[SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock

[Steven Coles]

All,

 

This seems to happen on nearly all ham groups these days:  Consider how a newly licensed operator reads a thread with continuously escalating price tags for even a used acceptable transceiver.  Next the new operator will hear, "You have to have at minimum 2 11-element Yagis stacked on a 20-foot tower."  Price that.  Next somebody says, "My $1700 23-skidoo transceiver didn't work quite right until I bought the $350 XX-99 option."

 

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.

 

It doesn't take an economic genius to realize the Amateur Radio Magazines making their money from the advertisements for $3500 products have to devote a lot more space to reviews that to innovative improvements to low-end products.

 

But a discussion board like this one, should the members wish, can encourage home innovators to reveal how they fixed a POJ's shortcomings to make a serious station.  I truly enjoy reports from home innovators who spend $15 to fix drift instead of buying a higher ticket rig.

 

Looks like another sporadic-E propagation day.

 

Best regards,

 

Steven, KD7YTE