"Thomas Horne" wrote:

I hesitate to put an oar in because I'm one of the brand new Hams.

Congrats and welcome back!


I think that the service can be alive and well if it continues to adapt
itself to public need rather than to individual preferences no matter how
strong.

Personally, I think the service needs to stop focusing on raw numbers of
licensed hams, and instead on the *quality* of those hams licensed. I would
rather have 5 hams licensed who are interested in antenna theory, emergency
communications, etc., rather than 10 hams who are interested in using ham
radio as a cheap cell phone.


Having said that I will now admit that I was somewhat disappointed by the
ease with which I passed the exam. I had a novice license back around
1973. At that time you had to pass the general theory to get a technician
class license. Obviously that is no longer true.

The current structure of the theory examinations is a joke. They really do
nothing to ensure the applicant has a through knowledge of the topical
material. For example, you could have failed each and every question on
rules and regulations, and yet still obtained your license, simply because
you know math well. This is not, IMO, a good thing. We are, however,
unlikely to see this change for the positive, and highly likely to see the
theory examinations weakened further as we move to a "simply mail in your
605, no exam needed" ham radio of the future.

73
kh6hz

KH6HZ wrote:

...
Personally, I think the service needs to stop focusing on raw numbers of
licensed hams, and instead on the *quality* of those hams licensed. I would
rather have 5 hams licensed who are interested in antenna theory, emergency
communications, etc., rather than 10 hams who are interested in using ham
radio as a cheap cell phone.

Give me quantity. Antenna "theory" has not changed in 50 years, it is a
given--a "known" in its present state. We need mind to come up with
new ideas, apply newly discovered physics and give us something new to
work with.

The current structure of the theory examinations is a joke. They really do
nothing to ensure the applicant has a through knowledge of the topical
material. For example, you could have failed each and every question on
rules and regulations, and yet still obtained your license, simply because
you know math well. This is not, IMO, a good thing. We are, however,
unlikely to see this change for the positive, and highly likely to see the
theory examinations weakened further as we move to a "simply mail in your
605, no exam needed" ham radio of the future.

73
kh6hz

What do they need to know to grab their rig, coax and antenna off ebay
and begin in the amateur bands, oh yeah, and know band limits and modes.

JS
--
http://assemblywizard.tekcities.com

Several things come to mind he

Quantity vs quality we hear a lot about. The former is good for
publishers and equipment manufacturers and the latter is good for
interesting QSO's.

Someone mentioned the importance of ham radio as a service to the
community. What makes ham radio so special that it has to be a service
to anyone other than those who enjoy it? All such justifications are
pure nonsense these days.

It is also frequently said that ham radio is an "old man's hobby". So
what! There are plenty of hobbies for children. I for one enjoy
getting away from teeny boppers.

I get a great deal of pleasure out of talking to people my age and
exchanging experiences and how we got here. I have nothing in common
with children. I would be delighted to elmer them but competing with
computers, cell phones, drugs and teenage girls is beyond the call of duty.

I welcome them into the community but to go trolling for them is a waste
of energy.

People complain about the crowded bands, QRM, rude behavior and yet
whine about declining numbers.

Won't it be nice what all that open space on 75 is filled with CB level
hams?

JACK K9ACT since 1955

p.s. check out the POW for what "old men" can do

--
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: http://schmidling.com/pow.htm