[HCARC] KB6NU's Column for June 2014: New hams are different

[Gary J - N5BAA]

PLEASE READ THE EMAIL BOB RITCHIE ATTACHED BELOW.

You betcha it’s interesting to me and to many new(er) Hams.  I was just speaking to another Newbie the other day who has a friend who is interested in his license because he does model rocketry. That is a whole other use for radio I was not aware of, but I aqm more than happy to experience it and help to promote it.   I am sorry for my unfortunate choice of words in using the term “HF”.  Let’s use the term “HF” to mean “whatever it takes for keeping a Newbie interested and in joining the club”.   Better yet have someone figure out a new term for us to make a group out of to embrace the various facets we might either be exposed to or expose others to and then let’s develop a “committee or uses group” to help to spread this interest.  I do know that traditional UHF/VHF is NOT the substitute in this area that needs to be explored (and this is unfortunate) and we as a group are not doing much Alternative Radio that at least I am aware of and I have been a club officer for almost 2 years.  If the officers and Executive Board don’t know about it it is either a very well kept secret or just isn’t happening.  We have an “expert” in AMSAT, but have not seen a hands on demo in the 3 years I have been a club member.

ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS FOR US TO BECOME ACTIVE AND HELP KEEP OTHERS ACTIVE.

Gary J
N5BAA

From: bob.k5yb at yahoo.com 
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 10:47 AM
To: Gary J - N5BAA 
Subject: KB6NU's Column for June 2014: New hams are different

Gary - here's a little something to chew on. You'll probably find it thought provoking.

Bob
  
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 at 10:34 AM
From: "Dan KB6NU" <cwgeek at kb6nu.com>
To: bob.k5yb at yahoo.com
Subject: KB6NU's Column for June 2014: New hams are different
Hi, folks:

With Field Day and all, I kind of let the time get away from me. At any rate, here's my June 2014 column.

73!

Dan KB6NU

New hams are different

By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU

This is going to be a bit of a ramble, but I need to get some thoughts down about new hams, and maybe get some feedback on these ideas from both new hams and guys that have been around for a while.

Recently, I visited the All Hands Active (AHA) makerspace here in Ann Arbor. Several of the "makers" that use this space have recently gotten their ham licenses—-most of them in one of my one-day Tech classes. I was down there trying to get them interested in attending Field Day, and in particular, in operating the GOTA station.

There were four of us sitting around, talking about amateur radio, the projects they were working on, Field Day, and other stuff. In the past, they had also expressed an interest in doing something with WA2HOM, our station at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. While it was a great discussion, it was apparent to me that it was going to be difficult to get them out for Field.

It dawned on me that these new radio amateurs were just not interested in the “old” amateur radio. Sitting in front of shortwave radios and exchanging fake signal reports with other guys sitting in front of shortwave radios is just not their idea of a good time. I think that if you take a step back and try to look at it through their eyes, you’ll see where they’re coming from.

What are they interested in? Well, one guy is having a blast playing around with RTL SDR dongles. He’s also trying to figure out a way to rig up wireless link to light a light at bus stops around his house when a bus is approaching. Another is working on a Hinternet-type project. I helped him out a little bit last summer setting up a wireless node at his house.

This is perhaps one reason why there are so many more licensed radio amateurs these days, but yet there seems to be less activity on the HF bands these days. HF is just not where it’s at for these new guys.

One consequence of this is that the old amateur radio clubs don’t have much to offer the new guys. In fact, one of them told me that the one time that he attended the local club meeting, he got such a hostile response that he decided not to return.

I’m finding this all quite interesting. I do intend to pursue some kind of joint activities between the All Hands Active maker group and WA2HOM and see where that goes. They may not be interested in working DX on 20m, but they do seem to be interested in the IRLP node that we’re in the process of installing there.

I’m not sure where this is all headed, but what I do know is that these folks have a lot of energy and creativity. If we can couple that with our knowledge and experience, then I think that we’ll be a good fit for one another. It’s going to take open minds all around, though.

I'm really interested in hearing from all of you about this. Have your clubs made contact with the "makers" in your area? Do any of them have ham radio licenses? Are there any interesting ham radio/maker projects going on in your area?

===================================================

When he's not thinking about the future of amateur radio, Dan, KB6NU enjoys working CW on the HF bands, teaching amateur radio classes, and building kits. For more information about his operating activities and his "No-Nonsense" series of amateur radio license study guides, go to KB6NU.Com or e-mail cwgeek at kb6nu.com.
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