[Elecraft] Elecraft Digest, Vol 256, Issue 20

Sun Aug 31 01:42:34 EDT 2025

I’m going to disagree with you completely. While I still enjoy SSB and CW, FT8 has supercharged my interest in radio. I find the study of propagation fascinating now that I can watch pipelines around the globe open and close in real time through digital communications. Watching WSJT-X streams and seeing the propagation paths on different bands and matching that to atmospheric conditions has given me a new appreciation for what’s happening over my head, and I never get tired of observing and trying to figure out exactly what’s making the bands open and close as I watch digital calls appear and disappear. 

I don’t believe the existence of digital technologies has anything to do with the decline in radio popularity. I think it’s far more likely that the growth in instant digital communications mediums using cell phones has a lot to do with it. I also firmly believe that, like any other human endeavor, it’s not possible to interest people in radio unless they already have a predisposition to it. They have to have that spark in them (no pun intended). All we can do is show them an outlet for their interest. 

73, Adrian 
K7RJS

> On Aug 30, 2025, at 10:13 PM, dyno lab via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> FT8 and some other modes have made it too easy to sit on our backsides and let the computer do the work while we gradually lose interest.
> It takes the excitement out of making contacts the hard way.
> No wonder so many are giving up.
> 
> There was a time when we built our own equipment and could not wait to put it on the air.
> We need something that makes it hard and interesting again.
> 
> I thank the Ol Man Upstairs that I still find it really fun and interesting to see a problem and go about building something to fix it.
> 
> 73,
> Hal
> W7YNC
> DynoLab.com
> 
> 
>> On 08/30/2025 6:51 PM PDT Glenn Maclean via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> I have to say. The on going Morse Code Class I teach at a local bar because the owner is a ham and welcomes the class. I am little by little getting more students that see our table and are curious. I give them my spiel about ham radio and why Morse Code. Which is when boom boom the lights go out Morse Code will always come through! Then the next thing I know I end up with a new student who wants to become a ham! The new students are in their 20’s - 30’s
>> Glenn Maclean WA7SPY
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>>> On Aug 30, 2025, at 09:03, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>>> 
>>> Send Elecraft mailing list submissions to
>>>   elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> 
>>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>   http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>   elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net
>>> 
>>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>   elecraft-owner at mailman.qth.net
>>> 
>>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>> than "Re: Contents of Elecraft digest..."
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Today's Topics:
>>> 
>>>  1. Re: Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to newcomers?
>>>     (email)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> 
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:12:55 -0400
>>> From: email <email at nr3i.org>
>>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to
>>>   newcomers?
>>> Message-ID: <7beb844a-160f-4775-a305-bb3ddb9d052b at nr3i.org>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>>> 
>>> Why ?? (Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in
>>> the first place??)? WELL, In the USA, the average age (determined by my
>>> browser) is 65 years old.? That means in 20-30 years, that 800K number
>>> will be 400K without adding new (younger hams) ???
>>> 
>>> My kids are in there 30's (and have let the license lapse - but plan on
>>> renewing ??)
>>> My wife is not active...
>>> I know a number of hams in retirement communities that are not active.
>>> How many of the 800K are active ??
>>> 
>>> I have a friend (Scout admin I work with/for) that had a novice in grade
>>> school, she let it lapse a number of years ago.? I have been giving her
>>> Tech class info and she may have time to do the zoom class...? She did
>>> like CW (still knows it).? I may give/lend her my "old" NorCal 40.? It
>>> would be nice to have a kit again ??? for new hams.? The NorCal 40 is
>>> simple to use and a single band dipole is simple to "throw" into a tree...
>>> 
>>> 73, Steve WB3LGC
>>> 
>>>> On 7/26/25 18:57, David Gilbert via Elecraft wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Exactly.
>>>> 
>>>> Trying to talk people into being interested in things we're interested
>>>> in for the reasons we're interested in them is a foolish endeavor.?
>>>> Evangelism is boring and off-putting.? The best we can do is describe
>>>> what ham radio can offer and let people decide if that has any
>>>> interest for them.
>>>> 
>>>> If we have to convince somebody that ham radio is interesting to them,
>>>> then it probably isn't and even if they go along it won't last.
>>>> 
>>>> Which brings me to this question:
>>>> *
>>>> Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in the
>>>> first place?? * There are supposedly close to 800,000 licensed hams in
>>>> the U.S., which is a bigger market and a bigger pool of like minds
>>>> than LOTS of other activities.? Is there some sort of collective
>>>> insecurity complex going on every time this comes up? And it comes up
>>>> with annoying frequency on almost every forum.
>>>> 
>>>> Dave? ?AB7E
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On 7/26/2025 2:27 PM, Fred Jensen via Elecraft wrote:
>>>>> They almost all view ham radio from a utilitarian perspective, not as
>>>>> a hobby ... they have hobbies and interests. Probably the largest
>>>>> non-work interests were in the outdoors.
>>>> 
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>>> Message delivered to email at nr3i.org
>>> 
>>> ------------------------------
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> You must be a subscriber to post.
>>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>>> 
>>> End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 256, Issue 20
>>> *****************************************
>> 
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to dynolab at comcast.net
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to kj7soy at gmail.com