Re: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
In 1963, I ran QRP with a homebrew ('62 handbook) single tube
transmitter on 40 meters with a Lafayette HE-10 receiver. Antenna
change over was a knife switch. The K2 is now the finest example of a
QRP radio I could possibly imagine. Perhaps now eclipsed by the KX-3.
I've parted with 2 K2s thinking the K1 and K3 would do everything I
need. But, the K2 is the ultimate in ham radio experiences. Once built
and debugged, that first QSO is like 1963 all over again.
72, Doug --K0DXV
On 6/9/2013 9:07 PM, EricJ wrote:
Really good points, Ron. Most ham gear from WWII and much from before
could be put on the air tonight and fit right in, particularly on CW.
I could get on the air with my 1957 Novice rig (S-85 and DX-35) and
nobody would know what I was running unless I said so. I still have my
Drake 2B receiver from the early 60's. It's not as quiet as my K2, but
it's still a very hot receiver and hears the same signals. In fact,
for sentimental reasons, if I had to sell, the K2 would go first. hi.
Not only are there lots of new technologies, virtually all of the old
technologies are still used and even more convenient. RTTY used to
take some serious money, serious time and serious devotion just to
keep things running. Now I can fire up the K2 and a computer and I'm
running RTTY without the smell of burning oil and a puddle on the
floor. OK, sorry, I miss that, but others in my house don't.
As much as I loved the old days of ham radio, the best years are
right here and now. New digital modes are starting to crowd out my CW
op time.
Eric
KE6US
On 6/9/2013 2:29 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
Ham radio, like everything in life, is changing. For some, that may feel
like the Ham radio they knew is dying.
I hope they realize that is an illusion. Aside from spark-gap
transmitters,
everything that every was in Ham radio is still in Ham radio.
After 61 years on the air, the only difference that I find is that
Ham radio
has developed a much broader horizon of technologies and activities that
fill our spectrum.
73, Ron AC7AC
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Re: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? Now: Recycling ham periodicals
It's an excellent idea. When I go to the doctor or dentist, I'd swear that he saw only women and children as patients. I hate to recycle ham magazines, but no one wants them; not the library or the local club, which had to call a halt to donations after getting a dozen or more each month. Now that QST is available online to ARRL members, I'm not saving them after reading. I've also gone full-digital on the CQ subscription. QRP ARCI is working on having a digital edition available. After buying their 30 Years DVD, I gave my surplus copies to a ham in the San Diego area. 73 de Jim - AD6CW On 6/10/2013 12:18 PM, Mark Petiford wrote: This is a great idea. When I was a kid growing up in a small midwest town, the local doctor would leave put his old copies of Flying and AOPA Pilot in his waiting room. I loved to go to the doctor (well, not quite) just to read those magazines. It led to an 43 year career in Aviation. If he would have been a ham, I suspect it would have led to a career in electronics. Sometimes the little thing have a big influence. Mark KE6BB __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? Now: Recycling ham periodicals
Our local library has a huge donation box for books and magazines just inside the front door. I don't even ask if they want them :-). I just toss my QSTs and CQs in the box and hope for the best - that they will get to someone who will read them. Steve, N4EUK On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 5:32 PM, Jim Lowman jmlow...@sbcglobal.net wrote: It's an excellent idea. When I go to the doctor or dentist, I'd swear that he saw only women and children as patients. I hate to recycle ham magazines, but no one wants them; not the library or the local club, which had to call a halt to donations after getting a dozen or more each month. Now that QST is available online to ARRL members, I'm not saving them after reading. I've also gone full-digital on the CQ subscription. QRP ARCI is working on having a digital edition available. After buying their 30 Years DVD, I gave my surplus copies to a ham in the San Diego area. 73 de Jim - AD6CW On 6/10/2013 12:18 PM, Mark Petiford wrote: This is a great idea. When I was a kid growing up in a small midwest town, the local doctor would leave put his old copies of Flying and AOPA Pilot in his waiting room. I loved to go to the doctor (well, not quite) just to read those magazines. It led to an 43 year career in Aviation. If he would have been a ham, I suspect it would have led to a career in electronics. Sometimes the little thing have a big influence. Mark KE6BB __**__**__ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/**mailman/listinfo/elecrafthttp://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.**htmhttp://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:elecr...@mailman.qth.**net Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
A few years back, someone posted a suggestion to help spread the word about our hobby. Take old copies of your amateur radio periodicals and drop them off in the waiting rooms of your health care providers, car care centers, state license offices, etc. Six months ago I put retired copies of CQ and QST on the table in my company's customer waiting areas among the usual reading. Today they are all gone. Disappeared. Stolen (and shared I hope). I will replenish the supply. I did not report the disappearance. ;o) I guess the added good news is that our customers didn't have to wait very long and therefore had to take the ham mags home with them to finish reading what had caught their interest. Terry, W0FM -Original Message- From: Howard Evans [mailto:hevans1...@woh.rr.com] Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 3:49 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? My experience has been similar to yours, Dan. Off the air since 1967, I became licensed again April 1, 2013, bought a KX3 with all the trimmin's, and am now proud to be a part of the Elecraft community. Ham radio didn't die between 1967 and 2013. If anything, it has expanded. More bands, more modes, more everything except new young amateurs. The amateur radio community is all about having fun and communicating with each other via radio. The younger generation is all about having fun and communcating with each other too, except their medium of choice is the Internet and cell phones. We can introduce them to HTs and repeaters, but how do you compete with Facebook and Youtube? Maybe we can't. So instead of competing we offer alternative ways to have fun and communcate and use Facebook and Youtube to promote the alternatives. Ham radio doesn't need to be resecued. It just needs more participation from a younger group of people to really thrive and grow against the competition for more bandwidth. Use it or lose it, as they say. Coordinated efforts from all involved are necessary: ARRL, clubs, and local publicity in schools and colleges can all be helpful. Kit building seems to be driving a resurgance of interest in electronics and computers, and that can lead to an interest in amateur radio. Mentoring youngters who might want to become Hams works too. QRP CW is yet another avenue to attract new Hams with low-cost rigs and simple antennas. There are endless possibilites for recruitment to rescue amateur radio, much more than when I got my Novice ticket forty-seven years ago. But it will take more than just on-the-air ragchewing and posting to the choir in Ham radio forums such as this one. It will take a concerted effort. Join a club. Join the ARRL. Participate in high-profile community services that involve amateur radio. Become involved. Thank you for your revival in interest and your post. Hop - AC8NS __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
This is a great idea. When I was a kid growing up in a small midwest town, the local doctor would leave put his old copies of Flying and AOPA Pilot in his waiting room. I loved to go to the doctor (well, not quite) just to read those magazines. It led to an 43 year career in Aviation. If he would have been a ham, I suspect it would have led to a career in electronics. Sometimes the little thing have a big influence. Mark KE6BB From: Terry Schieler w...@swbell.net To: 'Howard Evans' hevans1...@woh.rr.com; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, June 10, 2013 7:58 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? A few years back, someone posted a suggestion to help spread the word about our hobby. Take old copies of your amateur radio periodicals and drop them off in the waiting rooms of your health care providers, car care centers, state license offices, etc. Six months ago I put retired copies of CQ and QST on the table in my company's customer waiting areas among the usual reading. Today they are all gone. Disappeared. Stolen (and shared I hope). I will replenish the supply. I did not report the disappearance. ;o) I guess the added good news is that our customers didn't have to wait very long and therefore had to take the ham mags home with them to finish reading what had caught their interest. Terry, W0FM -Original Message- From: Howard Evans [mailto:hevans1...