Oh, I'm not. I already subscribe to QST, CQ, QEX, RADCOM, MAKE, Nuts & Volts and that's just the Electronics oriented ones.
On Fri, Dec 15, 2017 at 7:51 AM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote: I wouldn't throw them under the bus yet.?
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?BITX as a Tool for Recruiting New Hams
I changed the topic to narrow the focus. You're right, Joe, the social media sites have a lock on young people. My club gives the FCC exams every month (except Dec.) for free and we always have people show up; sometimes as many as three dozen. Most are going for the Tech license to get their toe wet. Then they buy a 2M HT and we never see them again. I did run into one guy almost a year later and asked how he was enjoying his license. He said: "I haven't done anything for the past several months. It doesn't even let me do what my cell phone does." We need to get Tech's more than just a small slice of 10M in the HF spectrum. Otherwise, I think they are missing out on 90% of what ham radio has to offer. When I was a Novice, we had small chunks of HF (e.g., 40M) to play with. True, you were rock-bound and limited to 75W and CW, but I spent almost all of my time on 40M. Britain has had more success than we have with young people, and I think part of the reason is because they give their Tech-equivalent hams small slices of spectrum on all bands, including HF. They are limited to 5W, but at least they can chase DX. Other than the rare atmospheric events, DX on 2M is a couple of counties away with the HT that most end up buying.
I look around at my club and I can almost hear the arteries calcifying. I can say that 'cuz I'm two years younger than dirt so I know the aging membership issues quite well. We need some younger members; perhaps younger than those who are recently married and starting their families. The real solution: I don't know, but there are things we can do. I have a FB account, but probably use it twice a year. I'm not on Twitter. I need to root around there for a while and see what I can do for the cause.
Jack, W8TEE
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Re: Rugged Case Options?
#ubitx
I did just stumble onto this, which is better.? Maybe a bit deeper than I'd like, but not bad.? The price is certainly better.? I'll have to measure to see if the board would interfere, or if the slots would work as expected.
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Re: Rugged Case Options?
#ubitx
Yeah, I've looked at Hammond's cases, and there is nothing in their extruded lines that is tall enough (or if it is tall enough, it's not wide enough).? The die cast enclosure are strong enough, but make it difficult to mount and service, though I've used these for several other projects.??
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Re: Rugged Case Options?
#ubitx
For that price, I'd check out something from Hammond on Digikey:?
My uBitx showed up yesterday, so I'm hoping to get it tested out on the bench this weekend.? My goal is to make a rugged version out of this, preferably in a die cast or extruded case.? I like the looks of this, and it would provide an option to include an internal power supply to run directly off of A/C power, but I'm not a fan of the price.
Many of these just don't come wide enough to accommodate mounting the board directly with the display still attached.? We need at least 6" for that. Anyone else found a good rugged case like this with dimensions that will work and a price tag that isn't half the cost of the uBitx?
On a side note, once the radio is proven and tested, is there any reason I couldn't hot glue the toroids to the board for stability?
73,
Kent
W9WB
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I¡¯m not young (47) but I work in the music industry directing music videos and work with young people and have to engage with them on social media. The best platforms I find getting to the youth is Twitter and Facebook, as well as Instagram. ?If you are really trying to bring awareness to the youth about ham radio my suggestion would be to create a Facebook Page related to ham radio, post your articles there or links there from a blog And run ad promotions and target the group of people you want.?
I¡¯ve come to the conclusion that the younger generation today is completely unaware of ham radio. ?It¡¯s not even like they heard about it but are just not interested, they never heard about amateur radio, ham radio at all. And it¡¯s not the inner-city kids either also the younger generation growing up in the suburbs and more rural areas.?When I explain it to some kids their usual reaction is oh that¡¯s old technology, we have smart phones but then some others get it and think it¡¯s cool.?
Searching ham radio in Google and not seeing cool interesting links on the first page is irrelevant if no one is looking for it. Facebook ads helps put information in front of their face and kids are more liable to click on something if it¡¯s presented to them and looks cool. This might be something you might want to consider if you are trying to reach the youth in masses and turn them on to all things ham radio.?
Hope to get your autograph someday Jack :)
Joe,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 15, 2017, at 10:44 AM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io < jjpurdum@...> wrote: Hi Greg:
Anyone who read my March, 2016, QST article knows how ardent I am about getting young (< 21) people into our hobby. I think my foray into the QRP arena was because I saw it as a way to get into the hobby on a lawnmower budget. The question then becomes: Where does one turn in order to disseminate information to interested, albeit not licensed, people? If you type? "ham radio" into Google, the first entry is the ARRL. The same is true if you type in "ham radio clubs". I don't see a blog anywhere on the first search page.
