Short Takes! Comments on Short Takes from "Trials and Errors"

I agree
Most decent hamfests are too far to drive for a lot of people.
And electronics depreciate in value until their 25th year and then slowly increase in value or drop out of the market all together
( second only to the automotive industry)
The trend to low power may be a great thing because its bringing back history.
But we definately need a much larger variety of kits and schematics for gear that doesnt require unobtainable parts.
A good example of needed kits is Breadboard radios.
Its a one man operation and hes up there in years. In his 70's
His gear is fantastic ( i have the splinter ll and the matchstick tuner)
And was easy to build and tune.
4sqrp is another good one.
What is a shame though is the many retired kits they list are precisely what a qrp' er needs, can build, and learn from.
The name brand gear you buy completely assembled out there is nice but do you learn how your radio works?
Cw! while they did away with the requirement for testing
I would make learning it to at least 15 wpm (straight key) within 5 years conditional to keeping the licence.

 

I like the idea of Homebrew Coffee. I bought a box of their K-Cups and found them tasty but a bit weak for my liking. Of course I like the 'take-the-paint-off-your-car' Seattle stuff, so I'm not being critical, just opining.

 

You mean dragon tea!
The stuff that boiled for a week

I used to smoke a pipe and enjoyed a particular black tobacco (Captain Black i think) that had a nice aroma and initial flavor. Afterwards it gave you dragon breath
Quit smoking shortly after that

 

I have fond recollections of my pipe smoking days, and I may have been smoking that same black pipe tobacco. I loved the firepit aroma it had, of outdoors and burning logs, but my wife HATES the smell of any kind of tobacco. Dave

 

I kind of like the black rifle brands They are a veteran owned company that produces excellent coffee.
its a bit more expensive but worth it.
https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/

 

Please add your comments and discussion for the topic of "Two Methods to Pass the Ham Radio Exams" here . . .

 

Regardless of many comments and complaints about now and then, it did require studying material relevant to the exam.
Yes the question pools are published and one heck of a lot easier to access.
But whether you have a computer or a stack of books, you still study.
Some will have to study more than others, because the less technically inclined may have difficulty with the concepts.
There are different study methods that can work same as there different methods of learning morse.
You have to chose the one that works.
We as amateurs and inspiring amateurs are already technically inclined, even many youths are.
But it still requires study!
And what is the purpose of study but to memorize the material.
I applaud people who put there method out to the public because they are offering an option. But it's up to the learning individual to try and use the one that works the best for them.

 

Has the HOBBY become an obsession? Here's how to tell...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12619085/psychologist-warning-signs-hobby-obsession.html

 

The problem arises when the obsession takes over you life.
But like any psycologist they will tell you its not normal!
Yet what is the definition of normal.
BAAA! BAAA! flock or herd behavior is usually their definition of normal.
We as amateur radio operators are by definition not normal.
Our gear and many things associated to the hobby are expensive.
I have a healthy enthusiam for the hobby, but not to the expense of hindering mine or anyone elses life and health.

 

Knowledge without understanding is not Knowledge.

 

Good point. But it gets you your license. Consider it like a license to hunt big game. You've got the license, but you know nothing about the animal, the guns, and so on. That's when you either learn on the job or get killed. Do I want "bad operators" jumping into my frequencies as if they just got a license to hunt bear? No! But what most people do is learn all they need in the next step, when they are putting up an antenna, buying a radio, and making their first contacts. Six months later you can't tell the difference, because they've learned all they need to operate effectively on a Technician license.

 

My comments on this one will be short.

Imo, those who continually call for more strenuous testing have forgot that the whole idea behind incentive licensing was that ham radio was supposed to be a learning process. Passing the test wasn't supposed to be an indication that we have a sudden expert on our hands but rather that he was interested enough to learn a few basics.

And frankly that's where Elmering was supposed to take over

 

Totally agree with you here. Elmering is still alive and well, Dave

 

I meant to say incentive licensing...

 

I 've had a taste of both kinds of learning, and can add a third.

My dad was a ham, so I grew up around radio. The technical stuff was easy but never could get the code. So I waited for the no code tech license. Weird thing. They asked me to try the code test and darned if I didn't pass it also! I hadn't even looked at Morse code for ten years. So I had my tech+ with very little studying. I loved it.

The General test I studied for, but it wasn't that hard. I think I was still coasting on my early immersion.

I joined a class for the extra class prep. They did the practical explanations, but also gave a lot of shortcuts, tricks and mnemonic things. There's still stuff from that I'm not sure of, but I know what to ask and where to look when I get stuck.

So, everyone learns in their own way and we would be wrong to think there's only one path to follow. We have amazing technology these days and one of the basic tenets of ham radio is staying on the cutting edge.

Thanks for the heads up on the Anki software, Dave. I have a Down Syndrome grandson that's just starting sight words in reading. This could be a major player in that adventure!

73 Rick N8TGQ