N2EY wrote:
(Brian Kelly) wrote in message om... (N2EY) wrote in message ... In article , (Brian Kelly) writes: (William) wrote in message Cecil didn't "switch" anything, The hell he didn't. He resigned his NCI membership. Really? I obviously missed that one. Good for him. After the rules changed, he said that reduction to 5 wpm for all classes was enough. He resigned his membership in NCI and soon after reduced his participation here. He's still around in rraa but not nearly as much as before. The bottom line is that Cecil and many others are ahead of the power curve as usual but thee and me and a few other PCTAs are silly enough to still hang out around here. Sort of. Who does most of the posting here, in both number of posts and length? It ain't me or thee, by a long shot. This USENET group was a huge deal back when the code test flap was The Big Thing. 4-1/2+ years ago. Which at this point is a dead topic since the code test is obviously not going away within any visible timframe if ever. Frankly, I'm amazed that FCC didn't MO&O it out of existence last summer. So Cecil, Hare, innumerable others and even Carl Anderson Stevenson for cripes sake, the Honcho Maximo of NCI wised up and bailed out of here long ago leaving us to bicker mindlesssly, circularly and endlessly with dim lights like Burke and the other Anderson. WE'RE the RRAP stupids for bothering with any of it Miccolis. Who is bothering? I read a few posts, write a few, discuss interesting topics with KB3EIA, N8UZE, and some others. Filtering what one reads works wonders. Carl only got to reap what he sowed. He also altered his opinion to something he said that he would never do. Nothing wrong with changing one's mind - I do it at least three times before breakfast. (someone's quote) But a large part of my earlier respect was based on that "never reducing test requirements" statement. So he did a lot of credibility erosion there. And I respond to who I like in the group. occasionally even Lenover21, when I'm in a puckish mood! ;^) Sorry you weren't there to join that exercise No you're not. Congratulations Burke, you finally got something right. All were invited. Some of us showed up. And some of us have worked since. Remember that FD when you worked AC6XG on 20 CW? Sure, whatta hoot. What was is it . . midnight or so at that hopeless Clayton Park FD fiasco . . ? Yep. 20 had been slowly petering down all evening and I was in a hurt for Qs but then suddenly the Ether perked up and there was Jim big and bad at 40wpm. I'll do you a favor and not get into a description your dismal encounter with my Kent paddles . . heh . . ! Then I hooked up the bug and chatted w/him. That musta been four years ago - since then I've done at least 3 non-CP FDs Logged him. Refresh me here James, I think it was around the time that I logged XG that I/we started to hear a lot more signals from very far off places than I/we could hear from US FD stations. So to hell with FD, let's get back to basics and go dxing I sayithed to self. Worked the JA who was in some other contest. Logged him too. Apparently Newington did not disallow that one. DX contacts count for FD. They give you a signal report, it counts. They simpy doan give a **** abt FD logs good or bogus. Not true! The QSOs were good. There was one SP handing 'em out 2-3 a minute later on - remember? They all counted. Then came Balch who finally waddled in out of the gloom of the parking lot (two hours late as usual) to take over the seat and rolled his eyes heavenward when he was copying my Q with the VK2 blaring all over the park from the 940 spkr. Yep. DX qsos count; it's just that DX stations' logs aren't counted competitively in the listings. A year or two ago the definition was changed so that FD covers not just North America but SA too. Which means N2EY/Tierra del Fuego could compete... . . worked the German and then the Peruvian but that was it, thus I blew a one-hour midnite FD WAC for the lack of a Q with an African. RATZ, not a ZS6 anywhere to be found! I remember.... All of 'em, I believe we agree (but check me), were worked with radiation from the shield of the coax which fed Robert's triband Mosely aircooled dummy load upon high. Musta been 5 years ago, becuz the next year you brought the halfsize G5RV to avoid such headaches. I have not gotten into this topic previously anywhere with anybody because several years later it still ****es me off the extent that I can still easily go too ballistic about it and post fodder which anti-hams would just love. But fuggit, I gotta get it off my chest and let the chips fall where they might. I hear ya. I don't remember which of those three Clayton Park debacles we did together but during one of 'em it was well after