Fame? Even after 18 books and over 30 articles I can walk through any airport in the land and not one person asks me for an autograph! Can you believe it: Neither Oprah nor Ellen have asked me on their show nor have any of the late-night people? I think it's pretty clear if I don't have fame now, it seems unlikely another article's going to do it. The money from writing an article is barely enough to let me Supersize my meal. Nope...fame and money just aren't there and, personally, neither enters into my decision-making process. The real issue is: Where/how do potential young hams gather their information? That's where the review needs to be, as I believe Ashhar has made a tremendous contribution to my goal with the advent of the ?BITX.
One area of information for newcomers is likely existing hams, many of whom read QST. Indeed, circulation figures suggest there are many more reading QST than CQ, so that throws the decision towards them. But, CQ can probably get the article out in half the time. Fortunately, the article's not done yet, so I have some time to chew on the problem.
Jack, W8TEE
QST surely is lagging. After ordering my uBitx, I was reading Jan 2018 QST , where they had a short article about the Bitx40. They have become irrelevant. Jack, post your article on blogs. Forget paper magazines, unless you like the fame and the few $$ they pay. By the time it's on paper, there will be a new version ;-).
My free opinion, and worth just what you paid.
Back in my hole. 73- Greg, KC8HXO
<DeliveredPack005.jpg>
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My uBitx showed up yesterday, so I'm hoping to get it tested out on the bench this weekend.? My goal is to make a rugged version out of this, preferably in a die cast or extruded case.? I like the looks of this, and it would provide an option to include an internal power supply to run directly off of A/C power, but I'm not a fan of the price.
Many of these just don't come wide enough to accommodate mounting the board directly with the display still attached.? We need at least 6" for that. Anyone else found a good rugged case like this with dimensions that will work and a price tag that isn't half the cost of the uBitx?
On a side note, once the radio is proven and tested, is there any reason I couldn't hot glue the toroids to the board for stability?
73,
Kent
W9WB
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I wouldn't throw them under the bus yet. I know Richard is working his butt off and, if anything, we need more of us to subscribe to the magazine. More ham radio magazines is a good thing and CQ deserves our support, as does QRP Quarterly. The late issue problem has happened before, but Richard always got the issue out. If you can afford it, subscribe to both magazines. I also am a member of the RSGB and find their magazine Rad Comm very interesting and will continue to support them, too.
Jack, W8TEE
From: August Johnson <augjohnson@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2017 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] It's alive!
CQ is having MAJOR problems. I haven't even received my NOVEMBER issue yet, even with repeated promises from them.
August KG7BZ
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You can get the clear water slide material at most hobby shops and it works great.? I have used a inkjet and coat them with a bit of thinned varnish.
It's also on made by Testors.? ?Not cheap, but if you follow the directions it works good.
Rye?
k9LCJ sincd 1955
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Hi Greg:
Anyone who read my March, 2016, QST article knows how ardent I am about getting young (< 21) people into our hobby. I think my foray into the QRP arena was because I saw it as a way to get into the hobby on a lawnmower budget. The question then becomes: Where does one turn in order to disseminate information to interested, albeit not licensed, people? If you type? "ham radio" into Google, the first entry is the ARRL. The same is true if you type in "ham radio clubs". I don't see a blog anywhere on the first search page.
Fame? Even after 18 books and over 30 articles I can walk through any airport in the land and not one person asks me for an autograph! Can you believe it: Neither Oprah nor Ellen have asked me on their show nor have any of the late-night people? I think it's pretty clear if I don't have fame now, it seems unlikely another article's going to do it. The money from writing an article is barely enough to let me Supersize my meal. Nope...fame and money just aren't there and, personally, neither enters into my decision-making process. The real issue is: Where/how do potential young hams gather their information? That's where the review needs to be, as I believe Ashhar has made a tremendous contribution to my goal with the advent of the ?BITX.
One area of information for newcomers is likely existing hams, many of whom read QST. Indeed, circulation figures suggest there are many more reading QST than CQ, so that throws the decision towards them. But, CQ can probably get the article out in half the time. Fortunately, the article's not done yet, so I have some time to chew on the problem.
Jack, W8TEE
From: Gregory Schippers <kc8hxo2@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2017 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] It's alive!
