I got a little bit of a chuckle when I read the article about the ARRL’s newest publication, On the Air. According to the article,
ARRL is launching a new magazine, On the Air, in January 2020. To be published on a bimonthly basis, On the Air will offer new and beginner-to-intermediate-level radio amateurs a fresh approach to exploring radio communication. Each issue will include advice and insights on topics from the variety of Amateur Radio interests and activities: radio technology, operating, equipment, project building, and emergency communication. The goal of this new magazine is to be a vital resource in helping new and newer radio amateurs get active and involved in radio communications.
The reason I chuckle is that Wayne Green, W2 Never Say Die, the curmudgeonly publisher of 73 and Byte magazines published something similar in the 1990s: Radio Fun: The beginner’s guide to the exciting world of amateur radio. Here’s the cover of the January 1994 issue:
It was printed on newsprint in tabloid format. This issue is only 32 pages—with easily half of them being ads—and is a quick read. There isn’t a lot of heavy theory, and there are a couple of DIY projects.
Of course, there’s the obligatory Wayne Green rant column. In this month’s QLF column, Wayne Green tackles the issue of restructuring amateur radio, ranting yet again that incentive licensing almost killed amateur radio.
His proposal for restructuring is that we need only one level of license, and that it should be relatively easy to get. He writes,
Remember, before you can operate on CW, you have to be able to send and receive code. Before you can get on packet you need a station, a computer, and the know-how to use ’em. We don’t need exams for things like that. So, let’s decide what we think is really important as an entry exam for the hobby and get rid of the stuff that’s a waste of time.
Who can argue with that?
Anyway, getting back to this idea of a magazine for newcomers, I’d suggest that the whoever is in charge of On the Air at the ARRL get hold of all of the back issues of Radio Fun that they can. (Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be available online…at least I wasn’t able to find them.) It will certainly make for some interesting reading, and it may even give them an idea or two.
Speaking of back issues, I have the following: March 1992, May 1993, August 1993, October 1993, December 1993, January 1994, and April 1994. The April 1994 issue is #32, so there must be at least 25 issues that I don’t have. If any of you have them, and want to get rid of them, you can send them to me.
I don’t “chuckle” when I think of Wayne Green. I think of a huckster who cruelly promoted his “blood purification” device to cure AIDS.
I don’t think I would give Wayne Green credit for that idea. It’s a rather basic concept, tailoring specialized content to new users. I’m kind of wondering why Wayne’s cover story for the magazine pictured above was about power line radiation and not something amateur radio related. But, that was Wayne Green.
I don’t think I agree with that. I don’t remember seeing any other publications specifically directed at newcomers. As far as the cover story about power line radiation, I think you got that right. :)
Hmmm. With every print publication going belly up in this 21st century I wonder how much think tank work it took to come up with “let’s create a new publication”? They could have gone with producing a new monthly video. But I guess YouTube stats aren’t convincing in Newington?
* The platform has over 1.9bn logged in monthly users
* 6 out of 10 people prefer online video platforms to live TV
* By 2025, half of viewers under 32 will not subscribe to a pay-TV service
* In an average month, 8 out of 10 18-49 year-olds watch YouTube
“On the Air will offer new and beginner-to-intermediate-level radio amateurs a fresh approach to exploring radio communication” – that would be nice to see in QST but that requires a membership and since they can’t sell those anymore, I suppose this is targeted at non-members of ARRL?
By all means, lets publish yet another magazine. At least they didn’t trot out the tired, old “let’s create a new, simpler license class” to try and get more youth into the hobby… yet.
73, @ke9v
I had forgotten about that Wayne Green publication! Well, I hope the new League magazine/digital pub helps convert interested folks into active amateurs. Yes, as Jeff KC9V says just above, a YouTube series might reach far more people. Let’s do both, how about it? But let’s hope it would be more professional and listenable than the League’s new “So Now What?” podcast.
