09-05-2017, 10:17 AM
Hi.
For quite a long time I have toyed with doing the Exams and becoming licensed.
The recent Eddystone repair has firmly led me to forget the idea. most of the time all you hear is "CQ Contest", to my mind those things are pointless, then if you do hear a QSO then it always goes the same way, location, rig, aerial and power then the QSO dries up, nothing about the persons that are exchanging chat all boring stuff.
Then I look at RSGB membership...... a staggering £51 plus a £2 fee for Pay-Pal.
Then I see you can listen in via the net and amateurs use this mode for receive...... OK some like myself live in towns with lots of QRM and this mode no doubt is useful. I feel that the internet is not Radio and that is another reason not to bother.
I really think the amateur radio has lost direction, so different now to what it was when I was a boy. So for me I'll not be taking the plunge its not worth it.
In reply to MN's previous post, City & Guilds stopped teaching valve theory for Radio & TV Technicians in the 70's its old hat now and I can understand why it isn't taught to Radio Amateurs, don't forget we are in the H&S days now and to teach about high voltages used in valves to young people would have H&S taking a fit.
Sometimes we have to move with the times unfortunately........ not for me though I'm happy to do what I like doing and that's it.
For quite a long time I have toyed with doing the Exams and becoming licensed.
The recent Eddystone repair has firmly led me to forget the idea. most of the time all you hear is "CQ Contest", to my mind those things are pointless, then if you do hear a QSO then it always goes the same way, location, rig, aerial and power then the QSO dries up, nothing about the persons that are exchanging chat all boring stuff.
Then I look at RSGB membership...... a staggering £51 plus a £2 fee for Pay-Pal.
Then I see you can listen in via the net and amateurs use this mode for receive...... OK some like myself live in towns with lots of QRM and this mode no doubt is useful. I feel that the internet is not Radio and that is another reason not to bother.
I really think the amateur radio has lost direction, so different now to what it was when I was a boy. So for me I'll not be taking the plunge its not worth it.
In reply to MN's previous post, City & Guilds stopped teaching valve theory for Radio & TV Technicians in the 70's its old hat now and I can understand why it isn't taught to Radio Amateurs, don't forget we are in the H&S days now and to teach about high voltages used in valves to young people would have H&S taking a fit.
Sometimes we have to move with the times unfortunately........ not for me though I'm happy to do what I like doing and that's it.
