|
It is currently Wed Apr 17, 2024 7:13 pm
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
M0VMT
BANNED
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:29 pm Posts: 10532
Feedback: 0 (0%)
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
I never met a can't be arsed CB good buddy CW operator Chris Mark
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 1:15 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
2E0JGR
Contributor 2023
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 2:43 pm Posts: 5433 Location: Cumbria IO84pw
Feedback: 27 (100%)
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
I think Morse code is a little too hard for the majority of the "CB" mentality users to master and hence why your section of the bands is nice and clear with only the occasional LID.
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 1:22 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
G6CSL
BANNED
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:07 pm Posts: 11610 Location: Workington, Cumbria.
Feedback: 4 (100%)
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
2E0JGR wrote: I think Morse code is a little too hard for the majority of the "CB" mentality users to master and hence why your section of the bands is nice and clear with only the occasional LID. I wouldn't say that morse is 'hard' John. It doesn't take 'effort' to learn it; it just takes time ... lots of time.
_________________ Chris, 'oop North.
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 1:31 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
G3XSA
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
There a lot of truth in what you say Mark.
There is no doubt that the hobby was in decline, with far fewer people coming into it, and as people left the hobby, or died, they weren't being replaced with 'new blood'.
If people were serious about becoming a radio amateur, they could have taken the RAE, like thousands of us did. With a bit of dedication it wasn't difficult, as it was hardly A level standard.
I believe that it was the RSGB that proposed, and pushed for the Foundation licence, to try and save the hobby from fading away. Let's face it, without radio amateurs, the RSGB would be surplus to requirements.
I'm sure that some people saw the foundation licence as an easy way to get an extension to their CB activity, with no real interest in learning any more than had to, in order to depress a PTT and waffle on some new bands.
No real understanding of the technical side of the hobby, or the desire to achieve it.
I think this fits with your description of people that make that first step, and then just 'sit on it with no iIntention of taking it any further.
On the other hand, there are those that took the easy route in, and went on to achieve full licence status. These are the people that were needed to save the hobby.
The foundation licence was/is both a good and bad thing. Yes, in it injected new blood into an ailing hobby, but at the same time it was responsible for reducing the technical standard that amateur radio had always been respected for.
As for the authorities, I don't believe they 'give a stuff' about amateur radio. Routine station inspections ceased years ago, few if any officials left to police licence violations, or even bad or offensive behaviour.
As for an overhaul of the system, it will never happen, and even if it did, its now far too late. The rot set in years ago, with the progressive relaxation of the requirements.
First of all, the RAE was made easier by going from a proper written exam, to multichoice. Then the Morse test was removed, which acted like a safety valve for access to the HF bands, then finally the introduction of the Foundation Licence.
To make it perfectly clear, I am not against anybody using the Foundation licence as a 'stepping stone' for progressing to radio amateur status. In fact I welcome them into the hobby, and would happy to help them along the way. As I said ear!ier, I used to teach RAE, and helped many people into amateur radio.
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 1:59 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
G3XSA
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
I would agree with Chris, in that morse isn't difficult, but does take time and effort to learn, and become proficient at.
As I said earlier, most of us pre foundation licence holders, served an apprenticeship as short wave listeners, before getting licenced.
As such, when we did get on the air, we understood the protocol.
I learnt to read morse, as a SWL, and took the Morse test while awaiting my RAE result to come through.
As such, I went traight to a Class A licence.
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 2:19 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
G6CSL
BANNED
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:07 pm Posts: 11610 Location: Workington, Cumbria.
Feedback: 4 (100%)
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
Like I said, just 'keep the faith', and then you don't have to worry about CB lingo, SSB splatter, ESSB or the Foundation debate/debacle, and you can even give the finger to contests.
May the morse be with you ......
_________________ Chris, 'oop North.
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 2:33 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
G3XSA
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 3:01 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
gw8asd
Moderator
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:02 pm Posts: 15916 Location: IO83lb, Wrexham
Feedback: 16 (100%)
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
M0VMT wrote: Here's a thought for the many new, and novice licence holders on here, that might wonder why 'Old Farts' like me are so protective of the protocol and operating standards on the amateur bands. It because it was a prestige hobby, handed down to us by the true radio amateurs of old, and it saddens people me to see its image being tarnished.
Who are the people giving up their time to run the foundation , and intermediate radio classes that got you your licence?. Almost certainly an established (RAE passed) radio amateur.
In my local area, it's a G3Y.., and he has been doing so for some years.
The Tarnishing started when the powers that be allowed that much spectrum allocation to a foundation licence it was open day, to many a green light do do nothing else...... I may as well just sit on it forever in a day why bother progressing...... Also their was more tarnishing when clubs pushed through people with one simple on the air contact and no real one on one making sure candidates could feel relaxed and knew what the hell they were doing. Go read the excuses as why many can not be arsed to spend a little time progressing theirs loads on here that range from, I have to catch a bus, I can not leave the budgie alone, my cat needs company, my attention span is only 1 min, I only need 10 watts, the foundation is about my limit. People are not to blame for the poor state of our hobby but the system and it's regulators, their are many ex cb types like myself who have progressed, the system has way way too many faults right now and someone at the top needs to redress to whole system. Mark The tarnishing started long before Foundation Licences, or any licence change. It started when illegal CB, and the issues it generated, came to public attention. The public, and many organisations, couldn't differentiate between them and radio amateurs so amateur radio suffered the backlash. That's the time we started losing our position, and privileges. No amount of exam changes will retrieve the situation. We have, permanently, waved goodby to the privileges our licence gave us. This comment comes from my involvement at the time, not hearsay! Cheers Tony
_________________ 50MHz and above from IO83lb
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 10:04 pm |
|
"dipping my toe back in the water"
G3XSA
|
Re: "dipping my toe back in the water"
Your comment takes me back some 50 years to my early days as a radio amateur when an 'Old timer' G2+2, who ran the RAE class that I attended, said that if ever CB came to the UK, it would do irreparable damage to the image and standing of amateur radio.
This was at a time when CB was something that existed on the other side of the Atlantic, not in the UK.
I wonder if he is looking down from his 'shack' in heaven, what he must be thinking?
|
Wed Sep 14, 2016 10:22 pm |
|
|
|
Who is online |
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest |
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
|
|