Thanks to all of you who completed my listener survey. As I write this over 300 of you have replied and entered my drawing for the $100.00 DX Engineering Gift Certificate. Your input is very helpful. I will post the survey results to the QSO Today website at some point soon.
I take your comments and suggestions very seriously. One of your most important contributions is guest suggestions. As I have said before, I send out tens of invitations every month to create a roster of QSO Today guests. Only about 10% of my invitations result in QSO Today interviews. I think that this is a very good response. Your suggestions bring to my attention ham radio operators who have amazing stories that I want to hear and share with you. As I go through the QSO Today Listener Survey, I am adding your suggestions to my list. Thanks!
I was pleasantly surprised by the response to Episode 127 with Brooke Allen, N2BA. Our QSO went off the traditional rails of the typical QSO Today conversation and ventured into territory that I found both interesting and compelling. It caused me to question, in my own mind, what it is about amateur radio that should be preserved. Why is it important for the ham radio service and its licensees to still be here after the old timers are gone? If I have to make an elevator pitch about ham radio, what could I say in its favor?
Here is my elevator pitch:
Amateur radio provides hands-on learning experience that encompasses a vast amount of technical knowledge, practical mechanical and social skills. Its mentors and students often trade places as they research, experiment, construct, and test new circuits, equipment, antennas and other technical contraptions. Ham radio creates a passionate life trajectory into science and technology for its younger members. It’s the ultimate hands-on STEM classroom.
I appreciate that my QSO with Brooke was discussed on some other podcasts. I chuckled as I heard comments from other podcasters that I may have squirmed in my chair when, as my mother used to say, the conversation became “adult”. As a community we should have these discussions that lead us to articulating our positions as a service and hobby for the future.
I don’t have answers, but I like asking the questions.
73, Eric 4Z1UG
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