Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
And for you "new" hams, $150 today was worth $35.02 in 1970. I did a presentation that included what is available today and what was available 20 years ago along with real Dollar comparisons. Most (old--you define that) hams rarely consider inflation in their assumptions, much less what "young" people spend on hobbies. Worse yet, most hams (those who have been licensed less than 10 years) have no idea about the demographics of those licensed under 10 years. The ARRL paid big bucks to study this and our slowly declining membership. If you pay attention to Howard Mickel's columns, QST's content, and even the ARRL web site, you can see the difference. Informed members know ARRL will publish a new magazine beginning next month. It's directed to the less than 10 years-licensed hams who are ill-served by most ham radio clubs today. Effective and more wide-spread mentoring, more welcoming clubs, and related approaches that get the under 10 years-licensed hams engaged in the hobby (on-the-air, especially on HF) is what's needed. For most of us, the biggest challenge we face related to our hobby's future is easy to find. It's reflected in the mirrors in front of us. If I have insulted you because you're meeting the needs of the under 10 years-licensed cohorts, great! That means you are among the few who are helping others and not yourselves. Although, I get great enjoyment out of sharing the joy of this hobby with others, regardless of age, time in the hobby, and experience. Our (Duke City Hamfest in Albuquerque) approach to this challenge was to launch HF University nearly four years ago. Intended for the new General or Tech, the majority of participants have been Extra Class licensees, many of whom have had little HF experience. The only thing that tires them, especially those who return each year, is my Elecraft Kool-Aid. Sorry, but I can't help that. Good DX, Good Luck in the Contest, Merry Christmas, etc. 73, Bill Mader, K8TE W6H NM Coordinator, Route 66 On-the-Air 4-13 Sep 2020 ARRL New Mexico Section Manager ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™ Duke City Hamfest BoD Vice-Chairman www.dukecityhamfest.org 18-20 Sep 2020 Secretary and Past President, Albuquerque DX Association -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
As I recall BAOFENG has basically accomplished that with a $29.95 VHF/UHF 8 watt radio. The kids in the neighborhood love them. And the parents can summon the kids using my repeater. License? What's that? It is like CB, no license required. Just ask one of them and you'll find out the real story. Plus it is way less expensive than a cell phone and there is no monthly fee. Asking, do we want more of that "quality" on the air, specially on HF? And for those that say "mine works great", have you looked at the output on a spectrum analyzer? I doubt it. Oh but it is approved by the FCC. NO, the paperwork was approved as submitted. The FCC does not test radios. As I recall, ARRL checked one of those at Dayton a couple years back. Nope, didn't pass the tests. Many of the JA's are bad enough as it is? Key clicks, spurious sigs, and broad band transmitter noise abound. But it seems we only want better receivers for which to hear the crap being transmitted. If it is in the receiver passband, we will hear it. Rob Sherwood nailed it in the recent QST article on transmitter purity. We must demand better, otherwise, it won't get better. Some of those old relics found on the air today, and a few new ones too, should be put in a bucket of water 3 times and taken out twice. I'm just waiting in the sidelines for the appearance of a 160M - 6M HF radio, ~100 watts targeted at way under $500. I think my 10" reflector telescope may be the only way to enjoy some part of the spectrum in the future. 73 Bob, K4TAX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
A VERY good video. I use it with Scouts as my intro into JOTA (Jamboree on the Air) for the past few years. Professionally done. If is fast paced it does SHOW youth doing RADIO and it keeps the interest as it is only six minutes long a very very good video. 73, steve WB3LGC On 12/17/19 12:45 PM, Kevin McQuiggin (SFU) wrote: https://youtu.be/8x6x_6mDVlQ “Amateur Radio - A 21st Century Hobby” produced by the RSGB Sent from my iPad On Dec 17, 2019, at 09:40, Kevin McQuiggin (SFU) wrote: The RSGB has an excellent ham radio overview video. The target audience is people under about 30. Everyone in the video is under ~25. It presents the hobby in young peoples' terms using their terms and points of reference. It covers public service, HF, V/UHF, contesting, satellites, lnternet connectivity, fox hunting, building stuff. The best video I’ve seen to describe ham radio in modern terms to non- 50 or 60 year olds. I will try to find the link. 73, Kevin __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Quoting myself: "an inexpensive entry level transceiver might find market with newcomers on tight budgets (eg the K1, etc.); something other than a VHF HT", the $150 ten-watt HF transceiver based on SDR is what I was thinking of: Today's "Heathkit Lunchbox"! From: John Harper To: Elecraft list Subject: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" 10-80m CW and phone for $150: http://www.hfsignals.com/ 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
https://youtu.be/8x6x_6mDVlQ “Amateur Radio - A 21st Century Hobby” produced by the RSGB Sent from my iPad > On Dec 17, 2019, at 09:40, Kevin McQuiggin (SFU) wrote: > > The RSGB has an excellent ham radio overview video. The target audience is > people under about 30. Everyone in the video is under ~25. It presents the > hobby in young peoples' terms using their terms and points of reference. It > covers public service, HF, V/UHF, contesting, satellites, lnternet > connectivity, fox hunting, building stuff. The best video I’ve seen to > describe ham radio in modern terms to non- 50 or 60 year olds. > > I will try to find the link. > > 73, > > Kevin > > Sent from my iPad > >> On Dec 17, 2019, at 09:35, KENT TRIMBLE wrote: >> >> We might take a page from Cadillac. >> >> Somewhere in the early 2000s their ads began using models and actors >> exclusively in the 20-40 age range. No more gray-haired executives. >> >> Jack makes good points. >> >> Why do they call you "weird," by the way? >> >> 73, >> >> Kent K9ZTV >> >> >> >> >>> On 12/16/2019 3:07 PM, kd...@frawg.org wrote: >>> Have any of us ever tried to poll younger non-related and non-ham persons in >>> a structured way? Probably not ... >>> >>> Introspectively, what I do see is one generation of an old civic (mostly >>> men's) club in a panic because we perceive we are all dying off and there >>> will be no one to "carry on". An awfully large group of people look at >>> "us" as odd or funny old dudes... >>> The media has never helped us much. Ham radio is just a TV prop and >>> usually used to poke fun at >>> certain attitudes. OTOH the actual high value stuff we occasionally do is >>> all too often relegated to 11pm local news as "filler" if it is reported at >>> all. Who failed? Not even worth pointing fingers... we did. >>> >>> Embrace it, have fun with the hobby, chill, let the marketing departments at >>> "IKY" and "China-Inc" figure out the sales pitch. We geeks will still be >>> here in the future and some will be hams... and we'll line up for the latest >>> widgets. Let's move on. >>> >>> 73 All, >>> "Weird Uncle Jack" >>> KD4IZ >>> Jack Spitznagel >>> FM19oo >>> >>> >> >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to mcqui...@sfu.ca > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to mcqui...@sfu.ca __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
The RSGB has an excellent ham radio overview video. The target audience is people under about 30. Everyone in the video is under ~25. It presents the hobby in young peoples' terms using their terms and points of reference. It covers public service, HF, V/UHF, contesting, satellites, lnternet connectivity, fox hunting, building stuff. The best video I’ve seen to describe ham radio in modern terms to non- 50 or 60 year olds. I will try to find the link. 73, Kevin Sent from my iPad > On Dec 17, 2019, at 09:35, KENT TRIMBLE wrote: > > We might take a page from Cadillac. > > Somewhere in the early 2000s their ads began using models and actors > exclusively in the 20-40 age range. No more gray-haired executives. > > Jack makes good points. > > Why do they call you "weird," by the way? > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > > > > >> On 12/16/2019 3:07 PM, kd...@frawg.org wrote: >> Have any of us ever tried to poll younger non-related and non-ham persons in >> a structured way? Probably not ... >> >> Introspectively, what I do see is one generation of an old civic (mostly >> men's) club in a panic because we perceive we are all dying off and there >> will be no one to "carry on". An awfully large group of people look at "us" >> as odd or funny old dudes... >> The media has never helped us much. Ham radio is just a TV prop and usually >> used to poke fun at >> certain attitudes. OTOH the actual high value stuff we occasionally do is >> all too often relegated to 11pm local news as "filler" if it is reported at >> all. Who failed? Not even worth pointing fingers... we did. >> >> Embrace it, have fun with the hobby, chill, let the marketing departments at >> "IKY" and "China-Inc" figure out the sales pitch. We geeks will still be >> here in the future and some will be hams... and we'll line up for the latest >> widgets. Let's move on. >> >> 73 All, >> "Weird Uncle Jack" >> KD4IZ >> Jack Spitznagel >> FM19oo >> >> > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to mcqui...@sfu.ca __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
