[Fists] ARRL: Hams say "Hello"

[Fred Adsit]

Thank you for saying it the way it is.

Fred NY2V #1293

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Davis" <ke9v at yahoo.com>
To: <fists at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 4:57 PM
Subject: RE: [Fists] ARRL: Hams say "Hello"
> 
> You're right, there is nothing particularly "anti-CW"
> about this campaign. It's more "anti-sophisticated".
> It purposely paints a picture that amateur radio
> communication is simple and doesn't require much
> technical acumen. Just take a quick, easy test about
> some rules and regs then buy an off the shelf handheld
> and SHAZAM! Now you're talking!
> 
> I have four children, the youngest is 13 and of that
> crew, only one had enough interest in the hobby to
> actually get a license. This despite the fact that
> they lived with me and were exposed to RF their entire
> life.
> 
> Let's face facts and not stick our heads in the sand -
> ham radio is NOT for everyone. Some people see the
> challenge it offers and seize it. Most do not.
> 
> Every attempt that's been made to "grow" the amateur
> service through trivializing it has failed miserably.
> The no-code technician license made lots of people
> happy--for awhile. Then they all moved on to greener
> pastures.  Ham radio was not as "easy" or as much fun
> as they had been led to believe.
> 
> I asked my 13 year-old daughter to take a look at the
> "Hello" Web site and tell me if it would convince her
> or her friends to get involved in the hobby. Her
> response?
> 
> "It's weird that they are using a WEB page to try and
> tell people how easy it is to TALK to others. I am
> chatting with three friends (using an instant
> messenger client) while looking at that Web site ... I
> can call any of my friends on my cell phone and talk
> to them or exchange text messages all I want. Why
> would I want to take a test, get a license, buy a
> radio and put up an antenna when I can already TALK to
> all my friends right now?"
> 
> I'd say my daughter makes an excellent point, even if
> none of us like to hear it. Nobody needs ham radio to
> TALK to anyone. Free nights and weekends on the cell
> phone, instant messaging, text messaging, and voice
> over IP has COMPLETELY eliminated the need for ham
> radio--if all you are interested in doing is TALKING
> to someone else. There HAS to be something more to
> amateur radio than just TALKING to other hams because
> otherwise, you are looking at the final generation of
> the hobby.
> 
> If we want to "save" amateur radio then we need to
> figure out what ELSE it's good for, because simply
> TALKING to others won't attract enough of a crowd
> these days to help pitch a Field Day tent...there has
> got to be a challenge.
> 
> 
> 73 de Jeff, KE9V
> FISTS #6641