take a two pronged approach to this. (I can see the flames coming already)
Why don't we let the no-code techs have HF privs on the same 10 meter subband
as the novice guys. Basically get rid of the novice exam, and have technician
as the entrance exam. Of course we would have to add the novice theory as a 
requirement, but that would give them a taste of the HF action they can get
by upgrading through code to general, advanced and extra.

>3. Encourage people to join the League (I say that because the League does
>offer a voice to the FCC).  Now then, can we work with the League to make it
>attractive to belong to the organization.  Who wants to pay 30 or more
>dollars a year when you just own a handi-talky and have no interest in
>anything else.  What can the League offer for less money for those people
>who have little interest in organized League functions?  How can the League
>become relevant to those people who don't care about HF or other esoteric
>ham radio operations.  QST #2?  QST VHF/UHF?  Or is it a manor of educating
>those people that the "League" is the voice to our government?

If we did #2 as above we wouldn't need a special QST anymore would we? and the
other aspects of QST would apply. I am a member, but half of QST I don't read.
My interests lie in HF DX and contesting, so most of the VHF stuff I skip.
however upon browsing at FD I found those sections were well worn by the no-
coders.
>
>4. What can local clubs do to encourage those to join them too?  What
>incentive do we have?  Sure, there is the damn repeater, but is that all
>there is?  Our repeater is open to everyone, so what is the attraction?
>Programs. door prizes? What ever?  What makes someone want to join a local club
?

I don't know what makes them join, but our local club is probably 45% experts,
5% advanced, 5% general and the other 45% are no-coders. The no-coders are
active in both the leadership of the club, and get many hours in during FD.

>5. Manufacturers.  Cheaper rigs?  Simpler Rigs?  Affordable Rigs?  Kits?
>Also, what about plowing some of the money you get from the hobby back into
>helping people upgrade?  What can you do to help create a market?  For
>instance, Cessna is building the 172 and 185 again, but over the past ten
>years where they did not build planes, very few learned to be pilots.  They
>are not starting a campaign to make pilots.  Why?  To sell planes.  DUH!
>Maybe thse people can help offset the cost of teaching classes.
>

See my #2 above. :)

>6. Testing.  Don't "dumb" down the exams, but give these people some meat
>they have to learn.  Who can draw me a picture of a Colpitts Oscillator?  Or
>a Tune-Grid-Tuned-Plate?  What we need are people who can teach the right
>stuff.  I am not an engineer...I am by education a social science
>major...but I was able with the hlp of some good guys...figure all this out.
>Again, it goes back to getting hams to teach hams...where today...one reads
>a book and takes the test.

Kind of off subject here, but I had to comment. I let my ticket expire in
1988 when I became busy due to entering active duty military in 1986, and being
stationed overseas. I was a general back then (ka8hfs). When I tested for 
general it seemed like a breeze this time, and the advanced was more like the
old general. I will be taking my extra next month, and so far it seems much like
the old advanced test. In fact many areas have simply moved up a rung, so maybe
we have already watered down the exams? Just my observations, but my XYL will
tell you she thinks I have a lousy memory, so I could be wrong.


73
Al - kk5zx


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E-Mail: foggie at dtx.net            | Snail-Mail: Allen Fogleson
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>From rlboyd at CapAccess.org (Rich L. Boyd)  Sat Jun 29 03:10:44 1996
From: rlboyd at CapAccess.org (Rich L. Boyd) (Rich L. Boyd)
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 22:10:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [wrtc-judges 0107] Exams for U.S. license at WRTC
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91-FP.960628220841.11162J-100000 at cap1.capaccess.org>


My impression has been that Dr. Bafoofnik has done like many immigrants 
and shortened his name -- to Bafoof in his case.  And I don't know how 
helpful he will be for the contestants -- isn't he a proctologist?
 
KE3Q


>From rlboyd at CapAccess.org (Rich L. Boyd)  Sat Jun 29 03:29:59 1996
From: rlboyd at CapAccess.org (Rich L. Boyd) (Rich L. Boyd)
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 22:29:59 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Putting the fun back in contesting (long)
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91-FP.960628222737.11162N-100000 at cap1.capaccess.org>


Dave, though I recall seeing your name on here a number of times, you 
haven't put your callsign in this message anywhere that I can see so I 
couldn't remember who you were!

As far as not doing CW for five months and getting out of practice, I've 
never noticed this myself.  I feel that I've been doing CW for so long 
that I've kind of fully integrated it and wouldn't get rusty after five 
months any more than I would if I wasn't able to speak English to anyone 
for five months.  I do notice I may make more mistakes in sending, 
though.

I have done speed typing and basketball (there's some diversity for you) 
competitively and have sometimes felt I noticed an improvement in my 
skills after a layoff.  Don't know why but I've felt sometimes that the 
rest did me good.

Your new QRP rig sounds pretty cool!  73

Rich Boyd KE3Q