Will Ham Radio Make a Comeback?

[KB0NNV]

I've mentioned in some other threads that I've been 'out' of radio for 7 or 8 years and have recently reclaimed an interest in it. I'm wondering if there aren't others out there in my same boat, for the same reasons.

Computers have always been an even bigger hobby for me than radio. Many hams have stories of building old Heathkits, my memories are of writing programs on my IBM 5150. When I first came to the Internet in 1994 (wow has it been 12 years?), my interest in radio began to slowly decline until it was basically non-existent. In the intervening time I've kept up my computer/programming skills and have found ways to socialize on the Internet (such as Second Life - www.secondlife.com) that in many ways replaced my experiences on HF and the local repeater.

In 1994, a lot of Internet technologies were largely experimental. A lot of the technology that drives the Internet today still remained to be invented, much less developed into something usable. For me, computers and the Internet satiated the same desire for experimentation that radio once did. The World Wide Web (nobody uses the full terminology anymore) was nacent, and in fact my personal web page and some of the then-special scripting therein was published in an early book about the web. Today, it'd hardly be given a passing glance.

As the web and technologies such as instant messaging have matured though, I went from becoming an 'experimenter' to being a 'user'. No longer was it a two-day ordeal to install Linux on my computer and get dial-up networking operational. Now, distributions automate this sort of process to a significant degree and today's hardware is very quick in comparison, requiring less finesse to get the job done. Other tasks are likewise simple.

This isn't to say that there's not a lot of places for experimentation on the Internet today. There are probably in fact more opportunities than ever. People consistently find new ways to put together mature technology like Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP (or PERL), and brand-new technology is still being invented. However, after such a long run, a guy gets a little tired of one subject and starts looking for other creative outlets.

This is one of the things that brought me back to ham radio (another is wanting to share it someday with my twin baby boys). Talking to people in faraway places is dirt simple with the Internet, and I don't have to touch a soldering iron. With radio, the challenge is still there and I get quite a bit of satisfaction from doing things like building antennas and troubleshooting rigs. Radio is more 'hands-on' and a solid DX contact using technology I actually built is something I can be much more proud of than double-clicking on my friend's name in my 'buddy list'.

Moreover, there are a lot more opportunities to combine my hobbies of computers and radio than there once were. The digital HF modes have exploded, and projects like the WOTADB and EchoLink (like it or not) have a hybrid appeal.

So I can't help but wonder if there aren't others like myself, who have gotten bored with the ease of communicating via the Internet and are looking for a challenge. If so, I bet they're thinking of dragging the rig out of the closet like I was... Perhaps attempts to recruit hams shouldn't just be focusing on getting new ones to come play, but to get the old ones active again?

[KE5FRF]

Very interesting observations.


While the only computer experimenting I have ever done was WAY back when Commodore computers still had cassettes drives, and I was just a young kid with a simple understanding of "BASIC", and a lot of books on how to make simple video games, I DO understand how the shift occured with communication technology oriented people over to the computer and internet boom.

And I totally understand the lack of mystery involved with sending packets through the internet. It just doesn't compare to the "ether" of free space, and the mystery of RF propogation.

Propogation equally mystified me at the same age/timeframe that I was playing with my VIC-20 computer, I would sit and listen to commercial AM skip rolling in from all over and be amazed at how it all worked. Much more "romantic" than a hard-wired communications system.

Anyway, I only WISH that I had been a little older during the early computer-radio hey day, when packet radio was being experimented with. I think that would have been very interesting times.

So, I agree, eventually the techie folks out there, at least many of them, will return back to the roost. But, I doubt it will be in the numbers that you might suggest.

[AI4EP]

NO it will not.

It just will not happen.

It will slowly die, out of either option...one being faster than the other.

Option # 1 -- FCC not letting folks transmit on hf without learning morse code...it will die, but at a slower rate, possibly lasting another 50 years..

Option # 2 -- FCC allowing folks to tranmsit on hf without learning any morse code...it will die faster, due to intentional interference between the folks who were on hf before , and the newer crowd of folks who did not have to learn morse code. The rivalry and hate will quickly kill the entire service/hobby. It will die within 10 - 15 years.

