LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #6   Report Post  
Old April 8th 10, 02:27 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.moderated
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jan 2010
Posts: 66
Default NPR story cites growth in Amateur ranks

On Apr 7, 12:49 pm, "Bill Horne, W1AC" wrote:
According to a recent story on National Public Radio (NPR), the
Internet generation is re-discovering an older communications
medium. Reporter Matt Sepic said "Nearly 700,000 Americans have ham
radio licenses, up 60 percent from 1981".


Not at all a surprise. The issue I've always had with comparing Ham
radio to the internet is that it's a real apples/oranges thing. For
some strange reason, the internet is/was thought of as some sort of
high tech wonderland. I've been there for a long time, and high tech
the internet isn't. It's a matter of software and "which option do I
choose". While still a great medium, the internet is at least for me,
a tool, and doesn't hold a lot of interest, beyond what I need to do
my work and play with.

Whereas radio on the other hand, is what one might call a live medium.
It isn't automatic, even the person who uses only store bought gear
has to learn how to use it. And the settings need to be changed all
the time. Oddly enough some of the detractors of Ham radio liked to
point out how you could contact anyone in the world via internet. Yup
indeed. With Ham radio, you need to know the right times, right band
and right frequency, and sometimes have a bit of luck to contact
another ham across the world. But doing it without any structure
between you and the other guy or gal is the hook. I'll never forget
the first time I QSO'ed with a Ham in Australia on 10 meters. It would
be hard to feel the same about a phone call. Or a chat room.

I did have to chuckle at the part where the article notes that die
hard Hams have to agree that Amateur Radio will never be a mainstream
hobby. It's true, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The 'Real' Story Behind The Story of The 'Made-Up' Story of theDeath/Killing of Osama bin-Laden RHF Shortwave 2 May 7th 11 11:06 PM
RUSH LIMBAUGH JOINS RANKS WITH BIRTHERS! John Smith Shortwave 3 January 22nd 11 06:55 PM
"Study: HD Radio's 'Tepid Growth Story'" - Ha! Ha! Eduardo & RHF! RHF Shortwave 0 September 13th 07 08:18 AM
why does the CAP use officer ranks and yet not hold it officers to the standards of miltary offiers? an old freid to some a nightmare to steve Policy 4 May 31st 06 05:26 PM
FCC Cites "Export" Seller and fines another company for Unlicensed Operation Jerry CB 9 March 26th 04 07:48 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:32 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2025 RadioBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about Radio"

 

Copyright © 2017