[Elecraft] HOA Crap

[Rick NK7I]

Hi Mike,

It's always nice to work you on the air.

I'm a VEC and over the last year have participated in several tests 
which resulted in over 100 new hams (not bad for a county of only 
18,000).  Most were over 50, some 30-40's and a handful are juveniles 
(under 18).  At the last test, a woman in her 80's tested (failed, but 
it didn't break her spirit, she'll try again; GREAT attitude).  This is 
an older county, most of the younger crowd leaves to find a career, 
attend college or be in the military (no career prospects here, but 
farming, logging, milling and working at a local store).  So the ham 
representation here tends to be 40-ish and higher for new hams.  The 
younger crowd is more interested in starting their lives and making a 
living; very challenging here.

Since the class only has time to teach to the test (no real learning 
involved, just answers) the local club meetings have short sessions 
about "I'm licensed, now what do I do?'  Without such information, these 
neophytes will never progress and the hobby, along with their interest, 
dies.  It's good old fashioned Elmer'ing and we help each other build 
stations.

Most noobs tend to get the cheaper $35 imported radios, until they learn 
just how filthy those are on the air (learning creates change which 
allows progress).  They are taught how to use it, program it, what to 
(not) discuss on the air, manners, protocols and in general HOW to be a 
ham.  They are exposed to many facets of ham radio from contesting and 
DX (which tends to be connected); satellite, HF, EME, repeater 
operations, including the local RF linked network (and more) AND how to 
apply theory (this month discusses "What is antenna gain and when/where 
do I want it?").

In ALL discussions, a radio is involved; even for those able to start 
building an HF station (just like when I started 40 something years ago) 
or put up a 2m ground plane.  They are taught to NOT turn all knobs to 
11; to read the manuals, adjust carefully (and why) and generally how to 
properly produce the cleanest signals they can (some radios make that a 
challenge).  Progress is slow, which is fine as long as it's forward.

Surfing the internet to use a receiver (other than scanning fire calls) 
is never discussed; it has little to do with running a ham station.  The 
only discussion about the internet is when logging, spotting and filing 
entries is covered.  (I'm not SO old school that SOME new tools are taboo.)

Ham radio is better without gaming the system to seek an advantage and 
remote stations for rent, do exactly that.  It creates an unfair 
advantage and only requires a fat wallet, not the knowledge and 
experience gained by making your own station and learning how to 
maximize it's ability.  Put another way, rental buys the plaques, awards 
and acclaim with a wallet, not with ability.  Such items are valueless 
because they weren't earned by effort, but money.

I've driven VERY fast sports cars (and proven that they are both quick 
and fast, while being scary responsive), but it doesn't make me a race 
driver.  Renting a world class station, even if I bring my own radio; 
doesn't make me a world class contester/DXer, just someone with 
'disposable income'.  To me, the only real fun would be to have 
different propagation than what I have at home.

If I build the race car (or radio station) by hand, know intimately 
EVERY part and it's place, then learn how to best use it; then I can 
call myself improved and eventually qualified to operate it.  Winning 
the race (contest) or not simply allows me to rate my progress over time 
(my competition is me against me, EVERY time, just like golf).  In a 
small group, we 'motivate' each other to improve the stations and number 
of DX worked and condole with each other when there is a failure or poor 
showing.

You're right, remote operation of another persons efforts is legal but 
that isn't the point.  Being able to do something doesn't make it 
morally right.  With remote rental, you're taking credit for another 
persons efforts.  You didn't EARN that plaque/award/score if you didn't 
help put it all together; you bought it.

I'm not forcing anything on anyone, everybody has a moral code and 
choices to be made.  I've made it clear that mine is that I'll only 
count (log) from a station that I built/assembled and not any other 
station.  I may use other stations, but they won't be in MY log book.

IF that day comes that I can't manage the station anymore; I'll move to 
an HT and keep in touch with my neighbors and make new friends.  If I 
degrade below being able to manage even that, I probably wouldn't know 
the difference anymore (it won't matter).

It is ham radio, not Xbox; it uses RADIO, not a game panel.  The 
internet is a tool; it's not ham radio without a radio.

See you on HF!

73,
Rick NK7I


On 6/29/2021 5:51 PM, Michael Walker wrote:
> Rick
>
> I think you need to look at the average age of today's ham (hopefully, 
> it is going down).
>
> Ham radio is what you make it.  Your version is just fine for you.  
>  How you actually get on the air is not a law.  It isn't a 
> requirement.  All you have to do is work within the legal requirements 
> for your country.
>
> What would you do when you have to move into assisted living?  Where 
> the house is not your own.  Will that take you off the air?
>
> Make contacts any way you can.  For you, get on the air and make 
> contacts.
>
> BTW, you can't force your vision on anyone.  You can preach it, but 
> that doesn't mean anyone has to listen to it.  :)  Everyone is wired 
> just a bit differently (some like me, a lot different).
>
>
> 73, Mike va3mw
>