Oh boy, here we go. So, passing a code test pases on interest in hf? That's a bit convoluted. I agree that the tests have gotten easier. I was also one of the first to get up in arms when we got our first codeless license. I was, however, also one of the first to admit that I was wrong about the codeless tech brnging an end to my beloved hobby. The hobby's been dying now since the introduction of the Novice license in 1951, if not before. And it's still alive and well. You don't think the difficulty in erecting hf antennas, owing to cc&r's and HOA's, might not have something to do with the seemling lack of interest in HF gear? 

I, for one, have observed that when people talk about "dumbing down", what that really means is "Things aren't the same as they were back in*my(*day." Believe me, I can be as curmudgeonly as the next guy. I didn't dub myself "the world's youngest old fart" years ago for nothing, you know. But change is inevitable. Roll with it. 

And, more to the point, has anyone else noticed that the people who often holler the loudest about how the tests are dumbed down and we should still have a code requirement, aren't cw ops? Interesting. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Apr 30, 2011, at 4:17 PM, Tom Brennan wrote:

> Steve, unfortunately we're seeing the result of the no code and dumbing down of
> the tests.  Now we've got a bunch of techs that are only interested in 2m
> repeaters.  I'd think that online selling of gear would be fairly easy either
> through Ebay or even through this list or sales lists run by sites such as QRZ
> etc.
> 
> Tom
> 
> 
> Tom Brennan  KD5VIJ, CCC-A/SLP
> web page http://titan.sfasu.edu/~g_brennantg/sonicpage.html
> 
> On Sat, 30 Apr 2011, Steve Matzura wrote:
> 
>> Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:56:01 -0400
>> From: Steve Matzura <[log in to unmask]>
>> Reply-To: For blind ham radio operators <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Selling Gear Online
>> 
>> Where's the best place to go to put some gear for sale online? Someone
>> I know has a relative who's giving up the hobby because they'll be
>> moving into an assisted living facility and will have no space or
>> other wherewithal to work the hobby other than via either a handheld
>> or a mobile rig with a magmount out the window. I'm told he have quite
>> a modern HF station, but have no specifics as to what gear is actually
>> involved. Funny thing, the ham wanted to donate it to a local club or
>> school, but the few takers he could find were only interested in
>> VHF/UHF gear. Any recommendations greatly appreciated and will be
>> passed along.
>>