[SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock

[Michael (KA5CVH) Urich]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steven Coles" <scoles at isomedia.com>
Subject: [SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock


I've heard that various barriers, of which sticker shock must be a major 
one, prevent 50% of new hams from ever getting on the air.  A lot of teens 
and retired license holders don't have even $200 for a station.

Mike wrote

I hear what you are saying but I disagree.  I tend to believe its a matter 
of priorities in many if not most cases.

What would you give up to get on the air?  You don't have a right to a Yaesu 
FTDX9000-Contest for $50 anymore than you have the right to a new Lexus for 
$1000.  I mentor a number of new hams from time to time and I constantly 
advise them to just find something used in their price range and get on the 
air, the newer and better stuff will come in time.  As they make contacts 
and friends they can begin expressing their desire for something better and 
hopefully WITHOUT WHINING let people know that they are on a fixed income 
and really need some help looking for an inexpensive upgrade.  Unfortunately 
in this cradle to grave mentality we seem to be stuck in no one wants to 
make sacrifices and they want it now.

I know a local ham who is retired and while on a fixed income, is not 
hurting that was complaining about having to pay $10 to take the ARECC-I 
test at a local VE-Test session.  He thought that the government should 
cover the cost because he's retired and afterall its EmComm related.  After 
listening to his complaints I noticed the cell phone on his side as he was 
headed out the door to get in his 30,000+ automobile and go home to watch 
some ball game on cable.  I wanted to scream "SHUT UP ALREADY AND PAY THE 
STINKING TEN BUCKS"

Anyone in business will tell you if you can't cover the costs of raw 
products, space, manufacturing equipment, payroll and TAXES you won't stay 
in business very long.  The laborer, whether the employee building the 
product, or the business owner who has put capital on the line that pays all 
the above, is due is wage.  If they can't make a profit we all go back to 
scrounging for parts and building our own gear from copied schematics on 
breadboards.  OK, maybe I exaggerated a bit.  Now, OTOH, I too would like to 
see more inexpensive gear offered by the big three.  Yaesu recently dropped 
the FT-840.  Apparently there was not enough interest in the radio to keep 
it profitable otherwise I don't think it would have disappeared.

Soap box rant off.

YMMV

Mike Urich KA5CVH
http://ka5cvh.com/democ.htm