[VHFcontesting] VHF En Vogue; issues and

[Duane - N9DG]

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

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On Mon, 2/10/14, Joshua M. Arritt <jarritt at vt.edu> wrote:

 Subject: [VHFcontesting] VHF En Vogue; issues and
 To: vhfcontesting at 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