[Elecraft] My "Attitude"

[Doug]

I think some of you "old timers" are missing the point of generational
changes. I agree that there is no excuse for laziness however, times have
changed in the world of technologies. You "old timers" were able to make a
respectable livelihood at circuit/component level designing, testing and
repairing. This is what the electronic/consumer market was all about. When
software started coming into the picture you labeled it firmware, left it
alone and gave it to the dork stuck in the corner to deal with because it
wasn't hardware. And, you stated that his firmware was pointless because it
couldn't do anything without your hardware. Well...if you haven't figured it
out yet...times have changed.

Now how many of you "old timers" could successfully write a line of software
code (outside of "hello world") let alone a full-on application? How many of
you "old timers" could derive a filtering algorithm and translate it into a
software routine? Do I call you lazy or dumb because most of you can't?
No...I wouldn't dream of it because that technology wasn't from your era. 

I agree with Brendan's last comment that the answer here is to help. But
help is a two way street as well. Many "old timers" label some of the
digital modes mainly PSK as "No Code Extra mode". Is it really? Can any of
you old timers really explain how it works? Or do you just dismiss it
because it isn't CW or write it off because you don't see any RLC networks?
If you do your homework...these digital modes are far more complex to derive
than CW ever was. 

So we have a clash of generational changes in both technology and people.
Can we say one is better than the other? Nope, I don't think we can. Can we
be happy that new members are joining the ranks? Well I am very happy. Do we
owe it to ourselves to provide mentoring? I think we do. And just
maybe...that idiot that couldn't explain what inductance is because all he
has to do is push a button labeled "tune" will be the guy to fix a
computing, networking problem on that new radio 10 years from now that is
pure software defined because that isn't your cup of tea. 

K0ZU/Doug



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brendan Minish
Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 8:56 AM
To: JIM DAVIS
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] My "Attitude"

JIM DAVIS wrote:

> There's nothing wrong with your "attitude" !  In fact I agree with it
completely, as it seems
> that the people that are getting into the hobby recently really don't know
how to fully utilize
> their equipment nor their antenna arrays.

What amateur radio needs is more people who have been in the hobby a 
while to freely share their knowledge with others. we all started in 
radio with limited knowledge and learned along the way.

Regardless of any thoughts some may have on current exams standards we 
owe it to ourselves and the hobby we get so much pleasure from to help 
newcomers to gain a better understanding of Amateur radio.

73
Brendan EI6IZ
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html