@woh.rr.com] Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 3:49 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? My experience has been similar to yours, Dan. Off the air since 1967, I became licensed again April 1, 2013, bought a KX3 with all the trimmin's, and am now proud to be a part of the Elecraft community. Ham radio didn't die between 1967 and 2013. If anything, it has expanded. More bands, more modes, more everything except new young amateurs. The amateur radio community is all about having fun and communicating with each other via radio. The younger generation is all about having fun and communcating with each other too, except their medium of choice is the Internet and cell phones. We can introduce them to HTs and repeaters, but how do you compete with Facebook and Youtube? Maybe we can't. So instead of competing we offer alternative ways to have fun and communcate and use Facebook and Youtube to promote the alternatives. Ham radio doesn't need to be resecued. It just needs more participation from a younger group of people to really thrive and grow against the competition for more bandwidth. Use it or lose it, as they say. Coordinated efforts from all involved are necessary: ARRL, clubs, and local publicity in schools and colleges can all be helpful. Kit building seems to be driving a resurgance of interest in electronics and computers, and that can lead to an interest in amateur radio. Mentoring youngters who might want to become Hams works too. QRP CW is yet another avenue to attract new Hams with low-cost rigs and simple antennas. There are endless possibilites for recruitment to rescue amateur radio, much more than when I got my Novice ticket forty-seven years ago. But it will take more than just on-the-air ragchewing and posting to the choir in Ham radio forums such as this one. It will take a concerted effort. Join a club. Join the ARRL. Participate in high-profile community services that involve amateur radio. Become involved. Thank you for your revival in interest and your post. Hop - AC8NS __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
So, to be fair, I was one of those gear hungry hams. I had outfitted my shack with every toy and gadget I could fit into my refitted closet. Then over the years I noticed that I was losing interest...first code, then data...and to be frank there was just nothing new and the hobby started to lose my interest. I sold much of my gear but continued to read and keep up. Then came along the KX3. I read as much as I could find, dropped an order for every extra component on a Friday. The ups man was at my door on Tuesday with the little radio. I bought the pre-built model so literally I threw 26 feet of Wireman 534 and a counter poise on the BNC adaptor2 min later I had a contact in Wisconsin. So why do I think it will rescue Ham radio? It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful, and to be honest just great fun. Great job Elecraft. Proud to now be a part of your family. Dan N2DRM Sent from my iPhone __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
Sounds like it rescued -your- interest in the hobby, not the hobby itself. Amateur Radio has been alive and well right along, thank you. Have fun! Bruce N1RX __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
I thought the same thing back when Wayne designed and offered for sale the Norcal 40A back in the pre-Elecraft epoch. That small blue box is still one of my all-time favorite rigs for all the reasons you like the KX3! John Harper http://www.ae5x.com/blog It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
By all accounts the KX3 is a terrific radio (I own only a K1 and a K3), but claiming that it will save ham radio is a pretty unwarranted stretch. Revitalizing your particular interest is not at all the same as capturing the interest of someone young enough to significantly outlive us. If I was 25 years old and trying to build a new business for the long term (20 years or so), it certainly would not be dependent on ham radio unless it had something to do with estate sales. 73, Dave AB7E On 6/9/2013 9:58 AM, Dan McCoy wrote: So, to be fair, I was one of those gear hungry hams. I had outfitted my shack with every toy and gadget I could fit into my refitted closet. Then over the years I noticed that I was losing interest...first code, then data...and to be frank there was just nothing new and the hobby started to lose my interest. I sold much of my gear but continued to read and keep up. Then came along the KX3. I read as much as I could find, dropped an order for every extra component on a Friday. The ups man was at my door on Tuesday with the little radio. I bought the pre-built model so literally I threw 26 feet of Wireman 534 and a counter poise on the BNC adaptor2 min later I had a contact in Wisconsin. So why do I think it will rescue Ham radio? It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful, and to be honest just great fun. Great job Elecraft. Proud to now be a part of your family. Dan N2DRM __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
