My son teaches in China. We are in daily contact via WeChat. The medium is reliable and expedient, but in comparison to amateur radio the atmosphere is completely different. There is no sense of that realm of nature – the electromagnetic spectrum – and all of its interesting quirks, its foibles.
Being on a ham band is an adventure in a magical space, a space that was completely unknown until the late nineteenth century. Once it was discovered, the exploration began. Most of us got in on it while it was filled with excitement and innovation. In addition to the technical aspect though, were the conversations with fellow hams. The comradery was like a fraternal order. We shared unique knowledge and experience. One aspect of that experience that I enjoy the most is the way conversation is enmeshed in and modulated by atmospheric and ionospheric effects. I can recall many roundtables, where the distinctness of the personalities was uniquely shaded by the transmission quality of their rigs, the radiation characteristics of their antennas, their physical locations relative to me, and of course, band conditions. This mysterious aspect of radio communications has been shed by the process of digitalization. The internet of course has its own sort of quirks. My son and I have to deal with China politics and VPN shutdowns. The equipment hums, clicks, freezes, and crashes. But these are experienced as technical problems. There is no sense of the force of nature, the invisible power of electromagnetic waves. Even in ham radio some of that sense is being lost. In our process of going digital, the immediacy of radio has been undermined by latency. Also new digital modes have been introduced that are beginning to approximate the impersonality of the internet. But to me those are not really a problem because the magic and mystery of radio is still alive. If we can find ways to communicate that message, to instill or revive that sense – the miracle of radio and the wonder of our fraternity – then it can be restored to its former glory. For nothing has really changed. Electromagnetic fields are all around us. It’s just that we have begun to take it for granted. So I suggest that while we work with the digital future, also to get grounded in the wonder that initially inspired us all: radio communication. Thanks, 73 Ed w2rf -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Monday, December 23, 2019 2:00 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Reaching Across the Chronological Divide The CWops group has a program [CW of course] called "QTX" where you keep track of and report the number of QSO's you've had each month that lasted over 20 mins. There's also a mini-QTX category for >10 min QSO's. When I first decided to participate, I was limited pretty much by available QSO's. Now, I'm much more limited by available time to participate. Tiny resurgence in the Art of the Rag Chew? Competition is a motivator for many young non-hams. #3 grandson once came in while I was in a CW NAQP and asked me what I was doing. I told him it was a contest, and his first response was, "Cool! How do you win?" They all carry the "magic of radio" in a pocket in their cargo shorts. What you can do with a ham radio that you can't do with a cell phone or iPad may be of more interest to them that the radio itself. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 12/22/2019 8:37 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > I think we need to be focusing on the personal aspect of one on one > communications with someone who we have never met - without the need > for the internet, Facebook or any other internet app. > It is a thrill to me to be able to have a conversation with someone > new via ham radio. > > Of course, even that element is fading out in ham radio with the > emphasis on quick DX contacts or contest points. Ragchewing with > someone new to get to know something about them personally or their > location is what gives me the thrill of ham radio. So sad to see that > element being diminished. > > Bring ragchewing back, and I am not talking about the nets on 80 and > 40 meters, it is reaching out to someone new and telling a bit about > ourselves and getting the same in return. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to <mailto:e...@qrv.com> e...@qrv.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
