[TowerTalk] Coax breakin? (fwd)

[Edward W. Sleight]

>         You are exactly correct in assuming the technical knowledge of
> hams has sunk to a all time low.  But the problem is not fixed by trying > to dumb down the articles to match the dummies, how about bringing the > education up to the level it was.  If you cannot read, you sure cannot  understand the content.  Internet has provided  a window
> into the intelligence of many out there, too many have the ability to
> move thier fingers before moving the gray matter in the head.  Should
> we increase the difficulty of the amateur test to bring back the
> technically inclined, or just go for numbers that have no understanding
> of how or why it works?
>         I vote for the April Fools articles of the past, some were really great.  One thing, the title says it all "april fools", another is, > someone doesnt have to tell me which month it is.
>   No flames intended and will accept none in return, I wear asbestos
> underwear, so wont live long anyway.  73 Merv K9FD
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Merv does bring up one interesting point, that it would be well to
require more education, but that, in contrast to today's "just give it
to them" is completely unrealistic. I do not intend to demean anyone,
but I've seen posts here by 1x2 call holders that a Novice should have
been able to answer.

When I used to build my own, I could trouble shoot it. But I, except
for the Titan, am just not current enough, have the correct equipment,
or capacity of going into a modern radio except for some obviously minor
problems. Hell's bells, I have trouble finding the right circuit board
in some cases. So, over 43 years, I've become in a sense an "appliance
operator" as it pertains to the transceiver. From that point on, I can
hold my own, but that article even had me going for a couple of
paragraphs. 

At the very least, if ARRL wishes to continue to publish these April
Fool
articles, let them put a clear and in LARGE type disclaimer at the end.

And the statement inferring our present day operators are "dummies" is
an insult, especially so in the sense of the original poster, who has
contributed many thoughtful insights to this reflector.

73

Ed

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