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May 10th 04, 04:08 AM
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Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: News from France From: Mike Coslo Date: 5/9/2004 8:38 AM Central Standard Time Message-id: Alun wrote: I always used to meet people who told me they would get a licence but for the code test. I think we could have had them in the hobby if we had abolished code testing 20 years ago, but I think it is too late and we have blown it. Nobody is clamouring to becme a ham anymore. WE haven't "blown" anything..."They" have had the opportunity to get a code-free license for what...12-13 years now..?!?! If it weren't the Code test, it would be the written....If it's not the tests themselves, it's the perception that you have to have to have enough equipment to rival VOA My life's experience has been that for every hobby or avocation, there is a large group of people that "would do it except for....". What they are actually tell you when they say this is " I have a passing interest in this. But I'm not so interested that I will become a participant". In hang gliding we call them "wuffos"... As in "Wuffo you wanna do that..???" You oughtta see the faces at speedgliding events! People in amateur astronomy also obsess about the graying of the hobby, and how do we get the kids involved? Fact is, a scope that can actually be used for any kind of passable observation costs a fair amount of money. And ohhh geee, the dufusses that wanted to get the little kids interested in observing seem to have forgotten that Mommy and Daddy don't want little Buffy or Jody (and by extension, Mommy or Daddy) to be staying up all night and traveling to remote sites..... Sure...and why go to all that effort when you can see Jupiter a lot easier with a bit of creative websurfing! In ham radio, a person not only has to have the interest, they have to be willing and able to spend a fair amount of discretionary income on a rig, put up an antenna, (if they are even allowed to) and all the other things we have to do to get on the air. I guess "fair amount" is realtive. You can put up an effective HF/VHF/UHF station for under $350/400 if you do a bit of shopping and don't want all the latest bells and whistles. Then there are they guys with TOO MUCH "discretionary income" and have stations who look like the aforementioned VOA outlets! True. I put together my station for $250.00 for the rig (got real lucky there) 14 dollars for antenna wire, 20 dollars for twinlead, 140 dollars for antenna tuner. Already had a computer so I don't count that. So I was right around that 350 dollar mark. If a young'un could spend the time and effort (remembering that the parents have to spend that time and effort too) they could get something pretty inexpensive. I suspect most wouldn't though. Any wonder why lots of the new guys are the shack on the belt types? For kids, usually dependent upon M&D for their money, M&D are often happy to spend 100-200 dollars on a HT. They might not look so happily upon laying out $800-3000 for an hf rig, and putting up that antenna. All the young hams in my area are repeater people, save for Field day. This is where "Elmering" could come in and these youngsters get introduced to where/how to look for those used rigs. Yaknow, I think clubs might think about getting a member that works with the kids. This would be a person willing to go through the background checks for working with young'uns and is good with kids. Finally, the comparison of ham radio to the internet is amusing at best. There is almost not technical comparison between the two. Beyond the technogeeks such as myself, that spend a fair amount of time keeping other peoples computers on the stinkin' Internet, the technical acumen level is mighty darn low. How much ability is needed to surf porn? I dunno, Mike...How much IS needed...?!?! =O =) I remember years ago one of the guy's on Fidonet had a tagline that stated he was looking for a good one handed GIF viewer!! 8^P My points are that blaming the lack of growth (which is an arguable thing in the first place) on the Morse code test is kind of like saying that a frog with no legs that can't jump when you tell it to jump, is deaf. It is a hobby for the dedicated and relative few. Yep...like I said...Amateur Radio (for those who participate regularly) has almost always appealed to a very narrow segment of society and always will. All we need to do is keep it out there in front of those "potentials" and wait for them to decide for themselves. Yup, viva le geeky kids! (as a former geeky kid, I can say that) Steve, were you going to Dayton this year? - Mike KB3EIA - |
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