Were you once a HAM, quit activity, let your license expire and never looked back?

[W8HDU]

The personality of hams at times conflicts with the spirit of the hobby. It's sort of like getting fans of different baseball teams together, and trying to talk generic baseball. It always falls to their favorite, and everyone else is wrong. That mentality happens with hams when you get into the more rogue discussions such as a Extra being a more important ham than other classes, or Techs are not real hams because they don't know code.

The bottom line is ham radio, both the hobby and the license to operate, does not choose sides. However you'll have people wanting to make their preferences, and their interpretations, the law of ham-land. And there are those hams who oppose what is said because they have their preferences. Thus the fight starts.

The best solution is to train yourself, and convince your friends, not to argue. Just excuse yourself from the discussion. It's not worth the time, or getting mad. As long as you are a licensed, operating legally, and causing no harm, you're a ham. The other guy arguing is a boar.

 

[alcahuete]

Personally, I think Hams need to cool it on the contesting. 90% of Ham Radio has become contesting. I came from CB radio where all you did was call CQ and make 10 second contacts (the same thing you do on Ham Radio). I got into Ham Radio to get away from that and here I am bombarded with it all over again with a hundred new ways to contest. Hams need to put that stuff down and utilize all the different aspects of Ham Radio. The technical end of radio. Who knows, maybe that is why some people dont bother getting into it. Why go through all the trouble of learning all this technical stuff about radio when you are just going to sit there and call CQ all day?

Contesters would say the exact same thing about the ragchewers, who occupy a frequency all day long talking about their bowels and other ailments and doctors appointments.

 

[W8HDU]

While I think contesters have a right to use the bands, I find myself turning off the rig and doing other things when there is a contest. Not worth the hassle of aggressive and feral behavior.

 

[popnokick]

So are these some examples of being "decades behind the new radio technology coming out" ?
- KrakenSDR
- Ribbit
- Winlink Global Radio Email
- https://brandmeister.network/

 

[Thorndike113]

So are these some examples of being "decades behind the new radio technology coming out" ?
- KrakenSDR
- Ribbit
- Winlink Global Radio Email
- https://brandmeister.network/

All I have to do is mention DMR and I can find 10 or more hams who go off like a bomb like I just told a climate activist that climate change isn't real (Just an example not opening a discussion on the topic) and I instantly make enemies because I might like DMR. The Ham community is too polarized and they don't need to be. They just need to stop their behavior, stop hiding in their corners and get along. I've had Hams stop talking to me the second I mentioned "Brandmeister". That's one of the reasons I keep the Ham community at an arms length. I happen to like the digital modes of communicating but I am not all about Brandmeister. I am half old Ham and half new Ham. I still like my simplex but I like the new technology. My view on it is to use each mode and each frequency for what it should be used for, not use it just because I can.

In the end, you wont make too many friends if you mention those modes at a Hamvention, unless you are down south or out west. I wish it wasn't like that but it is what it is. The one thing I can say is that you will never get the general population of Hams on board to embrace new technologies.

 

[Thorndike113]

While I think contesters have a right to use the bands, I find myself turning off the rig and doing other things when there is a contest. Not worth the hassle of aggressive and feral behavior.

They have the right to do contesting, but I find the more contesting that goes on, the less you find of other activities going on. Thankfully I haven't wasted my money on an HF radio but when I hear it coming over 2 meters, mine gets shut off also. I just got back into Ham Radio a couple years ago and I am not impressed with what is going on. Instead of blowing money endlessly on all sorts of radio equipment, I buy only what's worth buying, So far, the closest I have come is a 2 meter rig. I would love to find a part of Ham Radio that is not contesting that doesnt require me taking out a loan.

 

[Thorndike113]

Contesters would say the exact same thing about the ragchewers, who occupy a frequency all day long talking about their bowels and other ailments and doctors appointments.