Based on the number if times I appears in the text of the OP's post I believe it saved ham radio for him. That's a good thing - I'm happy for him. 73, Bob AC2FA Sent from my iPhone On Jun 9, 2013, at 14:28, David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.com wrote: By all accounts the KX3 is a terrific radio (I own only a K1 and a K3), but claiming that it will save ham radio is a pretty unwarranted stretch. Revitalizing your particular interest is not at all the same as capturing the interest of someone young enough to significantly outlive us. If I was 25 years old and trying to build a new business for the long term (20 years or so), it certainly would not be dependent on ham radio unless it had something to do with estate sales. 73, Dave AB7E On 6/9/2013 9:58 AM, Dan McCoy wrote: So, to be fair, I was one of those gear hungry hams. I had outfitted my shack with every toy and gadget I could fit into my refitted closet. Then over the years I noticed that I was losing interest...first code, then data...and to be frank there was just nothing new and the hobby started to lose my interest. I sold much of my gear but continued to read and keep up. Then came along the KX3. I read as much as I could find, dropped an order for every extra component on a Friday. The ups man was at my door on Tuesday with the little radio. I bought the pre-built model so literally I threw 26 feet of Wireman 534 and a counter poise on the BNC adaptor2 min later I had a contact in Wisconsin. So why do I think it will rescue Ham radio? It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful, and to be honest just great fun. Great job Elecraft. Proud to now be a part of your family. Dan N2DRM __ 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 __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
I keep seeing this doom and gloom outlook from current hams. It is unfortunate, because it gives a negative energy to those contemplating Ham radio as a hobby. The truth is that we have more licensed hams than at any other time. We even have a good number of young hams -- including my 12 year old daughter. Since she got her license (the same day I got mine -- due to her interest) we have met a fair number of young hams, some who have been licensed since they were 9 years old. Ham radio has a lot to offer young people, but to help encourage them to participate… we need to stop acting like we are all old and boring! - Brendon KK6AYI On Jun 9, 2013, at 11:28 AM, David Gilbert wrote: By all accounts the KX3 is a terrific radio (I own only a K1 and a K3), but claiming that it will save ham radio is a pretty unwarranted stretch. Revitalizing your particular interest is not at all the same as capturing the interest of someone young enough to significantly outlive us. If I was 25 years old and trying to build a new business for the long term (20 years or so), it certainly would not be dependent on ham radio unless it had something to do with estate sales. 73, Dave AB7E On 6/9/2013 9:58 AM, Dan McCoy wrote: So, to be fair, I was one of those gear hungry hams. I had outfitted my shack with every toy and gadget I could fit into my refitted closet. Then over the years I noticed that I was losing interest...first code, then data...and to be frank there was just nothing new and the hobby started to lose my interest. I sold much of my gear but continued to read and keep up. Then came along the KX3. I read as much as I could find, dropped an order for every extra component on a Friday. The ups man was at my door on Tuesday with the little radio. I bought the pre-built model so literally I threw 26 feet of Wireman 534 and a counter poise on the BNC adaptor2 min later I had a contact in Wisconsin. So why do I think it will rescue Ham radio? It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful, and to be honest just great fun. Great job Elecraft. Proud to now be a part of your family. Dan N2DRM __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
You got that right Brendon!! said by a ham just short of licensed for 50 Have a great day, --... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy From: bren...@whateley.com Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 12:55:23 -0700 To: xda...@cis-broadband.com CC: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? I keep seeing this doom and gloom outlook from current hams. It is unfortunate, because it gives a negative energy to those contemplating Ham radio as a hobby. The truth is that we have more licensed hams than at any other time. We even have a good number of young hams -- including my 12 year old daughter. Since she got her license (the same day I got mine -- due to her interest) we have met a fair number of young hams, some who have been licensed since they were 9 years old. Ham radio has a lot to offer young people, but to help encourage them to participate… we need to stop acting like we are all old and boring! - Brendon KK6AYI On Jun 9, 2013, at 11:28 AM, David Gilbert wrote: By all accounts the KX3 is a terrific radio (I own only a K1 and a K3), but claiming that it will save ham radio is a pretty unwarranted stretch. Revitalizing your particular interest is not at all the same as capturing the interest of someone young enough to significantly outlive us. If I was 25 years old and trying to build a new business for the long term (20 years or so), it certainly would not be dependent on ham radio unless it had something to do with estate sales. 