[amsat-bb] Re: Vanishing Hams

[Robert Bruninga]

> Today, with CB, Cell Phones, cordless phones, FRS, etc. -- 
> everyone is a radio operator. Now, military communications 
> is done with a keyboard or microphone -- pretty much 
> universal  skills now.  

Do not overlook how kids use key-pad text-messaging as the
greatest revolution in communications of all time...  Even some
old-fud adults are learning how to use it..

Then consider that APRS has had global text-messaging (and
email) via the keypad of the D7 and D700 radios for over 10
years now, yet how many old-fuds ever even considered using it
or introduced this exciting new capability to their kids? 

You can even send text-messages or emails from your HT or Radio
from anywhere on earth via any of the APRS satellites (ISS,
GO-32, PCSAT-1, etc)...  We even suggested that everyone should
learn how to do this and exercise it during
Satellite-Simulated-Emergency-Tests.  You can even use any old
TNC and any old radio to do this.  See:
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/sset.html

> Although the Amateur Radio Community shines when 
> there is loss  of communications during a disaster, 
> with newer technology, even that could  change.

What is hard in ham radio is "change".  We basically have to
wait for some ops to die in order for some new things to be
tried and to take hold...

> Maybe the ARRL needs to sponsor an award for bringing 
> new Hams into the community. Otherwise, someday, no 
> one will remember what those letters even  stood for.

A good start might be to sponsor an award for old fuds that try
something new...
And then show it to a kid... <wink>

P.S.  Only about 2% of ham radio operators use APRS, and
probably only 10% of them (0.2% of all hams) have tried this
global text messaging (or email) feature.  Yet, even 10 years
ago, and ahead of its time we had it in Ham Radio!

>From an old fud..
Bob, WB4APR