On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:55:07 +0000, Gaius wrote:

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
The problem with todays version of ham radio is that it's really
boring. Nobody wants to talk to someone around the world, when they
can pickup a POTS or cell phone and do it with much less effort and
expense. With the demise of Heathkit, building radios is no longer a
draw. The magic of radio is gone. So, show them what they can do
with radio. Weather stations, APRS, satellite, construction, etc are
a good start.

The magic hasn't gone - it's just been refined.

For someone that's been in the hobby from before I could (legally)
drive a car, the magic is gone. To someone new to the hobby,
communicating with peoples on the other side of the planet is
commonplace. Pickup a cell phone, dial, and talk. There's no magic
in that. In the past, showing potential new hams how it works got an
"amazing" reaction. These days, I get asked "what's all that noise"?
It's no longer a technical hobby, but more like a "radio sport". It's
no longer about building and refining a radio to the bleeding edge of
the state of the art. It's now what you can do with a radio.
Fortunately, there's plenty to do with a radio. I listed a few.
There's plenty more (contesting, CW, boat anchors, xmitter hunts,
microwave, field day, packet, meteor scatter, etc). Plenty to
interest a Jr High Skool brat, but you have to show them first. I
used to worry about overwhelming them. Not any more. I show them in
everything I can find and let them find their own inspiration. Oddly,
the local new hams seem to be coming from the 4-H Organization.

The numbers of
enthusiasts may drop, but those left will be more focussed and
dedicated. The quantity is being replaced by quality.

There was a surge of new hams wanting to use ham radio as a cheap cell
phone. That didn't last, but it sure fattened the various club
treasuries. I'm not sure those remaining are more dedicated. Most of
the radio club members are 50 or more years old. There are younger
members, that also tend to be very technical, but they're disappointed
at the general lack of technical expertise of the older hams. Comments
like "how do you expect to operate a software defined radio without
any programming skills?" are common. I give at least one technical
talk a year to the local clubs. I can tell by the audience's faces
that only a few have a clue what I'm talking about. I passed out about
30 CD's with 4NEC2, EZNEC demo, and a zillion models at one meeting.
I think perhaps 1 or 2 people tried it.

Don't believe the prophets of doom who tell us that ham radio is dead.
They're just pessimists and losers. Ignore them and move on.

I like to think of myself of being part of the solution, rather than
the prophet of doom and despair. Please ignore me and move on.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS