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#1
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Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message oups.com... John Smith wrote: Dee: [snip] "Dee Flint" wrote in message ... "Mike Coslo" wrote in message ... [snip] So what you really needed was exposure - publicity - examples - demos. Were you attracted to amateur radio because it was like the internet, or because it was something very different? Yes I needed to know what it was all about before developing an interest in radio for it's own sake. The Novice/Tech class I took along with my husband at the time filled that role. I have to note that in an earlier post where you disagreed with me about a person "knowing" they wanted to be a ham, after reading this, I have to agree that the things that I most enjoy now are nothing like what I thought I wanted to do when first becoming a ham. Which of course is a powerful argument for keeping the Morse code test. Once I had some basic knowledge about ham radio, I was attracted by the fact that it was NOT like the internet. What attracted me was that I could talk around the world with NO INFRASTRUCTURE. That communications was totally dependent on me and my skills and my knowledge of propagation once I had the basic radio and antenna. Here I, just an average citizen, could put a radio signal around the world and even beyond if I wanted to pursue it. If it had been like the internet, I'd probably have lost interest. Although I use the Internet a lot (probably waay too much) I love Ham radio precisely because it ISN'T the Internet. - Mike KB3EIA - |
#2
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Mike Coslo wrote:
Dee Flint wrote: wrote in message oups.com... John Smith wrote: Dee: [snip] "Dee Flint" wrote in message ... "Mike Coslo" wrote in message ... [snip] So what you really needed was exposure - publicity - examples - demos. Were you attracted to amateur radio because it was like the internet, or because it was something very different? Yes I needed to know what it was all about before developing an interest in radio for it's own sake. The Novice/Tech class I took along with my husband at the time filled that role. "Radio for its own sake" - that's the key to amateur radio. If someone is turned on by that, they may want to be a ham. If not, it's highly doubtful. I have to note that in an earlier post where you disagreed with me about a person "knowing" they wanted to be a ham, after reading this, I have to agree that the things that I most enjoy now are nothing like what I thought I wanted to do when first becoming a ham. Which of course is a powerful argument for keeping the Morse code test. Exactly. When I first got started with a shortwave receiver (homemade), I was attracted to ham radio by the folks on 75 meter AM. I wanted to join them, so I set about getting a license. In those days, that meant at least a General Class license, so I set about learning the code and theory, and setting up a station. Got the Novice at age 13 in 1967 and went on the air with Morse Code. Now originally the plan was to use Morse Code on the air until I could get the General. But a funny thing happened on the way - I discovered how much fun Morse Code was, and how much could be done with very simple equipment using Morse Code. And it became my favorite mode. Once I had some basic knowledge about ham radio, I was attracted by the fact that it was NOT like the internet. What attracted me was that I could talk around the world with NO INFRASTRUCTURE. That communications was totally dependent on me and my skills and my knowledge of propagation once I had the basic radio and antenna. Here I, just an average citizen, could put a radio signal around the world and even beyond if I wanted to pursue it. That's the hook for me, too. Plus doing it with equipment I designed and built myself. If it had been like the internet, I'd probably have lost interest. Although I use the Internet a lot (probably waay too much) I love Ham radio precisely because it ISN'T the Internet. Same here. The big difference is that the 'net is a means to an end. Ham radio is an end in itself. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
#3
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N2EY:
When there was some mystery to radio, perhaps, no longer... most even listen to shortwave on the internet... Check out radio australia, BBC, etc. webpages... they even make note of it... and you can get their broadcasts though your computer with audio quality which is remarkable... No, we are just watching the end of an era, like the horse and buggy... no one stuck in the past can ever see the future coming, and they all end up dreaming of halting progress... even from their rest homes... If you stay active with the youngsters and an important part of your community activities it is much easier to accept change and have the skills to adapt... .... staying current is a real chore, popping into a college now and grabbing a course to stay current is beyond what some can will or want... Many are just too old to be able to incorporate the computer into their lives, the current generation can't live without them--but then, neither can I and I consider myself an old fart... John wrote in message oups.com... Mike Coslo wrote: Dee Flint wrote: wrote in message oups.com... John Smith wrote: Dee: [snip] "Dee Flint" wrote in message ... "Mike Coslo" wrote in message ... [snip] So what you really needed was exposure - publicity - examples - demos. Were you attracted to amateur radio because it was like the internet, or because it was something very different? Yes I needed to know what it was all about before developing an interest in radio for it's own sake. The Novice/Tech class I took along with my husband at the time filled that role. "Radio for its own sake" - that's the key to amateur radio. If someone is turned on by that, they may want to be a ham. If not, it's highly doubtful. I have to note that in an earlier post where you disagreed with me about a person "knowing" they wanted to be a ham, after reading this, I have to agree that the things that I most enjoy now are nothing like what I thought I wanted to do when first becoming a ham. Which of course is a powerful argument for keeping the Morse code test. Exactly. When I first got started with a shortwave receiver (homemade), I was attracted to ham radio by the folks on 75 meter AM. I wanted to join them, so I set about getting a license. In those days, that meant at least a General Class license, so I set about learning the code and theory, and setting up a station. Got the Novice at age 13 in 1967 and went on the air with Morse Code. Now originally the plan was to use Morse Code on the air until I could get the General. But a funny thing happened on the way - I discovered how much fun Morse Code was, and how much could be done with very simple equipment using Morse Code. And it became my favorite mode. Once I had some basic knowledge about ham radio, I was attracted by the fact that it was NOT like the internet. What attracted me was that I could talk around the world with NO INFRASTRUCTURE. That communications was totally dependent on me and my skills and my knowledge of propagation once I had the basic radio and antenna. Here I, just an average citizen, could put a radio signal around the world and even beyond if I wanted to pursue it. That's the hook for me, too. Plus doing it with equipment I designed and built myself. If it had been like the internet, I'd probably have lost interest. Although I use the Internet a lot (probably waay too much) I love Ham radio precisely because it ISN'T the Internet. Same here. The big difference is that the 'net is a means to an end. Ham radio is an end in itself. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
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