We might take a page from Cadillac. Somewhere in the early 2000s their ads began using models and actors exclusively in the 20-40 age range. No more gray-haired executives. Jack makes good points. Why do they call you "weird," by the way? 73, Kent K9ZTV On 12/16/2019 3:07 PM, kd...@frawg.org wrote: Have any of us ever tried to poll younger non-related and non-ham persons in a structured way? Probably not ... Introspectively, what I do see is one generation of an old civic (mostly men's) club in a panic because we perceive we are all dying off and there will be no one to "carry on". An awfully large group of people look at "us" as odd or funny old dudes... The media has never helped us much. Ham radio is just a TV prop and usually used to poke fun at certain attitudes. OTOH the actual high value stuff we occasionally do is all too often relegated to 11pm local news as "filler" if it is reported at all. Who failed? Not even worth pointing fingers... we did. Embrace it, have fun with the hobby, chill, let the marketing departments at "IKY" and "China-Inc" figure out the sales pitch. We geeks will still be here in the future and some will be hams... and we'll line up for the latest widgets. Let's move on. 73 All, "Weird Uncle Jack" KD4IZ Jack Spitznagel FM19oo __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
One of my ventures into ham radio was the purchase of a complete Heathkit station. While the original SB-104 left a lot to be desired, the fact that Heath offered financing for the complete purchase. Don’t recall the details but I made monthly payments until it was paid in full. Bob, K4TAX Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 17, 2019, at 9:08 AM, Fred Nassar wrote: > > With all due respect, I disagree with the statement "there are few > inexpensive ventures into HF available today." I was licensed at 14 and > remember my first HF rig was an used HT-44 and DX-160. I used that pair for > six years and learned a lot about how to optimize my set up until I had > enough money to purchase my buddy's FT-101E for $400 (1981). After college > I was able to buy new gear using a TS 570 and 590S many years and now > using a flex 6400. With the advent of the IC7300 and other SDRs the used > market has been disrupted. Decent used HF rigs can be had for $300-$500 > (cheaper than a new smart phone). Even a new 7300 or 590sg are within > reach for the new ham. Both very good rigs offering many to most of the > advance features that top of the line rigs offer. I think the movement to > SDRs will continue to offer very affordable albeit maybe not new and not > "state of the art", but very much usable and capable to make QSOs and more > importantly having fun. > > I think what Elecraft does is unique and there is value in that. They bring > a high level of customer service and stay very close to the customer. They > almost seem like one of us hi hi...While the big three may offer more > tiers, they do so at the cost of other things some hams find important. > Elecraft has been around over 20 years and now launching what appear to be > a very successful K4. I think they are doing just fine with their business > model. > > 73, > Fred > KE4Q > owner of a KX3 and maybe a K4 someday > >> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 9:39 PM Don Wilhelm wrote: >> >> Ted and all, >> >> I do not think restricting the choices to VHF and UHF gear is going to >> "save the hobby". >> >> There are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today. There are a >> few inexpensive CW only kits available from QRPme.com, but those are >> quite limited and are CW only. Oh to have the Dave Benson SWL series >> back. Those were good kits which could put the new ham on the air with >> a good receiver, but again CW only. I do not see any equivalent today. >> >> The QRPme kits are interesting, but being CW only, they are limited to >> those willing to learn CW. Even a 'knock-off' of the K1 is CW only. >> >> For potentially new hams, we hams need to have something that is viable >> for HF and not expensive. Remember the high schooler and the recent >> college graduate who does not a lot of extra money. I do not see many >> choices for them other than the inexpensive VHF/UHF FM transceivers, >> which work fine with repeaters, but do nothing for the HF spectrum. >> I built my first transmitter of salvaged TV parts at a very, very low >> cost, but that was back in the late 1950's when such parts were >> available many for the asking at the local TV repair shop. >> >> A used HF transceiver may the only current logical choice. >> >> Elecraft has championed the high performance, high end market, and has >> done well at it, but that performance comes at a price. Few beginners >> in ham radio can afford a K3S let alone a KX2, so for beginners, they >> are "left in the lurch" with choices mainly in the used gear market. >> >> Nostalgia for 'what was' is interesting, but does nothing for the >> newcomers to HF with limited funds. Even the era of cheap surplus >> military gear is gone. I used to buy Command set transmitters and >> receivers for $5 each at the surplus store, and you could salvage parts >> from them to build transmitters and receivers, but those rigs are >> collectors items today and are expensive. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> >>> On 12/16/2019 4:44 PM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: >>> More... >>> Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF >> to >>> displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active. >>> >>> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB >> wrote: >>> Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine hobby/avocation. A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on >> other modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown wrote: >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post:
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
LOL! No problem, for a second there I thought I had a tumor! And I agree with Fred's last post. Although I'd never pay $500 or more for a "smart" phone. 73 de Tom - KB2SMS On 12/17/19 10:24 AM, Bjorn Pehrson wrote: Sorry abt that ,my bad, wrong recipient... On 2019-12-17 16:22, Bjorn Pehrson wrote: hm, verkar vara svårt tt hitta genomskinlig Sikaflex trots att sika säger att det ska finnas i alla byggvarubutiker. Jag har svart och det finns vit att köpa. Har försökt googla runt. Känner du till något speciellt märke och var man kan köpa det? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
I am not talking about "restricting" but rather making available what is not available for those hams. It would do the Technicians a lot of good to discover other mode availabilities within their current licenses and help to move them ahead beyond HTs and repeaters. On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 9:26 AM Bjorn Pehrson wrote: > Sorry abt that ,my bad, wrong recipient... > > On 2019-12-17 16:22, Bjorn Pehrson wrote: > > hm, verkar vara svårt tt hitta genomskinlig Sikaflex trots att sika > > säger att det ska finnas i alla byggvarubutiker. Jag har svart och det > > finns vit att köpa. Har försökt googla runt. > > > > Känner du till något speciellt märke och var man kan köpa det? > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to w3tb@gmail.com -- 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW and thinking about operating CW: "Do today what others won't, so you can do tomorrow what others can't." __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
hm, verkar vara svårt tt hitta genomskinlig Sikaflex trots att sika säger att det ska finnas i alla byggvarubutiker. Jag har svart och det finns vit att köpa. Har försökt googla runt. Känner du till något speciellt märke och var man kan köpa det? On 2019-12-17 15:57, Nate Bargmann wrote: * On 2019 16 Dec 23:18 -0600, Buddy Brannan wrote: An interesting little rig to follow is the UBitx at http://www.hfsignals.com/ $199 gets you a 3-30 MHz SSB/cw rig. Sure, no cw filter, and I’m sure the receiver ain’t no KX3 or even K2, but it’s hackable and pretty darned interesting for $200, or even as little as $150. I suspect it's the hackability aspect that makes this a popular option among some operators. I think this is the "hook" a lot of techie oriented prospective hams are looking for. 73, Nate, N0NB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Sorry abt that ,my bad, wrong recipient... On 2019-12-17 16:22, Bjorn Pehrson wrote: hm, verkar vara svårt tt hitta genomskinlig Sikaflex trots att sika säger att det ska finnas i alla byggvarubutiker. Jag har svart och det finns vit att köpa. Har försökt googla runt. Känner du till något speciellt märke och var man kan köpa det? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
