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

[WRQS621]

What’s wrong with just wanting to make contacts? Sometimes band conditions are so bad that conversations are very difficult. Q codes and NATO phonetic alphabet are used for that very reason. I became a radio operator in 1992 as all my family had their license. Back then contesting, big antennas, and 2m was about it. Yeah packet and digital modes were out there but intenet and cellphones were quickly becoming much more interesting. I came back to the hobby after my dad died. He left me all of his equipment. Honestly, the hobby Is better now than ever. Nothing like the sound of SSB. Reminds me of my childhood, very comforting sound given how crazy other forms of media and entertainment have gotten.

 

[W8HDU]

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.

Fair enough. However, I know at least nine (ex)members of two U.S. radio clubs driven out of the club/hobby by harassment or self-righteous people who set their own standards of rules on behalf of themself and use the club and try to push their agenda.

I base my opinion not lightly, but due to the drama and harm some in the hobby inflict on others just to be mean, or to protect what integrity they think they possess.

To that end, a few of us enjoy the hobby without being a member of "a club", or associating with any club members. We do our own thing and don't need "a club" to represent us. Why subject yourself to the abuse?

 

[W8HDU]

Attached is an article which appeared in The Times which I found interesting.

As a side note, I've been finding it interesting how survivalists and preppers are using CB and Ham Radios in their daily travels. Many of which are "modified" in some way. Perhaps the most interesting is a group who modified the QYT CB-27 radio, and interfaced it to a Kantronics TNC, and use it for communications between each other. I copied a transmission on 26.312500 MHz, narrow band FM. The transmission was a shopping list of food items.

 

[Boombox]

Fair enough. However, I know at least nine (ex)members of two U.S. radio clubs driven out of the club/hobby by harassment or self-righteous people who set their own standards of rules on behalf of themself and use the club and try to push their agenda.

I base my opinion not lightly, but due to the drama and harm some in the hobby inflict on others just to be mean, or to protect what integrity they think they possess.

To that end, a few of us enjoy the hobby without being a member of "a club", or associating with any club members. We do our own thing and don't need "a club" to represent us. Why subject yourself to the abuse?

I have only been a member of one MW DX club, and it was a long time ago. Didn't get exposed to any drama, but then my involvement only amounted to receiving the newsletter and contributing some loggings here and there. So I never was very involved. I might have gone to one local get-together, where maybe a handful of guys were.

That said, I never was much exposed to the bad side of it, but I believe what you said probably happened, as I have seen an inkling of that sort of bossiness about MW DX online, so it undoubtedly happens. Some guys challenging other guys' loggings or methods of considering a station heard to be an actual logging, arguing over equipment to a certain extent -- that sort of thing.

Not so much of that kind of drama on the informal MW DX threads/pages on FB, though. Maybe because a lot of the DXers are either starting out, getting back into the hobby, etc., and they aren't so hardline about stuff. If they're just listening to long distance MW on a portable or clock radio or whatever, maybe with a Select-A-Tenna or more or less minimal equipment like that, they're not going to be as hard core in their opinions as someone who maybe has a lot more high end equipment, and is prominent in the hobby -- although a lot of the high end guys are really nice people.

It is sad when drama happens in any hobby. I saw it in the bagpipe world. I quit a band because of it. Drama in a hobby can turn off new people who'll think "why would I want to hang out with uptight jerks like this?"

I think the majority of radio hobbyists go it solo -- no clubs. I'm not in a club now. I don't feel the need for it. So I understand your sentiments completely.

 

[W8HDU]

Some guys challenging other guys' loggings or methods of considering a station heard to be an actual logging, arguing over equipment to a certain extent -- that sort of thing.

That is perhaps the worst of the deadly sins of MW DX. At one point myself, and a couple others, thought we could stifle the naysayers when we got Perseus radios, as we could provide audio clips of what we heard. You could send in your logging and put an audio clip of the reception on the web for all to hear.

That should have put it to bed, but the bullies continued their diatribes accusing us now of trading recordings. The bottom line was that their claims were baseless. However their nonstop braying at every logging which was a good catch got old quick.

Add to that the way you count loggings. If you receive 1270 in Detroit, is that 1 point in the log for "the station", or is it 2 points in the log because they have had two call signs, or 2 points in the log because of two different transmitter site locations. And do you claim an extra point for a station running IBOC since there is an analog transmission and a digital transmission? Is it 3 points if they have two digital streams. The bottom line is that it completely ruins the experience of being in a club. The constant bickering is draining.

I put a lot of the blame on club leadership, which while wanting to be in charge, do nothing to quell the cackling of feral members lashing out at other members. Like you said; "why would I want to hang out with uptight jerks like this?" Many of us didn't and left.

I find the hobby less frustrating not dealing with malcontents, or clubs. On the other hand, it's great to have a few good friends show up at a location and do some DXing, exchange ideas, and be as excited that you heard Algeria on 891, without the competition or kvetching.

 

[bill4long]

What’s wrong with just wanting to make contacts?

There's nothing wrong with that. Do what you want and ignore the naysayers.

If you ever feel like you need permission, just come back and read what I just wrote. Doctor's orders.

 

[Boombox]

Add to that the way you count loggings. If you receive 1270 in Detroit, is that 1 point in the log for "the station", or is it 2 points in the log because they have had two call signs, or 2 points in the log because of two different transmitter site locations. And do you claim an extra point for a station running IBOC since there is an analog transmission and a digital transmission? Is it 3 points if they have two digital streams. The bottom line is that it completely ruins the experience of being in a club. The constant bickering is draining.

I guess I managed to avoid most of that, partially because of the fact I wasn't all that involved in the club, and also because of my own maverick way of approaching MW DX.

My logbook is mine, and the way I count, or don't count a station is my own determination. I've never held to others' definitions of what counts as an ID, for example. If I hear local spots and/or the station I'm hearing is the only one on the channel broadcasting in Punjabi, it's sufficient for me to count it. Sometimes even with that I won't, though, and I'll wait for a few more times hearing it to see if I can more closely determine an ID to feel better about it. It's part of the challenge. It's not like when we die we're going to get gold stars or bullet points for what we've logged. It's a hobby.

And not all stations ID, even if you know who it is. I have yet to hear Firedrake give an ID, yet everyone with a Shortwave radio who can hear Asia knows what that station is, after they've heard it.

I suppose in ham radio where you have these 'awards' like DXCC and the like, more stringent criteria for loggings are probably necessary to maintain some sort of award standards, but for most of us in the radio hobby, it's more of a personal thing than anything else. I get a kick out of hearing VOA transmit out of Botswana, whether I hear an actual 'VOA' ID or I don't. I just enjoy hearing it broadcast from there, 'cause it's coming from the other side of the world to hit my G2's whip antenna with programming.

It's a hobby.

For the sake of this thread (to keep from derailing it further) I know that in ham radio it's a bit different. But the tighter standards for loggings don't have to take the fun out of it.

 

[W8HDU]

The lessons learned in other hobbies carry over into ham radio. We just must be vigilant that we don't promote or condone bad behavior.

 

[WRQS621]

There's nothing wrong with that. Do what you want and ignore the naysayers.

If you ever feel like you need permission, just come back and read what I just wrote. Doctor's orders.

l support free speech. Holding a license comes with certain rules that limit what can be said on the airwaves. But what I love about amateur radio is hearing the actual voices of people around the world. Listening is a virtue.

 

[WRQS621]

The lessons learned in other hobbies carry over into ham radio. We just must be vigilant that we don't promote or condone bad behavior.

Personalities and egos will always garner conflict. You can only control what you do, not what others do. i remember the Blind Melon video with the bee girl (Gen X thing). She was made fun of by everyone for being herself, then she found other people like her. That what you gotta do with anything, find your people.

 

[bill4long]

l support free speech. Holding a license comes with certain rules that limit what can be said on the airwaves.

What rules? Other than this...

The FCC and Speech

The FCC is barred by law from trying to prevent the broadcast of any point of view. The Communications Act prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcast material, in most cases, and from making any regulation that would interfere with freedom of speech.

www.fcc.gov

 

[Falcon9h]

PERSONALLY, I still credit the Internet for the degradation of Packet Radio which was my favorite mode of operation. Once these Internet connections started becoming available and getting overseas traffic stateside faster than the HF gateways, many of the HF gateway operators said, "why bother" and took their systems off the air. I guess they figured they could put their electricity, expensive radios and antennas towards other purposes. Now the reliance on the Internet (which is not radio) took the fun out it, at least for me. Sure, there is still the ISS, but how many times do you do that before you get bored and APRS is not my thing.

Not to mention that it destroyed shortwave broadcasters. I want to listen on a real radio, meaning one of my vintage sets receiving the station, not something being streamed on bluetooth. Vintage set = Rolls and bluetooth = Ford Pinto. It's how you get there.
I enjoyed listening to Radio Australia during the wee hours and the internet killed that. Fortunately there's still RNZI, at least for now.

 

[Falcon9h]

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.

God, I wouldn't live within 1000 miles a an HOA, wife or not. I'd get arrested within an hour of moving in.

 

[Falcon9h]

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.

That's why I went back to the kinder, gentler of worlds of restoring old radios.

 

[W8HDU]

Not to mention that it destroyed shortwave broadcasters.

Sore subject with me for two reasons. First, how am I supposed to listen to broadcasts from other countries other than shortwave when I'm driving in the truck. I sure as heck am not going to stream it on my phone.

Secondly, the arrogance and ignorance of those in government who think a third world citizens can afford a computer/phone and ability to stream broadcasts is beyond stupid.

An example of which is what is happening in Ukraine where networks are down, but shortwave still makes it into the region. Thankfully, some of the privately owned stations have stepped up. Shortwave is still relevant. But most opinions from its detractors is not.

 

[Boombox]

Sore subject with me for two reasons. First, how am I supposed to listen to broadcasts from other countries other than shortwave when I'm driving in the truck. I sure as heck am not going to stream it on my phone.

Secondly, the arrogance and ignorance of those in government who think a third world citizens can afford a computer/phone and ability to stream broadcasts is beyond stupid.

An example of which is what is happening in Ukraine where networks are down, but shortwave still makes it into the region. Thankfully, some of the privately owned stations have stepped up. Shortwave is still relevant. But most opinions from its detractors is not.

A lot of third worlders have phones now. The 2015 exodus news coverage concerning the refugees from Syria had lots of video and pictures of refugees who had phones.

Whether they actually stream radio stations on them I have no idea. But they do have phones.

I agree that SW and MW radio have their place, especially during disasters. Unfortunately, governments often think otherwise. So do a lot of people, actually. Radio sales are down from what they were 10-20 years ago. That doesn't mean that no one has a radio, though. In the Outback of Australia the farmers, miners and ranchers complained when Radio Australia went off the air, because they depended on it. The government didn't care. Very sad.

 

[W8HDU]

While they have service, and phone devices are available; they are only available to those in the upper tiers of income. In some cases that's 5% or less.

We forget that most third world nations, and nations at war, do not have the ability to purchase phones. Ergo, the disconnect between broadcast and stream.

 

[Falcon9h]

While they have service, and phone devices are available; they are only available to those in the upper tiers of income. In some cases that's 5% or less.

We forget that most third world nations, and nations at war, do not have the ability to purchase phones. Ergo, the disconnect between broadcast and stream.

That, plus streaming through the network is fine if you're wealthy. I can't do it. I'm not even in 25%.
This has been a very interesting discussion BTW.

 

[mark40]

In 2005 decided to study for Technician License and after getting it, put a 2 meter rig in my car but after doing a lot of listening, never warmed up to wanting to talk. Ended up using radio as a scanner to monitor PD/FD/EMS and sold off the radio after a few years. After renewal, tried it again but same result. Suppose I'll continue renew, you never know.

 

[ladn]

Suppose I'll continue renew, you never know.

Renewal is easy, with minimal paperwork. Even if you never use it, it's good to have.
And, while it's rarely ever enforced, some jurisdictions still have laws on the books that prohibit "monitoring", except for holders of amateur radio licenses.