[Boatanchors] ARRL? - callouses

[B Farrell]

Mike,

I'm not sure how to interpret your comments, but to be clear: I don't have
any bias toward amateur radio operators who did not have to take the code
exam, and anyone who knows me will tell you so.  I simply disagree with how
it came about.

73,
Brad K4RT



On Fri, Mar 2, 2018 at 1:26 PM, Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
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