sundown, very late, most of the usual crowd had gone home, activity was down and I was grinding away but going nowhere in a hurry. I took a break for a pit stop. On my way back to my seat I first passed a group of the usual collection of hardcore neighborhood repeater dwellers we both know bull****ting abt nothing as usual. A few feet later there was young guy who was clearly having odd problems with the HF xcvr he was using, some POS or another. So I asked "Are you having problems guy?" "Yes I am". The guy was blind, he was not familiar with the POS "they" finally scheduled him to operate after everybody else had gotten their jollies off with it earlier at their convenience but he could not diddle it's controls and get it on the air. I sat with him for some length of time, maybe 15 minutes or so and guided his hands around the front panel of the xcvr and got him up and running on some phone band or another. In the meanwhile the aformentioned collection of bull****ers wasn't more than eight feet from him throuhout all of it. I gotta tell you that in all my half century on the bands that was the worst of the worst of the bad experiences I've had in the game. Madonna was right: It's a material world. Yes, I fear for the future of ham radio. I did not know that story. Makes me sick. Oy! Just remember, Karma keeps a bank account, and pays back with interest! Thank goodness you stopped to help the guy, Brian. Now watch, somebody will spin it into being *your* fault. But do not fear for the future of amateur radio too much. Here's why: Back when you started, and to a lesser extent even when I started, ham radio was populated mostly by folks who took it very seriously. "Radio for its own sake" wasn't something most people were interested in. The license process, operating skill requirements and equipment costs alone insured that most hams had a considerable personal investment - and the money was the least of it. Sure, there were some clueless folk but they either learned or were really frustrated. Then a bunch of things happened. The cb boom made 2 way radio popular and practical for lots of folks, the development of ssb and then fm transceivers and solidstate made the equipment small, less expensive and easier to use, etc. We got a lot of good hams, of course, but also a sizable number who are only "sort of" interested, and who don't take it that seriously, nor have a big personal investment. The whole code test issue is really just an iceberg-tip for the concept of personal investment. Now we have the internet and cheap cell phones and GMRS/FRS. Which have pulled away a lot of the folks who were "sort of" interested in ham radio. That's why repeater use and 'honeydew' licensing is down - much easier to just use the cell phone or FRS. So the future of ham radio relies on those who are really interested in radio for its own sake and are a lot more than "sort of" interested. Those folks are out there, and will continue to be. But they will not be attracted by lowering the requirements or trying to make ham radio a sort of rf version of the internet. Wow! That last paragraph is a real keeper, Jim. I may post it in my shack, WYP of course.... - Mike KB3EIA - |
Not sure if I answered this one or not...
In article , Mike Coslo writes: N2EY wrote: In article , Mike Coslo writes: N2EY wrote: In article , Mike Coslo writes: Limbo is when a prospective ham thinks that possibly he or she can get on HF simply by waiting a few months and not having to take any Morse code test. OK. But would that really keep a lot of folks from getting any license at all? It would seem to me that the sensible thing to do in that situation, were someone that averse to the 5 wpm code test, would be to pass the Tech and General writtens. Maybe toss in the Extra written too. They'd have a Tech license and General and/or Extra CSCE. Then, when the code test went away, they'd be all set to go. Spend the waiting time setting up a station, antenna, etc. It might seem sensible to you or me, but I don't think that all that many people think that way. Of course, they would also have to know about CSCE's too. I didn't know about them until I flunked my first Morse code test. I guess it all comes down to how knowledgeable a newcomer is. And I'm not certain that the CSCE will apply to the new licensing scheme. There's never been a case I know of where a non-expired CSCE was not useful for a license class that was still available to new issues. And of course, the year and a day might (probably, in my opinion) pass before the new testing regimen takes effect, in which case you will have to take the tests again, and will have wasted the money on the old tests. That's the risk. Heck, back in 1968 and 1970 I paid a