[Elecraft] Reaching across the chronological divide

[Tom Azlin W7SUA]

Sorry to not agree EricJ.

I have made a lot of friends over multiple QSOs, in my case digital
modes. To me that is the magic that continues. Including long QSOs with
hams across the ponds. But then I got my Novice in 1972.

At local neighborhood watch got asked if I could help if we in this
rural area lost land lines and cell phone service. So I explained how
ham radio can help. No kids there so getting them excited still work in
progress.

73, tom w7sua

On 12/14/2019 7:46 PM, EricJ wrote:
> We're missing the point here somehow. Siri's answer should have been
>  "The best way to contact Helen is to pick up your phone and call
> her."
> 
> Anything else is pretty much a waste of time and resources just to
> talk to Helen. Seriously, there's a sizable investment in specialized
>  equipment to make contact via AMSAT or whatever. The contact is set
> up for them. Then Jon and Helen wait to be told when the link is
> ready. If that's worth doing and will attract young people, then just
> shoot me. It sounds terminally boring.
> 
> Making that investment in specialized equipment can't be justified as
>  utilitarian communication because it's expensive and inefficient. If
> the point is to contact your friends any time you want to, they are
> already doing that with a half a dozen reliable instant technologies
> all accessible from the same smartphone. I don't get where ham radio
> comes in to solve a problem they have already solved. Certainly not
> with a system that requires waiting 15 minutes for a satellite to get
> in position, and a Cupertino Robot to set up the call.
> 
> I don't have the answer to attracting young people to a rapidly
> changing hobby in an even more rapidly changing world. The aspects of
> the hobby that attracted many of us was the sheer magic of radio
> itself. We weren't attracted to it because it let us contact our
> friends. Even then we had the telephone for that. We were attracted
> to the magic. Nine times out of ten, the communication part was "599
> OM PSE QSL".
> 
> I always heard how DX contacts would allow me to learn about other 
> cultures. Actually, it did. After exchanging signal reports, I'd look
> up their city with an atlas or encyclopedia. But I learned zip on the
> air. A few California Kilowatts could hog a DX station, and chit chat
> for a few minutes, and did because they could. But the rest of us
> never got beyond the basic exchange and fought like hell for that.
> But it was magic so it didn't matter that it wasn't all that
> practical.
> 
> The magic that attracted us is gone. Maybe there's new magic to be 
> found, but it's different magic that most of us with 30-70 years in
> the hobby won't understand...and probably won't like. We are the
> wrong people to even be considering answers but anyone expecting to
> make a living from the hobby will have to find that new magic. It
> ain't instant communication and it ain't the ham radio equivalent of
> retro turntables.
> 
> Eric KE6US
> 
> ex-K1DCK, WA6YCF, WB2PVW
> 
> 
> On 12/14/2019 5:35 PM, andy.moorwood at moorcom.com wrote:
>> Question: Can amateur radio reach across the digital divide ? My
>> answer: It could Follow up Question: Do you think it will ? My
>> answer:  No, not with current products and modes of use
>> 
>> Why do I say this ? My 20 year old wants a turntable for Christmas.
>> Why on earth does he want one when he can download any song he
>> wants from his apple music account ? Answer: People of his
>> generation are moving beyond mere utility (listening to any song
>> anywhere anytime), they now want a musical experience, playing a 
>> vinyl record - could be one of mine - with all the "atmosphere"
>> (hiss and scratches) to experience the music as it was "made".
>> 
>> Could this experiential notion morph to a communications form? 
>> Communications utility is being able to contact your friends at 
>> anytime from anywhere, instantly,  AKA the ubiquitous smartphone.
>> A communications experience could be one where the path / mode is
>> dynamic and not guaranteed to succeed (applies to VHF linked
>> repeater systems and HF).
>> 
>> So why won't this happen ? We (amateur radio hobbyists and
>> industry) don't follow the usage paradigms they are used to and
>> frankly expect, built around their smartphones.
>> 
>> The turn tables I'm looking at have RCA jacks to connect to an 
>> amplifier but they also have Bluetooth to connect to your phone and
>> speakers, and of course "there's an App for that" on the
>> smartphone.
>> 
>> People of this generation are not going to configure virtual COM
>> ports so their apps can access a radio.  Neither will they work
>> through windows "wizard" configuration screens.  Apple and the
>> other developers have made set up effortlessly work  and offer
>> digital assistants to help you on your way.  For example, below is
>> a conversation from a possible radio future.
>> 
>> Jon, Ham Radio Operator: "Hey Siri what repeaters are near me and
>> can I link to Helen in Scotland ?" Siri: " Yes Jon there are
>> several repeaters nearby but the best way to contact Helen is via
>> Amsat, one will be over horizon in 15 minutes, shall I let Helen
>> know you want to contact her ? conditions are favorable" Jon: " Yes
>> Siri, let her know, I'll get the antenna ready"
>> 
>> Sounds like science fiction ?- no this is technically feasible
>> today - question is will some entity make the investments to make
>> it happen   ?
>> 
>> Best Regards Andy K3CAQ
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>> <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent:
>> Friday, December 13, 2019 6:24 PM To: Elecraft Reflector
>> <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> Subject: [Elecraft] Reaching across the
>> chronological divide
>> 
>> Hams of a certain age, including yours truly (first licensed in
>> 1971) recall their excitement on joining the hobby: there was the
>> promise of contact with faraway places, collection of vivid QSL
>> cards, mastery of esoteric equipment, synchrony with the rhythms of
>> Morse code, and the crafting of antennas to harness action at a
>> distance.
>> 
>> Most of us still feel that spark, occasionally--some on a daily 
>> basis--experiencing the wonder all over again.
>> 
>> While the accoutrements and equipage of youth have evolved over the
>>  decades, their DNA has not. Somewhere, nestled between the genetic
>> codes for half-pipe snowboarding, Instagram, Juul, and ambient
>> house, there's a dormant sequence for the Radio Art waiting to be
>> stirred.
>> 
>> Is there a Battle Royale for ham radio? A tactical RPG?
>> 
>> What is our sorcerer's stone? Our rap?
>> 
>> Will Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha tickle the ionosphere, and if so...why?
>> 
>> To hand our batons across the chronological divide, we'll need 
>> empathetic, open-ended inquiry.
>> 
>> 73, Wayne N6KR