QST surely is lagging. After ordering my uBitx, I was reading Jan 2018 QST , where they had a short article about the Bitx40. They have become irrelevant. Jack, post your article on blogs. Forget paper magazines, unless you like the fame and the few $$ they pay. By the time it's on paper, there will be a new version ;-).
My free opinion, and worth just what you paid.
Back in my hole. 73- Greg, KC8HXO
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Thanks.? I got tangled up in the web site change.
Best wishes
Rye K9LCJ since 1954
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Jack, Great ideas!
I am new to the BITX2 talk group.? The popularity of this UBITX rig is unbelievable.? CORRECTION believable.
Following this group is very interesting.? I'm in hopes that a video will be produced covering initial unboxing, review and initial build.? It would be invaluable to us less experienced operators to gain information for build do's and dont's up to functioning a basic unit. (Suggested power supply, antenna choices etc.).? Maybe one exists, don't know.? I would think HS Signals would come out with one? Still waiting for mine to be delivered.? Probably after the first of the year now.??? Thanks for sharing your info and experience. Rick Michigan
On Dec 15, 2017 9:44 AM, "Jack Purdum via Groups.Io" <jjpurdum= [email protected]> wrote: I am trying to get some good pictures of where I think beginners might stumble. For example, I have a blowup of the stereo connectors from the bottom showing the GND, RING, and TIP connections. Same for the volume control and encoder. Al Peter, AC8GY, is a great photographer and I'm trying to get him to shoot the photos. He did this one for me, which shows the ?BITX as it comes out of the box.
The more I get into the review, the more I think it needs to be published quickly, so I may go with CQ magazine. QST has a very long lag right now. The downside is the size of the audiences. Still not sure where to try and get it published...
Jack, W8TEE
Jack, I also look forward to your review of the uBitx. More high res pictures is good also. Thanks.
Joel
N6ALT
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Re: Looking forward to a build
Yeah, I am really surprised by the amount of thinking that I've put into an antenna.? It hurt to spend $20 on ferrites for a balun for the dipole (now morphing into OCFD an account of the pending ?BitX), so wire was going to be a challenge to do on the cheap.
Then I remembered the 100 foot extension cord in the garage that I had snagged with the hedge trimmer...
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Mines coming by snail mail, been inserted into a bag at Mumbai Air ? Same route as my Bitx40.
On Fri, Dec 15, 2017 at 2:59 PM, David Woodward <kf4wbj2@...> wrote: I ordered on the 9th of Dec. and they told me it will be shipped today or tomorrow the 15th...
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I should have added: I paid for the trackable shipping as well.
Joe
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CQ is having MAJOR problems. I haven't even received my NOVEMBER issue yet, even with repeated promises from them.
August KG7BZ
On Fri, Dec 15, 2017 at 6:44 AM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote:
The more I get into the review, the more I think it needs to be published quickly, so I may go with CQ magazine. QST has a very long lag right now. The downside is the size of the audiences. Still not sure where to try and get it published...
Jack, W8TEE
?
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Re: BITX40 - frequency spectrum - Raduino irradiation - intermodulation products -
#bitx40help
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QST surely is lagging. After ordering my uBitx, I was reading Jan 2018 QST , where they had a short article about the Bitx40. They have become irrelevant. Jack, post your article on blogs. Forget paper magazines, unless you like the fame and the few $$ they pay. By the time it's on paper, there will be a new version ;-).
My free opinion, and worth just what you paid.
Back in my hole. 73- Greg, KC8HXO
On Fri, Dec 15, 2017 at 9:44 AM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote: I am trying to get some good pictures of where I think beginners might stumble. For example, I have a blowup of the stereo connectors from the bottom showing the GND, RING, and TIP connections. Same for the volume control and encoder. Al Peter, AC8GY, is a great photographer and I'm trying to get him to shoot the photos. He did this one for me, which shows the ?BITX as it comes out of the box.
The more I get into the review, the more I think it needs to be published quickly, so I may go with CQ magazine. QST has a very long lag right now. The downside is the size of the audiences. Still not sure where to try and get it published...
Jack, W8TEE
Jack, I also look forward to your review of the uBitx. More high res pictures is good also. Thanks.
Joel
N6ALT
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Re: BITX40 - frequency spectrum - Raduino irradiation - intermodulation products -
#bitx40help
Don't know if it will help but it may.
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Re: BITX40 - frequency spectrum - Raduino irradiation - intermodulation products -
#bitx40help
@ N8DAH: Thank you very much :-)
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Arvo W0VRA
N8DAH