total of $27 ($9 three times) to get the Tech, Advanced and Extra. If I'd waited a little longer, I could have avoided the test fees entirely. $27 was a lot of money to a kid back then. Let's compare the situation to when the Governor of PA had the temporary tax exemption on computers. I think it lasted something like a week. Guess what happened to computer sales at the local Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. the week or two before the exemption. When I went in and looked around, the sales clerk at one store even told me to hold off until next week. Seems like a direct comparison to me. Not really. We *knew* the tax exemption was coming, and it was only a week or two away. And we knew the exemption would only last a week or so. Specific dates aren't the issue, at least with what I am trying to say. Its the concept of the thing. If you only wait for a while (the Morse code requirement goes away, or the tax is suspended) you will get (the amateur radio license or the computer) for a lot (less effort or less money) Yet people buy cars before the end-of-the-model-year sales, and things like computers at regular price. Back in 1997 I bought a PC setup for $2500 - 200 MHz 32 MB w/4gig HD, 17" monitor, 56k modem, inkjet printer, etc. Today the whole setup is worth maybe $100 on a good day (most of that is the Trinitron monitor), and you can get a system that has 10 times more of almost everything for about $500. If only I'd waited... My statement is that some people will wait for reduced entry requirements. Most people think change happens quickly. SO they say "I will wait". Then chaneg doesn't occur in a short time. Then they lose interest and go away without ever becoming a Ham. I submit to you that the person who loses interest that easily would be dissuaded by the difficulty of putting up an HF antenna (even a simple endfed wire), or the cost of ham gear (while the values keep improving, the prices stay about the same), or a dozen other issues. And I don't completely buy that the person who does this wasn't *really* interested. I only recently became a Ham - around 5 years now. I had no real interest in many of the things that Hams do when I got started. I discovered the joys only after some time had passed. Of course - but you *knew* you wanted to be a ham, and the fact that the tests might change or the equipment might get cheaper or the sunspots might get better or worse didn't really affect what you did. Now I'm a member of the BOD at our local club. I was Field day chairman this past year. I control op the club station during the big QSO party of the fall. I'm at every public service event we have. And I am starting to organize a NSS project in PA (wanna join in?) Do they need CW ops? ;-) Not too shabby for an "mildly interested" peron, eh? I'd hardly classify you as "mildly interested"... It made sense for folks who were contemplating a computer purchase to simply wait a week or two. As it might make sense to some people to wait before getting their licenses. But the timeline is not as short nor as definite. Here in southeast PA, some folks simply drive to Delaware for big taxable purchases that are easily portable. Computers, hamgear, cameras, etc. The big question is whether the savings offset the driving cost. Yet our businesses survive. No doubt, but aren't we straying a bit here? Not at all! Down here in southeast PA, almost everyone who understands taxation knows that there's no sales tax in DE, while we PA folk pay 6%. (You don't want to know about New York State!) The state line is a half-hour from most of Philly, an hour from the most-northerly parts. Yet the local malls and stores aren't losing significant business to their DE counterparts. Oddly enough, more folks *will* cross the line into NJ or MD to buy cheaper liquor, even though doing so is illegal while crossing the line to buy a computer is not. The code test may or may not go away in the next few years/months/decades. The written exams may change similarly. The various bands may change as well. I don't think that's the problem. The prospective amateur has *no* idea at this time if the Morse code requirement will be kept, how long it will be kept if it is, and when it will go away if it is discarded. So? Someone who really wants to be a ham will do what is necessary to pass the tests at the time. I'd temper that. If I thought that the Morse requirement would go away in say, 6 months, I would have waited. Sure - but that's if you knew for sure. At this point we don't even have an NPRM. ARRL predicted 2 years. It's been over 14 months since WRC 2003 ended. And most people do not expect a long time to pass before it goes away. I know some people were incredulous when I gave my