"Monument to Mediocrity" wrote

Your industry "abides" it all the time. Otherwise you'd never get any
products out the door.

We get a LOT of product out the door. Our engineering groups software
defined radio and hybrid fiber-radio (do a web search on Digivance)
products are the industry leaders precisely because they are not
"average". If we designed "average" stuff, we'd be closing the doors,
not shipping product out them.

73, de Hans, K0HB

Subject: Morse and Contests
From: "KØHB"
Date: 5/15/2004 10:41 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id: et


"Monument to Mediocrity" wrote

I am always amazed at how you manage to express such outrage or disdain
for others who take such swipes at each other, but somehow seem to think such
swipes are OK for YOU to take, Hans.

What's up with that...?!?! I didn't see Jim take any such swipe at you.


Steve, K4YZ

N2EY wrote:

Mike Coslo wrote in message ...

N2EY wrote:

"KØHB" wrote in message link.net...


"Jack Twilley" wrote



If you were the average ham, Hans......

"Average" and "contesting" are incompatible concepts.


Agreed!


"Nothing average ever stood as a monument to progress.


Not entirely true.

Look at the "average" ham HF transceiver of, say, 40 years ago. Now
look at the "average" ham HF transceiver today. Not the
top-of-the-line, but rather what the middle of the pack can afford.
I'd say there's been some progress, particularly in what such sets
cost to buy new in terms of how many hours you have to work to buy
one.

And if Hams simply bought the "average" rigs of yesteryear in
preference to the improved ones, we'd still be getting those same
average rigs.


Exactly my point. Those who wanted something above average (like the
contesters and DXers) drove the market.

And as a result the *average* moved up over time.

Of course one of the big reasons the *average* rig is better is a
trickle-down effect of techniques used on the top-of-the-line stuff.
Which stuff exists in large part because of the market created by
contesters and DXers.

Or look at the features, capabilities and cost of the average PC
compared to 5 or 10 years ago. Heck, the average new PC today is more
powerful (by a whole bunch of measures) than the top-of-the-line
machine of a few years ago - and it costs far less.

So I'd say that the *average* can actually be a monument to progress.

Gee Jim! average means just that. The newer better faster average rigs
and computers are getting their increased power or functionality FROM
the better than average machinery. No better than average machinery, no
increased capabilitied to eventually go into the average stuff.


Exactly! But it is the *improvement in the average* that can stand as
a monument to true progress.

IOW, if some tiny percentage of top-end rigs have a new technology,
that's 'progress' for the few who can afford it. But when that new
technology becomes affordable and generally used so that the *average*
rig has it, that's 'progress' for most of us.

But without the extraordinary, that progress is not made.

I understand your argument, but to me it is backwards.



- Mike KB3EIA -

Subject: Morse and Contests
From: (William)
Date: 5/16/2004 8:15 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

(Steve Robeson, K4CAP) wrote in message
.com...

Wouldn't know...Today (May 16th) was the fifth anniversary of my
daughter's passing, and my wife insisted I stay close to home. But no
matter where I go, there she is...She may ahve left my arms, but
she'll never leave my heart.

Steve, K4YZ

Steve, I am sorry. Maybe one day they'll move the dates of the Hamvention
again.

Thanks, Brian.

For me, anyway, it really would have been better to go. I needed to be
away for a bit, but hey...can't always have everything the way we want it,
eh...???

At least I can look forward to Huntsville...If anyone is within a
"relatively" reasonable drive time of Huntsville, AL, and has never been to
this one, they should try to. It's the second or third weekend of August, and
is always a lot of fun.

The "flea market" is indoors, but there's lots-and-lots of it. All the
usual forums and a very reasonable showing of vendors and organizations.
All-in-all it's a very well conducted regional hamfest. (Computers are there,
but in an ancilliary role!)

73 & thanks again...

Steve, K4YZ