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ZS2ABF > PACKET 28.04.08 19:58l 94 Lines 3892 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 140301ZS2ABF
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re:Time to switch it all off?
Path: IZ3LSV<IQ0LT<IK2XDE<DB0RES<ON0BEL<ZS0MEE<ZS0ELD
Sent: 080428/1038Z @:ZS0ELD.ELD.ZAF.AF #:1650 [1652] FBB7.01.35 alpha
From: ZS2ABF@ZS0ELD.ELD.ZAF.AF
To : PACKET@WW
Hi All Packeteer's,
In my reply to the "Time to Switch off packet" sager.
Andy is right and he is wrong.
Firstly I also have noticed that we are getting less and less bulls,
especially as it is a World Wide system circulating amongst the Ham
fraternity.
The quality of the material has also fallen on to dead ground.
Ham's are many and therefore are from a wide range of people, races, customs
and genders. Some are intelligent and some are of the Lunatic fringe. All (I
hope ) have passed some kind of Technical licence so they can't be that bad
Andy.
Bob is also right, I being 70 years old have been on Packet for years and have
seen the up's and down's just like the Propagation Cycle. It happens in all
types of hobby.
The crunch is, that it is "Our Fault" for what is happening. We are the one's
that read the bulls with or without interest. The old saying of "Rubbish in
Rubbish out" still applies and "Nothing in Nothing out" also applies.
I suppose the Cell phone and the Internet may have a lot to do with it.
I recently did my end of school term Ham lecturing to students that had just
wrote there Matric exams (In our country its the final exam before the
students leave school to go out into the big bad world, or go on to University
or Technicon).
Therefore they are Mature youngsters (we hope) with a good education.
I give a lecture to students that have studied Electronics and/or Computers.
My lecture is entitled "An introduction to Ham Radio". I mention ham radio in
general and then go on to describe the Digital modes using a computer and
building the interfaces that connect the TX to the Computer. These lectures
are designed by me and presented using Power Point in the hope that it will
encourage our youngsters to join the hobby of Ham Radio, as it seems to be a
dying hobby. Don't take that remark the wrong way because in South Africa over
50% of hams are over the age of 60 years and, not many young people are
joining our wonderful hobby.
The first question I ask the students is, "do you know what Amateur Radio is"
I get no reply. Then is try "Do you know what CB radio is", I get no replies.
Next I ask "Cell phones, Internet and DVD's", they all reply. I rest my case
milord.
Therefore it is us, the practicing active hams that have to change the status
Quo, We must reply to the bulls. Talk about what we have done in our shacks,
what have we built, what circuits we have invented. What's good or bad about
certain radio's. What aerials work best etc, etc. We and we alone are the only
ones that will keep Packet alive.
I know that some of you are very "Light Hearted" and pull the odd leg or two
Hi, and some ham's take it the wrong way. That's also ok, as it makes the
world go round. But personal insults should not be made and are not required.
I personally may be regarded as on the "lunatic Fringe" as I send out my
weekly "UFO Interest Group News" Bulls. Firstly I do it as I have had a
sighting in 1954 which has made me a believer and secondly it helps to keep
"Packet Alive".
So why don't you send out a bulletin and really make packet actually come
alive again, that is all it takes.
I'm know waiting to take the return "flack" anyone interested ?
Cheers & Beers,
Peter ZS2ABF.
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73 - Peter, ZS2ABF @ ZS0ELD
Message timed: 12:16 on 2008-Apr-28
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