synergy124 2023/07/09 07:20
Too true.
One is not really a "ham" unless and until he/she builds his/her own gear, at least initially.
Other than that one is merely an appliance operator.
Best 73's to all
Phil VK6RE/LZ1
+
On Saturday, 8 July 2023 at 07:29:03 pm GMT+3, Dave (NK7Z) <dave@nk7z.net> wrote:
Morning Mike,
Respectfully, there will always be examples of tech, and examples of non
tech, that we can throw around. My point is, that most of the newer,
(last 30 or so years), hams are not as technically oriented as Amateurs
were when I was in my 20's or 30's, which was 40 years ago.
The proliferation of grab-n-go radios, publishing the question pools,
and in general, the lack of understanding for basic physics, has allowed
many folks to get involved, where as in the past, (30 to 40 years ago),
you had to have a fairly broad technical understanding, to even get on
the air. Not to say there were not exceptions to this, I am talking in
general here.
This is neither a good nor a bad development, but it is a fact, the
level of technical expertise, of the average Amateur operator, is far
less than it was 30 years ago. Technical expertise being defined as
moving wires, understanding why things work, and using parts the allow
electrons to flow through them.
On the other hand, there are far more newer folks, that are far better
at programming, and the use of computers than the older folks are now...
It is all in how one defines technical. Us old guys define it as
working directly with electrons, the newer folks define it as working
with code, etc.
But make no mistake about it-- there is a schism that has developed
between the new and the old tech folks, (as defined above), and the
average Amateur...
The real issue is that the hobby is dominated by older folks like
myself, who grew up with soldering iron in hand, which gives us our
definition of technical.
The newer technical savvy folks, on the other hand, could say the same
thing about the older folks, where computers are involved. On average
the newer folks know far more about computers than on average, the older
folks do... Again, it always boils down to what is ones definition of
technical knowledge.
I have strayed far off topic here...
73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
On 7/7/23 09:55, Michael Cheponis wrote:
> As for 'tech love' in ham radio, I don't think it has declined at all.
> Sure the venerable 'Ham Radio' magazine is long gone
> https://worldradiohistory.com/Ham_Radio.htm
> <https://worldradiohistory.com/Ham_Radio.htm> however, QEX does a
> decent job of pulling good tech together. And DUBUS magazine
> http://www.dubus.org/ <http://www.dubus.org/> is just amazing in the
> microwave world.
>
> There are other non-USA pubs that are pretty good, Here for example is
> a sample issue of RSGB's RADCOM:
> https://rsgb.org/main/publications-archives/radcom/sample-radcom/
> <https://rsgb.org/main/publications-archives/radcom/sample-radcom/>
>
> There is a flurry of online tech info, especially on digital modes
> https://sumterdigitalgroup.com/digital-modes/
> <https://sumterdigitalgroup.com/digital-modes/>
>
> There is work on new HF/VHF codecs: https://freedv.org/
> <https://freedv.org/>
>
> I could go on for many more pages. My point is that, sure, maybe you
> don't get a perfect replica of "Ham Radio Magazine" in the mail each
> month, however, that and much more is available to today's hams with a
> little bit of poking around.
>
> GL, es 73,
> Mike K6THZ
> (I have one of every NanoVNA, and have gifted to others all but one)
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 7, 2023 at 9:30 AM Dave (NK7Z) <dave@nk7z.net
> <mailto:dave@nk7z.net>> wrote:
>
> Hello,
> If you like tech, QEX is your magazine... It is, for the most part,
> like the old QST used to be, filled with theory, and practice
> articles... If I had to take only one ARRL magazine, it would be QEX.
>
> I tend to agree with you with regards to the lack of tech love in the
> hobby of late...
>
> Page 35 of the current QEX has a nice article on the VNA... It is not
> titled as such, it is under the "Self paced essays" section.
>
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net <https://www.nk7z.net>
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
> On 7/6/23 13:49, Anne Ranch wrote:
> > I was going to ask just the original poster, but I am messing with my
> > system and got stuck.
> > With , in MY OPINION , general decline in interest in technical stuff
> > in this hobby - is it worth to subscribe "to get NEW QEX" ?
> > I was under the impression that older QEX issues are on the net -
> somewhere...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
