HamRadioNow Episode 14: A Simple Station (and a Complex Contest)

[KN4AQ]

HAMRADIONOW.tv

Episode 14: Assembling a Simple Station,
and a Field Day Antenna Launching Contest

When most ham radio television shows feature a ham station, it's going to be
one of the monster-mega-stations. They're cool and impressive. And we'll
never own one! Viewers keep asking for a simple station and antenna they
can assemble themselves. So in this episode, Jeff and Gary put together
a Field Day GOTA station with a simple all-band dipole, tuner, transceiver and
power supply that you can use as a template for your own home station.

In the middle of all that, we take a few minutes to watch an Antenna Launching
Contest, with giant slingshots and air-powered 'potato guns' competing for
distance and accuracy. And one of them even hangs a real dipole!

Watch this episode at our web site, www.HamRadioNow.tv.

to support these programs, visit
HAMRADIONOW.tv
and 'click the pig'

[KC0W]

Nice website, informative stuff.

Good luck,



Tom KCØW

[K2WH]

Ho hum, another ham radio video site where the MC's try to be like Abbot and Costello with a little ham stuff thrown in to validate the video.

So now we have competing amateur video done by amateurs. Who woulda thunk it?

K2WH

[KH2D]

A few interesting moments, but WAY too long. I can't imagine anybody could sit thru an hour of that. Edit that down to 10 or 15 minutes and then we could muddle our way thru it. Next year, divide the spud launchers up into two teams and let them shoot at each other, that would be kewl....

73, Jim KH2D

[KN4AQ]

Hey, all.... I'm watching the comments. Hope we get some more. Wonder if I'm Abbot or Costello? 73, Gary KN4AQ

[KD8PFB]

Ho hum, another ham radio video site where the MC's try to be like Abbot and Costello with a little ham stuff thrown in to validate the video.

So now we have competing amateur video done by amateurs. Who woulda thunk it?

K2WH

I hope I never get as bored or put out by enthusiastic hams promoting the hobby as you are. Your comments smack of elitism, but I'm sure you can justify your displeasure...most elitists can. I came into this hobby 18 months ago at age 60, because I got fed up with the elitist attitudes in fly fishing. I spent 12 years putting up with this malarkey while teaching newbies (young and old) to enjoy the hobby at minimal cost, while the elitist old timers with their $5,000 bamboo fly rods kept dousing the flames of enthusiasm and fun, and poo-pooing the underfunded newbies and their equipment. On the stream they never gave up the premier spot to a newbie, because they might "trash the honey hole" with their lack of experience. No wonder it's so difficult to recruit people into this and other hobbies, when the "old guard" are so vocal at the lack of accomplishment by new hams and enthusiastic hams. Does one get this way when they get their Extra Class license? The attitude seems to come from the most "accomplished" in this hobby, and if that's the case, I'll throw my newly purchased Extra Class study guide in the trash. I never want to end up like that. I can see by your avatar that you probably believe that automobiles will never replace horses as the primary mode of transportation either. Sorry for the criticism, I see you're a Premium Subscriber with over 6,000 posts. I just wonder how of those posts were encouraging posts, and how many were condescending like this one?

Now it's time to get berated for saying what many others are only thinking.

[KC8YHW]

No matter what your passion there will be a critic, be it some one from the old guard or a newbee nay sayer. Try to grow a thick skin. follow your own passion and enjoy your self. If these guys made a video good on them, that took time and effort plus the passion to make the video all the nay sayers can wizz onto an electric fence.

Find the part of amateur radio that you like, study what you want to do then try, and if necessary try again.

The whole point is to enjoy your hobby, help a newbee and to not be a (Elmer Anchor) dead weight to newbees.

[K2WH]

I hope I never get as bored or put out by enthusiastic hams promoting the hobby as you are. Your comments smack of elitism, but I'm sure you can justify your displeasure...most elitists can. I came into this hobby 18 months ago at age 60, because I got fed up with the elitist attitudes in fly fishing. I spent 12 years putting up with this malarkey while teaching newbies (young and old) to enjoy the hobby at minimal cost, while the elitist old timers with their $5,000 bamboo fly rods kept dousing the flames of enthusiasm and fun, and poo-pooing the underfunded newbies and their equipment. On the stream they never gave up the premier spot to a newbie, because they might "trash the honey hole" with their lack of experience. No wonder it's so difficult to recruit people into this and other hobbies, when the "old guard" are so vocal at the lack of accomplishment by new hams and enthusiastic hams. Does one get this way when they get their Extra Class license? The attitude seems to come from the most "accomplished" in this hobby, and if that's the case, I'll throw my newly purchased Extra Class study guide in the trash. I never want to end up like that. I can see by your avatar that you probably believe that automobiles will never replace horses as the primary mode of transportation either. Sorry for the criticism, I see you're a Premium Subscriber with over 6,000 posts. I just wonder how of those posts were encouraging posts, and how many were condescending like this one?

Now it's time to get berated for saying what many others are only thinking.

Thanks for your comments. My posting had the desired effect by getting people like yourself to talk about these videos done by many. It is not my job to encourage or recruit non-hams into the hobby. Non-hams will either want to be licensed or not all on their own without a push from me. As to the videos, there are simply too many ham related videos competing for viewers. Most are boring and/or too long to hold ones attention. Ham radio is about radio and not about who can make the most appealing video.

However, i'm glad I was able to "Recruit" your comments and welcome to the ranks of ham radio.

K2WH

[KC8NRO]

Man I dont care what others say, it was very informative and well put together you keep up the great work an I'll keep coming back and watching the nice vids/podcasts/whatever. and anyone who Dissis the video and or podcast or whatever you want to call it I'd like to see what you got!!! You cant make nothing better

[KD8PFB]

Thanks for your comments. My posting had the desired effect by getting people like yourself to talk about these videos done by many. It is not my job to encourage or recruit non-hams into the hobby. Non-hams will either want to be licensed or not all on their own without a push from me. As to the videos, there are simply too many ham related videos competing for viewers. Most are boring and/or too long to hold ones attention. Ham radio is about radio and not about who can make the most appealing video.

However, i'm glad I was able to "Recruit" your comments and welcome to the ranks of ham radio.

K2WH

My comments had nothing to do with your displeasure over the quantity or quality of ham related videos. It had everything to do with your elitist attitude, which prevailed in your response. Contrary to your view on recruitment, I believe we are all called to be ambassadors for ham radio, and not everyone will want to become licensed on their own. I have encouraged and Elmer'd three people who became licensed since I was licensed, and none of them had ever thought about ham radio until I mentioned and demonstrated the hobby to them. One of my retired business customers has sever spinal stenosis with acute mobility problems, and has found new meaning in her life through ham radio as a net controller on local nets, as well as the newly formed Worldwide Friendship Net utilizing IRLP and ECHOLINK on a local repeater. Her husband has already upgraded to general, and is a net controller for the 20m MIDCARS net, and their son just got his Technician license because of his parents enthusiasm. It's all about sharing and example, not some genetic trigger that makes you want to become a licensed amateur.

Just how many videos should be available to hobbyists, and who should determines the content of them? Can all the ham related information be consolidated into a finite number of videos choreographed by a hand picked group of "experts?" Give me a break. Lighten up and have some fun here. It's liable to encourage a passing reader to want to become licensed.

73