[ARC5] Interest in "command" sets - where is a new generation?

[Eric Mynes]

You may not know me, but I'm 39 and have been here a few years lurking,
reading, and trying to learn from you, the more experienced hams that know
about this stuff before it it too late to learn anything..  I was
introduced to radio by a ham that had at least 23 command sets when he
became a SK and had a general belief that it isn't radio unless it can kill
you.  Hi Hi.  In other words, it must have tubes.  He bought me my first HF
rig.  It was an HW-101.  I will still have it when I become a SK.  I hope
to pass that radio, in working order too, to my harmonic.  I've had several
"rice boxes" to heat the either, but I still love to get that old rig out
and play with it on occasion.

I hope this helps at least a little in the search of "younger" hams.

73,
Eric
k8ohz (the 2nd k8ohz)



On Thu, Nov 19, 2015 at 2:35 PM, J Mcvey via ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> ARRL says membership is up.There are lots of young kinds into writing
> Apps, hacking  and games.Radio is a bit old hat to them, but there are some
> who have an interest in radio, but in a different way.They don't remember
> growing up tinkering with tube junk, so it's not likely that they will hare
> the same enthusiasm for the ARC5.I do my best to show the radios publicly
> whenever I get a chance. Who knows? It might kindle some kids curiosity
> about tube gear.
>
>
>
>      On Thursday, November 19, 2015 1:24 PM, Leslie Smith <
> vk2bcu at operamail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>           The next generation of engineers (or hobbyists)
>
> I am a member of Westlakes Radio Club.  We have few members under 50
> years of age.  Yet 30 years ago the situation was the opposite.  The
> club founder, Kieth Howard, was the science master at the local high
> school, and every Saturday afternoon the train station near the club was
> flooded with teenagers - all going to Westlakes Radio Club.  Today, our
> club has about 200 members; but nearly every club member joined in the
> 60s and '70s.
>
> I spoke with several people directly engaged in teaching science at the
> secondary and tertiary level.  There is some interest in computing, but
> little for physics, chemistry or maths.  You may substitute the word
> "electronics" or "radio" for physics.
>
> I don't know a single reader on this list under 50 years of age (but

then I apologize to those whose age I estimate incorrectly!)  In the
> recent thread about the Hallicrafters S-38 I read (or at least infer) a
> lot of enthusiasm for radio/electronics in teen-years; I read about
> school-teachers teaching with infectious enthusiasm.  I read accounts by
> list-readers who caught that enthusiasm (and who made two-way radio
> contact around the world using basic stations cobbled together from
> "command" sets or Hallicrafters S-38 and a one-tube MOPA).
>
> Now, of course, we can talk around the word for a ten-cent phone call.
> We can use Skype to do the same thing for nothing!  Has the PC killed an
> interest in radio?  Dare I ask a question,  "Who will continue our
> interest in these old radios?"  More than our narrow interest in
> "command/ARC-5" radio, who will make the next generation of engineers
> and technicians?  This is an interesting question?  Is there some way to
> re-kindle interest in radio/electronics?
>
> Les
>
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