What can we do to get more kids into the hobby where it can serve as a foundation for their lives?
73,
Eric 4Z1UG
I just finished an interview with a future podcast guest and was on the phone with my long time ham radio buddy, Wayne, N6KR. We were friends, teenagers, and members of the El Cajon Amateur Radio Club, over 40 years ago. It occured to me that one of the most important aspects of amateur radio that was experienced by all of us who entered the hobby as kids, was that the ham radio license made us kids equal to the adult hams in our ham club, and with our Elmers. I asked Wayne about this, and he agreed. The license demonstrated a level of knowledge and commitment to exploring and learning the art of radio. This had an amazing effect on our ability to communicate as young people with folks of all ages, and it focused us on a path out of adolescence and into adulthood. Wayne reminded me of our (mostly his) teenage exploits, but we were still focused on ham radio. This provided us with tools, skills, and expertise that we carry with us throughout of our lives. Wayne went on to build the Elecraft company, where he designs some of the most popular ham rigs in the market today. Listen to this theme that keeps recurring in all of the ham radio stories that we hear. It was a life changer.
What can we do to get more kids into the hobby where it can serve as a foundation for their lives? 73, Eric 4Z1UG
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While our podcast is in English, I want to change the venue every once in a while to give a different perspective from hams in other countries. My next QSOs will be with hams in Israel, where I now live, work and play ham radio. I hope that you find these conversations interesting. I want to put some context around the people and the places that you will hear discussed with both Yehuda, 4X1TQ, and Amnon, 4X1DF.
I was recently asked by a listener how I record and post the podcast. I am, at the moment, limited to the tools that I have in my home office that include my Dell I3 desktop computer and my USB headset. I know that at some point, I will want a better microphone, perhaps a mixer and recorder to reduce my risk of a lost recording. A mixer would also reduce the post production time where I have to equalize the audio rather than just follow the mixer at the time of recording.
So here is my process: Ron, W6OM mentioned in his interview about his open garage door and that Donnie and David found him and his ham radio station as they passed by his house. This became their destination where they excelled in ham radio to Extra Class licenses. The open garages of my childhood have a special place in my memory that led to some of my most exciting opportunities.
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AuthorEric Guth, 4Z1UG / WA6IGR, is the host of the QSO Today Podcast, and an amateur radio operator since 1972. Eric has lived and worked in Israel since 2000. Archives
April 2024
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