Re: [IRCA] Semi-OT, maybe not - Poll question

[John Cereghin <pastor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I got my ticket last year (KB3LYP) but haven't done much with it for a variety of reasons.  But it took me 25 years from when I started DXing in 1976 to get my ticket and that was only because of my "mid-life crises" when I turned 40.  It wasn't a "natural progression" to me more than just wanting to finish something I started as a teenager.

But since I got my ham ticket I've gotten back to MW DXing, so a lot of good it did for me!

John Cereghin
Smyrna DE

cafe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: I had an e-mail from an Amateur Radio operator
today who refered to SWL/DXing as an interesting
"Sub-Hobby" of Ham Radio.

Now - I am sure to open up a can of worms
and I am sure this issue has been discussed to
death... but.

I have been SWL/DXing since 1971 -- In 1973 I studied
for the Canadian Amateur ticket (while attending the
occasional local Ham radio club meetings) and found
the attitude of some of the young, newer Hams quite
off-putting. Their attitude was pretty much: "You are
either a Ham or a CBer.
SWL/DXers are either failed hams or people that just
do not have what it takes to be hams."

This statement so resonated with me way back in the
mid-seventies that I decided that I could not be
bothered with this kind of elitist claptrap.

Truth be told, every other Amateur radio operator
over the age of about 25 had quite a different
attitude -- more of a nurturing quality but still
holding to the "Every DXer/SWL will ONE DAY become a HAM..."

Funny how this still resonates with me - my baggage I guess. :-)

Anyhow - my question is: Do Amateur radio ops and SWL/DXers still
feel that Ham radio is a natural progression of a DXer/SWLs career?

I have been listening to everything from MW Dx to Ham radio and Utes
for over 30 years and I have never had any desire to "get on the air"
and talk to anyone.

Truth be told, I will, at some point get an Amateur ticket
if only to get more involved in my Provinces emergency program.


--
Colin Newell
Editor-Creator www.coffeecrew.com | www.dxer.ca
Webmaster - www.bobharris.com

_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://arizona.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://arizona.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx