[MRCA] Additional thought on Dayton Hamvention & Other things

Fri Feb 15 22:02:33 EST 2019

As far as the ARRL is concerned, Military radio collectors and operators have been the bastard stepchildren for some time now, and that really doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. The ARRL has become way too involved with companies like Yaesu and the like, especially monetarily, to hope for any change on their part. In that respect, the ARRL has become nothing more than a trade group for these manufacturers. The only possible way that will ever change as far as events like Dayton are concerned is if Military radio collectors demand that change. And the big money manufacturers will fight tooth and nail before they allow that to happen.

Mark
WW2RDO
I have some history with the ARRL having written/authored for them on and off since 1994. So...here is my insight into the blight affecting amateur radio: the ARRL.

The ARRL use to say the were "Of, by and for the Amateur Radio Operator". In reality they were and still are "Of, by and for the Almighty Dollar", as stated by Mark in his posting.

On another subject near and dear to the heart of the ARRL: The CCR (Cheap Chinese Radio) debacle. Finally late last year the FCC came out with their encyclical basically forbidding the use of Part 90 CCRs by hams on amateur freqs. All this after several hundred thousand of them have been imported and sold, mainly to newly licensed tech hams. In short, the CCRs had impacted the Evil Offshore Empire's imported V/UHF radio sales quite drastically. Why spend several hundred dollars for a dual band HT from YaKenCom when, for $39, you can by a Beofeng unit that, when it breaks, you trash and buy another one?!?!?

One can only imagine the political pressure The Big Three along with the ARRL and their paid lobbyists in DC put on the FCC to enact a retro grade finding against these CCRs. Once again the ARRL has shown their true colors by supporting their multi-page advertisers in QST to the detriment of the radio hobby. To think we who enjoy MilCom radios will ever get more than passing/casual attention from the ARRL is wishful thinking.

OK.....off the soap box. Flame suit on!

Vy 73 es gud DX!

Rich Arland   K7SZ   WPE7BYR
Radio/electronics archaeologist
Author: The ARRL's Low Power Communications
Bent Dipole Ranch, Dacula, GA
http://commobunker.blogspot.com/

________________________________
From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Mkdorney via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2019 9:11 PM
To: Tim
Cc: Ray Fantini; mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [MRCA] Additional thought on Dayton Hamvention

It’s not really any type of “versus” thing. The ARRL simply chooses to cater to the new, wiz/bang folks and ignore just about any body else.  The only time I’ve ever seen them get interested in the Military Radio Operators is when it’s time to renew ARRL membership.

Mark
WW2RDO

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 15, 2019, at 8:51 PM, Tim <timsamm at gmail.com<mailto:timsamm at gmail.com>> wrote:

I don't know about ARRL "versus" military radio guys - but the West Coast MRCG did week-long joint Ops with the MVPA at their 2016 National Convention in Pleasanton CA.  A good time was had by all...  Some pix here:

http://www.n6cc.com/military-vehicles-and-radios-mvccmrcg

We also usually do joint Ops with the Military Vehicle Collectors of California at their Spring and Fall rallies out here.  Good synergy, like minded people.

Tim
N6CC

On Fri, Feb 15, 2019 at 2:16 PM Mkdorney via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net<mailto:mrca at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
There are 4 letters I would recommend all Hams with an interest in military Radio technology  memorize:  MVPA.  It stands for the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. Their International convention this year is in August in York, PA. Those in the Northeast know that the MRCA joins the local chapter of the MVPA in Gilbert PA every year for their show. That could be replicated across the country if Hams who have Military radio gear got together with local MVPA organizations. There are even some recruiting possibilities at these shows as many of these vehicle owners have old, working and non working radios and really don’t know where to turn to in order to get licensed and get there stuff fixed. And you don’t need to worry so much about your “old stuff” being pushed into a corner, because their stuff is also the old stuff.

As far as the ARRL is concerned, Military radio collectors and operators have been the bastard stepchildren for some time now, and that really doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. The ARRL has become way too involved with companies like Yaesu and the like, especially monetarily, to hope for any change on their part. In that respect, the ARRL has become nothing more than a trade group for these manufacturers. The only possible way that will ever change as far as events like Dayton are concerned is if Military radio collectors demand that change. And the big money manufacturers will fight tooth and nail before they allow that to happen.

Mark
WW2RDO

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 15, 2019, at 10:26 AM, Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu<mailto:RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>> wrote:

If you look at the amount of promotion that’s been going on  in QST and how packed the dealer and sales pavilions are I have to wonder if maybe the flea market aspect of the Hamvention is being pushed off to the side and being left to wither and die? Or is it that the entire concept of used equipment, homebuilt and playing around with old radios is itself died out?

Pure speculation on my part but is there a effort to make the Hamvention into a convention where they just talk and show the newest and latest technology and the hell with all that old junk and the people who want to mess with it? Looking at the ARRL it appears that’s their main interest is in pushing you to go out and buy the newest whatever and that if you’re not on the cutting edge or using the newest digital mode you not a complete Ham.

I work in a technical field and have to deal with installing the latest software, operating systems and hardware every day and the last thing I want to do when I am not at work is have to download stuff and resolve set up issues, so I prefer to work with the technology of the past where you can get in, make changes and work with things at a slower pace. After all it is a hobby and not a business. So that’s the question is Hamvention evolving into something more along the lines of a boat show, where everything is about the newest and most expensive or will it still reflect whatever the general state of the hobby is?

And what is the general state of the hobby? Maybe this is the future and people like me that are getting older and prefer to waste time on technology from our past just need to get out of the way for the Hams of the future? Although most of the people I know, see at the fest and have talked with are just as old if not older then I am so where are all these Hams of the future? Maybe by getting rid of us old buzzard Hams that will entice theses young Hams out to the events? Yet another reason to kill off the flea market.

Have to remember your Bell “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us” Somehow always thought that was a bible quote but apparently not. Maybe if Hamvention is failing in my expatiations or costing too much it is time to make this the last trip, but other regional sales like Frostfest are doing great and maybe look to a future of more online and local stuff.

Collecting and using military technology in some ways is a smaller subset then the larger Vintage Ham radio community is, but it’s what I want to do and once you get into the military collectors community you soon discover the weapon, vehicle and many other collectors that have a thriving community that somehow survives without having a national organization that’s beating the drum for everyone to go out and buy or constantly move forward. Perhaps the nearest analog would be the reenactors and what they are doing although I don’t consider myself a reenactor, but they are from what I see a growing group and would assume they have some sort of organization and publications and would assume that a large part of it involves advertising and trying to get there members to go out and buy things.

It all circles back to Dayton and what the future is there. Perhaps it’s my expectations that have changed and not the Hamvention at all? Or maybe it’s a combination of the two? Or maybe it’s just that it’s a Friday and Friday morning are somewhat slow here at work and it’s an opportunity to take time out and write about these things and try to get an idea what others think.

Ray F/KA3EKH

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