wrote:

The issue isn't whether I'm trying to enter the hobby or not or whether
I like taking meaningless tests. The issue is whether or not the hobby
is interesting enough to attract new blood. From what I have seen at
hamventions and heard on the bands there are few if any young people
attracted to the hobby. It is certainly easier to ignore an obvious
shift in ham radio demographics than to do something about it. But the
decision to do nothing will mean the hobby will continue to grey and
lose active members.

I'm not surprised to hear the FCC talk about taking spectrum dedicated
to amateur radio or that they are approving schemes that will surely
cause interference on the ham bands...are you? Maybe the FCC
recognizes that the ham community is not the force it once was.

Last time I looked the numbers were actually up.

This is the same refrain I've heard for the past 35+ years. (I was licensed in
1970).

Same as shortwave radio dying, which I've heard for almost 40 years.

Same old story. Heard it before.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

The totals may be up, but those include active and inactive hams. Just
listen to the bands...ain't nearly as busy as it once was. And listen
to the voices...no youngsters.

Activity is not down on the bands. Propagation is down.
In 2000 at the peak of the solar cycle, the bands were packed. I spoke to
young, old , male and female. I have my log to prove it. If you want
something, study for it.
If I can pass the 5WPM code (not my favorite mode), anyone can. It seems
that today, people take the easy way out by sniveling that the system is not
fair, rather than
sucking it up and working for their goals.


wrote in message
oups.com...
The totals may be up, but those include active and inactive hams. Just
listen to the bands...ain't nearly as busy as it once was. And listen
to the voices...no youngsters.

Bravo Well Stated

--
Lamont Cranston



"Jim" wrote in message
news:joKVd.43465$s16.24950@trndny02...
Activity is not down on the bands. Propagation is down.
In 2000 at the peak of the solar cycle, the bands were packed. I spoke to
young, old , male and female. I have my log to prove it. If you want
something, study for it.
If I can pass the 5WPM code (not my favorite mode), anyone can. It seems
that today, people take the easy way out by sniveling that the system is
not
fair, rather than
sucking it up and working for their goals.


wrote in message
oups.com...
The totals may be up, but those include active and inactive hams. Just
listen to the bands...ain't nearly as busy as it once was. And listen
to the voices...no youngsters.

I notice he had no response.

73
W2USB
"Señor Sombra" wrote in message
news:%SKVd.43828$xt.39287@fed1read07...
Bravo Well Stated

--
Lamont Cranston



"Jim" wrote in message
news:joKVd.43465$s16.24950@trndny02...
Activity is not down on the bands. Propagation is down.
In 2000 at the peak of the solar cycle, the bands were packed. I spoke
to
young, old , male and female. I have my log to prove it. If you want
something, study for it.
If I can pass the 5WPM code (not my favorite mode), anyone can. It
seems
that today, people take the easy way out by sniveling that the system is
not
fair, rather than
sucking it up and working for their goals.


wrote in message
oups.com...
The totals may be up, but those include active and inactive hams. Just
listen to the bands...ain't nearly as busy as it once was. And listen
to the voices...no youngsters.

The issue is not whether one could "suck it up" and take the
meaningless test if they want a license. No doubt, if someone wanted
to become an licensed amateur they could learn the minimum speed for
code and then never use it again.

The issue is how such requirements are are perceived by and whether
they motivate prospective hams to study for one or more licenses. Like
it or not licensed amateur radio communication and it's sister hobby
SWLing face a lot of competition from other modes of communication and
gathering information about the world that were not there 20 years ago.
And none of those modes require testing and licensing. That
competition is real and the amateur radio hobby needs to recognize that
it no longer has the appeal of being the premier method of long
distance communication. If the hobby doesn't, it will gradually fade
away.

wrote:

The issue is not whether one could "suck it up" and take the
meaningless test if they want a license. No doubt, if someone wanted
to become an licensed amateur they could learn the minimum speed for
code and then never use it again.

The issue is how such requirements are are perceived by and whether
they motivate prospective hams to study for one or more licenses. Like
it or not licensed amateur radio communication and it's sister hobby
SWLing face a lot of competition from other modes of communication and
gathering information about the world that were not there 20 years ago.
And none of those modes require testing and licensing. That
competition is real and the amateur radio hobby needs to recognize that
it no longer has the appeal of being the premier method of long
distance communication. If the hobby doesn't, it will gradually fade
away.

Keep whining 'tard. I needed some humour this afternoon!

dxAce
Michigan
USA

Need humor? Read my stuff to Mr.Tiny Tuna :{)
cuhulin

You know, the only way these things will change is when the oldtimers die
off. I'm one of them but agree with you.

wrote in message
ups.com...
The issue is not whether one could "suck it up" and take the
meaningless test if they want a license. No doubt, if someone wanted
to become an licensed amateur they could learn the minimum speed for
code and then never use it again.

The issue is how such requirements are are perceived by and whether
they motivate prospective hams to study for one or more licenses. Like
it or not licensed amateur radio communication and it's sister hobby
SWLing face a lot of competition from other modes of communication and
gathering information about the world that were not there 20 years ago.
And none of those modes require testing and licensing. That
competition is real and the amateur radio hobby needs to recognize that
it no longer has the appeal of being the premier method of long
distance communication. If the hobby doesn't, it will gradually fade
away.

"CW" wrote in message
...
You know, the only way these things will change is when the oldtimers die
off. I'm one of them but agree with you.

Disagree

There is no issue -- until recently Morse code testing was an international
requirement.
Requirements are just that whether you like them or not.
(hated hygiene in college - useless course, bit the bullet and got thru it
anyway)
Now Morse it is no longer an international requirement (agreement), the US
FCC will undoubtedly drop it. Standby

We are talking about testing not the use of the Morse code.

I have no doubt what so ever that Morse will be used on the Ham bands
indefinitely by new folks, old folks and just plain folks and you can be
sure - contesters.

A charming mode such as this will refuse to die -- requirement for testing
or no.

The difference between the Morse code and PSK31 is nil -- speed is 30 to 50
WPM in either one.
The difference is a skill set that the anti-code bunch here refuse to buckle
down and learn

During the last county fair, I took a code practice oscillator to our Ham
booth and tapped out Morse code, dozens of kids stopped by and were
fascinated with it. Several wanted to know how to learn the code -- we gave
them handout sheets to get them started. We could not only attract youth to
Amateur Radio, we used Morse code to do it!! How do like them dity dots
hjsjms ???

We now have over 30 school kids enrolled in Ham classes.

What have you done to further the cause of Amateur Radio ????

Lamont Cranston
I shadow, therefore I am

wrote in message
ups.com...
The issue is not whether one could "suck it up" and take the
meaningless test if they want a license. No doubt, if someone wanted
to become an licensed amateur they could learn the minimum speed for
code and then never use it again.

The issue is how such requirements are are perceived by and whether
they motivate prospective hams to study for one or more licenses. Like
it or not licensed amateur radio communication and it's sister hobby
SWLing face a lot of competition from other modes of communication and
gathering information about the world that were not there 20 years ago.
And none of those modes require testing and licensing. That
competition is real and the amateur radio hobby needs to recognize that
it no longer has the appeal of being the premier method of long
distance communication. If the hobby doesn't, it will gradually fade
away.