Sorry to not agree EricJ.
I have made a lot of friends over multiple QSOs, in my case digital
modes. To me that is the magic that continues. Including long QSOs with
hams across the ponds. But then I got my Novice in 1972.
At local neighborhood watch got asked if I could help if we in this
rural area lost land lines and cell phone service. So I explained how
ham radio can help. No kids there so getting them excited still work in
progress.
73, tom w7sua
On 12/14/2019 7:46 PM, EricJ wrote:
We're missing the point here somehow. Siri's answer should have been
"The best way to contact Helen is to pick up your phone and call
her."
Anything else is pretty much a waste of time and resources just to
talk to Helen. Seriously, there's a sizable investment in specialized
equipment to make contact via AMSAT or whatever. The contact is set
up for them. Then Jon and Helen wait to be told when the link is
ready. If that's worth doing and will attract young people, then just
shoot me. It sounds terminally boring.
Making that investment in specialized equipment can't be justified as
utilitarian communication because it's expensive and inefficient. If
the point is to contact your friends any time you want to, they are
already doing that with a half a dozen reliable instant technologies
all accessible from the same smartphone. I don't get where ham radio
comes in to solve a problem they have already solved. Certainly not
with a system that requires waiting 15 minutes for a satellite to get
in position, and a Cupertino Robot to set up the call.
I don't have the answer to attracting young people to a rapidly
changing hobby in an even more rapidly changing world. The aspects of
the hobby that attracted many of us was the sheer magic of radio
itself. We weren't attracted to it because it let us contact our
friends. Even then we had the telephone for that. We were attracted
to the magic. Nine times out of ten, the communication part was "599
OM PSE QSL".
I always heard how DX contacts would allow me to learn about other
cultures. Actually, it did. After exchanging signal reports, I'd look
up their city with an atlas or encyclopedia. But I learned zip on the
air. A few California Kilowatts could hog a DX station, and chit chat
for a few minutes, and did because they could. But the rest of us
never got beyond the basic exchange and fought like hell for that.
But it was magic so it didn't matter that it wasn't all that
practical.
The magic that attracted us is gone. Maybe there's new magic to be
found, but it's different magic that most of us with 30-70 years in
the hobby won't understand...and probably won't like. We are the
wrong people to even be considering answers but anyone expecting to
make a living from the hobby will have to find that new magic. It
ain't instant communication and it ain't the ham radio equivalent of
retro turntables.
Eric KE6US
ex-K1DCK, WA6YCF, WB2PVW
On 12/14/2019 5:35 PM, andy.moorw...@moorcom.com wrote:
Question: Can amateur radio reach across the digital divide ? My
answer: It could Follow up Question: Do you think it will ? My
answer: No, not with current products and modes of use
Why do I say this ? My 20 year old wants a turntable for Christmas.
Why on earth does he want one when he can download any song he
wants from his apple music account ? Answer: People of his
generation are moving beyond mere utility (listening to any song
anywhere anytime), they now want a musical experience, playing a
vinyl record - could be one of mine - with all the "atmosphere"
(hiss and scratches) to experience the music as it was "made".
Could this experiential notion morph to a communications form?
Communications utility is being able to contact your friends at
anytime from anywhere, instantly, AKA the ubiquitous smartphone.
A communications experience could be one where the path / mode is
dynamic and not guaranteed to succeed (applies to VHF linked
repeater systems and HF).
So why won't this happen ? We (amateur radio hobbyists and
industry) don't follow the usage paradigms they are used to and
frankly expect, built around their smartphones.
The turn tables I'm looking at have RCA jacks to connect to an
amplifier but they also have Bluetooth to connect to your phone and
speakers, and of course "there's an App for that" on the
smartphone.
People of this generation are not going to configure virtual COM
ports so their apps can access a radio. Neither will they work
through windows "wizard" configuration screens. Apple and the
other developers have made set up effortlessly work and offer
digital assistants to help you on your way. For example, below is
a conversation from a possible radio future.
Jon, Ham Radio Operator: "Hey Siri what repeaters are near me and
can I link to Helen in Scotland ?" Siri: " Yes Jon there are
several repeaters nearby but the best way to contact Helen is via
Amsat, one will be over horizon in 15 minutes, shall I let Helen
know you want to contact her ? conditions are favorable" Jon: " Yes
Siri, let her know, I'll get the antenna ready"
Sounds like science fiction ?- no this is technically feasible
today - question is will some entity make the investments to make
it happen ?
Best Regards Andy K3CAQ
-----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
<elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent:
Friday, December 13, 2019 6:24 PM To: Elecraft Reflector
<elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: [Elecraft] Reaching across the
chronological divide
Hams of a certain age, including yours truly (first licensed in
1971) recall their excitement on joining the hobby: there was the
promise of contact with faraway places, collection of vivid QSL
cards, mastery of esoteric equipment, synchrony with the rhythms of
Morse code, and the crafting of antennas to harness action at a
distance.
Most of us still feel that spark, occasionally--some on a daily
basis--experiencing the wonder all over again.
While the accoutrements and equipage of youth have evolved over the
decades, their DNA has not. Somewhere, nestled between the genetic
codes for half-pipe snowboarding, Instagram, Juul, and ambient
house, there's a dormant sequence for the Radio Art waiting to be
stirred.
Is there a Battle Royale for ham radio? A tactical RPG?
What is our sorcerer's stone? Our rap?
Will Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha tickle the ionosphere, and if so...why?
To hand our batons across the chronological divide, we'll need
empathetic, open-ended inquiry.
73, Wayne N6KR
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