[Elecraft] OT - Lighthouses and Amateur radio

[Ken Kopp]

I acknowledge this topic isn't appropiate for here.  Well, I -do- have
a K2 built at an Oregon lighthouse .... (:-)

Ron, others ...

Yes, we've been working in the park and at the lighthouse for five years
and they're well-aware that I'm an amateur radio operator.  One ranger
is slightly familiar with the hobby ... he was especially interested in
the suit-sat experiment and I've supplied him with the orbiter's
down-link frequencies for his scanner.  A fellow host is K7JJ.

I pretty confident that the park management and staff are "OK" with the
hobby as a whole and they do understand what lighthouse week is about.
I think they go along with the operation each year because they know if
they didn't there would be flack from the Lighthouse Society and others.
On the other hand if they didn't have to take the flack from the
visiting public because of the operation they'd be happier.   In
reality, it's us hosts who have to deal with the visitors.

My comments mostly relate to the lighthouse visitors and their
impression of the amateur radio operation/s at the lighthouse.  There's
very little opportunity to "educate" them about what's going on.  Most
aren't at all interested and see the operation as a visual intrusion
into their photo-op and resent the "clutter" of the antennas, RV's,
tents, noise, etc.  "Who ARE those people?" "What's going on out there?"
"Oh ... my cousin plays with radios, too ... his handle is Stump-Jumper.
Do you know him?"

Most lighthouse visitors are well-aware of the history and the need to
preserve the structures and their history.  That's why they visit.  I
don't see much, if any, help with preservation by handing out contacts
to QSL collectors.  Few have any interest in lighthouses beyond getting
a "unique" QSL and they're unlikely to join the Lighthouse Society as a
result of a QSO.

I'd give a whole lot to be able to eleminate the word "HAM" from our
hobby.  Most of the visitors see us as just that ..."hams"... those
strange folks outside on the lawn.  I detest the name.

Perhaps my view is jaded ...

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
k0pp at arrl.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ron D'Eau Claire
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Saturday, 23 June, 2007 03:29
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Pacific Coast Lighthouses First Day of Issue
Ceremony


Well, Ken, did you step up and identify yourself as an Amateur Radio
Operator and explain how that activity helps promote an awareness of
these historic structures around the country?

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----

As a passing comment ...