Only five years ago did I get my license, even though I was interested
in radio sixty years ago. My sons, now in their early 30's have watched
my radio activities with curiosity. A few anecdotes:
1) On a camping trip for the three of us in Adirondack Park we set up
my Buddipole and KX3. They were astounded. One said "Wow, it's amazing
what signals and people are around us all the time!" He's a successful
robotics engineer who is as immersed in today's technology as much as
anyone. He can run a million-dollar robot or his house from his
smartphone, but the experience of sitting at a remote campground and
talking to people with 10 watts and AA batteries still intrigued him.
2) My other son was complaining about a DZOTA on his commute and
suggested we explore it. Having no radio other that what was in his
car, I tuned in 1710 KHz AM and we listened. He drove around the area
noting the changes in QRM, sometimes obviously a advertising sign, but
above it all something loud going on in an area that seemed to delineate
his DZOTA. At one point we wandered into a school parking lot, thinking
the QRM was coming from the school, but it didn't pan out. He will have
fun tracking it down. His career is in cybersecurity.
3) One son was amazed to see my QSO with Antarctica with a KX3,
KXPA100, and a simple wire dipole. Both sons understand communications
theory well enough, but have trouble grasping the reality of capturing a
signal that is 24 decibels below the noise floor from such a remote
place. When I told them my .25W WSPR signal was picked up in Tasmania,
they believed me, but only. When I explained to one how easy it would be
to use the shortwave radio I gave him to monitor my activity on FT8,
even in his apartment, maybe with an antenna connected to his rain
gutter, he was intrigued but skeptical.
They know there is still magic out there. They probably could get their
Technician without studying. Will they get their licenses? At times I
have a study manual with us and ask questions, some of which are just
basic common sense or stuff that is useful to everyone. Their response
is, "Are those real questions?" They are both primed to be curious
about amateur radio (one even uses SDR's in his research!) but, despite
my encouragement, haven't taken any tests. Maybe one problem is that
our kids are too "tested out" from this education system and are afraid
of failing once again. Since their dad passed all the tests, they know
it can be done. Does it help to hear that if you fail a test, it
doesn't go on your record? Or to hear that you don't need a score of
100%? We've all heard potential hams say, "Oh, but I don't think I
could learn Morse code." We need the exams, but maybe they are an
artificial barrier?
david
KC1DNY
On 12/13/2019 9:24 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
Hams of a certain age, including yours truly (first licensed in 1971) recall
their excitement on joining the hobby: there was the promise of contact with
faraway places, collection of vivid QSL cards, mastery of esoteric equipment,
synchrony with the rhythms of Morse code, and the crafting of antennas to
harness action at a distance.
Most of us still feel that spark, occasionally--some on a daily
basis--experiencing the wonder all over again.
While the accoutrements and equipage of youth have evolved over the decades,
their DNA has not. Somewhere, nestled between the genetic codes for half-pipe
snowboarding, Instagram, Juul, and ambient house, there's a dormant sequence
for the Radio Art waiting to be stirred.
Is there a Battle Royale for ham radio? A tactical RPG?
What is our sorcerer's stone? Our rap?
Will Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha tickle the ionosphere, and if so...why?
To hand our batons across the chronological divide, we'll need empathetic,
open-ended inquiry.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
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