From: jkearman@arrl.org (Jim Kearman)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Amateur Radio: A Technical Hobby? (was: QST, in my opinion)
Date: 25 Aug 92 13:23:25 EDT
Organization: American Radio Relay League

;gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman)
;Organization: Gannett Technologies Group
; 
;In article <14974@ksr.com> jfw@ksr.com (John F. Woods) writes:
;>gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) writes:
;>>Well 10-4 good buddy! I must have been sleeping when they changed the
;>>basis and purpose of amateur radio.
;>
;>You must have been sleeping the last time you read it.  Part 97 enumerates
;>a number of "bases and purposes" for Amateur Radio, with no obligation that
;>each and every amateur indulge obsessively in each one.
; 
;There are five enumerated. Three specifically require technical expertise,
;one does so partially, and only "promote international good will" requires
;none. And even that is aided by technical knowledge of such things as RF
;propagation.
; 
;>>Sadly it seems you are right, however.
;>>A large number of "amateurs" seem to have little technical skill and little
;>>desire to learn.
;>
;>Convince them it's enjoyable.
; 
;Well it's certainly true that a majority of hams view amateur radio as
;a hobby rather than as a service. But it is inherently a *technical*
                                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
;hobby and attempting to understand the technical basis for the service
;enhances a person's effectiveness at pursuing the avocation. Being more
;effective is generally more fun than being ineffective.
; 
;Gary KE4ZV
;

I think we need to move away from this insistence on calling
Amateur Radio a "technical" hobby. Three years ago I decided
to get active on HF. I had a trap vertical, so all I needed
was a transceiver. I bought one, unpacked it and plugged it
in. I had less difficulty operating the rig than I've had
programming a VCR.

Amateur Radio licensees require some technical knowledge, but
we've heard ample testimony that those questions and answers
can be memorized. Amateur Radio appeals to many types of 
people, and not just for technical reasons. To MY mind, their
reasons are as valid as any. 

In my personal opinion, there's more to technical knowledge
than just electronics, digital or analog. There are many,
many DXers and contesters who have no knowledge of what's
happening inside the cabinets of their rigs and amplifiers.
On the other hand, their operating skills and knowledge of
propagation are legendary. They may not know beans about how
the ionosphere works, but they know how to use it. This
knowledge comes from experience, not books. I don't think 
they are any less valuable to the hobby or society in general 
because they think a synthesizer is used to make alien 
concoctions on Star Trek.

Hard-core technical types spend less time on the air than the
ragchewers and DXers they sometimes like to poke fun at. If
it weren't for these technically disadvantaged operators,
there'd be no one to work. Twenty meters would sound like
10 GHz the weekend after a microwave contest.

To get back to my ongoing sermon, we need to accept that
other people are not entirely like ourselves. Just having
a ham license, no matter what class, should be enough to
permit us to accept amateurs of all interests as equals.

Finally, if we truly want to keep the hobby going, we need
to constantly recruit new hams. Beginner-oriented operating
and technical articles in QST are one way. If you're not
personally interested in them, why not give them to a 
youngster who might? We old timers would love to see articles
only of interest to us, but that's a shortsighted attitude.
We can enjoy all this knowledge we've acquired over the 
years. The beginner is just beginning. By the way, nobody 
ever finds it particularly easy to write an article. Most
of us would rather be playing with radio, rather than
writing about it. Again, if we want newcomers, we must do
things to attract them. So, if there's some area of Amateur
Radio you'd like to see given more coverage in a League
publication, please take it upon yourself to write about it.
I don't guarantee you'll get published. I've had articles
rejected by QST this year, too (the dogs! :> ). We've sent
out lots of Author's Guides lately; I hope we see some
results! 73.

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JIM KEARMAN, KR1S                    Voice: 203-666-1541 ext 279
ARRL Assistant Technical Editor	     FAX:   203-665-7531
Author of `The DXCC Companion'	     ARRL Headquarters
Editor of `Now You're Talking!,'     225 Main Street
ARRL License Manuals,		     Newington, CT 06111
ARRL Instructor Guides		     e-mail: jkearman@arrl.org
Author of `Wally and Mike' stories

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