09-10-2013, 09:06 PM
For a while, when I as first licensed back in 1974 (strewth, forty years next year!), I found it quite exciting to have contacts with stations in Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Africa and so on, and in a few months, gained the Worked All Continents Award and was working towards the DXCC Award (100 countries). I worked about 65 countries, then the penny dropped - anyone else sat where I was sat, using the same equipment and antenna, at the same time as me would get exactly the same results, so the point is? Hence, no skill involved - just a sedentary desk-bound hobby - fine for housebound old men, but it was making me old before my time.
DX 'pile-ups' bring out all that's worst in human nature - selfish bad manners and ego tripping to no good end. I find it bizarre that National Societies strenuously support 'DX-Peditions' whereby amateurs go to far away places, often devoid of amateurs, and spend every waking hour having contacts with hoards of shouty people which last no more than 10 seconds - a sort of on-air trainspotting. I just think of it as amateur radio's contribution to 'Care in the Community' - a day on the air for these characters is a day off for others who would otherwise have to cope with them.
These same national societies complain about poor operating and declining standards, seeing no irony in their own contribution to this debasement of what was once a technical, experimental and gentlemanly hobby, but has descended to becoming no more than 'Posh CB'. Or so it seems to me. But since I haven't been on air for years, I'm just a 'RHINO' - Radio Ham In Name Only' and the on-air antics of others does not in any way impinge on me, so good luck to those who do enjoy it shouting themselves hoarse in the hope of a ten second contact with some guy sat on a rock in the middle of the ocean somewhere, and the nervous anticipation of receiving a 'QSL Card' to show off to like-minded consenting adults.
Tony Hancock's 'Radio Ham' sketch wasn't comedy, it was a documentary - you couldn't make it up!
It could make me cynical
DX 'pile-ups' bring out all that's worst in human nature - selfish bad manners and ego tripping to no good end. I find it bizarre that National Societies strenuously support 'DX-Peditions' whereby amateurs go to far away places, often devoid of amateurs, and spend every waking hour having contacts with hoards of shouty people which last no more than 10 seconds - a sort of on-air trainspotting. I just think of it as amateur radio's contribution to 'Care in the Community' - a day on the air for these characters is a day off for others who would otherwise have to cope with them.
These same national societies complain about poor operating and declining standards, seeing no irony in their own contribution to this debasement of what was once a technical, experimental and gentlemanly hobby, but has descended to becoming no more than 'Posh CB'. Or so it seems to me. But since I haven't been on air for years, I'm just a 'RHINO' - Radio Ham In Name Only' and the on-air antics of others does not in any way impinge on me, so good luck to those who do enjoy it shouting themselves hoarse in the hope of a ten second contact with some guy sat on a rock in the middle of the ocean somewhere, and the nervous anticipation of receiving a 'QSL Card' to show off to like-minded consenting adults.
Tony Hancock's 'Radio Ham' sketch wasn't comedy, it was a documentary - you couldn't make it up!
It could make me cynical
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