* On 2019 16 Dec 23:18 -0600, Buddy Brannan wrote: > An interesting little rig to follow is the UBitx at > http://www.hfsignals.com/ > > $199 gets you a 3-30 MHz SSB/cw rig. Sure, no cw filter, and I’m sure > the receiver ain’t no KX3 or even K2, but it’s hackable and pretty > darned interesting for $200, or even as little as $150. I suspect it's the hackability aspect that makes this a popular option among some operators. I think this is the "hook" a lot of techie oriented prospective hams are looking for. 73, Nate, N0NB -- "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true." Web: https://www.n0nb.us Projects: https://github.com/N0NB GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
With all due respect, I disagree with the statement "there are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today." I was licensed at 14 and remember my first HF rig was an used HT-44 and DX-160. I used that pair for six years and learned a lot about how to optimize my set up until I had enough money to purchase my buddy's FT-101E for $400 (1981). After college I was able to buy new gear using a TS 570 and 590S many years and now using a flex 6400. With the advent of the IC7300 and other SDRs the used market has been disrupted. Decent used HF rigs can be had for $300-$500 (cheaper than a new smart phone). Even a new 7300 or 590sg are within reach for the new ham. Both very good rigs offering many to most of the advance features that top of the line rigs offer. I think the movement to SDRs will continue to offer very affordable albeit maybe not new and not "state of the art", but very much usable and capable to make QSOs and more importantly having fun. I think what Elecraft does is unique and there is value in that. They bring a high level of customer service and stay very close to the customer. They almost seem like one of us hi hi...While the big three may offer more tiers, they do so at the cost of other things some hams find important. Elecraft has been around over 20 years and now launching what appear to be a very successful K4. I think they are doing just fine with their business model. 73, Fred KE4Q owner of a KX3 and maybe a K4 someday On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 9:39 PM Don Wilhelm wrote: > Ted and all, > > I do not think restricting the choices to VHF and UHF gear is going to > "save the hobby". > > There are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today. There are a > few inexpensive CW only kits available from QRPme.com, but those are > quite limited and are CW only. Oh to have the Dave Benson SWL series > back. Those were good kits which could put the new ham on the air with > a good receiver, but again CW only. I do not see any equivalent today. > > The QRPme kits are interesting, but being CW only, they are limited to > those willing to learn CW. Even a 'knock-off' of the K1 is CW only. > > For potentially new hams, we hams need to have something that is viable > for HF and not expensive. Remember the high schooler and the recent > college graduate who does not a lot of extra money. I do not see many > choices for them other than the inexpensive VHF/UHF FM transceivers, > which work fine with repeaters, but do nothing for the HF spectrum. > I built my first transmitter of salvaged TV parts at a very, very low > cost, but that was back in the late 1950's when such parts were > available many for the asking at the local TV repair shop. > > A used HF transceiver may the only current logical choice. > > Elecraft has championed the high performance, high end market, and has > done well at it, but that performance comes at a price. Few beginners > in ham radio can afford a K3S let alone a KX2, so for beginners, they > are "left in the lurch" with choices mainly in the used gear market. > > Nostalgia for 'what was' is interesting, but does nothing for the > newcomers to HF with limited funds. Even the era of cheap surplus > military gear is gone. I used to buy Command set transmitters and > receivers for $5 each at the surplus store, and you could salvage parts > from them to build transmitters and receivers, but those rigs are > collectors items today and are expensive. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > On 12/16/2019 4:44 PM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: > > More... > > Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF > to > > displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active. > > > > On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB > wrote: > > > >> Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so > >> many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine > >> hobby/avocation. > >> A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on > other > >> modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. > >> I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so > >> handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. > >> > >> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown > >> wrote: > >> > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to fnassa...@gmail.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
An interesting little rig to follow is the UBitx at http://www.hfsignals.com/ $199 gets you a 3-30 MHz SSB/cw rig. Sure, no cw filter, and I’m sure the receiver ain’t no KX3 or even K2, but it’s hackable and pretty darned interesting for $200, or even as little as $150. Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA Email: bu...@brannan.name Mobile: (814) 431-0962 > On Dec 16, 2019, at 9:37 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > > Ted and all, > > I do not think restricting the choices to VHF and UHF gear is going to "save > the hobby". > > There are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today. There are a few > inexpensive CW only kits available from QRPme.com, but those are quite > limited and are CW only. Oh to have the Dave Benson SWL series back. Those > were good kits which could put the new ham on the air with a good receiver, > but again CW only. I do not see any equivalent today. > > The QRPme kits are interesting, but being CW only, they are limited to those > willing to learn CW. Even a 'knock-off' of the K1 is CW only. > > For potentially new hams, we hams need to have something that is viable for > HF and not expensive. Remember the high schooler and the recent college > graduate who does not a lot of extra money. I do not see many choices for > them other than the inexpensive VHF/UHF FM transceivers, which work fine with > repeaters, but do nothing for the HF spectrum. > I built my first transmitter of salvaged TV parts at a very, very low cost, > but that was back in the late 1950's when such parts were available many for > the asking at the local TV repair shop. > > A used HF transceiver may the only current logical choice. > > Elecraft has championed the high performance, high end market, and has done > well at it, but that performance comes at a price. Few beginners in ham > radio can afford a K3S let alone a KX2, so for beginners, they are "left in > the lurch" with choices mainly in the used gear market. > > Nostalgia for 'what was' is interesting, but does nothing for the newcomers > to HF with limited funds. Even the era of cheap surplus military gear is > gone. I used to buy Command set transmitters and receivers for $5 each at > the surplus store, and you could salvage parts from them to build > transmitters and receivers, but those rigs are collectors items today and are > expensive. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > On 12/16/2019 4:44 PM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: >> More... >> Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF to >> displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active. >> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: >>> Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so >>> many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine >>> hobby/avocation. >>> A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other >>> modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. >>> I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so >>> handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. >>> >>> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown >>> wrote: >>> > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to bu...@brannan.name __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
10-80m CW and phone for $150: http://www.hfsignals.com/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
