Vshah101 wrote:

From: Radio Amateur KC2HMZ

Naturally. What would *you* give them on the basis of?

Instead of the number of contacts worked, how about station setup time

That happens in Field Day, Vipul.

or distance.

This one is also done.

How about awarding for getting through under less ideal conditions.
This may require a signal report.

Try working Europe or Africa on 160m for less than ideal conditions.

The CQ WW DX Contest requires a signal report. Most of them are "59" or
"599".

As, you can see, there are many possibilities for awards, other than what
exists right now.

....or other than those which are known to you.

This is a competitive activity. Hams compete to obtain the best contest
score,

...which should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever looked up
the word "contest" in the dictionary.

It does not match the dictionary. I could have a contest for radio direction
finding, but that's not what "contest" means in Ham radio.

There already are contests for radio direction finding within amateur
radio. Yes, those competitions are defined as contests.

Ham radio redefines
the word contesting to only mean the number of contacts worked.

That isn't correct. *Some* contesting involves making as many contacts
as possible but also includes working multipliers on various
bands/modes.

Maybe not in your area. That doesn't mean it's the same everywhere
else.

Not at any club in MA. Its not practical for me to move out of my state.

Massachusetts is a little, tiny state bordered by a number of other
states. After you've exhausted your search within your state, start
working on the others. It'll fill your empty hours.

Sounds to me like you want someone else to do everything for you
instead of getting off your duff and doing it yourself.

No, I would put in the effort in organizing, doing the actual project
construction and setup, etc. IF any other Ham in the club was interested in
those activities.

Sounds like you need to go ahead with the organizing, project
construction, setup, etc. and see if anyone is interested. If they are
not, nothing precludes your dropping of your group acitivities fetish
and going solo.

You wanna play with SMT, fine

I've built circuits with SMT components.

Then you must have nothing left to learn about them :)

We have one or two guys in our club who build and fly
radio controlled model aircraft.

I don't understand what you are trying to say.

That much is evident.

How does this relate to amateur
radio?

You need to read up on the use of 6m for radio controlled models.

* Radar is not a valid transmission mode in the ARS as far as I know.

Someone interested in Amateur radio *should* be interested in other rf areas
also, if its a technical hobby. Many Hams lose interest if the application is
not connected to their radio. My first intro to rf was through "radio" (not CB
radio). However, I found that I enjoy any rf related application, (such as
radar) not just "radio".

You'll just love the study of microwave ovens.

APRS is, a map
showing active locations.
snipped some stuff
Also, somebody's
got to pay for the extra gear.

The thing is my local club has an amazing shack with a field day setup all
year. They have parts cabinets, cables, soldering iron, test equipment - a
complete setup. The club even has a Network Analyzer.

The issue is not cost. They have more than enough resources to make it a
technical club. The issue is that the resources are being used for
"traditional" Ham activities, not for technical aspects. The club members want
to contest, and do Morse code. They dislike doing homebrewing, or APRS, radio
direction finding, or other technical activities.

....and you're honked because you want the club members to stop doing
what interests them and to do what interests you. Sounds pretty selfish
on your part.

All too often people buy a book, learn
to pass the test, pass the test, get the license, and don't know
squat, and don't want to hear it when somebody tries to explain it to
them either.

There is no interest in the technical areas. I would help in organizing such
activities, but when I propose them, no Hams are interested in technical
activities.

So let it drop and allow other hams to do what interests them. YOU do
what interests you.

THEY went on a DXpedition - and they had one. YOU on the other
hand wanted a vacation.

They accomplished their DXpedition objectives when they operated radios all
day.

You didn't go on a DXpedition.


I worked several modes during the day also. They did not have to operate
radios all night.

....but they wanted to and they did. You likely thought they should drop
what they wanted to do in favor of what you wanted to do. Sounds pretty
selfish on your part.

I went to a vacation spot, so yes I wanted a vacation. I also wanted to operate
radios. I did that. I got some vacation activities. I went to the beach even
though others didn't.

So what are you complaining about?

I wish I did some more vacation activities there.

Blame yourself.

But we've already seen that work is not quite
up your alley

I've helped with antenna setups and takedowns, so I have done some projects.

Didn't you tell us earlier that you didn't participate in taking down
antennas because it was boring?

I
have proposed technical projects and no Hams show any interest. I would do the
work required, if anyone was interested.

They STILL won't stop doing what they want in favor of doing what YOU
want. Any of this sinking in yet?

And, apparently there *was* a need to work
that location for 8+ hours, because they were still making contacts,
meaning there were still stations that wanted to work them

The other Hams that wanted to work them (and there were many, including some on
ATV), also worked them on Sat night. It just shows that there were other
anti-social Hams at other locations.

....along with at least one who has no idea of the purpose of the trip or
the operating activity.

Dave K8MN