Re: LF: QSY

[Roger Lapthorn <rogerlapthorn@gmail.com>]

Chris (et al)

In the last few years I've given talks at 5 different radio clubs in East Anglia. Some were well attended and thriving, others small but in good shape and one was clearly in trouble. A common thread throughout was a distinct lack of younger members. 

Although this is not a subject for further discussion on the 
LF-reflector it is something that should concern us all. We need
 to find more ways of making the hobby inviting to younger people 
without "dumbing it down". How?  As a teenager I was fascinated by short-wave, communicating by string, radio, light beams 
and earth currents. Today, the advances in technology make what we do 
appear far from marvellous. 

Not sure of the answers but amateur radio in
 2020 may be just a handful of pensioners talking about how good it was in the old days. No doubt Mal will be one of them. 

Did I also note in the RSGB's survey that LF was an interest mainly of the older members?

73s
Roger G3XBM

On 4 August 2011 09:48, Chris <c.ashby435@btinternet.com> wrote:

Hi Mal and LF,

Mal says:

"If one is plagued with environmental noise and poor signal quality on LF/MF then maybe this is not the band for You."

You might be right, but it's fun trying! I have very much enjoyed the last couple of years on 136/7 despite the difficulties.

Well, I'm not sure the QSY is a solution either. When I rotate my 2m beam and watch the noise level on the s-meter, the noise goes up by about 18db as the beam points down the  line of the houses in my street. Not surprising I have trouble on LF.

All you can do is the best with the circumstances you're presented with.

Lack of activity is as much due to us (radio amateurs) in general getting older and dropping out of the hobby, with few youngsters following on, as anything else.

Thanks to those who commented about SNR, I agree with others observations.

Vy 73,

Chris, G4AYT, Whitstable, Kent.

-- 
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/
http://www.g3xbm.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/user/g3xbm
https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/