The QRP Labs QCX certainly meet that criteria. Single band (80, 60, 40, 30, 20, 17, pick one), LCD and controls included. Dual Si5351 VFO, keyer, 5 watts, CAT, cw decoder, thru-hole, not to mention built in test equipment for alignment and troubleshooting$49. Add solder and enclosure just like the SW+ series. QSX coming (some day) with SSB and digital modes built in. There are a few others. Dave Benson designed a new 4w SSB rig called the Phaser. Single band, SSB, not DSB. For digital modes. You can duckduckgo it. It's a tech hobby. Tech is always going to be relatively expensive for a newcomer who is starting with nothing. Expensive in equipment and expensive in time with a relatively steep initial learning curve. Nothing there has changed. It's always been a sacrifice to many. Eric KE6US On 12/16/2019 6:37 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Ted and all, I do not think restricting the choices to VHF and UHF gear is going to "save the hobby". There are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today. There are a few inexpensive CW only kits available from QRPme.com, but those are quite limited and are CW only. Oh to have the Dave Benson SWL series back. Those were good kits which could put the new ham on the air with a good receiver, but again CW only. I do not see any equivalent today. The QRPme kits are interesting, but being CW only, they are limited to those willing to learn CW. Even a 'knock-off' of the K1 is CW only. For potentially new hams, we hams need to have something that is viable for HF and not expensive. Remember the high schooler and the recent college graduate who does not a lot of extra money. I do not see many choices for them other than the inexpensive VHF/UHF FM transceivers, which work fine with repeaters, but do nothing for the HF spectrum. I built my first transmitter of salvaged TV parts at a very, very low cost, but that was back in the late 1950's when such parts were available many for the asking at the local TV repair shop. A used HF transceiver may the only current logical choice. Elecraft has championed the high performance, high end market, and has done well at it, but that performance comes at a price. Few beginners in ham radio can afford a K3S let alone a KX2, so for beginners, they are "left in the lurch" with choices mainly in the used gear market. Nostalgia for 'what was' is interesting, but does nothing for the newcomers to HF with limited funds. Even the era of cheap surplus military gear is gone. I used to buy Command set transmitters and receivers for $5 each at the surplus store, and you could salvage parts from them to build transmitters and receivers, but those rigs are collectors items today and are expensive. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/16/2019 4:44 PM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: More... Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF to displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine hobby/avocation. A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown wrote: __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to eric.c...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Ted and all, I do not think restricting the choices to VHF and UHF gear is going to "save the hobby". There are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today. There are a few inexpensive CW only kits available from QRPme.com, but those are quite limited and are CW only. Oh to have the Dave Benson SWL series back. Those were good kits which could put the new ham on the air with a good receiver, but again CW only. I do not see any equivalent today. The QRPme kits are interesting, but being CW only, they are limited to those willing to learn CW. Even a 'knock-off' of the K1 is CW only. For potentially new hams, we hams need to have something that is viable for HF and not expensive. Remember the high schooler and the recent college graduate who does not a lot of extra money. I do not see many choices for them other than the inexpensive VHF/UHF FM transceivers, which work fine with repeaters, but do nothing for the HF spectrum. I built my first transmitter of salvaged TV parts at a very, very low cost, but that was back in the late 1950's when such parts were available many for the asking at the local TV repair shop. A used HF transceiver may the only current logical choice. Elecraft has championed the high performance, high end market, and has done well at it, but that performance comes at a price. Few beginners in ham radio can afford a K3S let alone a KX2, so for beginners, they are "left in the lurch" with choices mainly in the used gear market. Nostalgia for 'what was' is interesting, but does nothing for the newcomers to HF with limited funds. Even the era of cheap surplus military gear is gone. I used to buy Command set transmitters and receivers for $5 each at the surplus store, and you could salvage parts from them to build transmitters and receivers, but those rigs are collectors items today and are expensive. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/16/2019 4:44 PM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: More... Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF to displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine hobby/avocation. A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown wrote: __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
An SWL QSL card would certainly be popular too if you could figure out how to send the report! :-P Merry Christmas all, Rick NK7I On 12/16/2019 3:10 PM, David Gilbert wrote: Neither would ham radio if you could talk to hundreds or thousands of other planets or stars, and couldn't do so any other way. As best I know, a telescope is still the only way to observe one. 73, Dave AB7E On 12/16/2019 1:44 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: And yet, dabbling in a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum -- with simple optical telescopes -- never gets old. Wayne __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
Neither would ham radio if you could talk to hundreds or thousands of other planets or stars, and couldn't do so any other way. As best I know, a telescope is still the only way to observe one. 73, Dave AB7E On 12/16/2019 1:44 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: And yet, dabbling in a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum -- with simple optical telescopes -- never gets old. Wayne On Dec 16, 2019, at 12:14 PM, David Gilbert wrote: Since you asked ... I'm not trying to be negative for the sake of being negative, but I think the young people interested in those things are going to immediately be drawn to hardware and software considerably more sophisticated than amateur radio. What you're expecting is the equivalent of people interested in neurosurgery to want to learn how to build a microscope. I agree that those will be interesting fields of study, but I don't think it will work the way you postulated. I'd bet that a microwave internet link to a base station on the moon would get much more use than anything related to ham radio. 73, Dave AB7E On 12/16/2019 12:54 PM, jlangd...@austin.rr.com wrote: A few quick thoughts on this subject. Space exploration, colonization, and physics are the best "hooks" I see to fish for the young people that are best prospects as future hams. Amateur radio is the best way to "touch" the world beyond the earth and to get a "hands on" understanding of solar physics, electronic equipment, electromagnetic fields, solar weather, and the harsh environments that are Intersolar and interstellar space. Early involvement should come with hands on experiments, internships, summer jobs, resume builders for college applications, and university work/study programs in the communications, computer technology and defense industries. A sequenced set of building block project kits (Elecraft style would be ideal) that introduce basic principles and result in a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna could provide a gateway, and present hams should underwrite making these available at a low cost and with available "Elmers" to help. This equipment could be used for radio astronomy, communications, physics experiments, meteorology, and contesting. Contesting should be portrayed as glamorous "yacht racing in space" and much cooler than on the ocean. I believe we are at a second "Sputnik" point in the quest for the high ground, and this is the time to grow more modern technologists, explorers, and entrepreneurs and fewer snowflake philosophers and low information consumers! What do you think? 73 John N5CQ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@elecraft.