[Qcwa] ARRL Membership Numbers

[Gregory W. Moore]

Yes, I do believe that the Amateur service is in deep s***. This has
nothing to do with ARRL, the quantity of new licenses, but because of
the "dumb & dumber" approach by the FCC regarding licence classes, and
the "no code" deal.
    This includes the FCC approach to Commercial Radiotelephone and
Radiotelegraph licenses as well. "Just doing away with them" does not,
IMHO contribute to the quality of people who are out there doing the
work which used to require these licenses.
    I also feel that regardless if you desire to operate CW or not, the
code should be an integral part of the license test. My reasoning here
is simple: the Amateur Service is important from an emergency
communications standpoint. IF we were placed in a situation where
communications was vital, yet the majority of the means to do so were
rendered inoperative (Think EMP from a terrorist nuke here), SOMEONE
would have to take up the slack.
        This is where knowing electronics and Morse pays off bigtime.
Most of us QCWA people were in the game when we built our own as a rule,
rather than the exception, or modified milsurplus to save a couple
bucks. Besides, it was (and still remains) fun to build something,
especially when one is building something obsolete such as vacuum tube
equipment from scratch in the 21st century. Sure it's hard to get the
parts and tubes, and harder yet to convince those around you that you
haven't gone round the bend. For them, I always give them the MiG 23 (I
believe it was a 23, correct me please if I am wrong) story.
    Some years ago, a Soviet pilot defected to Japan with a MiG-23. Of
course, our aerospace industry and all the other spooks were chomping at
the bit to reverse-engineer stuff, and see if the Rooskies were ahead of
us with technology. Upon examination, most of the equipment aboard was
found to have vacuum tubes. A hearty laugh was had by all involved about
the "backward" technology, until the small voice of an engineer reminded
them that vacuum tubes were inherently radiation and EMP hard. It then
became painfully obvious that the Soviet Union, unlike the US was taking
the idea of defense against a nuclear strike seriously (This in addition
to the Civil Defense organization in the Soviet Union, which actually
did plan for the unthinkable). The laughter stopped.
    Anyhow, the whole point is that there never should have been a
dumbing down of license requirements. Sure, computers are great, but
what happens if they don't work. Most kids are taught to use a
calculator from grade school on, and don't know how to do simple
arithmetic, let alone higher math without one. (I will not go off on a
diatribe about the mangling of history and the other core subjects in
the name of Political Correctness here) IF they have to do without, they
will run in ever decreasing circles until they run up their own behind
and implode--hi.
    The Amateur service should have stayed as it was, with the
requirements as they were, and those tested should have to prove their
competency in theory to encompass what is considered obsolete, because,
when one really gets down to the fact, it isn't obsolete at all, it is a
lifesaver.
73 de Greg WA3IVX
QCWA 31578

If anyone knows of a chapter in the suburban Philly area, let me know. I
live in Upper Darby, just West of the city, and would like to be a part
of a QCWA chapter.

"L. S. Staples" wrote:

> Does anyone know the membership numbers for ARRL? Is it growing or
> shrinking?
>
> Is the amateur radio service in trouble?
>
> Larry (W0AIB)
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