73, Dave AB7E On 6/9/2013 9:58 AM, Dan McCoy wrote: So, to be fair, I was one of those gear hungry hams. I had outfitted my shack with every toy and gadget I could fit into my refitted closet. Then over the years I noticed that I was losing interest...first code, then data...and to be frank there was just nothing new and the hobby started to lose my interest. I sold much of my gear but continued to read and keep up. Then came along the KX3. I read as much as I could find, dropped an order for every extra component on a Friday. The ups man was at my door on Tuesday with the little radio. I bought the pre-built model so literally I threw 26 feet of Wireman 534 and a counter poise on the BNC adaptor2 min later I had a contact in Wisconsin. So why do I think it will rescue Ham radio? It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful, and to be honest just great fun. Great job Elecraft. Proud to now be a part of your family. Dan N2DRM __ 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 __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
The Raleigh area has quite assortment of both older and *very* young hams.. Some 8 year olds have been heard on 2 meters. They may not own a radio yet, but their parents have a 2meter rig in the car, and they speak up while riding to school or whatever with their own call signs... Outreach helps significantly. I spoke to a coworker who is not really interested in Ham Radio, but he *is* highly into electronics... having started down that path with Heathkits back in the 70's. Now he is the alpha geek at a large storage company (he is the go-to guy for all hardware issues, firmware and the like.) He almost got into Ham Radio back in the 70's..but the Heathkit robotics kit caught him... - Original Message - From: Brendon Whateley bren...@whateley.com To: David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? I keep seeing this doom and gloom outlook from current hams. It is unfortunate, because it gives a negative energy to those contemplating Ham radio as a hobby. The truth is that we have more licensed hams than at any other time. We even have a good number of young hams -- including my 12 year old daughter. Since she got her license (the same day I got mine -- due to her interest) we have met a fair number of young hams, some who have been licensed since they were 9 years old. Ham radio has a lot to offer young people, but to help encourage them to participate… we need to stop acting like we are all old and boring! - Brendon KK6AYI __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
My experience has been similar to yours, Dan. Off the air since 1967, I became licensed again April 1, 2013, bought a KX3 with all the trimmin's, and am now proud to be a part of the Elecraft community. Ham radio didn't die between 1967 and 2013. If anything, it has expanded. More bands, more modes, more everything except new young amateurs. The amateur radio community is all about having fun and communicating with each other via radio. The younger generation is all about having fun and communcating with each other too, except their medium of choice is the Internet and cell phones. We can introduce them to HTs and repeaters, but how do you compete with Facebook and Youtube? Maybe we can't. So instead of competing we offer alternative ways to have fun and communcate and use Facebook and Youtube to promote the alternatives. Ham radio doesn't need to be resecued. It just needs more participation from a younger group of people to really thrive and grow against the competition for more bandwidth. Use it or lose it, as they say. Coordinated efforts from all involved are necessary: ARRL, clubs, and local publicity in schools and colleges can all be helpful. Kit building seems to be driving a resurgance of interest in electronics and computers, and that can lead to an interest in amateur radio. Mentoring youngters who might want to become Hams works too. QRP CW is yet another avenue to attract new Hams with low-cost rigs and simple antennas. There are endless possibilites for recruitment to rescue amateur radio, much more than when I got my Novice ticket forty-seven years ago. But it will take more than just on-the-air ragchewing and posting to the choir in Ham radio forums such as this one. It will take a concerted effort. Join a club. Join the ARRL. Participate in high-profile community services that involve amateur radio. Become involved. Thank you for your revival in interest and your post. Hop - AC8NS - Original Message - From: Dan McCoy docd...@gmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 12:58 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? SNIP I read as much as I could find, dropped an order for every extra component on a Friday. The ups man was at my door on Tuesday with the little radio. I bought the pre-built model so literally I threw 26 feet of Wireman 534 and a counter poise on the BNC adaptor2 min later I had a contact in Wisconsin. So why do I think it will rescue Ham radio? It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful, and to be honest just great fun. Great job Elecraft. Proud to now be a part of your family. Dan N2DRM Sent from my iPhone __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
