HI TOm,   
      
   On Fri 2011-Aug-05 06:46, TOM WALKER (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB:   
      
   RW>I do a lot with public service and humanitarian aid ham   
   RW>radio, and my big frustration is people who refuse to learn   
   RW>to operate with some discipline but want to participate in   
   RW>these activities.   
      
      
   TW> I was into public service and humanitarian aid aosl untill the old   
   TW> Memory and Hearing got i nthe way.   
   TW> Now I am fairlly inactive as far as operating goes. Although I did   
   TW> help with the El Cajon Clubs field day set up.   
      
   I can understand that.  YOu could probably still help out by providing packet   
   and digital resources, etc.   
      
   TW> On the operating disipline I know what you are talking about. Here   
   TW> they have a lot of those "Mindless Memorization" Ham clases, In at   
   TW> 0900 have licence at 1600  type of thing. The CERT Team people are   
   TW> the worst offenders but there are others.   
      
   YEah there's a bit of that going on within the club I belong to, and it's a   
   frustration, but you figure that about ten   
   percent of those who go through the license mill will   
   actually stick with it.  What I keep trying to tell people   
   is that the public service stuff is what goes a long way   
   toward "paying the freight" for the spectrum we occupy, etc. there are lots of   
   facets to enjoy.  THere are many more   
   things to enjoy even with a tech license than fm and   
   repeaters.  The only reason I don't participate in some of   
   them is no interest.  Vhf and uhf weak signal work would be   
   fun, but to be effective you need a darned good antenna   
   system, lots of aluminum as high as you can get it, rotators and such.  THe   
   only way I could really participate   
   effectively there is as a rover, easy up and down antenna   
   setups able to visit rare grid squares etc.  I've got some   
   of that going on for public service work anyway, but that   
   just isn't my thing.  IF all you want is the cb good buddy   
   type thing then you're going to find a bit of a negative   
   attitude among many of us on local repeaters, etc.  FInd   
   some like minded friends, put up a decent antenna and go   
   simplex, or expect the response you get.   
   Meanwhile I have this to say to the complainers in this and   
   similar threads.  Try some other   
   part of the hobby, sorta free your mind instead and  do a   
   bit of exploration instead of bitching that us old code   
   farts don't dig you.  Show a bit of interest and a desire to learn by   
   contributing and participating, you'll be surprised at the response you get   
   from many of us.    This old man has been a radio nut since way back when, and   
   still sees the value ofMOrse and hf radio, but if that ain't your thing look   
   around.  YOu'll find something you like.  Maybe it's   
   building and benchwork, maybe it's vhf contesting, maybe   
   it's hidden transmitter hunting.  IF you can't find a part   
   of ham radio you'll grow to enjoy then you're not looking   
   hard enough!  try something, if it don't float your boat   
   buy/sell/trade the gear you don't need for what you do need   
   to try something else.  HEck who knows, you might even find   
   your station providing the radio to internet link that helps hundreds of   
   people reassure family and loved ones they're   
   alright after the big disaster, and speeds resources to   
   those who are not doing so good as well.   
      
   IN short, put something in to get something out of it.  Fast scan tv might be   
   just your thing.   
      
      
   I'll shut up now.   
      
   73 de nf5b   
              Richard   
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    * Origin:  (1:116/901)