[Boatanchors] ARRL? - callouses

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi Mike,

You need some callouses to survive here;)

I have been at it longer than you. I could tout all my feeble 
accomplishments but it ain't needed. I got my Extra Class license right 
about the time there was something called a Bash Extra (I'm not one) and 
those old poops were bashing the Bash extras as cheaters (they weren't). 
I showed up with my newfangled callsign and caught fire every time I 
ID'ed. So it's nothing new.

There is Karma:) One of the old pharts wrecked his rig with his "golden 
screwdriver" and had to come to the pseudo "Bash Extra" with the fancy 
schmancy newfangled callsign (and the commercial ticket) to get it 
fixed. His sweet XYL (very nice lady) told me right in front of him how 
he dropped his screwdriver in there and made awful fireworks ;) I 
mentioned that a time or two at club meetings and then the godawful Bash 
bashing stopped. At least in my neighborhood :)

So now..I am thinking I will get the HR-10 working again this spring 
along with the DX-60 and start playing in NRR. Good luck to you with 
learning the CW. It is a lot of fun. Don't struggle and strain. Just 
lean into the turns a little and enjoy the trip:)

73,

Bill  KU8H

On 03/02/2018 11:06 AM, Mike Bracey wrote:
> I didn't intend to get into this again until I saw Mr. Farrell's response to Mr. Bethman. I am one of the dreaded "no code" hams. I became interested in ham radio in 1967. I bought an SX-28 and built two homemade wood towers and strung up a dipole. I did a lot of listening and eventually had a Hallicrafters SX-100 and a Drake 2B. My parents bought me a Ranger II transmitter so I set about learning code. As I was getting started, life through my family a big curve ball and I had to give up radio. When I reached my 60's I found another SX-28 and the interest was rekindled. Now I was able to fill the house with the boatanchors that I always lusted after. I am an AM'er. Although I have broken down and bought a Hallicrafters SR-160.
>
> When I retired I decided to finally get my ticket so I could get on the air with my Globe King 400B. I was very surprised when I discover that code was no longer required. I have now worked up to a general license. I was thrilled to finally make it. I found that I still wanted to learn the code so I could use CW.
>
> The biggest surprise in the hobby to me is how unwelcome I've been made to feel. I was stunned at how elitist the hobby had become. For the most part, old timers seem to be butt hurt that we new guys didn't have to "suffer" like they did to get their ticket. Well guess what, we had nothing to do with it.
>
> If you read any of these boards it's easy to find week long sessions on how worthless no code hams are and how we've ruined the hobby. How in the world do you wonder how interest in the hobby is falling. A lot of you old-timers take every opportunity to make us new guys feel like unwanted second class citizens. Back in the '60s hams were the friendliest, nicest guys that you would ever want to meet. Unfortunately the same can't be said about today.
> So these days I mostly lurk on these boards and try to learn something. I restore my boatanchors and keep to myself. I'm fortunate enough to have found a couple of hams who don't mind a new guy and we have become friends. However, this is the most unwelcoming hobby that I've ever been involved in. I'm sure many will discount what I've said because I'm just a second class no code ham. But that's OK, I'll go back to doing my thing.
>
> Mike/KE5YTV
>

-- 
bark less - wag more