Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
In a message dated 1/5/2005 2:58:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, Daniel Reynolds <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >I think that as long as there is QRP, Elecraft, >kit building, and ham radio in >general - there will always be CW (unless they >one day decide to make CW >illegal. I hope you're right. I also hope there is always a place for CW and home construction in ham radio. Outfits like Elecraft are helping to preserve CW by making really good build-it-yourself CW equipment available and affordable. >We still make kids learn how to write by hand with >#2 pencils even though most American students have access to a computer and >know how to use one. Also things like doing arithmetic by hand are *required learning*. Traditions and skills do not perpetuate themselves. Some folks, probably quite well-meaning, seek to reduce the qualifications for an amateur license even further. In at least one case, a "no-code, no-homebrew" license has been proposed to FCC, with the additional requirement that the transmitter not use voltages greater than 30! To save space, here are some links for those interested: Proposal: http://www.rrsta.com/rain/ncvec.html Paper that preceded the proposal: http://gahleos.obarr.net/messages/0002.html Response to proposal (3 parts) http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.radio.amateur.policy/msg/1f29355163c4ed4e?dmode=source http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.radio.amateur.policy/msg/a0bb67064e87e3d8?dmode=source http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.radio.amateur.policy/msg/0fceb52701a89334?dmode=source Related discussion off-reflector is invited. 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
You want hidebound "middle aged white guys" just listen to 14208 in the morning. SSB hurts my ears, CW forever! Doug W6JD - Original Message - From: "Stephen W. Kercel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Elecraft Reflector" Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 8:57 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India > 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 > > > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
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 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
Fred, K6DGW wrote: this is yet another example of infrastructure-free communications that hams can provide and hardly anyone or anything else can. When the going gets tough, the power is scarce, and the noise is high, a radio/ ham operator at each end of a 15,000 km circuit can still communicate. -- As things are going it may not be long before Hams, especially Hams proficient in CW, are the ONLY ones who can communicate independently of the highly-complex communications infrastructure. After posting information with a link to that story on our local town e-mail list, a number of townspeople replied with stories about how they had been helped by hams in emergencies in years past. To one message I replied: "...Things have changed over the years. I have sitting nearby a miniature radio station that fits in a coat pocket, batteries and all. It's about the size of most pocket cameras. It's Morse code only, which means it takes a trained operator to use it, but with a hank of wire thrown over a nearby tree limb I can communicate with Amateur emergency networks half way around the world if need be and stay in touch for days without any additional power, satellites, or other infrastructure." Of course I'm talking about my KX1. One of the townspeople wrote back: "...Hams are wonderful folks - keep up the good work! .. we are happily residing over an earthquake waiting to happen - hopefully not for many generations, but if it does shake things up, folks like you are going to be in BIG demand. Keep those batteries recharged!" A little "PR" goes a l-o-n-g ways... Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
About 20 years ago, I was active in League politics, and quite a vocal critic of the movement to drop the CW requirement from ham licensing. Two things have become apparent in the meantime. First, our political effort has obviously failed miserably. Second, having some no-code ham licenses has not heralded the beginning of the end of western civilization as we were predicting it would back then. CW operation is thriving. As yet another member of the choir, I expect that CW will continue its popularity irrespective of any examination requirement. It is just so much more effective than any other mode, especially for those of us who use low powered gear and small antennas. Two points already made by other posters are telling: 1) It is an effective infrastructure-free mode. 2) Like sailing or cooking over an open fire, it is so effective that it retains some advantages over much more sophisticated technologies. Also, unlike the data modes, CW is more art than science. It depends critically on the skill of the operator. It is in that challenge that it has its appeal. No doubt, yauchtsmen and barBQ chefs say much the same thing. I suspect that the sense of community that one finds in the Elecraft group, and the sense of accomplishment that arises from doing do much with such simple (even a K-2 is orders of magnitude simpler than the typical PC, much less computer networking apparatus) gear will do more to preserve CW than all the regulating (or lobbying of regulatory authorities) in the world. 73, Steve Kercel AA4AK At 02:21 PM 1/5/2005 -0800, you wrote: As a member of the choir: I think hams will always preserve competency in CW, regardless of what the ITU and FCC does, as long as a CW Q counts more than a fone Q in most contests. That said, this is yet another example of infrastructure-free communications that hams can provide and hardly anyone or anything else can. When the going gets tough, the power is scarce, and the noise is high, a radio/ ham operator at each end of a 15,000 km circuit can still communicate. Note in the VOA article ... it was all the other commercial communications that were lost. It's not something I hear much about. Naybe we should change that. 73, Fred K6DGW Auburn CA CM98lw "not even faintly embarrassed" Daniel Reynolds wrote: > > --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > I also understand that the DXpedition relied on CW at the beginning of their > > relief effort so that they could operate successfully with small antenna > > systems and low power. If the FCC and its counterparts around the world keep > > doing away with the Morse requirement, who will be there to copy weak, > > hastily assembled stations in the future? > > Here Here!!! (... however - I think you just preached to the choir) > > I think that as long as there is QRP, Elecraft, kit building, and ham radio in > general - there will always be CW (unless they one day decide to make CW > illegal ... which would be really dumb - they still use AM don't they - however > I think they did ban spark gap transmitters, but not because they were morse > code). I don't think CW will ever go out of style. People still use sailboats > (and sailboards!) even though steam ships were developed over 100 years ago. > People still use hot air baloons even though we just celebrated the first > century of powered flight. We still make kids learn how to write by hand with > #2 pencils even though most American students have access to a computer and > know how to use one. No - I think that we are quite a long way from seeing the > end of CW. The CW bug 'infects' a certain kind of person. There's no known > antivirus/antibiotic for this kind of 'infection' - and it spreads readily. > > 72, > Daniel / AA0NI > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
As a member of the choir: I think hams will always preserve competency in CW, regardless of what the ITU and FCC does, as long as a CW Q counts more than a fone Q in most contests. That said, this is yet another example of infrastructure-free communications that hams can provide and hardly anyone or anything else can. When the going gets tough, the power is scarce, and the noise is high, a radio/ ham operator at each end of a 15,000 km circuit can still communicate. Note in the VOA article ... it was all the other commercial communications that were lost. It's not something I hear much about. Naybe we should change that. 73, Fred K6DGW Auburn CA CM98lw "not even faintly embarrassed" Daniel Reynolds wrote: > > --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > I also understand that the DXpedition relied on CW at the beginning of their > > relief effort so that they could operate successfully with small antenna > > systems and low power. If the FCC and its counterparts around the world keep > > doing away with the Morse requirement, who will be there to copy weak, > > hastily assembled stations in the future? > > Here Here!!! (... however - I think you just preached to the choir) > > I think that as long as there is QRP, Elecraft, kit building, and ham radio in > general - there will always be CW (unless they one day decide to make CW > illegal ... which would be really dumb - they still use AM don't they - > however > I think they did ban spark gap transmitters, but not because they were morse > code). I don't think CW will ever go out of style. People still use sailboats > (and sailboards!) even though steam ships were developed over 100 years ago. > People still use hot air baloons even though we just celebrated the first > century of powered flight. We still make kids learn how to write by hand with > #2 pencils even though most American students have access to a computer and > know how to use one. No - I think that we are quite a long way from seeing the > end of CW. The CW bug 'infects' a certain kind of person. There's no known > antivirus/antibiotic for this kind of 'infection' - and it spreads readily. > > 72, > Daniel / AA0NI > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
I appreciate the link. In our town, we have an internet e-mail list with a couple of hundred subscribers (in a town of 17K people) where we discuss things of interest to our community. I posted there a message about being a "Ham" and proud of it and provided the link to the story (http://tinyurl.com/3zbc5). My mailbox immediately started filling up with people around town telling stories about how a Ham had helped them some time in the past - one had a relative "lost" in Anchorage back in the big quake in '64 that finally got word out via Amateur radio. Always good to pass the "word" demonstrating ways to show how our hobby can serve the community as well as entertain us. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I also understand that the DXpedition relied on CW at the beginning of their > relief effort so that they could operate successfully with small antenna > systems and low power. If the FCC and its counterparts around the world keep > doing away with the Morse requirement, who will be there to copy weak, > hastily assembled stations in the future? Here Here!!! (... however - I think you just preached to the choir) I think that as long as there is QRP, Elecraft, kit building, and ham radio in general - there will always be CW (unless they one day decide to make CW illegal ... which would be really dumb - they still use AM don't they - however I think they did ban spark gap transmitters, but not because they were morse code). I don't think CW will ever go out of style. People still use sailboats (and sailboards!) even though steam ships were developed over 100 years ago. People still use hot air baloons even though we just celebrated the first century of powered flight. We still make kids learn how to write by hand with #2 pencils even though most American students have access to a computer and know how to use one. No - I think that we are quite a long way from seeing the end of CW. The CW bug 'infects' a certain kind of person. There's no known antivirus/antibiotic for this kind of 'infection' - and it spreads readily. 72, Daniel / AA0NI ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
I also understand that the DXpedition relied on CW at the beginning of their relief effort so that they could operate successfully with small antenna systems and low power. If the FCC and its counterparts around the world keep doing away with the Morse requirement, who will be there to copy weak, hastily assembled stations in the future? Stepping off the soap box now... 73, Lonnie NY2LJ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
Maybe someone should send this to Times magazine, whom called ham radio, "embarrassing". Ron wb1hga Subject: [Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India Here's an article I stepped upon as I was doing my daily news read. http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-01-05-voa24.cfm ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India
Here's an article I stepped upon as I was doing my daily news read. http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-01-05-voa24.cfm ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