time to expiry (if any) in that pool we had a while back. Now if Hans, K0HB, would submit *his* proposal, we might see some action! I reposted the list/pool. Look how many people were wrong - including me. I'm glad I was wrong! In as much as most people will not imagine that the changes to come will take as long as as the will likely take, the net effect will be potential Hams sitting and waiting for the Morse code to go away. Maybe some will. I think most interested folks will simply learn enough to pass the tests and get on with it. Its certainly what I would do if I were thinking about getting a license at this point. But it's not what you did when you got started. Some things operating there. There was no code elimination horizon. Sure there was. NCI was pushing for it, weren't they? WRC 2003 was on the way. Well, yeah. Remember that you are posting from the point of view of knowing a *lot* of details. When I was a Technician, I had heard of NCI. But I didn't know what a "WRC" was. Takes a while to assimilate all that knowledge. Agreed. And I did know enough that it was a real requirement, so just the NCI pushing for code elimination didn't hold any sway for me. I'm skeptical enough and have enough experience that I knew it was going to be a long time coming I wanted to get on HF pretty badly. I'm not afraid of learning something (even though it was admittedly very hard for me) You are not alone. Or even rare, despite what some naysayers would have us believe. And would you not get *any* license until the code test went away, or would you just hold off from upgrading? Hard to say. When I originally got my license, I was only planning on being a Technician, and I was thinking about how to apply Amateur radio to my other hobby, Amateur astronomy. I really didn't have much interest in HF at all! then after a field day where I was allowed to operate, I was hooked. So my experience is likely not typical. I disagree! A lot of new hams come into amateur radio by such indirect routes. In my youth, many hams came from the ranks of SWLs. In fact, if it wasn't for the Technician no-code license, I probably wouldn't be a Ham now. (to my great loss!!) See? You would have just held off upgrading. But we don't see that happening. The total number of Tech and Tech Pluses is declining. Whatever is done should be done and done quickly. That said, there is a mile of difference between "should" and "will". I still stand by my original prediction made some time ago. Back in 1989-1990 we were told that a nocodetest ham license was "absolutely needed for growth". And when it became a reality, we got some short-term growth for a few years. Then we were told that the code test had to go for the same reason - and it was dropped to 5 wpm for all classes in 2000. We got some short-term growth for a few years - now we're back *below* the level before the restructuring. It isn't the code or lack of it. It is the limbo state of not knowing what is going to happen. I don't think changes will make for growth, except in the short term. I think it's lack of publicity, plus competition from other activities, plus the loss of "honeydew hams" to cell phones and FRS/GMRS. Plus antenna limitations, RFI, ... I was a ham way back in 1967, when they said incentive licensing would "kill amateur radio". There were about 250,000 US hams back then. Yet in the 10 years after incentive licensing took full effect (1969-1979 or thereabouts) the number of US hams grew by about 100,000, despite poor economic conditions, much less accessible testing, waiting period for Extra, no code waivers and a code test for all hams. And no internet or computer-based training methods. Of course. Way too much emphasis is put on all the modern conveniences and the numbers of Hams. A lot of folks are looking for a challenge, not a giveaway. Oh yeah, that NSS project I'm trying to put together should be a challenge. (wanna join up?) Do they need CW ops? I wouldn't care if I had to take the test, writing on the back of a shovel with a piece of limestone, while Heidi Klum was trying to distract me. How's that for working her into the thread! ;^) In my case it was Heidi and Jan Smithers fighting over me.... hmmm, I might purposely flunk just so I could retest (is there any limit on how many tests you can take?? Nope. Of course they might have a reward for those who pass....\ One final note: If the whole code test/limbo thing is real, why are there so few nonhams telling FCC that they'd get a license and do great things in ham radio, except for the code test? The vast majority of folks who make that claim are already licensed.... 73 de Jim, N2EY |
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Mike Coslo wrote in message ...