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Back in 1960 I bought my transmitter, an Eico 720 Kit for $79.95. My receiver at that time was a Knight-Kit R100. The US inflation calculator says that $79.95 in 1960 is equal to about $695 today. This was a transmitter only and the only mode was CW and it was crystal controlled (no VFO). If you add in an almost equal amount for a receiver than today’s KX2 or even for that matter, a KX3 is a real bargain. That Eico 720 transmitter in 1960 was a nice rig but it was low end of the transmitter totem-pole. A few years after that I upgraded my receiver to a Hammarlund HQ-170AC which was considered one of the great receivers for its day. However, it is no where close to be as good as the receiver on a KX3. That HQ-170AC was ~$329 (in 1965) and at today’s price would be equal to a ~$2700 purchase! Rigs today, even the best ones, are cheap in comparison. 73, phil, K7PEH > On Dec 16, 2019, at 10:19 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: > > This is a concern of mine for Elecraft. A low cost entry rig with 100 > watts. Very hard to compete with I Y K for this market. Flex has the same > issue but maybe the old man rich market is big enough for all players. > > Saving for a K4 > > Lee > > On Mon, Dec 16, 2019, 10:03 AM Charlie T wrote: > >> >> Note to Wayne & Eric that an inexpensive entry level transceiver might find >> market with newcomers on tight budgets (eg the K1, etc.); something other >> than a VHF HT. KX2/KX3 are still a bit much for the college student or >> newly graduated worker. >> >> 73, Ed - KL7UW >> >> >> That's probably what the current non "S" version of the K3 will evolve >> into. >> Maybe even the K3s too with the introduction of the K4. >> >> 73, Charlie k3ICH >> >> >> >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to lee.bul...@gmail.com >> > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to phys...@mac.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
There is such more sophisticated HT: Kenwood TH-D74. In addition to FM VHF/UHF modes, it does have SSB and CW, D-star, etc for that frequency range. Plus, it also functions as a receiver for the HF bands, including SSB and CW. Contrary to local amateur radio club members' advice, I did not buy a Chinese model for $50, because I also wanted to explore HF and got myself a PK-Loop for that. Even though I have been shortwave listening for over 40 years, it was only recently that I heard about ARRL and the licensing program. And I heard it from a German radio amateur friend. Never was I made aware of ham radio activities on the SWLING, the definitive website for shortwave listening. DXing seems to be a well-kept secret. Dietmar KC3OFB - Original Message - From: "Ted Edwards W3TB" To: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com Cc: "Elecraft Reflector" Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 4:42:52 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine hobby/avocation. A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown wrote: > On 12/16/2019 10:19 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: > > This is a concern of mine for Elecraft. A low cost entry rig with 100 > > watts. Very hard to compete with I Y K for this market. Flex has the > same > > issue but maybe the old man rich market is big enough for all players. > > Elecraft is not a mass market, low cost radio company. They operate in a > different niche. Entry level at Elecraft starts with KX2, KX3, or with a > K3/K3s bought used. When I got back on the air in 2003, I bought used > TS850 and IC746. > > 73, Jim K9YC > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to w3tb@gmail.com > -- 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW and thinking about operating CW: "Do today what others won't, so you can do tomorrow what others can't." __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to d...@his.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
Kent, you didn't find the "correct" issue of Scouting, as JOTA is advertised every year as is K2BSA at the National Jamboree every four years. See: https://www.scouting.org/jota/ 73, steve WB3LGC On 12/16/19 4:20 PM, K9ZTV wrote: Went to the barber shop this morning. Wide assortment of hunting, fishing, and gun magazines in the rack, along with a few copies of “Scouting” and “Boys Life.” Picked those two and sat down for a leisurely read. Hadn’t seen one in sixty years. A real treat. Proceeded to peruse every page of both periodicals. Enjoyed it immensely. And then I didn’t. Flipped through the pages a second time just to be sure. Not one sentence about amateur radio. Not one ad, not one picture, not one story. Peewee Harris was still there. Had a full page. Scouts who saved lives were still there. Covered two pages. Lots of ink about backpacking, crime safety, tenting, geocaching, campouts, evironmentalism, relationship building, dog care and other worthy endeavors. Zero ads for radios, signalling, SWLing, kit-building, satellite tracking, Morse Code, or electronic communications of any kind. At the very minimum, I would have thought the $1000 I give the League every year might be capable of placing an ARRL logo and web address in those two youth journals ... for the mildly curious ... but nothing. I got a decent haircut, though. 73, Kent K9ZTV On Dec 16, 2019, at 1:54 PM, wrote: A few quick thoughts on this subject. Space exploration, colonization, and physics are the best "hooks" I see to fish for the young people that are best prospects as future hams. Amateur radio is the best way to "touch" the world beyond the earth and to get a "hands on" understanding of solar physics, electronic equipment, electromagnetic fields, solar weather, and the harsh environments that are Intersolar and interstellar space. Early involvement should come with hands on experiments, internships, summer jobs, resume builders for college applications, and university work/study programs in the communications, computer technology and defense industries. A sequenced set of building block project kits (Elecraft style would be ideal) that introduce basic principles and result in a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna could provide a gateway, and present hams should underwrite making these available at a low cost and with available "Elmers" to help. This equipment could be used for radio astronomy, communications, physics experiments, meteorology, and contesting. Contesting should be portrayed as glamorous "yacht racing in space" and much cooler than on the ocean. I believe we are at a second "Sputnik" point in the quest for the high ground, and this is the time to grow more modern technologists, explorers, and entrepreneurs and fewer snowflake philosophers and low information consumers! What do you think? 73 John N5CQ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to k9...@socket.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to sm.shearer...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
More... Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF to displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB wrote: > Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so > many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine > hobby/avocation. > A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other > modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. > I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so > handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. > > On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown > wrote: > >> On 12/16/2019 10:19 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: >> > This is a concern of mine for Elecraft. A low cost entry rig with 100 >> > watts. Very hard to compete with I Y K for this market. Flex has the >> same >> > issue but maybe the old man rich market is big enough for all players. >> >> Elecraft is not a mass market, low cost radio company. They operate in a >> different niche. Entry level at Elecraft starts with KX2, KX3, or with a >> K3/K3s bought used. When I got back on the air in 2003, I bought used >> TS850 and IC746. >> >> 73, Jim K9YC >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to w3tb@gmail.com >> > > > -- > 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW > > and thinking about operating CW: > "Do today what others won't, > so you can do tomorrow what others can't." > -- 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW and thinking about operating CW: "Do today what others won't, so you can do tomorrow what others can't." __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine hobby/avocation. A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands. I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands. CW, too. On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown wrote: > On 12/16/2019 10:19 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: > > This is a concern of mine for Elecraft. A low cost entry rig with 100 > > watts. Very hard to compete with I Y K for this market. Flex has the > same > > issue but maybe the old man rich market is big enough for all players. > > Elecraft is not a mass market, low cost radio company. They operate in a > different niche. Entry level at Elecraft starts with KX2, KX3, or with a > K3/K3s bought used. When I got back on the air in 2003, I bought used > TS850 and IC746. > > 73, Jim K9YC > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to w3tb@gmail.com > -- 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW and thinking about operating CW: "Do today what others won't, so you can do tomorrow what others can't." __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
