Howard, I understand your point entirely because I am in that exact
situation. However, it isn't keeping me from being active and on the air. I
can use EchoLink which does not require an outside antenna, and I can use
Remotehams which does not require me having an outside antenna either.
Admittedly, these alternatives leave much to be desired, but they provide a
solution to a problem, and they allow me to be an active ham. As you know,
there are also numerous ways of getting around the antenna restrictions such
as stealth antenna designs, and various indoor antennas. My attic antenna
doesn't work very well, especially compared to my 80 full wave loop I have
at the lake, but it does work, and I would use it, except, unfortunately, I
have the added problem of tripping all of the circuit breakers here in my
new house, which keeps me from using my own equipment until I get this
problem resolved. 

Ron, K8HSY



-----Original Message-----
From: Howard, W A 9 Y B W [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 11:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Are we placing emphasis on the wrong objective?

Hi Ron,

I agree with most of what you say, however, I feel you left out a crucial
issue that hams face today which can contribute to inactivity.

The issue is the unreasonable restrictions placed on some of us by
heavy-handed homeowners associations.  Many of these power hungry ding-bats
automatically assume an antenna is going to be an eyesore or somehow offend
someone else.

Maybe the color of your car offends me and I suppose there are those
associations who say all cars must be mauve in color.

Okay, I've vented for today.  Now I must go and take my meds!

Howard #3

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Ronald E. Milliman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 10:36 AM
Subject: Are we placing emphasis on the wrong objective?


> As a follow-up to my previous message regarding the number of hams in 
> this country, and possibly the world, who earn their licenses but 
> never become active, at least not on the HF bands, I think the reason 
> is that emphasis has been placed on the wrong objective for which I
largely blame the ARRL.
> What I mean is we always refer to the number of hams, the number of 
> new hams, and our clubs take great pride in the number of people who 
> take their classes and pass the ham exams. It is like the objective is 
> on the number of hams that pass the ham license exams. This is placing 
> emphasis on entirely the wrong objective. The objective should be on 
> the number of active hams.
> It reminds me of when I was engaged in sales and taught sales at the 
> university, I never placed the emphasis on the number of sales. I 
> placed the focus on the number of satisfied users of the products and 
> services the customers purchased. We sell products and services to 
> satisfy wants and needs of our customers. It makes no difference if 
> the customer purchases the latest and greatest multi-media wireless 
> widget if it never gets used.
>
> The same idea applies to ham radio and the number of people we sell on 
> getting their ham tickets. It is good that we make the sale, but it is 
> even better if the people we sell on being a ham become active, 
> purchase ham gear, and use our repeaters and the many bands and 
> frequencies fought to get and maintain. Our repeaters are mostly dead, 
> and our HF bands are mostly empty, unless there is a contest which 
> seems to bring out all of the active hams in existence, making it seem 
> like there are lots and lots of amateur radio ops slipping out of 
> every corner of the globe. However, even though this might seem like a 
> lot of hams, and it is, the number is still far short of the total 
> number of licensed hams.
>
> We need to emphasize the many aspects of ham radio and encourage those 
> who pass their ham license exams to get actively involved with one or 
> more of those exciting and fun parts of our hobby, rag chewing, 
> chasing DX, contesting, emergency preparedness, antenna and/or 
> equipment building, satellite or moon bounce communications, 
> participating in ham club activities, and the list is almost endless. 
> There are numerous videos available from the ARRL and other sources 
> that show these many aspects of ham radio and how fun and rewarding 
> they can be. We need to emphasize the rewarding parts of being an 
> active amateur radio op and step up and seek to be Elmer's to our new 
> hams, helping them not only to get their ham licenses, but to be 
> active hams to get the most out of obtaining their ham tickets and 
> progressing up the ladder from Tech, to General, and maybe even all 
> the way up to Extra class.
>
> Ron, K8HSY


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