[amsat-bb] Re: Vanishing Hams

[Edward Cole]

Although we dread the thought, ham radio may be dated and only last 
out until the last of the baby boomer's generation.  And maybe with 
the change in where the forefront of technology is going that is how 
it must be.  In time it appears all communications will be 
digital.  RF designers might be a little harder to find.  Even that 
is going up to the millimeter bands...not really very suited to 
homebrew construction.  Ham radio may just evolve from technical whiz 
kids making coils out of oatmeal boxes (those are disappearing too) 
to mere communicators that know little about the technology inside.

I do believe (hope) that ham radio continues for the remainder of my 
lifetime as it has been central in my life interest (both hobby and 
profession).  Another 20-30 years?  Or will quantum communicators 
obsolete us in a shorter time span?

Its been a fun ride (my 50th year as a ham)!

73 Ed - KL7UW (ex AL7EB, K8MWA)

At 06:52 AM 7/16/2008, K5GNA at aol.com wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>
>I read the article yesterday that Frank had referred to and forwarded it to
>a few friends.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>I received this URL today.  Read number 16.
>
>_http://www.walletpop.com/specials/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america?i_
>(http://www.walletpop.com/specials/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america?i)
>cid=100214839x1205495530x1200282778
>
><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
>Every time I go to an annual swapfest, the average age of attendees is one
>year older. We need to spend some time reaching out to a younger 
>generation  or
>#16 on the list will come true.
>
>Many years ago, it was in the national interest to have  a cadre of trained
>radio operators. 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.
>
>As the article mentions, the airwaves are valuable property and we could
>lose them.  Although the Amateur Radio Community shines when there 
>is loss  of
>communications during a disaster, with newer technology, even that 
>could  change.
>
>A few years ago at the 2002 AMSAT meeting in Ft. Worth, Tony, AA2TX was
>giving a talk on his antennas made from cardboard boxes and 
>aluminum  foil.  There
>was a grade school class in attendance with their  teacher.  When the talk
>was over, the kids swarmed over the boxes and  aluminum foil to make antennas
>with great enthusiasm.  Very inspiring  -- this is the kind of 
>reaching out we
>need.
>
>Instead of our self serving pursuit of DXCC, WAS, VUCC, WAC and  others,
>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.
>
>
>73 & TNX,
>
>Bob
>K5GNA
>
>
>
>
>
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