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May 9th 04, 04:13 PM

(Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote in
:

Subject: News from France
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 5/9/2004 8:38 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Alun wrote:

I always used to meet people who told me they would get a licence but
for the code test. I think we could have had them in the hobby if we
had abolished code testing 20 years ago, but I think it is too late
and we have blown it. Nobody is clamouring to becme a ham anymore.

WE haven't "blown" anything..."They" have had the opportunity to
get a
code-free license for what...12-13 years now..?!?!

Nope, we needed to give them HF while they were still interested.

If it weren't the Code test, it would be the written....If it's
not the
tests themselves, it's the perception that you have to have to have
enough equipment to rival VOA

My life's experience has been that for every hobby or avocation,
there
is a large group of people that "would do it except for....". What they
are actually tell you when they say this is " I have a passing interest
in this. But I'm not so interested that I will become a participant".

In hang gliding we call them "wuffos"...

As in "Wuffo you wanna do that..???" You oughtta see the faces
at
speedgliding events!

People in amateur astronomy also obsess about the graying of the
hobby,

and how do we get the kids involved? Fact is, a scope that can actually
be used for any kind of passable observation costs a fair amount of
money. And ohhh geee, the dufusses that wanted to get the little kids
interested in observing seem to have forgotten that Mommy and Daddy
don't want little Buffy or Jody (and by extension, Mommy or Daddy) to
be staying up all night and traveling to remote sites.....

Sure...and why go to all that effort when you can see Jupiter a lot
easier
with a bit of creative websurfing!

In ham radio, a person not only has to have the interest, they
have to
be willing and able to spend a fair amount of discretionary income on a
rig, put up an antenna, (if they are even allowed to) and all the other
things we have to do to get on the air.

I guess "fair amount" is realtive. You can put up an effective
HF/VHF/UHF
station for under $350/400 if you do a bit of shopping and don't want
all the latest bells and whistles. Then there are they guys with TOO
MUCH "discretionary income" and have stations who look like the
aforementioned VOA outlets!

Any wonder why lots of the new guys are the shack on the belt
types?
For kids, usually dependent upon M&D for their money, M&D are often
happy to spend 100-200 dollars on a HT. They might not look so happily
upon laying out $800-3000 for an hf rig, and putting up that antenna.
All the young hams in my area are repeater people, save for Field day.

This is where "Elmering" could come in and these youngsters get
introduced
to where/how to look for those used rigs.

Absolutely

Finally, the comparison of ham radio to the internet is amusing at
best. There is almost not technical comparison between the two. Beyond
the technogeeks such as myself, that spend a fair amount of time
keeping other peoples computers on the stinkin' Internet, the technical
acumen level is mighty darn low. How much ability is needed to surf
porn?

I dunno, Mike...How much IS needed...?!?! =O =)

My points are that blaming the lack of growth (which is an
arguable
thing in the first place) on the Morse code test is kind of like saying
that a frog with no legs that can't jump when you tell it to jump, is
deaf.

It is a hobby for the dedicated and relative few.

Yep...like I said...Amateur Radio (for those who participate
regularly) has
almost always appealed to a very narrow segment of society and always
will. All we need to do is keep it out there in front of those
"potentials" and wait for them to decide for themselves.

73

Steve, K4YZ