From my desk:

August 8, 2001- The future of the Hobby

In opening a page in this editorial, I had in my mind the future of this wonderful hobby. I have heard a lot regarding the competition it has been getting from the internet and the sad commentaries of many that it is slowly losing its grip on the interest it has woven to different peoples of the world.

In every country, there will be different reasons why this is happenning and those reasons I would want to know and so I am putting forward several questions that are in my mind and if there is anybody out there who can read this, please, respond and give us a chance to know the answers to these different questions regarding the different aspects of this hobby.

First of all, many opted to adopt Ham Radio as a hobby. What are the reasons you adopted and practice this hobby?

My own reason was that a long long time ago in our place, telephone was almost a very rare "commodity". I can remember when the price of telephone lines were being sold at a price higher that a 2 meter transceiver during that time. I needed a communication system from my office and to my residence so I thouhgt a two way radio was the solution.

To make a long story short, I came to know that I needed a license and I learned all about the rules and regulations, the proper use of Ham Radio and now here I am. Fully convinced that I am a Ham Radio Operator.

My next question is, why did FCC (Federal Communications Commission) as concurred in by the ARRL )American Radio Relay League) reduced the speed to only 5 words per minute in the Morse Code examination?

My 2 cents worth: Going by the reasons given by the 2 authoritative agencies, organizations or whatever, morse code then should have been eradicated instead of making it a decoration only in the examination. Many would fail the basic electronics their principles and concepts let alone electrical circuitries, signals and emissions and all others, in the context of a real exam. Not a memorization exam.

Morse code is not testing you whether you know the components of an oscillator but mainly to test you whether you can read or transcribe the combinations of dits and dashes. So it is very easy to see if the candidate for the exam really did learn to recognize the letters of the alphabet, the numbers, the punctuation marks and the prosigns.

In all practicality, going down to earth as they say, when something goes wrong with your toys, your transceivers, you take it to the repairman. When you hear morse code you don't go running to the post office and ask the operator there what it is all about. You maybe too late then or the operator may just laugh at you for the message that you received maybe about your friend inviting you for a dinner somewhere!

So, which one can give us the more benefit? Electonic principles which you only memorize but not practice or a language that once you learn at the proper speed will take a very long time to forget.

Here in our country, it has also another reason why it must stay at the speed of 12 wpm for the advance class license. Very rampant here and I am very sorry to say is the illegal way by which a license can be obtained and you can easily identify those who did not get the examination by communicating with them by morse code.

The third and final question: How many are those who at this time still homebrew their transceivers?

This I would like to know for I would like to salute these people. I know that there are still countries whose amateur radio operators still get the satisfaction of building their own units, their antenna and other accessories. This does not mean that I look down upon those who get their radios from the dealers or from other amateurs. I am one of you, Guys!

Just remember that this piece of an editorial was published in the interest and love for the hobby. I do not wish to offend nor influence anyone in any way.

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