I drop off old QSTs at various places. > On Dec 16, 2019, at 4:20 PM, K9ZTV wrote: > > Went to the barber shop this morning. Wide assortment of hunting, fishing, > and gun magazines in the rack, along with a few copies of “Scouting” and > “Boys Life.” > > Picked those two and sat down for a leisurely read. Hadn’t seen one in sixty > years. A real treat. Proceeded to peruse every page of both periodicals. > Enjoyed it immensely. And then I didn’t. Flipped through the pages a second > time just to be sure. > > Not one sentence about amateur radio. Not one ad, not one picture, not one > story. Peewee Harris was still there. Had a full page. Scouts who saved > lives were still there. Covered two pages. Lots of ink about backpacking, > crime safety, tenting, geocaching, campouts, evironmentalism, relationship > building, dog care and other worthy endeavors. Zero ads for radios, > signalling, SWLing, kit-building, satellite tracking, Morse Code, or > electronic communications of any kind. > > At the very minimum, I would have thought the $1000 I give the League every > year might be capable of placing an ARRL logo and web address in those two > youth journals ... for the mildly curious ... but nothing. > > I got a decent haircut, though. > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > > > >> On Dec 16, 2019, at 1:54 PM, >> wrote: >> >> A few quick thoughts on this subject. >> >> Space exploration, colonization, and physics are the best "hooks" I see to >> fish for the young people that are best prospects as future hams. >> >> Amateur radio is the best way to "touch" the world beyond the earth and to >> get a "hands on" understanding of solar physics, electronic equipment, >> electromagnetic fields, solar weather, and the harsh environments that are >> Intersolar and interstellar space. >> >> Early involvement should come with hands on experiments, internships, summer >> jobs, resume builders for college applications, and university work/study >> programs in the communications, computer technology and defense industries. >> >> A sequenced set of building block project kits (Elecraft style would be >> ideal) that introduce basic principles and result in a receiver, a >> transmitter, and an antenna could provide a gateway, and present hams should >> underwrite making these available at a low cost and with available "Elmers" >> to help. This equipment could be used for radio astronomy, communications, >> physics experiments, meteorology, and contesting. Contesting should be >> portrayed as glamorous "yacht racing in space" and much cooler than on the >> ocean. >> >> I believe we are at a second "Sputnik" point in the quest for the high >> ground, and this is the time to grow more modern technologists, explorers, >> and entrepreneurs and fewer snowflake philosophers and low information >> consumers! >> >> What do you think? >> >> 73 John N5CQ >> >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to k9...@socket.net >> > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to cyaf...@gmail.com Carl Yaffey K8NU cyaffey at gmail.com 614 268 6353, Columbus OH http://www.carl-yaffey.com http://www.grassahol.com http://www.bluesswing.com Https://www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org http://www.timbrewolves.carl-yaffey.com http://www.columbusshotokankarate.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
Went to the barber shop this morning. Wide assortment of hunting, fishing, and gun magazines in the rack, along with a few copies of “Scouting” and “Boys Life.” Picked those two and sat down for a leisurely read. Hadn’t seen one in sixty years. A real treat. Proceeded to peruse every page of both periodicals. Enjoyed it immensely. And then I didn’t. Flipped through the pages a second time just to be sure. Not one sentence about amateur radio. Not one ad, not one picture, not one story. Peewee Harris was still there. Had a full page. Scouts who saved lives were still there. Covered two pages. Lots of ink about backpacking, crime safety, tenting, geocaching, campouts, evironmentalism, relationship building, dog care and other worthy endeavors. Zero ads for radios, signalling, SWLing, kit-building, satellite tracking, Morse Code, or electronic communications of any kind. At the very minimum, I would have thought the $1000 I give the League every year might be capable of placing an ARRL logo and web address in those two youth journals ... for the mildly curious ... but nothing. I got a decent haircut, though. 73, Kent K9ZTV > On Dec 16, 2019, at 1:54 PM, > wrote: > > A few quick thoughts on this subject. > > Space exploration, colonization, and physics are the best "hooks" I see to > fish for the young people that are best prospects as future hams. > > Amateur radio is the best way to "touch" the world beyond the earth and to > get a "hands on" understanding of solar physics, electronic equipment, > electromagnetic fields, solar weather, and the harsh environments that are > Intersolar and interstellar space. > > Early involvement should come with hands on experiments, internships, summer > jobs, resume builders for college applications, and university work/study > programs in the communications, computer technology and defense industries. > > A sequenced set of building block project kits (Elecraft style would be > ideal) that introduce basic principles and result in a receiver, a > transmitter, and an antenna could provide a gateway, and present hams should > underwrite making these available at a low cost and with available "Elmers" > to help. This equipment could be used for radio astronomy, communications, > physics experiments, meteorology, and contesting. Contesting should be > portrayed as glamorous "yacht racing in space" and much cooler than on the > ocean. > > I believe we are at a second "Sputnik" point in the quest for the high > ground, and this is the time to grow more modern technologists, explorers, > and entrepreneurs and fewer snowflake philosophers and low information > consumers! > > What do you think? > > 73 John N5CQ > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to k9...@socket.net > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
This discussion reminds me of how the parable, The Blind Men and an Elephant, fits our sacred hobby to a "T": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant We are all "right" in a narrow sense but we are all "wrong" because our view points are so skewed by our perception of truth. We are each just "bloviating" when we hold forth on the subject. Have any of us ever tried to poll younger non-related and non-ham persons in a structured way? Probably not. Do we really understand: What "they" know/don't know about technical hobbies? What "they" know about amateur radio? Why it might be interesting or uninteresting to "them"? I don't think so. I have tried (unscientifically) to ask these questions of younger folk I interact with professionally without identifying myself as being "an older geek". I can't begin to categorize the answers because they are so varied. Introspectively, what I do see is one generation of an old civic (mostly men's) club in a panic because we perceive we are all dying off and there will be no one to "carry on". Our cohort is blind (well, maybe just really myopic) and are incapable of clearly seeing the whole truth... amateur radio is a very diverse but extremely niche hobby, it does not belong to a single interest group - not techies, talkies, first responders, contesters, physicists, space frontiersmen, or preppers. An awfully large group of people look at "us" as odd or funny old dudes... The media has never helped us much... Herman Munster? Come on. Mike Baxter? Really??? Ham radio is just a TV prop and usually used to poke fun at certain attitudes. OTOH the actual high value stuff we occasionally do is all too often relegated to 11pm local news as "filler" if it is reported at all. Who failed? Not even worth pointing fingers... we did. Embrace it, have fun with the hobby, chill, let the marketing departments at "IKY" and "China-Inc" figure out the sales pitch. We geeks will still be here in the future and some will be hams... and we'll line up for the latest widgets. Let's move on. 73 All, "Weird Uncle Jack" KD4IZ Jack Spitznagel FM19oo __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
