From: Michael Coslo on Fri 22 Jul 2005 13:37

K4YZ wrote:
Jayson Davis wrote:

As soon as cw falls, I see the most important step being in
"advertising" the fact that cw is no longer a requirement. Spreading
the word and helping others to study and pass the written exam will be
key in getting the numbers we need at that time.

I don't even see that as being a "happening thing", Jayson.
Amateur Radio, just like fishing, or NASCAR, or R/C models, etc etc has
always attracted a certain "crowd".

And a strange line of thought Jayson uses. Kind of like we're supposed
to say:

"Ham Radio - we don't suck now!"

That would be a REALISTIC beginning... :-)

Oh, Michael, we've all seen the "crowd" represented by K4YZ. :-)

So, other than the ARS (Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society)
thinking their sky has fallen, what would YOU really
advertise U.S. amateur radio in its "new beginning" after
WT Docket 05-235 turns into an R&O?

It's not an issue of numbers, it's an issue of why would anyone want to
become an amateur radio operator. Really now, why would you want to do
that? To talk on repeaters? To work some guy on 20 meters? The whole
hobby is passe.

To Jayson:

Then why the heck do you want us to advertise that the Morse test is gone.

Not the YOU "us," Michael. The ARRL badly needs new membership.
They've never had as many as a quarter of all U.S. amateur
radio licensees as members and are currently down around just
20% of licensees. ARRL is more business than organization and
the business side of the house has to show a profit.

I wonder why so many people who hate Ham radio seem to know exactly how
Ham radio is supposed to be?

Why are you sounding insecure? The FCC defines U.S. amateur
radio. You don't define U.S. amateur radio.

You are sounding EXACTLY like the "superior OTs" you decry in
another message...like everyone MUST accept what YOU accept
as a definition. Tsk.

So's dropping a line in the water and trying to hook a fish, but
millions of folks do it every year...Not because it's the only way to
feed their families, but just for fun.

Anyone can get into chat rooms or exchange e-mail with folks
almost anywhere in the world...but there will still be the thrill of
doing it with "wireless".

"Thrill?!?" Has Stebie gotten an Orion and having oriongasms?

"Wireless" today refers to LANs coupled by radio, not wires.
See the acronym WLAN and what the "W" stands for.

Almost exactly 50 years ago I picked up a handset in Tokyo
and spoke to my counterpart in San Francisco, all a part of
the Army network. First time I'd "done DX" on HF. WAs
there supposed to be a "thrill" associated with using that
24/7 communications circuit? :-) Perhaps novel is the word,
but I already knew the circuit was there 24/7 as were all the
other radio circuits.

I've used radio to communicate from land, sea, and air. Not
a magic thing. If there be "magic" then it was listening to
Edward R. Murrow reporting live from London in 1940 in the
midst of the London Bombing. "Magic" is a subjective thing.

Radio waves and electrons do NOT, nor ever did operate
according to human emotional dictates. Try to remember that.

If you want to attract the bright intelligent minds, you better be
prepared to challenge them. Challenge them to let them in, challenge
them when they get here. Do you think ax.25 is going to attract people?

To Jayson again: (Sorry Steve, I didn't see the post until now)

Question number 1 - Why do so many people seem to think that the
internet is some kind of Hi-Tech wonderland - and that Amateur Radio
darn well better emulate it?

Alternate Question number 1: Why are you getting defensive?

Side note..... If you think that the Internet is at the cutting
edge.... well, we know that you aren't.

And yes, mentioning AX. 25 is telling me that. Packet radio is FAIAP
not at all about transmission of large amounts of data. It has morphed
into APRS, GPS apps, C and C and other areas which do indeed attract
bright people who want to experiment.

Aren't you conflicting with yourself on that?

"Bright people wanting to experiment" aren't going to fall in love
with a radio service demanding all below-30-MHz-privileged
individuals demonstrate telegraphy skills...especially when
that skill goes back 161 years! :-)

BTW, isn't there a slight contradiction between wanting to attract
large number of people, and wanting to attract the bright and intelligent?

How does a requirement of knowing 161-year-old morsemanship
skill attract the "bright and intelligent?" :-)

What the six-tiered-class system of old U.S. amateur radio
licensing did was attract some people who NEEDED to climb
ladders of accomplishment through the classes to get to the
top...and then proclaim their "superiority in radio!" :-)


Yet all they whine about is the code test and that 3% of the
allocations that do require a code test.

Why?

Those type hate Hams. Maybe that isn't gospel truth, but its close enough.

Poor babies...feeling "hated" are you both?

Feeling "hated" because so few agree with your self-proclaimed
"definitions" of What It Is All About?

Yes, it's all a big conspiracy. All those who disagree with you
two HATE YOU! Not only that, THEY HATE HAM RADIO...because you
two define yourself as "ham radio!" [you two have the conspiracy
thing all in a row, lined up...in your minds]

Because all THEY are interested in is playing on HF...If all those
engineering types had any interest in obtaining an Amateur Radio
license for "experimenting" purposes, it would be a done deal.

Yup.

Tsk. How little you two know of REAL engineering and
"experimentation." :-)

You two sound like an anvil chorus playing a Newington stage.
SRO you ain't.

Have fun in the ARS (Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society). [why
are you here instead of playing with your HF radios?]

bit bit