Bottom line --- amateur radio will cease to exist in less than 60 years either way.

[KI6ADA]

I came back after 30 years and love it. However I am tired of all the moaning and groaning. I am looking forward to another 30 years of active participation.

[KC9IUX]

LOL

Quote[/b] ]While the only computer experimenting I have ever done was WAY back when Commodore computers still had cassettes drives,

VIC 20.

[M3KCK]

Quote[/b] (kb0nnv @ Mar. 16 2006,21:07)]In the intervening time I've kept up my computer/programming skills and have found ways to socialize on the Internet (such as Second Life - www.secondlife.com) that in many ways replaced my experiences on HF and the local repeater.

An Interesting post.

I just had a quick look at the Second life website and it seems to be a virtual world a bit like The Sims game for the Pc!! I prefer to live in reality myself but each to their own I guess.
73
Regards,
Andrew M3KCK

[K0RGR]

As I'm sure N5PVL can tell you, you can still experiment with Packet radio, and there are new modes being developed all the time.

Indeed, I find it fun to play with APRS, which is what most of the packet stuff has morphed into around here.

Don't forget the software defined radios - I am blown away by what the current crop can do. They should be of particular interest to Technicians, as they are wonderful for digitally extracting very weak signals out of the noise. I saw a moonbounce demo using a single yagi and an SDR that was unbelievable. This technology may make moonbounce much more affordable for the average ham.

I do think we have a long way to go with digital networking yet. People are screaming for a soundcard mode that will replace PACTOR III in terms of speed.

There's lots of room for experimentation. 802.11 is fairly cheap and readily accessible - you didn't think Circuit City was a ham store? They sell nice 2.3 Ghz. ham transceivers in their computer department. I mail ordered a couple recently for $20 apiece. They come with nice USB computer interfaces and with an external antenna have been known to achieve ranges in excess of 20 miles. You can pick up cordless 900 Mhz. phones for less than that, and hams are putting those on our 902 Mhz. band.

[KE5FRF]

There's lots of room for experimentation. 802.11 is fairly cheap and readily accessible - you didn't think Circuit City was a ham store? They sell nice 2.3 Ghz. ham transceivers in their computer department. I mail ordered a couple recently for $20 apiece. They come with nice USB computer interfaces and with an external antenna have been known to achieve ranges in excess of 20 miles. You can pick up cordless 900 Mhz. phones for less than that, and hams are putting those on our 902 Mhz. band.


I know you are referring to wi-fi here.

So you are saying that you bought a wi-fi router from circuit city and modified it for ham transciever operation?

I am curious to know how that all works. I knew that some hams were experimenting with near SHF frequencies like that, I just wasn't aware that a wireless router could be used.

[k4lem]

My two cents, says...

If you gave away ham licenses on the corner, you'd probably do no better than with the current flimsy exams.
So, that says something attracts people or it doesn't.

For me I was fascinated with AM broadcasting and DJing.
I really was isolated and rather from an economically disadvantaged family (read poor), but with parents of good education.

Neither knew a blessed thing about radio except it has a knob you turn it on with.

I have come to the conclusion ham operators who really enjoy the hobby, its technical side and it rag chew/social
aspects ARE BORN NOT MADE !

Its like musical talent or a liking for mathematics and so on. Its somehow in your STARS or genes.

Will it die out. NO, because today as I speak I own three computers and a DSL link. I have an internet phone, have had a cell phone, have video capabilities too.

And, yet I am still delighted being a ham operator.
Now, why is that? If the technology was all that attracted me I'd have sold out years ago.

[W6TMI]

Actually the internet was relatively mature by 1994. the WWW was well established, with lots of info, not as much commercialization as there is now, certainly. I did the do it yourself Linux, where it took days to get some piece of hardward working.

I think I was on it in 90-91. It was a dial into a unix terminal server, later you could activate a... sheesh.. I forgot.. Not ppp, that came a little later.. Anyway, the "web" existed, but it was accessed via text.

Was kind of cool to run "talk" on a linux box and have people telnet in and "talk" to them. I guess I was on the "cutting edge" of instant messaging back then.

Now you can't get a shell account...