And yet, dabbling in a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum -- with simple optical telescopes -- never gets old. Wayne > On Dec 16, 2019, at 12:14 PM, David Gilbert wrote: > > > Since you asked ... > > I'm not trying to be negative for the sake of being negative, but I think the > young people interested in those things are going to immediately be drawn to > hardware and software considerably more sophisticated than amateur radio. > What you're expecting is the equivalent of people interested in neurosurgery > to want to learn how to build a microscope. I agree that those will be > interesting fields of study, but I don't think it will work the way you > postulated. I'd bet that a microwave internet link to a base station on the > moon would get much more use than anything related to ham radio. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > > > > On 12/16/2019 12:54 PM, jlangd...@austin.rr.com wrote: >> A few quick thoughts on this subject. >> >> Space exploration, colonization, and physics are the best "hooks" I see to >> fish for the young people that are best prospects as future hams. >> >> Amateur radio is the best way to "touch" the world beyond the earth and to >> get a "hands on" understanding of solar physics, electronic equipment, >> electromagnetic fields, solar weather, and the harsh environments that are >> Intersolar and interstellar space. >> >> Early involvement should come with hands on experiments, internships, summer >> jobs, resume builders for college applications, and university work/study >> programs in the communications, computer technology and defense industries. >> >> A sequenced set of building block project kits (Elecraft style would be >> ideal) that introduce basic principles and result in a receiver, a >> transmitter, and an antenna could provide a gateway, and present hams should >> underwrite making these available at a low cost and with available "Elmers" >> to help. This equipment could be used for radio astronomy, communications, >> physics experiments, meteorology, and contesting. Contesting should be >> portrayed as glamorous "yacht racing in space" and much cooler than on the >> ocean. >> >> I believe we are at a second "Sputnik" point in the quest for the high >> ground, and this is the time to grow more modern technologists, explorers, >> and entrepreneurs and fewer snowflake philosophers and low information >> consumers! >> >> What do you think? >> >> 73 John N5CQ > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to n...@elecraft.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
Since you asked ... I'm not trying to be negative for the sake of being negative, but I think the young people interested in those things are going to immediately be drawn to hardware and software considerably more sophisticated than amateur radio. What you're expecting is the equivalent of people interested in neurosurgery to want to learn how to build a microscope. I agree that those will be interesting fields of study, but I don't think it will work the way you postulated. I'd bet that a microwave internet link to a base station on the moon would get much more use than anything related to ham radio. 73, Dave AB7E On 12/16/2019 12:54 PM, jlangd...@austin.rr.com wrote: A few quick thoughts on this subject. Space exploration, colonization, and physics are the best "hooks" I see to fish for the young people that are best prospects as future hams. Amateur radio is the best way to "touch" the world beyond the earth and to get a "hands on" understanding of solar physics, electronic equipment, electromagnetic fields, solar weather, and the harsh environments that are Intersolar and interstellar space. Early involvement should come with hands on experiments, internships, summer jobs, resume builders for college applications, and university work/study programs in the communications, computer technology and defense industries. A sequenced set of building block project kits (Elecraft style would be ideal) that introduce basic principles and result in a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna could provide a gateway, and present hams should underwrite making these available at a low cost and with available "Elmers" to help. This equipment could be used for radio astronomy, communications, physics experiments, meteorology, and contesting. Contesting should be portrayed as glamorous "yacht racing in space" and much cooler than on the ocean. I believe we are at a second "Sputnik" point in the quest for the high ground, and this is the time to grow more modern technologists, explorers, and entrepreneurs and fewer snowflake philosophers and low information consumers! What do you think? 73 John N5CQ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] The Future of Our Hobby
A few quick thoughts on this subject. Space exploration, colonization, and physics are the best "hooks" I see to fish for the young people that are best prospects as future hams. Amateur radio is the best way to "touch" the world beyond the earth and to get a "hands on" understanding of solar physics, electronic equipment, electromagnetic fields, solar weather, and the harsh environments that are Intersolar and interstellar space. Early involvement should come with hands on experiments, internships, summer jobs, resume builders for college applications, and university work/study programs in the communications, computer technology and defense industries. A sequenced set of building block project kits (Elecraft style would be ideal) that introduce basic principles and result in a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna could provide a gateway, and present hams should underwrite making these available at a low cost and with available "Elmers" to help. This equipment could be used for radio astronomy, communications, physics experiments, meteorology, and contesting. Contesting should be portrayed as glamorous "yacht racing in space" and much cooler than on the ocean. I believe we are at a second "Sputnik" point in the quest for the high ground, and this is the time to grow more modern technologists, explorers, and entrepreneurs and fewer snowflake philosophers and low information consumers! What do you think? 73 John N5CQ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
On 12/16/2019 10:19 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: This is a concern of mine for Elecraft. A low cost entry rig with 100 watts. Very hard to compete with I Y K for this market. Flex has the same issue but maybe the old man rich market is big enough for all players. Elecraft is not a mass market, low cost radio company. They operate in a different niche. Entry level at Elecraft starts with KX2, KX3, or with a K3/K3s bought used. When I got back on the air in 2003, I bought used TS850 and IC746. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
This is a concern of mine for Elecraft. A low cost entry rig with 100 watts. Very hard to compete with I Y K for this market. Flex has the same issue but maybe the old man rich market is big enough for all players. Saving for a K4 Lee On Mon, Dec 16, 2019, 10:03 AM Charlie T wrote: > > Note to Wayne & Eric that an inexpensive entry level transceiver might find > market with newcomers on tight budgets (eg the K1, etc.); something other > than a VHF HT. KX2/KX3 are still a bit much for the college student or > newly graduated worker. > > 73, Ed - KL7UW > > > That's probably what the current non "S" version of the K3 will evolve > into. > Maybe even the K3s too with the introduction of the K4. > > 73, Charlie k3ICH > > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to lee.bul...@gmail.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Note to Wayne & Eric that an inexpensive entry level transceiver might find market with newcomers on tight budgets (eg the K1, etc.); something other than a VHF HT. KX2/KX3 are still a bit much for the college student or newly graduated worker. 73, Ed - KL7UW That's probably what the current non "S" version of the K3 will evolve into. Maybe even the K3s too with the introduction of the K4. 73, Charlie k3ICH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Mentors for ham radio: Well, I had only one who was a young music teacher in a nearby town who taught a ham class in the evening. I got my father to drive to them and the teacher lent me one of the paper tape CW practise machines to study CW. He then gave me my Novice and Tech license exams. There was a ham club in that town. held at the local TV shop. Mostly 30-50 year olds that largely ignored me, making me feel unwanted in their "little club". I stopped going after 2-3 times. I did find a WWII surplus VHF AM radio for $15 which a ham at another TV shop (we moved 30 miles) modified to 2m for me. Owner of that shop sold me a 35-foot TV tower for $35 and I built two 8-element yagis for 2m to put on the tower. I hung out at that shop a lot and talked with them. Mostly, I was self-motivated and read books from ARRL that were in the local library. I only had a $2 allowance per month so it took me half a year to save up to buy my 3-tube receiver kit ($19.95). I never thought about needing a solder iron but my dad surprised me with a Wen solder gun for my birthday (about $5). Later, after passing my Novice, he surprised me again buying me a DX-35, which my teacher-mentor was selling (so he could buy a DX-100). I did get a job working as a bagger at a local grocery. Mostly, I worked on my dad's farm so had little time for a job in HS (for making any money). Many years later in CA, I joined a ham club specializing in mw and one of them became my new boss at Goldstone (and my prof. mentor). He is now sk. Most, if not all, are now sk. I figure (hope) to be around for two more sun-spot maxima. My first was in 1958. Mention was made of "Maker conventions". Obvious that there is interest in making stuff so there is an opportunity to introduce ham radio. A younger ham and I are embarking on holding training sessions (workshops) on ham radio topics this year. First one was about APRS, we will do digital modes, antenna building, and hold a antenna measurement session. Other topics are VHF propagation, meteor scatter, eme, and mw. Just a start. My hats off to you who mentor! 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
