Phil wrote in message . ..
Len,

Steve's point regarding older equipment does have considerable merit -...(SNIP)

Oooops..watch out, Phil! You suggested that Lennie MIGHT be in
error! The epithets will fly soon!

Steve's position on current equipment is flawed. I certainly don't
care if the radio glows in the dark - but it would be refreshing to
meet more people who can apply basic radio theory to a simple QSO!

I wasn't the one who said the "glow in the dark" comment, Phil.
I do have a soft spot for old gear, but I certainly embrace the new
technologies too, despite Lennie's attempts to make it appear
othrwise...I don't know who made the original assertion.

Steve, you are absolutely correct - idiots are idiots, on or off the
air. Or the internet, apparently.

73

Steve, K4YZ

From: (Steve Robeson, K4CAP)

I am sure you have convinced yourself of this, however you have
not provided one iota of "evidence" other than your own tainted
opinion, Vipul.

I let my membership expire. Its going to be hard to verify. I may be able to
meet them at the weekly breakfast. Still, people just show up, and I don't know
exactly who from the club will show up. I cannot provide an answer right away.
Or I could make an announcement at next club meet'g. Next club meet'g is in
Sept. (they don't have meetings in Jun, Jul).

Other than Field day, an event does not HAVE do be scheduled during Fri,
Sat
night. Most people would do more recreational activities during that time.

Vipul, the average American WORKS Monday through Friday with
Saturday and Sunday off. When would YOU schedule these "activities"?

Still, Hams find the time off work to do the DXexpedition, go to Hamfests on
Fri when that Hamfest is Fri and Sat. So, they took that day off to attend the
Hamfest or DXpedition.

Why take Fri off to go shopp'g at a Hamfest, when the Hamfest is also on Sat?
If you went to a vacation spot, wouldn't you go to the beach, rather than stay
at your trailer/shack?

If you are taking time off, wouldn't you want to do more recreational
activities than shopping, or operating? If I was at a vacation spot, I would do
the local activities.

Foreign operators on the
other side of the world should have been denied the chance to make a
contact just becasue of thier location?

Only one of the days would be needed to do that, either Fri night or Sat night,
not both. There would still be plenty of time do the local vacation stuff.

Furthermore, the very characteristics of HF operation generally
dictate better propagation and long-distance communication
opportunities at night.

And still, it would not be necessary to do the whole night. And it would not
require every Ham to be present at all hours (they could take turns).

YOU call it "anti-social"
because you do not understand it or refuse to participate in it
because they are not doing it the way YOU think it should be
done.

Not just the way I think it should be done. The great majority of Americans
would feel the same way. There is a time for radio contacts, just not on Sat
night.

From: "Dee D. Flint"

Speculation is not evidence. If you haven't asked them, then there is NO
way you can know.

I'm trying my best. Meet'g up with those Hams and verifying the claim is not an
easy task.

And what do you think "most people" do? Everyone I know does something
different.
A lot of people simply stay
home because they aren't interested in spending their money on bars and
parties.

Most people would vacation at a vacation spot. Especially when they took the
day off. Especially when they are at that location the want to do the vacation
activities specific to that location.

After their visit to that vacation location, they won't be able to do those
activities again. They can operate from their shack any day of the week.

Besides that, this is only a few
weekends out of the year.

That's why, when you actually get a vacation, you should do the vacation
activities. You won't get that chance to do those activities at another
time/place. Why go to THAT location if you aren't going to do anything there
that involves THAT location.

Now, I'm not saying radio propagation does not involve THAT location. But, they
had plenty of operating time day, and night to experience that. They just chose
to cut themselves off from the other experiences of THAT location.

Therefore if
they are "put off" by the hamfest, it's quite possible that ham radio is not
the hobby for them just like it's not appropriate for you.

I'm not put off by Hamfests, just Hams. Originally something in amateur radio
got me interested, even addicted. Although, a few months ago, I personally
dropped out of the EE field. I still like to build stuff for fun. I just don't
see those same qualities in what got me interested in Amateur radio and the
activities and interests in the Ham radio clubs support. Also, that most Hams
are anti-social, doesn't help either.

We don't need
more people with licenses who are not active.

"Active" does not just mean contest scores. It can also mean Homebrewing,
troubleshooting, tuning, radio direction finding, AND antenna setups.

Have you ever been to other major events in other hobbies?

This applies to any hobby, not just radio. I still wouldn't do those hobbies
either on Fri, Sat night at a vacation spot.