Re: [IRCA] [Amdx] Verifyin' the toughies, 1934 style

[Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>]

I do understand this was a different time, however based on some extensive readings of old DX News and RADEX bulletins, the stated approach would, I believe still have been considered something of an outlier. Most of the items I've read from that time emphasize courtesy and a bit more patience, along with the persistence.

To me that translates into there being a difference between expecting a certain response and demanding one.


Russ Edmunds
15 mi NNW of Philadelphia  
Grid FN20id
<wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>


--- On Wed, 12/21/11, Doug Smith <w9wi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Doug Smith <w9wi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Amdx] Verifyin' the toughies, 1934 style
> To: "Russ Edmunds" <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: amdx@xxxxxxxxxx, irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, am@xxxxxxxxxxx, "Steve Francis" <amdxmail@xxxxxxx>
> Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 9:14 AM
> Russ Edmunds wrote:
> > With that exact approach, one has to wonder how the
> return per centages were as good as they reportedly were. Or
> maybe that's why.
> > 
> > Back when I was verifying receptions I rarely sent
> follow-ups that soon and was certainly not taking an almost
> threatening tone. The idea of writing the the CoC is
> actually appalling. 
> > I have known DX'ers who believed that they were
> entitled to a specific reply, but my feeling always was that
> stations were going above and beyond to send any kind of a
> QSL.
> 
> But again, this was a different time.
> 
> Even *coverage* was a political issue -- some rural
> communities feeling they didn't receive adequate radio
> service.  (remember, there was no FM, TV, cable, or
> satellite -- and almost no daytimers or directional
> stations.)
> 
> Because there were far fewer stations, there was a MUCH
> greater chance you lived in a place with NO service from a
> local radio station.  If you wanted to listen to radio,
> you *had* to be a DXer.  (the RADEX magazines on David
> Eduardo's site are a roughly 50/50 mix of DX information --
> and information  on programs.  Maybe a mix between
> DX News and TV Guide?)  Heck, they weren't that far
> down the road from a time when a station would voluntarily
> go off the air late some night so they wouldn't interfere
> with a DX Test somewhere else.  DX was important to a
> larger portion of society.
> 
> And..  radio was part of the image of your
> community.  (the lack of a clear channel assignment to
> your state would be a political issue that might result in
> your state legislature petitioning Congress to order one be
> assigned.  Not as much for the benefit of your state's
> radio broadcasters as for the benefit of your state's
> tourism and other business interests, who might feel a clear
> channel station would be advertising for the benefits of
> doing business with your state.)
> 
> Whether one would agree with it politically today or not,
> back then people felt they *deserved* a certain level of
> service to the public from radio stations.  To some
> degree it was reflected in the regulations, with
> requirements that stations airing recorded programs -- and
> recorded music -- identify them as such.*  Live
> programs were felt to be a better service.
> 
> Point being, Amercians expected more from their radio
> stations -- including more cooperation with DXers -- and
> usually got it.
> 
> 
> 
> I still strongly suspect this kind of tactic didn't work
> very well.  But I don't think it was nearly as
> outlandish in 1934 as it would be today.
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Doug Smith W9WI
> Pleasant View, TN  EM66
> 
> * I remember the final vestiges of this, in the early
> 1970s, when at signoff stations ran an announcement that
> some of the previous day's programming had been
> "mechanically reproduced".
> 

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