“Today’s new hams will be the youth of several years back.” As am I! Started at 14, finally licensed at 60. My parents thought it was a bad idea, I got off track as life went on and finally came back to radio. Too many distractions for kids today that don’t require study. However long it took, glad to be here now. Keeping Watch - shu Joe Shuman, KE8KJZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
How about, I refuse to have a cell phone! Imagine that, I can get away without everybody trying to find me and the government can't track me down. If my YL, KB1TCG, really wants to find me when I'm out she can cruise 20 or 40m and find me... YL has a burner phone in case of emergencies w/daughters and grandson or else she wouldn't have one either. We refuse to play their games. I go to private schools and do hands on ham radio demos (voice & digi) to get youngsters interested as public schools only do as they are told. We had a Prep Fair in town last Oct and did live Winlink Peer 2 Peer on 20m, Electaft KX3 in our Hambulance in the car park and Kenwood TS-480 at the event. My youngest daughter, 31 and grandson, 7 are studying for their license. Ham Radio lives on! Merry Christmas everyone 73 de Jose Douglas KB1TCD, Bristol ME On 12/14/2019 10:50 PM, k8mn wrote: When I first became a radio amateur, there were something like 25,000 to 300,000 hams in the U.S. alone. There are more than 700,000 now. I'm optimistic. A cellular telephone isn't amateur radio.Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone. null __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to kb1...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Bob, Already see this in recent hams joining our local ham club. Most are 40-60, in their later working years or recently retired, kids have left home and time & money available for pursuit of hobbies. My finances did no turn around until age 50 to enable serious ham radio purchases. I was 54 when I built my first eme station. OK enough reminiscing. Note to Wayne & Eric that an inexpensive entry level transceiver might find market with newcomers on tight budgets (eg the K1, etc.); something other than a VHF HT. KX2/KX3 are still a bit much for the college student or newly graduated worker. 73, Ed - KL7UW Today it my feeling those getting into ham radio will not be the youth of today, but will be those retired and looking to continue their professional associations. Plus they can somewhat afford to invest the money that we youth didn?t have 60 years ago. And today?s youth won?t have the available financial resources. They have a family to raise, a house to buy, a vehicle to pay for and an internet and cell phone bill each month, along with a few credit cards and student loans. Today?s new hams will be the youth of several years back. 73 Bob, K4TAX 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Agree with Kent. Amateur radio is already enough on its own, because it’s so varied. There’s no need to make it what it is not in order to attract those who don’t see its value. Communication is merely one aspect. Certainly it’s a fun aspect, but it’s only one. Big deal. Worldwide communication. We’ve been doing that for ages now. Worldwide communication without infrastructure? Now there’s something to talk about, but again, you have to see the value. Experimental modes? Want to learn about how stuff works? I think that targeting makers is absolutely a natural extension and a reasonable audience. Amateurs have always been makers, after all, repurposing and reusing and building what is needed. To us, it’s the most natural thing in the world…now that it’s mainstream, yes, let’s capitalize on it. But there really is no need to change what we are, or what our service is, or repackage it. Amateur radio really is enough on its own. Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA Email: bu...@brannan.name Mobile: (814) 431-0962 > On Dec 14, 2019, at 9:13 PM, KENT TRIMBLE wrote: > > Everything is renewable. > > Nearly every Catholic church in Christendom has a widow's quilting circle. > Now they are welcoming male millennials who are attending sewing classes and > spending weekends at quilt shows. > > Go figure. > > Amateur Radio will never die as long as it offers so many niches where the > scientific interests of lay-people can find a home. > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to bu...@brannan.name __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
When I first became a radio amateur, there were something like 25,000 to 300,000 hams in the U.S. alone. There are more than 700,000 now. I'm optimistic. A cellular telephone isn't amateur radio.Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone. null __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
I believe that to be likely as well, depending what effect the changing demographics have upon frequency allocations. But we will probably be much fewer in number ... the people in the pictures from Dayton look a year older each and every year and that can't go on forever. As I said before, maybe somebody will come up with some truly new approaches for ham radio and that will make a difference, but it's rather telling that the majority of the posts in this thread reminisce about what intrigued us about ham radio 40 or 60 years ago instead of what we might do to change it for the future. The inertia is quite considerable. The number of people who look to ham radio to experiment technically is going to be pretty small ... there are many more relevant technologies today that will actually lead to an actual job. The number of people who will look to ham radio purely to communicate is trivial ... there are far cheaper and more reliable means to do so. I guess there will always be a need to have a backup way to communicate if/when the apocalypse happens, but that's going to be really niche. I'm not even convinced that we need to figure out how to save the hobby. It's the nature of the world that things run their course and they either adapt to remain useful and/or desirable or they die ... or at least diminish to the level of novelty. I don't see why ham radio should be any different. 73, Dave AB7E On 12/14/2019 7:13 PM, KENT TRIMBLE wrote: Everything is renewable. Amateur Radio will never die as long as it offers so many niches where the scientific interests of lay-people can find a home. 73, Kent K9ZTV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
I agree as I have seen the social changes over the past 60+ years. As a youth, I was attracted to ham radio. I didn’t have the internet or a cell phone or video games. But we did have B & W TV. Today it my feeling those getting into ham radio will not be the youth of today, but will be those retired and looking to continue their professional associations. Plus they can somewhat afford to invest the money that we youth didn’t have 60 years ago. And today’s youth won’t have the available financial resources. They have a family to raise, a house to buy, a vehicle to pay for and an internet and cell phone bill each month, along with a few credit cards and student loans. Today’s new hams will be the youth of several years back. 73 Bob, K4TAX Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 14, 2019, at 8:25 PM, KENT TRIMBLE wrote: > > Everything is renewable. > > Nearly every Catholic church in Christendom has a widow's quilting circle. > Now they are welcoming male millennials who are attending sewing classes and > spending weekends at quilt shows. > > Go figure. > > Amateur Radio will never die as long as it offers so many niches where the > scientific interests of lay-people can find a home. > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to rmcg...@blomand.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY
Everything is renewable. Nearly every Catholic church in Christendom has a widow's quilting circle. Now they are welcoming male millennials who are attending sewing classes and spending weekends at quilt shows. Go figure. Amateur Radio will never die as long as it offers so many niches where the scientific interests of lay-people can find a home. 73, Kent K9ZTV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
