[Elecraft] Future of Elecraft

[stan levandowski]

Working with a group of youngsters here in Sacramento, many of whom have
> their Technician or even General Class licenses, I see a constant 
> pattern. They all tend to live in neighborhoods with tight HOA (Home 
> Owner Association) restrictions and are unable to put up antennas. 
> While that's not entirely true when it comes to stealth installations, 
> it's a major hurdle for those not used to tinkering with antennas.
 
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Dale,

I just worked 25 states, 6 provinces, and 43 countries last weekend with 
an indoor antenna and 5w out of my K2.  I'm a retired 'boomer' who 
downsized to a Townhouse with HOA restrictions.  Fifty years ago, when I 
was 12 years old and living in low income housing with outside antenna 
prohibitions, I got may Novice license and got on the air with (probably 
about) 10 watts out of a 50L6.  My first antenna was an indoor wire.

I think the answer to your question might be that if something is 
attractive enough (like ham radio was to me as a kid), necessity truly 
becomes the mother of invention and we find a way to deal with it.

Along with HOAs we all know that our RF environment is becoming 
increasingly threatening.  Most of us who have to deal with HOAs 
wouldn't dare run 100 watts for two reasons - the potential health 
hazards if the antenna can't be properly located, and the havoc that the 
RF wreaks with every poorly designed elecronic gizmo in the 
neighborhood.  Sure, we can clean up our end but the average neighbor 
doesn't easily accept that the problem may really be his problem, not 
ours.

In my opinion, having access to a top quality QRP rig like my own K2, 
makes all the difference in the world between operating a successful 
"stealth" station and going fishing.

I would like to believe that ham radio is so rich in terms of its 
diversity that there will always be enough people around to keep it 
going, especially if we look at a world map and realize that what 
happens here in the United States is actually just a small part of a 
much larger world.

Well, that's my two cents anyway.

Stan Levandowski WB2LQF
HF QRP CW -- Doing more with less for over 50 years!
QCWA #35038   OOTC #4558   NAQCC #4740   SKCC #6488   FISTS #14992