Jerry, On Oct 23, 2011, at 10:44 AM, N0JY wrote:
> Yes! Let's don't overlook the fact that designing and building an EasySat > CubeSat also gives us the opportunity to explore, learn, and try out new > technologies that can be later used for higher satellites when the > opportunity comes, and expanded functionality on LEOs as well. I don't think > AMSAT-NA is stuck in a dumbing down, or a "good old days" mentality, I think > we're taking the lemons we have (although I don't for a minute consider ANY > opportunity to build a satellite as lemons) I don't think this discussion is about AMSAT-NA/DL/UK you name it being stuck in that discussion. I do believe that actually the people that matter are rather busy driving change than waste their time and energy complaining about the idiots that come to ham radio today. They don't have time for that. This discussion is more about the negativity spewed by some people within this hobby (not just the satellite community) and how it is distracting and potentially driving away people that consider twice where to spend their spare time. If I were 20 years old right now and I would have to decide if I would like to spend my time with some 80+ year olds who don't do more than spill "Get OFF my lawn" comments rather than share their wisdom or I could spend my time building let's say software and spending my time with people who are constantly interested in pushing boundaries and sharing their experience (e.g. the Open Source community) than it would be an easy call. And that's what's happening. Is it much more exciting to build software vs. a radio? Maybe, maybe not. But if we as a community fail to share the passion about this very fact, we loose. This whole dumbing down of the license requirements is getting old quick. I'd rather have 20 amateurs who don't know CW but have the knack for building stuff than one great 30wpm CW operator who couldn't distinguish a resistor from a transformer if his life depended on it (this was an example to make a point for those folks on the literal Internet train). 73 Mike K5TRI _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
