I don't comment much on amateur issues, despite the belief that many
of them affect us as SWL's, but I think this shows a bit of insight into
what some of the challenges facing the ARS, and by extension, SWL
hobbycraft.

We've all heard of Riley Hollingsworth, and many of us have an
opinion of him and his crusade to clean up the ARS bands.

But few have ever heard him in his own words.

He's a wry wit with a pragmatic view of ARS and what practicing hams
need to think about when using the bands. There is also practical advice
to the rest of us, here. And though much of what he says isn't relevant
to all of us, it IS relevant to many, and does warrant the moment of
attention, if for no other reason than to give a first hand experience
with what the man is about, and what he has to say.

Riley Hollingsworth, at the Dayton Hamvention:


http://www.therainreport.com/rainrep...-5-24-2007.mp3

and then

http://www.therainreport.com/rainrep...-5-31-2007.mp3

On Jun 19, 1:59 pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
I don't comment much on amateur issues, despite the belief that many
of them affect us as SWL's, but I think this shows a bit of insight into
what some of the challenges facing the ARS, and by extension, SWL
hobbycraft.

We've all heard of Riley Hollingsworth, and many of us have an
opinion of him and his crusade to clean up the ARS bands.

But few have ever heard him in his own words.

He's a wry wit with a pragmatic view of ARS and what practicing hams
need to think about when using the bands. There is also practical advice
to the rest of us, here. And though much of what he says isn't relevant
to all of us, it IS relevant to many, and does warrant the moment of
attention, if for no other reason than to give a first hand experience
with what the man is about, and what he has to say.

Riley Hollingsworth, at the Dayton Hamvention:

http://www.therainreport.com/rainrep...-5-24-2007.mp3

and then

http://www.therainreport.com/rainrep...-5-31-2007.mp3

That's a whole trainload full of good advice and sober thinking.

The SWL hobby, like amateur radio, is in a serious and generational
danger. Kids today have Skype, and IRC, and podcasts, and an
unbelievable variety of streaming audio choices, and chat rooms, and
Second Life, and cable TV, and AM/FM, and HD-radio, and cellphones, to
communicate and receive news and entertainment.

SWL takes work. Like sailing, it's harder than driving a motor-boat
or a jet-ski. Often-times, having a good mentor to help you along
makes the difference between a newbie giving up very quickly on SWL,
and becoming an eventual enthusiast willing to share his or her
knowledge and excitement to the next crop of newbies.

So some newbie stumbles onto rec.radio.shortwave, and posts a
question. Odds are, a number of genuinely helpful responses will
encourage him or her. But then..... reading a bit further.....

To be somewhat crass myself, I think what Riley's saying is: when
there's a fire burning in your house, people of sound judgment don't
spend their time shouting and arguing -- they get to the business of
putting out the fire. In this case, by welcoming and encouraging new
people and acting in a polite and civil way, rather than engaging in
****ing contests.

I know the majority of people don't need this lecture. But for the
sake of the hobby, can we try to act more like we'd like to be treated
and less like we have something to prove?

And now back to your regularly scheduled bitstream...