I’m going to disagree with you completely. While I still enjoy SSB and CW, FT8 has supercharged my interest in radio. I find the study of propagation fascinating now that I can watch pipelines around the globe open and close in real time through digital communications. Watching WSJT-X streams and seeing the propagation paths on different bands and matching that to atmospheric conditions has given me a new appreciation for what’s happening over my head, and I never get tired of observing and trying to figure out exactly what’s making the bands open and close as I watch digital calls appear and disappear.
I don’t believe the existence of digital technologies has anything to do with the decline in radio popularity. I think it’s far more likely that the growth in instant digital communications mediums using cell phones has a lot to do with it. I also firmly believe that, like any other human endeavor, it’s not possible to interest people in radio unless they already have a predisposition to it. They have to have that spark in them (no pun intended). All we can do is show them an outlet for their interest. 73, Adrian K7RJS > On Aug 30, 2025, at 10:13 PM, dyno lab via Elecraft > <[email protected]> wrote: > > FT8 and some other modes have made it too easy to sit on our backsides and > let the computer do the work while we gradually lose interest. > It takes the excitement out of making contacts the hard way. > No wonder so many are giving up. > > There was a time when we built our own equipment and could not wait to put it > on the air. > We need something that makes it hard and interesting again. > > I thank the Ol Man Upstairs that I still find it really fun and interesting > to see a problem and go about building something to fix it. > > 73, > Hal > W7YNC > DynoLab.com > > >> On 08/30/2025 6:51 PM PDT Glenn Maclean via Elecraft >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> I have to say. The on going Morse Code Class I teach at a local bar because >> the owner is a ham and welcomes the class. I am little by little getting >> more students that see our table and are curious. I give them my spiel about >> ham radio and why Morse Code. Which is when boom boom the lights go out >> Morse Code will always come through! Then the next thing I know I end up >> with a new student who wants to become a ham! The new students are in their >> 20’s - 30’s >> Glenn Maclean WA7SPY >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Aug 30, 2025, at 09:03, [email protected] wrote: >>> >>> Send Elecraft mailing list submissions to >>> [email protected] >>> >>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >>> [email protected] >>> >>> You can reach the person managing the list at >>> [email protected] >>> >>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >>> than "Re: Contents of Elecraft digest..." >>> >>> >>> Today's Topics: >>> >>> 1. Re: Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to newcomers? >>> (email) >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> Message: 1 >>> Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:12:55 -0400 >>> From: email <[email protected]> >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to >>> newcomers? >>> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed >>> >>> Why ?? (Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in >>> the first place??)? WELL, In the USA, the average age (determined by my >>> browser) is 65 years old.? That means in 20-30 years, that 800K number >>> will be 400K without adding new (younger hams) ??? >>> >>> My kids are in there 30's (and have let the license lapse - but plan on >>> renewing ??) >>> My wife is not active... >>> I know a number of hams in retirement communities that are not active. >>> How many of the 800K are active ?? >>> >>> I have a friend (Scout admin I work with/for) that had a novice in grade >>> school, she let it lapse a number of years ago.? I have been giving her >>> Tech class info and she may have time to do the zoom class...? She did >>> like CW (still knows it).? I may give/lend her my "old" NorCal 40.? It >>> would be nice to have a kit again ??? for new hams.? The NorCal 40 is >>> simple to use and a single band dipole is simple to "throw" into a tree... >>> >>> 73, Steve WB3LGC >>> >>>> On 7/26/25 18:57, David Gilbert via Elecraft wrote: >>>> >>>> Exactly. >>>> >>>> Trying to talk people into being interested in things we're interested >>>> in for the reasons we're interested in them is a foolish endeavor.? >>>> Evangelism is boring and off-putting.? The best we can do is describe >>>> what ham radio can offer and let people decide if that has any >>>> interest for them. >>>> >>>> If we have to convince somebody that ham radio is interesting to them, >>>> then it probably isn't and even if they go along it won't last. >>>> >>>> Which brings me to this question: >>>> * >>>> Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in the >>>> first place?? * There are supposedly close to 800,000 licensed hams in >>>> the U.S., which is a bigger market and a bigger pool of like minds >>>> than LOTS of other activities.? Is there some sort of collective >>>> insecurity complex going on every time this comes up? And it comes up >>>> with annoying frequency on almost every forum. >>>> >>>> Dave? ?AB7E >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> On 7/26/2025 2:27 PM, Fred Jensen via Elecraft wrote: >>>>> They almost all view ham radio from a utilitarian perspective, not as >>>>> a hobby ... they have hobbies and interests. Probably the largest >>>>> non-work interests were in the outdoors. >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> Elecraft mailing list >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>>> Post: mailto:[email protected] >>>> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>>> Message delivered to [email protected] >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Post to: [email protected] >>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> You must be a subscriber to post. >>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com >>> >>> End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 256, Issue 20 >>> ***************************************** >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[email protected] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to [email protected] > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