N2EY wrote: (Brian Kelly) wrote in message om... So Cecil, Hare, innumerable others and even Carl Anderson Stevenson I think I'm gonna have a hard time living that one down . . ! Friggin' Halfheimers . . ! for cripes sake, the Honcho Maximo of NCI wised up and bailed out of here long ago leaving us to bicker mindlesssly, circularly and endlessly with dim lights like Burke and the other Anderson. WE'RE the RRAP stupids for bothering with any of it Miccolis. Who is bothering? I read a few posts, write a few, discuss interesting topics with KB3EIA, N8UZE, and some others. Filtering what one reads works wonders. Carl only got to reap what he sowed. He also altered his opinion to something he said that he would never do. Nothing wrong with changing one's mind - I do it at least three times before breakfast. (someone's quote) But a large part of my earlier respect was based on that "never reducing test requirements" statement. So he did a lot of credibility erosion there. Mike this is gonna come off a bit weird coming from a hardcore PCTA but I learned that the Carl is basically an OK kinda guy. I met him eyeball-to-eyball in the Emmaus PA area when Hare, W3HJ, Carl and I were chasing BPL signals around that area together. I had dinner with him and at one point threatened him with a code test which he took in good humor etc. Today he and I continue to keep in touch on a number of topics well beyond the code test thing. Gets down to firmly establishing the fact that, with a few obvious exceptions, perceptions of the overall characters of RRAPers based only on what they post here can't be taken seriously. And I respond to who I like in the group. occasionally even Lenover21, when I'm in a puckish mood! ;^) .. . . see above WRT to "obvious exceptions" . . . The guy was blind . . that was the worst of the worst of the bad experiences I've had in the game. Madonna was right: It's a material world. Yes, I fear for the future of ham radio. I did not know that story. Makes me sick. Oy! Just remember, Karma keeps a bank account, and pays back with interest! Thank goodness you stopped to help the guy, Brian. Gawd I was ****ed off at those jerks . . still am . . . So the future of ham radio relies on those who are really interested in radio for its own sake and are a lot more than "sort of" interested. Those folks are out there, and will continue to be. But they will not be attracted by lowering the requirements or trying to make ham radio a sort of rf version of the internet. Wow! That last paragraph is a real keeper, Jim. I may post it in my shack, WYP of course.... Jim's 100% on the money. - Mike KB3EIA - w3rv |
"N2EY" wrote in message ... Not sure if I answered this one or not... In article , Mike Coslo writes: N2EY wrote: In article , Mike Coslo writes: N2EY wrote: In article , Mike Coslo writes: There's never been a case I know of where a non-expired CSCE was not useful for a license class that was still available to new issues. And of course, the year and a day might (probably, in my opinion) pass before the new testing regimen takes effect, in which case you will have to take the tests again, and will have wasted the money on the old tests. CSCE's are only good for 365 days not one year. This is significant if there is a leap year February between the date of issue and the potential expiration date. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE |
"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message ...
CSCE's are only good for 365 days not one year. This is significant if there is a leap year February between the date of issue and the potential expiration date. A fine point that has burned a few hams! However, the calendar is structured so that in most cases it's really not an issue *if* the exams are taken on weekends, which is often the case. This is because the calendar advances one day on regular years and two days on leap years. Example: September 26 is a Sunday in 2004 but a Monday in 2005. So if a current Tech passes, say, Element 3 at the Podunk Hamfest this coming Sunday, their CSCE will still be good on September 25 of 2005, which is the last Sunday in September 2005 and probably the next Podunk Hamfest. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
Brian Kelly wrote:
Mike Coslo wrote in message ... N2EY wrote: (Brian Kelly) wrote in message om... So Cecil, Hare, innumerable others and even Carl Anderson Stevenson I think I'm gonna have a hard time living that one down . . ! Friggin' Halfheimers . . ! for cripes sake, the Honcho Maximo of NCI wised up and bailed out of here long ago leaving us to bicker mindlesssly, circularly and endlessly with dim lights like Burke and the other Anderson. WE'RE the RRAP stupids for bothering with any of it Miccolis. Who is bothering? I read a few posts, write a few, discuss interesting topics with KB3EIA, N8UZE, and some others. Filtering what one reads works wonders. Carl only got to reap what he sowed. He also altered his opinion to something he said that he would never do. Nothing wrong with changing one's mind - I do it at least three times before breakfast. (someone's quote) But a large part of my earlier respect was