LOL........ You definitely have a point there. I know what you are talking about. We need new blood in Ham radio and the new blood needs to not be shown HF and contesting. There is a lot in Ham Radio that most hams do not know even exists. I have mentioned certain frequencies and modes to some Hams and they didn't know we had privileges in those spots. It wasn't until recently that I found out about all the frequencies and modes in the GHz range because when you get into Ham Radio you enter the VHF and UHF bands. As you upgrade your license, your new frequency ranges downgrade into the HF frequencies and you have contesting shoved in your face. So, Ham Radio just becomes a licensed and organized CB radio in the end. Shouting CQ and accumulating contacts.

 

[W8HDU]

They have the right to do contesting, but I find the more contesting that goes on, the less you find of other activities going on.

I guess all hobbies have those who take it too seriously. Happens in almost every hobby from HO trains to stamp collecting. I think the worst is AM/SWL DXing.

 

[bill4long]

No contesting on 12, 17 and 30 meters.

 

[Thorndike113]

No contesting on 12, 17 and 30 meters.

Eh, if your conversation consists of the following:

k1abc: cqcqcq, this is k1abc cq
n1abc: k1abc this is n1abc I have you 5 by 9
k1abc: I copy you 5 by 9 also. Have a great day.

I consider it contesting. The reason I do is because it's just racking up call signs just to say you made contact with someone. Personally I find that a waste of time but I know a lot of people like doing it just pass time, kind of like playing a good game of solitaire. For me on a budget I can't justify spending thousands of dollars just to have that conversation.

 

[bill4long]

k1abc: cqcqcq, this is k1abc cq
n1abc: k1abc this is n1abc I have you 5 by 9
k1abc: I copy you 5 by 9 also. Have a great day.
I consider it contesting.

Hams on 17 meters generally want to have a conversation. It's a very friendly, relaxed and "hang loose" band. My favorite HF band.

 

[Thorndike113]

Hams on 17 meters generally want to have a conversation. It's a very friendly, relaxed and "hang loose" band. My favorite HF band.

That's surprising cuz every time I've gone on any of those bands it seems like everybody's collecting contacts. I'll have to give it a listen again one of these days

 

[alcahuete]

LOL........ You definitely have a point there. I know what you are talking about. We need new blood in Ham radio and the new blood needs to not be shown HF and contesting. There is a lot in Ham Radio that most hams do not know even exists. I have mentioned certain frequencies and modes to some Hams and they didn't know we had privileges in those spots. It wasn't until recently that I found out about all the frequencies and modes in the GHz range because when you get into Ham Radio you enter the VHF and UHF bands. As you upgrade your license, your new frequency ranges downgrade into the HF frequencies and you have contesting shoved in your face. So, Ham Radio just becomes a licensed and organized CB radio in the end. Shouting CQ and accumulating contacts.

You certainly have a point as well. As a pretty avid contester, I will freely admit that there are A LOT of contests, and they really do take over the bands. I certainly don't do it for the number of contacts, though you do get a hell of a lot of them if you do enough contests. I do it more for the "sport." I just like the competition aspect of it. Don't get me wrong, I also get on ragchew every now and then, mostly CW. I do some FT8. I do some DMR rarely.

My best friend doesn't do much ragchewing or contesting. He restores old military gear and does a lot of RTTY, mostly monitoring. Some of my other friends set up repeaters, do EME, and lord knows what else.

At the end of the day, you do you. There's plenty of bandwidth for everybody to get out and have a good time.

 

[GlobalNorth]

I can see where some just drop out of the hobby. I'm in the midst of a move, so no LF work or HF work, just 2m and 70cm. Problem is few use the repeaters and simplex is as dead as Marconi.

The new shack is going to require a decent amount of cash to reconstitute and with pension payments never increasing, that is an impediment, as is the HOA for the house that the missus fell in love with. Crawling around attics and on ladders is dangerous when one is older.

I've wondered if it is worth the sacrifice anymore. So far, the dual band mobile radios aren't.

