[Elecraft] Introduction to ham radio

[Ed Cole]

Lots good observations.  Alaska has about 2500 licensed hams of which
maybe actually get on-the-air and operate.

Just a few comments:

Alaska with low population density spread over miles of
nothing mostly operate the HF bands.  Half the ham pop live within 100
mile radius of Anchorage, so VHF is seen as using repeaters and FM.

Kind of frustrating for a long-time VHF DXer (one who operates over
hundred's and even thousands of miles without using a repeater via 
CW/SSB and now new digital modes).  (I worked Chile over 8,000 mi on 
6m-FT8 last Nov with 80w and five-element yagi at 20-feet).

The best method I found for encouraging folks to become ham was to 
encourage a local ham to join our local club and within a year become VP 
and then President.  He has recruited about 30 or more folks to become a 
ham in the last year or two.  Our ham club rose from about 9 members (4 
active) to over 30 due largely to his enthusiasm and energy.  Recently 
he has become our VEC.  So maybe that is another way to get new folks 
interested!  (his call is KL7ZK).

73, Ed - KL7UW