based on that "never reducing test requirements" statement. So he did a lot of credibility erosion there. Mike this is gonna come off a bit weird coming from a hardcore PCTA but I learned that the Carl is basically an OK kinda guy. I met him eyeball-to-eyball in the Emmaus PA area when Hare, W3HJ, Carl and I were chasing BPL signals around that area together. I had dinner with him and at one point threatened him with a code test which he took in good humor etc. Today he and I continue to keep in touch on a number of topics well beyond the code test thing. Gets down to firmly establishing the fact that, with a few obvious exceptions, perceptions of the overall characters of RRAPers based only on what they post here can't be taken seriously. I don't doubt that he is a decent sort. I suspect that most everyone here would be enjoyable to be around. I would enjoy meeting Lenover21, I would bet Steve would be a great guy to have a brew with, and I can't condemn Brian, seein' as how he is a homebrewer!(of beer that is) ;^) And I'm sure Hans is a hoot. And those are the people I have had some real disagreements with. But in the context of in here, it did frost me a bit when he decided to support the NCVEC petition. Simply no need for that. And I respond to who I like in the group. occasionally even Lenover21, when I'm in a puckish mood! ;^) . . . see above WRT to "obvious exceptions" . . . The guy was blind . . that was the worst of the worst of the bad experiences I've had in the game. Madonna was right: It's a material world. Yes, I fear for the future of ham radio. I did not know that story. Makes me sick. Oy! Just remember, Karma keeps a bank account, and pays back with interest! Thank goodness you stopped to help the guy, Brian. Gawd I was ****ed off at those jerks . . still am . . . So the future of ham radio relies on those who are really interested in radio for its own sake and are a lot more than "sort of" interested. Those folks are out there, and will continue to be. But they will not be attracted by lowering the requirements or trying to make ham radio a sort of rf version of the internet. Wow! That last paragraph is a real keeper, Jim. I may post it in my shack, WYP of course.... Jim's 100% on the money. Yup! - Mike KB3EIA - |
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In article ,
(Brian Kelly) writes: (N2EY) wrote in message .com... (Brian Kelly) wrote in message . com... PAMNO (N2EY) wrote in message ... Which at this point is a dead topic since the code test is obviously not going away within any visible timframe if ever. Frankly, I'm amazed that FCC didn't MO&O it out of existence last summer. I think the code test flap is a universally dead issue at this point in history. Except in this toxic no-counter swamp. Cecil got it right, 5wpm is "good enough" under today's condx and I agree with that and I suspect that the FCC and the ARRL also silently agree too. The matter was a helluva brawl back when shreikers from both poles were going at each other here and elsewhere. Whatever. It's all worn out as is this NG. The way I see it another reasonable and not unexpected regulatory compromise has been reached. The NCTAs killed the 13 & 20wpm code tests but didn't achieve their ultimate objective. Us PCTAs lost the 13 & 20wpm code tests but the 5wpm test lives on. And the real truth may be even simpler. FCC enacted medical waivers back in 1990 at the request of a now-dead King via Papa Bush. Those waivers effectively meant that nobody really had to go beyond the 5 wpm test to get a US ham license. All it took was a doctor's note from *any* MD or DO, and you could write the letter and get the doc to sign it. You didn't need a diagnosis of any particular problem, nor any sort of permanent condition, just a rather vague certification that for medical reasons it would be harder for you to pass the test than the average bloke. Do you know of *anyone* who tried and couldn't get a waiver? Or *any* doc who was even questioned by FCC? I don't. But there was a lot of complaining in some quarters about waivers, so FCC made 'em go away. So I expect the 5wpm test to continue to be required for some considerable time without further ado. 14 months since WRC2003 and nothing's changed.... Nobody got everything they wanted and nobody lost everything. It's a typical compromise solution for a regulatory hot potato. Welcome to America. Yup. On the other hand the FCC could drop the code test on Monday and life would go on as usual. Double yup. So Cecil, Hare, innumerable others and even Carl Anderson Stevenson Heh . . duh? Reminds me . . I owe him some e-mail . . he was having some issues with the base of the big used Trylon tower I spotted for him. Like I said about ham antennas being more ME than EE... for cripes sake, the Honcho Maximo of NCI wised up and bailed out of here long ago leaving us to bicker mindlesssly, circularly and endlessly with dim lights like Burke and the other Anderson. WE'RE the RRAP stupids for bothering with any of it Miccolis. Who is bothering? I read a few posts, write a few, discuss interesting topics with KB3EIA, N8UZE, and some others. Filtering what one reads works