A couple of months ago, I blogged yet again about getting kids into amateur radio. One reader e-mailed me a comment directly:
I would add that the problem is that the hobby has no eye candy. Go see a model train setup or go see a quilting show. I think you get the idea. Amateur radio really has nothing for the public to see, except people sitting in front of a radio talking. Someone operating Morse Code is a little better, but not much. Cell phones are more imaginative than that.
Let’s face it, if you can’t grab someone’s interest very quickly, then you are not going to grab it at all. Funny how early in life we are curious and will touch that “don’t touch”, but later in life we will just pass it by, mostly.
He has a point. If you’re going to set up a public demonstration of amateur radio, you’re going to have to do better than stringing up a dipole and calling CQ. When our club sets up at the local Maker Faire, we do several things. One guy brings out his K3 set up including panadapter. That generates a lot of interest. I have my Morse Code setup and encourage kids to learn how to send their name in Morse Code. I’ve also brought an interesting selection of QSL cards that show the international aspect of our hobby.
I’m always looking for more ideas. What kind of eye candy do you use?
Edward Vielmetti says
Software defined radio can be nifty to look at (and gets niftier over time as more people use tools to visualize spectrum in use).
Charlie M0PZT says
Anything is better than just an operator shouting strange words or tapping a Morse key. Operating is fine, so long as you have a greeter to explain what’s going on – If the op is wearing headphones (which is wise) then rig-up a speaker so that the public can hear both sides of the QSO.
If you’re there to promote the hobby then some interaction is needed: Morse games (like my Morse Mouse: http://www.m0pzt.com/morse-mouse/), visual demo of “radio” via a cheap SDR dongle and large screen – using broadcast FM (average visitor should be able to recognise the frequency of their favourite station), and lots of colour: Leaflets, QSL cards and such. The Space Station provides an easy segue into all things “radio” – explaining how easy it is to hear it, see it and even bounce signals off it.
Bob K0NR says
So I guess that means me wearing my callsign hat is not considered Eye Candy?
Bob K0NR
Dan KB6NU says
Ummmmmm, no. :)
David A.Foss says
You got to show a kid or retiree some thing the tellem it’s part of amature radio and ask if they want to see more be a teacher people who know what amature radio and like it will seek test VE sites so promote ham radio it will survive if you do promote . David KW0FDA
Jon KK6WFF says
I would have to say the “eye candy” in the hobby for me was what I can use ham radio for (in addition to my other hobbies) for example, FPV radio control flight, radio control robotics, APRS for search and rescue and my list goes on. I can see why kids aren’t getting excited in our hobby if they don’t know the potential experimentation they have access to.
Have fun! Void warranties! Let out the magic smoke!
73
Jon KK6WFF
JR Maxwell says
Thanks Dan,
I can think of two things that helps attract people to a ham booth, one is Jacob’s Ladder. That hissing and sparking is just naturally effective and the other is the Van DeGraff generator. I did that in a fair one year, actually called people in from the floor. Got the ladies to stand on the box and touch the sphere. Hair standing out on end, you bet that caused a lot to look closer. That opened the door. Things like that is needed to attract, then a talk about talking around the world, talking to strangers you could never contact any other way.
Wow! Did you see that train as it fell from it’s tracks on the corner? Hams take note. Use your cell phone to call home on the radio. Don’t be an old foggy, share your excitement.
Dave, N8SBE says
The most attractive thing about my K3/P3 setup turned out to be to run Ham Radio Deluxe’s PSK31 broadband viewer on the attached PC, and tune to the PSK31 frequencies on either 20 or 40 meters. On any given day, you can usually see a dozen or so simultaneous conversations streaming across the screen.
I would explain to them that the ‘wheedle’ sound they hear is the actual sound of the signal being sent over the air, and that from that they could see folks from around the globe exchanging information. I would point out callsigns and explain what country they were from (on 20 meters it’s common to see a bunch of European stations during the day here in Michigan), and show them that they were exchanging name, station information, weather, etc. This also answers the common question, “What do you talk about on the air with someone from another country?”
It always got a crowd of folks around the table,.
John Tarbox says
At many makerfares they have interactive learning events like teaching people how to solder. Any kind of interactive event where people actually learn something (build a crystal radio perhaps?) is great.
Nathan Crapo says
Put a video camera on an R/C car and have them drive around using FPV (First Person Video). I got my HAM license so I could legally do FPV with quadcopters. FPV is _serious_ eye candy. You won’t understand until you try it.
Grocery List for the Gear:
TS5823 VTX (video transmitter)
PZ 600TVL FPV camera
7″ FPV LCD Monitor
David A.Foss says
Here in Nebraska the amateur radio club from Grand Island,Nebraska has a display at the Nebraska state fair every year ,and volunteers you should have something going on at your state fair and other places to promote amateur radio(ham radio)and advertise be testing and sites in your local paper.