 

[Thorndike113]

All I can say is that hams need to branch out. Stop hiding on HF and doing only contesting. Everyone says the 2m/440 bands are dead.......... they are.......... and that's not because of the bands fault, its 100% the fault of Ham operators. Its there to use. If Hams refuse to use them, they will stay dead and when the FCC takes them away one day, Hams will be the only ones to blame, not the bands. Pick up the mic and start transmitting on VHF/UHF. Its not like you need the right band conditions. Just talk, night or day. Plain and simple.

 

[alcahuete]

All I can say is that hams need to branch out. Stop hiding on HF and doing only contesting.

And this is what I still don't understand. Why do you keep telling people how to enjoy ham radio in the manner you enjoy it? I can't tell you the last time I used ham VHF/UHF. I could care less if we lose those bands, to be perfectly honest. I enjoy HF, talking around the world, contesting, etc. Why do the people who enjoy HF and contesting need to move to 2m/70cm?

Its not like you need the right band conditions. Just talk, night or day. Plain and simple.

Funny...I do just that on HF. There is always a band that is open to pretty much everywhere in the world. I generally use 20m and above during the day, 40m and below during the night. Can't do that on 2m/70cm without using the internet.

 

[Boombox]

I guess all hobbies have those who take it too seriously. Happens in almost every hobby from HO trains to stamp collecting. I think the worst is AM/SWL DXing.

I agree with your first statement, but as an SWL who DXes the MW band and goes to at least three forums where there are a lot of hams, I take issue with your last one.

I don't find SWLs or MW DXers taking things any more serious than hams. It's about the same.

Some SWLs and MW DXers will argue about what constitutes a logging, some think you need an SDR to be serious about SWL and MWDX (you don't), and they all have their favorite radios, but I haven't encountered the same level of vitriol in SWL and MW forums than I have at some some ham forums where hams are yelling at and making fun of other hams, and insulting SWLs for having an opinion just because they're an SWL. I haven't seen that here on RR, mind you, but it does happen elsewhere.

Most hobbies have their pedantic jerks. The radio hobbies, in that sense, aren't much different.

 

[Boombox]

You certainly have a point as well. As a pretty avid contester, I will freely admit that there are A LOT of contests, and they really do take over the bands. I certainly don't do it for the number of contacts, though you do get a hell of a lot of them if you do enough contests. I do it more for the "sport." I just like the competition aspect of it. Don't get me wrong, I also get on ragchew every now and then, mostly CW. I do some FT8. I do some DMR rarely.

My best friend doesn't do much ragchewing or contesting. He restores old military gear and does a lot of RTTY, mostly monitoring. Some of my other friends set up repeaters, do EME, and lord knows what else.

At the end of the day, you do you. There's plenty of bandwidth for everybody to get out and have a good time.

As a monitor only, contests don't necessarily bother me because it's a chance to hear countries I don't normally hear. For example, the last time I heard Argentina and Chile was during a contest. Usually the most I hear from South America is Brazil.

On the other side of the coin, I think that of the number of contacts I have heard on HF, maybe 3/4s are "you're 5 and 9, 73s" and maybe the other 1/4 are QSOs where the hams are actually talking to each other, be it SSB or CW. One quarter is still pretty good for QSOs with something to them other than exchanging calls and signal strengths.

 

[GlobalNorth]

Everyone says the 2m/440 bands are dead.......... they are.......... and that's not because of the bands fault, its 100% the fault of Ham operators.

I drove across AZ on a busy Interstate Monday. Not one contact via simplex or a repeater.

I'll do it again tomorrow and I expect the same result.

I could give a monologue for half an hour OTA, but what is the point in hearing myself?

 

[bill4long]

I drove across AZ on a busy Interstate Monday. Not one contact via simplex or a repeater.

Get DMR and/or Fusion and/or Allstar and you'll never drive alone again.