wonders. RRAP will prolly dribble along for years but it's pretty obvious that it's slowly "losing membership". Nothing slow about it... Refresh me here James, I think it was around the time that I logged XG that I/we started to hear a lot more signals from very far off places than I/we could hear from US FD stations. So to hell with FD, let's get back to basics and go dxing I sayithed to self. Worked the JA who was in some other contest. Logged him too. Apparently Newington did not disallow that one. DX contacts count for FD. They give you a signal report, it counts. They simpy doan give a **** abt FD logs good or bogus. Not true! The QSOs were good. There was one SP handing 'em out 2-3 a minute later on - remember? They all counted. DX qsos count; it's just that DX stations' logs aren't counted competitively in the listings. That's nice. You're the reason I don't bother reading the FD rules 'cause I know that you'll have 'em memorized, analyzed and carved six ways from Sunday into yer headbone. Which spares me from all that drudgery. It's always nice to have a "detail guy" like you on tap. 'zactly. Want a quick history of what the rules used to be, how the dates and operating times evolved and when the first FD was? Didn't think so. A year or two ago the definition was changed so that FD covers not just North America but SA too. At least I caught that change. That ZF1 9A catagory bunch musta had a blast. Yeah mon. Which means N2EY/Tierra del Fuego could compete... Oh just GO for it! Should I hold my breath? Not really... . . In the meanwhile the aformentioned collection of bull****ers wasn't more than eight feet from him throuhout all of it. I gotta tell you that in all my half century on the bands that was the worst of the worst of the bad experiences I've had in the game. Madonna was right: It's a material world. Yes, I fear for the future of ham radio. I did not know that story. Makes me sick. Now watch, somebody will spin it into being *your* fault. I could care less. But do not fear for the future of amateur radio too much. Here's why: Back when you started, and to a lesser extent even when I started, ham radio was populated mostly by folks who took it very seriously. "Radio for its own sake" wasn't something most people were interested in. The license process, operating skill requirements and equipment costs alone insured that most hams had a considerable personal investment - and the money was the least of it. Sure, there were some clueless folk but they either learned or were really frustrated. I agree with most of that. Then a bunch of things happened. The cb boom made 2 way radio popular and practical for lots of folks, the development of ssb and then fm transceivers and solidstate made the equipment small, less expensive and easier to use, etc. We got a lot of good hams, of course, but also a sizable number who are only "sort of" interested, and who don't take it that seriously, nor have a big personal investment. The whole code test issue is really just an iceberg-tip for the concept of personal investment. Now we have the internet and cheap cell phones and GMRS/FRS. Which have pulled away a lot of the folks who were "sort of" interested in ham radio. That's why repeater use and 'honeydew' licensing is down - much easier to just use the cell phone or FRS. So the future of ham radio relies on those who are really interested in radio for its own sake and are a lot more than "sort of" interested. That would take out probably 70% of the current licensees. Most of that 70% which are inactive anyway. Those folks are out there, and will continue to be. But they will not be attracted by lowering the requirements or trying to make ham radio a sort of rf version of the internet. I think you're 95% right on all counts. TU All depends what you think the goal is. You're thinking the goal is to put up an antenna. It's not. Right: PLONK again. Another technique to watch for is the misremembering of a past event in order to get your panties in a snarl. Such as the whole Cecil thing. Or the whole K8MN A1 op thing. Or the way I've been misquoted/misinterpreted... I ignore the circle-jerk games around here, I can't be bothered. 'zactly. I dumped the bait over the transom, I'm chumming for an on-the-air QSO with NØIMD via the end-fed wire he claims he has. It's put up or shut time time again around here. Tally Freaking Ho, this oughta be a real gooder. Don't hold yer breath. Watch - there will be all kinds of reasons it won't happen. Like a certain Extra license that is still in its box. We'll see. The prior RRAP vaguely similar event was not put together overnight. But when it came down to it, "pulling a Cecil" meant actually getting on the air and meeting others on the air. *Cecil* was a stand-up guy about the whole thing. The other Brian isn't. That's the bottom line. And it will be spun so that somehow it's *your* fault... Yawn. Didja read my UP/URS-2 story about what probably really happened in T5? Wanna bet that it's pretty darn close to the truth? Not that we'll ever get the real story or even a straight answer... 73 de Jim, N2EY |
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