I had occasion to sit in on a presentation yesterday by Howard Michel WB2ITX, the ARRL CEO, at the Chattanooga Hamfest. I remain impressed with his ideas and approach. He firmly believes that the best way to increase the number of enthusiastic hams–and ARRL members–is to get them active in the hobby. They have finally done the research that confirms something I’ve found in my own informal research (and wrote a book about): there are many, many people who learn enough about amateur radio to stoke their interest, and even get a license, but who never really go any deeper than that and soon fade away.
Instead, they take the easy route, buy a $40 Chinese HT with a rubber-ducky antenna and a lady who tells you in Mandarin what buttons to push. Then they have trouble hitting local repeaters, get yelled at for their spotty signals and lack of knowledge of procedures and jargon, and go back to their video games and cell phones. “Well,” you say, “if they were really interested they’d persevere, run the gauntlet, and we’d be sure they were serious in the first place!” If they can’t withstand the hazing, they don’t deserve to join the fraternity.
Be honest with yourself. How many of us old-timers would have made it past Novice if we had had to put up an antenna, cobble together a station, and get past the curmudgeons who were convinced the exam was too easy and we didn’t deserve to be on the air if we didn’t learn CW, build our rigs from scratch, and do it all by ourselves?
I’m with WB2ITX. If we actually hook somebody, let’s do all we can to keep them alive and enthusiastic about all this stuff until they can find their place in the hobby. Then they’ll make fine evangelists for ham radio. If an old-print-technology magazine (it will also be available in digital format, of course) helps, bring it on. But as others note, let’s do videos, podcasts, and be certain we are not only fishing where the fish are but have bait they can’t resist.
PS: By all means, let’s show young people what the hobby offers that is meaningful to and matches the interests of their generation. But let’s also actively recruit older people too. Older people who have more free time in retirement, more disposable income, and who are likely looking for an exciting and vibrant avocation. We have one!
Don N4KC
http://www.n4kc.com
http://www.donkeith.com
I hadn’t thought about that, but I think you’re right about video. I’m not sure how this new magazine is going to compete with all the free stuff on YouTube.
As for other newcomer-oriented amateur radio publications, there’s Ham Radio Horizons, which ran from 1977 to 1979.
at what point will amateur radio become like citizens band radio? The license structure as it exists isn’t onerous and not a detriment. In fact the single biggest change that helped was dropping elements 1a, 1b and 1c.
Just proves what others have said before. Even though he was opinionated and disliked the ARRL, he had some worthwhile ideas and his love of the hobby was undeniable.
Power line radiation has a lot to do with Amateur Radio. I have a line going through the alley behind my house. I have a constant meter reading of S9+ at home. In the mobile, I have about the same. When I turn the corner and get a few hundred feet away from the alley, the S meter drops to about S5. The local electrical co-op has been out several times with no results. Can’t hear anybody unless they are over S9.
I met Wayne once. At the time i did not know who he was. I enjoyed his articles. He was in outer space. He was a visionary. Clayton Bennett, KA4NHW, Palm Bay, Fl.
Is the license structure SUPPOSED to be onerous and a detriment? I don’t see it. I’m studying diligently to take both the Tech and General tests on the same day. It troubles me to think some hams believe those of us that come to the hobby after parts 1a, 1b and 1c were eliminated have no right or business to be a ham. I’m 68 years old, and have wanted to be a ham for at least 50 years, but never could afford it. Thanks to a generous uncle that left me property I was able to sell, I can now afford to splurge on equipment. I’m still being frugal. Most of what I have is boat anchor hybrid stuff, because that’s what my ham friends had when I was growing up. I look forward to meeting many of you on the air, and hope to avoid the curmudgeons.
Skip Tenny published Ham Radio Horizons as a beginner companion to Ham Radio magazine in the late 70’s. Hardly a Wayne Green original.
I stand corrected. Now that you mention it, I remember that publication.