QSO Today interview with Brooke Allen, N2BA, on the flow state and being in the zone on amateur radio contests.

N2BA

1/7/2017

Episode 127 - Brooke Allen - N2BA

Brooke Allen, N2BA, joins Eric, 4Z1UG, to discuss his articles published in the National Contest Journal, Game Design for Contesters, where Brooke discusses entering into the "zone" or state of flow during ham radio contests. This benefit, known to top atheletes, has many advantages to attract new people to amateur radio. The QSO also touches on field day at the annual Burning Man event in the Nevada desert and social skills for nerds.

Show Notes

Transcript

Listen to Podcast

N2BA Links:

Brooke's Blog
“Game Design for Contesters”, By Brooke Allen, N2BA

YN2SX essay QRZ.com page

First License: 1966, age 14, WN2RWY

First Rig:

Heathkit SW-717 four tube shortwave receiver
1 tube novice transmitter TV sweep tube from the ARRL handbook
Heathkit DX35 transmitter with VF1 VFO upgrade
Heathkit HR10 receiver
Eico 753 Kit

First certificate: Rag Chewers Club

Frankford Radio Club

Octavio Miranda, YN2N - rents out his QTH for DX contests

Reverse Beacon Network

Education:
Started at: Rose Hulman institute of Engineering - all male engineering institute.
“Engineers are tasked with reinventing the modern world in every generation”
The Web of Belief, by W. V. Quine (Author), J. S. Ullian (Author)
Rutgers University, BA Mathematics
New York University, MBA, Finance

“Hard Fun”- Seymour Papert

Favorite mode: CW, because its harder

Current Rig:

Game Mechanics - what goes into a game

CT software for ham radio - first ham radio logging software for the PC

Flow State - “in the zone”

Challenge is too Easy - boredom state
Challenge is too Hard - stress state

Living with a Creative Mind - By Jeff and Julie Crabtree

John Crovelli, W2GD - tower climber “you are realizing a childhood dream”.

The Heroic Imagination Project, founded by Dr. Philip Zimbardo

The Grasshopper, Games, Life, and Utopia, by Bernard Suits - Philosopher of games

YCCC - Yankee Clipper Contest Club - “how do you feel right now?”

Hamwidows.org - Brooke’s site phony organization for “ham widows”.

Startup Weekend - invent a business in a weekend

Vidcode - why don’t girls program code?

Maker Movement - how to make things

Global Game Jam - game design weekend

Theory of Mind- can you look at something abstact

The End of Us - Game

Burning Man Festival is a gift economy, a vacation from commercialism, and an experiment in living with other people “orthogonally”.

Social Skills for Nerds - Orthogonal

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Heathkit SW-717 Four Tube Shortwave Receiver

Heathkit DX-35 Transmitter

Yaesu FT-1000 Transceiver

SPE Expert 1KFA Amplifier

9 Comments

Denis Naylor

1/8/2017 01:57:23 am

Hi Eric, really enjoyed this Podcast as I very much identify with Brooke Allen N2BA. Your Podcasts are not only enjoyable but also serve as a source of renewed enthusiasm for our admittedly peculiar 'hobby'.
As a radio amateur of over 50+ years, starting pre teens it's good to have this shot of enthusiasm and confirmation that there are others just as crazy as oneself! Thanks for all your efforts and the opportunity to listen to some really interesting people. 73, Denis F5VJC

Eric 4Z1UG

1/8/2017 11:41:09 am

Thanks, Denis for your comments. I am glad that you enjoyed this episode. I know that you are a long time listener. 73 - Eric

Patrick AC3K

1/9/2017 09:10:36 pm

Great episode. Love the idea of a QSO Today net of some kind. 73 de AC3K

sTef - DM5TU / VY1QRP

1/11/2017 03:00:11 am

Great episode with a philospophic approach. This is the way many HAMs should think about our hobby, too! Especially all the big associations like DARC and ARRL. So keep up with your worthy work and support for the HAM community. 72/3 de sTef DM5TU / VY1QRP

Dave

1/15/2017 02:19:30 pm

Great podcast, Eric! Very different and very insightful - in fact, most insightful podcast I have heard on looking at the ham radio psyche and our sociology. Going to read the notes and play this one over and over... 73, Dave

Gerry Jurrens

1/17/2017 05:20:10 pm

I downloaded the transcript to read on my flight home Friday night! I've known Brooke for what seems like a zillion years! I'm glad I suggested you interview him. He's a ham's ham and great, all-around Renaissance Man! 73 DE N2GJ (#117)

Eric 4Z1UG

1/18/2017 09:09:15 am

Brooke was a great guest, as you were.

Gerry Jurrens

1/18/2017 10:34:03 am

Brent Boydston

1/22/2017 01:10:49 pm

Sorry if this sounds like whining but it is really my agreement with the take-away that clubs need to meet the needs of their members. If they are only willing to "offer their members a way to meet the club's (the old-head leader's) needs" then the club and to some extent, the hobby is doomed to extinction. I listened to this podcast several times; great insights for making this hobby interesting again. Game theory, wow neat.
Keep up the excellent work; great programming.

N2BA

Episode 127 - Brooke Allen - N2BA

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Episode 127 - Brooke Allen - N2BA

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