Ham radio, like everything in life, is changing. For some, that may feel like the Ham radio they knew is dying. I hope they realize that is an illusion. Aside from spark-gap transmitters, everything that every was in Ham radio is still in Ham radio. After 61 years on the air, the only difference that I find is that Ham radio has developed a much broader horizon of technologies and activities that fill our spectrum. 73, Ron AC7AC __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
Re Dan's comment: So, to be fair, I was one of those gear hungry hams. I was the opposite type of ham. I couldn't see spending a lot of money on a hobby when I was starting a career with a house in Southern California, cars to pay for and maintain, three college educations to save for, savings and investing for future retirement, and three beautiful daughters ready to help keep my wallet trimmed down (I love them dearly, though). I sacrificed big expensive radios willingly so that my family could enjoy their interests. I maintained my modest station (TT540, a vhf HT, Model 19 TTY, 3 el. CL-33 on 30ft. tower, etc.), but eventually became more interested in microprocessors (I do not mean building PC's from pre-manufactured boards), and eventually drifted away from ham radio. About 10 or so years ago, I was introduced to QRP, and I found I could have a lot of fun with simple, inexpensive QRP rigs, built from kits or from scratch, paired with simple wire antennas. When I saw the first KX3, I knew it was the radio for me. I retired recently, and it became a retirement gift to myself, sparking a new interest in portable operation and being involved with ham radio in more general way. I still don't have a big station with all the latest big radios (I call them boat sinkers...as opposed to boat anchors), but I don't really want one. My KX3 looks very nice sitting on the coffee table (I have a wonderful wife!) and performs quite well for what I need. Occasionally I even hook it up to my laptop to run digital modes...great fun! As we strengthen individuals' interests in Ham Radio, we make the entire hobby stronger. Good to see you are enjoying the radio, Dan. Mark KE6BB From: Dan McCoy docd...@gmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, June 9, 2013 9:58 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio? So, to be fair, I was one of those gear hungry hams. I had outfitted my shack with every toy and gadget I could fit into my refitted closet. Then over the years I noticed that I was losing interest...first code, then data...and to be frank there was just nothing new and the hobby started to lose my interest. I sold much of my gear but continued to read and keep up. Then came along the KX3. I read as much as I could find, dropped an order for every extra component on a Friday. The ups man was at my door on Tuesday with the little radio. I bought the pre-built model so literally I threw 26 feet of Wireman 534 and a counter poise on the BNC adaptor2 min later I had a contact in Wisconsin. So why do I think it will rescue Ham radio? It forces us (ok, gently) to go back to being experimenters, operate remote, makes using code cool and useful, and to be honest just great fun. Great job Elecraft. Proud to now be a part of your family. Dan N2DRM Sent from my iPhone __ 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 __ 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] Has the KX3 rescued Ham radio?
Really good points, Ron. Most ham gear from WWII and much from before could be put on the air tonight and fit right in, particularly on CW. I could get on the air with my 1957 Novice rig (S-85 and DX-35) and nobody would know what I was running unless I said so. I still have my Drake 2B receiver from the early 60's. It's not as quiet as my K2, but it's still a very hot receiver and hears the same signals. In fact, for sentimental reasons, if I had to sell, the K2 would go first. hi. Not only are there lots of new technologies, virtually all of the old technologies are still used and even more convenient. RTTY used to take some serious money, serious time and serious devotion just to keep things running. Now I can fire up the K2 and a computer and I'm running RTTY without the smell of burning oil and a puddle on the floor. OK, sorry, I miss that, but others in my house don't. As much as I loved the old days of ham radio, the best years are right here and now. New digital modes are starting to crowd out my CW op time. Eric KE6US On 6/9/2013 2:29 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: Ham radio, like everything in life, is changing. For some, that may feel like the Ham radio they knew is dying. I hope they realize that is an illusion. Aside from spark-gap transmitters, everything that every was in Ham radio is still in Ham radio. After 61 years on the air, the only difference that I find is that Ham radio has developed a much broader horizon of technologies and activities that fill our spectrum. 73, Ron AC7AC __ 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 __ 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
