I am on a lot of amateur radio email lists. Many of these contain tidbits that perhaps don’t warrant an entire blog post, but that I feel would be interesting to my readers. Here are three of them…
State QSO parties starting up again
This weekend, the Vermont and Minnesota QSO Parties will be the first QSO parties of the year. These contests also kick off the State QSO Party Challenge.
If you’re a fan of state QSO parties, as I am, then consider taking part in the challenge. Last year, my plan was to participate in all of the state QSO parties and earn a participation award. I started out strong, but flagged towards the end. I did participate in over half the QSO parties, but for many, I never submitted my scores. I hope to do better this year.
For last year’s participation, I did manage to qualify for a silver certificate.
I would love it if our FCC were as supportive.
Japan’s Ministry of Communications supports ham radio
In 2021 Japan’s Minister of Digital Agency, Dr. Karen Makishima (LDP Kanagawa), established an Advisory Board that aims to encourage youth into Amateur Radio
Historically the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) considered amateur radio should be treated in the same way as those professional radio services whose purpose is to ensure reliable communication, but since the essence of amateur radio is experimental and educational it should be treated differently to professional/commercial radio users.
In November 2021 the MIC produced the report “Radio Policy Council in the Age of Digital Transformation” which notes:
- “The amateur radio population is declining, and we must continue to make amateurs through various efforts”
- “Young people will lead the future”
- “Consider creating an environment that makes it easier to start amateur radio”
- “We will proceed with studies toward the realization of a system and environment that makes it easier to utilize amateur radio, such as the realization of an experimental/research environment”
- “Speeding up the procedure from acquiring an amateur radio operator license to opening and operating radio stations”
Read the report at
https://www8.cao.go.jp/kisei-kaikaku/kisei/meeting/wg/econrev/211119/211119keizaikasseika_0402.pdf
The Advisory Board held their first meeting on January 26, 2022
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/january/advisory-board-aims-to-encourage-youth-into-ham-radio.htm
Suspicion of FRNs?
On the recently started, ARRL Education mailing list, someone wrote:
Is anyone having problems with parents not allowing their kids to get FRN’s? I send home an information sheet with how to do it and why it’s needed. This semester, so far, I’ve had 2 students that told me their parents would not allow them to get the FRN, even if it means not getting their license. Any ideas?
That parents would have this attitude is a real shame. Someone pointed out that the Boy Scouts require that they be given at least much personal information, but of course, that information is not made public. Someone else pointed out that these parents might also not let their kids join the Boy Scouts because of this.
The solution appears to be education. Perhaps if parents knew more about amateur radio, they wouldn’t be so hesitant to let their kids participate. Many years ago, I wrote A Parent’s Guide to Amateur Radio, but I now see that I have to update this brochure.
At any rate, I’d like to ask if you have ever run into this? If so, what did you do?