#76 How I Solder in 2020

You KNOW all the old farts out there have to complain about SOMETHING!!!!

 

Same ones complain all the time.. BUT contribute nothing in return.

 

Karma is going to get you good and hard for that one.

 

I'd sure like to see a DIY video on 'How To Solder As Your Eyesight Gets Worse".

That would help me , and others, a LOT

 

I have arthritic hands and wear reading glasses, i use an illuminated magnifier. Im working in smd, its not that hard even for a handycapped like me.

 

You can do it (he says in an Arnie voice LOL) especially so working on the older large part rigs you have. The magnified light makes all the difference with 8x magnification and really bright white LED light, its impossible not to see what you are doing.

 

Thank you, I just read the guidelines myself, case closed.

 

Really?!!! I'd say that "DISSING" is exactly what you're doing.

You know what I grow weary of? It's the multitude of self-important windbags (or in your case and in your own words, "self-appointed narcissists") in this hobby who have nothing better to do than dump on everyone else. The first words out of their mouths include the number of decades that they've been in amateur radio. These are usually followed by a mumbling narrative about new "No-Code" hams today who don't know how easy they have it.

Wait, wait, tell me again how it was when you first got your license! You had to walk uphill in the snow to the local FCC office only to find that your CW key had frozen on the way. After finally getting your novice license and clawing your way up (that's how we used to have to do it son!) during the next 55 years you've been on the cutting edge of nothing at all and don't even remember how to spell "CW."

What KM9G is doing in the video is teaching others who actually are ignorant of things which are so painfully obvious to you. Not everyone learned to solder when they were growing up, consider yourself fortunate. Were you forced to click on the video? No, I think not, but it is there for others who are looking to have their soldering questions answered.

There are many new hams who haven't had the good fortune of being taken under an Elmer's wing. They're doing it on their own. They look to books and the internet for advice and instruction. Real ham clubs with real Elmers are disappearing. The future of Elmering might be in online forums and video tutorials.

Amateur radio needs more of KM9G and the many others who are growing the hobby by explanation, demonstration, mentoring (in person and online) and encouragement. Prospective hams are being heartily welcomed by today's YouTube Elmers. This is ham radio moving forward by taking advantage of new technology just as it has always done.

You don't have to like it. You don't have to watch it. In fact, instead of trolling QRZ under the guise of looking for "front page NEWS," why don't you go stand in front of a mirror and admire yourself for awhile. Marvel in the awe-inspiring glow that surrounds you while the rest of us actually get out and enjoy amateur radio and all it has to offer.

Semper fi Mac and 73,
Todd
KI5HNX

 

While I think that this is not news, its certainly is a podcast that has value for people much newer to electronics than many of the people here on the Zed. People need to remember that not everything is for them, there are other people in this world who are at much different stages in their journey some are beginner, some are experts.

Everything you said is 100% spot on. Sadly there is nothing any of us can do about it. Chin up, people that actually matter know better.

 

I still haven't mastered the 'soldering under the magnifier'. The hand to eye coordination is the real problem...any tips?

For me, its like trying to navigate an 18 wheeler truck when you have the delicacy of pedalling a bike...

 

A large magnifier, the one im using is 6 or 7 inches in diameter, so the field of view is wide. Using a sterio scope feels detached to me. But i can do it, with practice.