Hi Fred:
I'm very encouraged that some young people are taking up ham radio. Given
the "politically correct" attitude of the times, I have heard ham radio
dismissed as a "middle aged white guy's" amusement. It is good that events
show that this is not strictly true.
Frankly, I hope that a lot of newcomers do take up the more sophisticated
digital modes. Ham radio has always had a tradition of advancing the
technology, and now is no time to stop. Although I think that there will
always be CW, I suspect that the analogy to sailing is very sound. It will
be a popular (and even indispensable) niche within a much wider range of
activities.
Your point about publicizing the no-infrastructure character of CW is well
taken. Beyond that, with rare exceptions nobody but hams use CW these days.
We're keeping the art from becoming lost.
BTW. I'm strictly CW myself. I tried operating SSB a few times but could
never get the hang of it. CW is far less difficult.
73,
Steve
AA4AK
At 07:01 PM 1/5/2005 -0800, you wrote:
Hi Steve,
We are of a similar mind. I too was initially dismayed at the
possibility that CW would be dropped, in the US and worldwide, as a
licensing requirement. Your response was somewhat courageous in these
polarized times. I think I've begun to realize that any newcomer to the
hobby, and the younger the better, is an asset. Some will embrace CW,
some will go for FM and repeaters, some (the really young ones) will
advance the digital radio arts. All of it benefits you and me.
Here in Placer County, the HS students must complete a Senior Project to
graduate. It is something they must "do", just not report on. I serve
on the community boards for these students, and it is something I look
forward to each and every year ... it renews my faith in the coming
generations. Two years ago, I was a mentor (a required part of the
project) for the son of a ham friend. Like all 18 yr olds, he was a bit
distracted at times during the project ... we raised four kids, we're
somewhat aclimated! Of course, I was not on his Community Board.
He got his license -- that was the goal of his project. For his
Community Board presentation (I wasn't on it of course), he operated
from my station in the CQ WPX using his Dad's call ... a WX6 prefix,
presented a description of ham radio, emergency service, and his
experience in the contest ... and got hooked on the competition.
Somewhere, he figured out that phone was one mode, but there were
others, and CW wasn't that hard to learn (he was still young, that's
when we all did it, no?)
Infrastructure-free communications is still a critical issue in times of
severe disaster. I wish there was more "press" about it.
73,
Fred K6DGW
Auburn, CA CM98lw
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