All,
I have and continue to be proud of this organization. We are not a perfect organization. Just a few volunteer. And they do the best job that they can.
I know that I personally can only do so much. I do have a very demanding job and a family that needs my attention. But I think that I and the many volunteers that support the ARISS activity have done a fantsatic job in supporting AMSAT. And amateur radio in general. We are doing good work and share a positive attitude as we know we are making a difference.
I KNOW that there is an active effort within AMSAT-NA to bring HEO and LEO amateur radio satellites to fruitition. I can see it happening, despite the negative rhetoric and severe comments that exist on this BB. For those that are continuing to support the AMSAT mission...I tip my hat.
I have been in the space business for 33 years. At one point in my career I went a LONG time without launching a specific satellite. (7 years!) This happens to NASA. This happens to ESA and the other space agencies. And this is currently happening to AMSAT. So....keep the faith and VOLUNTEER.
For those naysayers out there....those that like to NOT volunteer and/or enjoy throwing stones...I wish you would change your attitude. Or move to another BB. Help, not hurt. As all I see you want to do is tear down this organization. And I must say that it is easy to tear down an organization. And it is very hard to build one up....to volunteer...to make GOOD THINGS happen.
I received this URL today. Read number 16.
http://www.walletpop.com/specials/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america?i cid=100214839x1205495530x1200282778
This hobby can continue. But only if we build it up through positive actions. And not tear it down through venom and unkind words.
Think about it....as YOU can make that difference.
73,
Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
Make sure that you read the comments at the end of that item #16. The author of the article got it wrong! In the last 5 years the ham ranks have decreased by about 26,000 NOT the 50,000 that the author came up with. But even more important than that is:
1. There's been an increase in the last year or two.
2. Compared to 10, 20, and 30 years ago, the ham ranks are way bigger now!!!
Still it takes all of us to get others interested in the hobby. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. If you're whining and complaining, you're NOT helping.
Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY (no code EXTRA) licensed in 2004 - age 54 CN94
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bauer, Frank H. (GSFC-590.0)" frank.h.bauer@nasa.gov
All,
I received this URL today. Read number 16.
http://www.walletpop.com/specials/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america?i cid=100214839x1205495530x1200282778
This hobby can continue. But only if we build it up through positive actions. And not tear it down through venom and unkind words.
Think about it....as YOU can make that difference.
73,
Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
From: "Jeff Moore" tnetcenter@gmail.com
- Compared to 10, 20, and 30 years ago, the ham ranks are way bigger
now!!!
And older - much older. Older means richer, just look at the radios we're buying and stations we're building these days.
Anyway, it would take one wealthy Ham to leave his estate to AMSAT DL to be used to launch P3E in his memory. Any volunteers on the list?
Simon 'Not Dead Yet' HB9DRV
The ham population in the USA is ~ 800,000 + . Those figures are taken from the Federal Communications Commission data. Some years back the FCC went to a 10 year license. If someone decides to drop out it might be a number of years before their license would expire. Of course you do not write the FCC and turn in your ticket. The above of course is only an American view of the ham population. I used to operate a lot of 7 mhz CW. Now it is difficult to get a QSO during the daylight hours. At night when the propagation is longer you can find a QSO but not many. A lot has to do with the level of sunspot activity too. But to say : " the ham ranks are way bigger" is, in my opinion not accurate from an American view point. You might think that the codeless license would have made a big difference. It did not. I often kid some of my friends with the statement that there are only two modes : CB and CW. Of course CW is the oldest digital mode. I believe that the USA ham ranks peaked about a decade or two ago.
Jim W9VNE on the air since 1952
now!!!
----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon Brown (HB9DRV)" simon@hb9drv.ch To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:58 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Amsat-BB
From: "Jeff Moore" tnetcenter@gmail.com
- Compared to 10, 20, and 30 years ago, the ham ranks are way bigger
now!!!
And older - much older. Older means richer, just look at the radios we're buying and stations we're building these days.
Anyway, it would take one wealthy Ham to leave his estate to AMSAT DL to be used to launch P3E in his memory. Any volunteers on the list?
Simon 'Not Dead Yet' HB9DRV
As of 06/08 the ham population in the US is 658,711, 05/08 - 658,272
In 1970 it was ~ 280,000 In 1980 it was ~ 390,000 In 1990 it was ~ 485,000 In 2000 it was ~ 682,240
That sure looks "way bigger" to me! Maybe not to you. But I can say based on the statistics that the last couple of years has seen an overall increase in the ham population in the US. The peak was 2003 at 687,860 and that figure is what the author of the original article used. I still haven't figured out where he came up with a decrease of 50,000 and even he admits he got the figures wrong in the comments following the main article.
With all due respect sir your figures are way off!
See http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=13872 For more statistics from 1999 to current.
73, Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Danehy" jdanehy@cinci.rr.com
The ham population in the USA is ~ 800,000 + . Those figures are taken from the Federal Communications Commission data. [snip] But to say : " the ham ranks are way bigger" is, in my opinion not accurate from an American view point. You might think that the codeless license would have made a big difference. It did not. I often kid some of my friends with the statement that there are only two modes : CB and CW. Of course CW is the oldest digital mode. I believe that the USA ham ranks peaked about a decade or two ago.
Jim W9VNE on the air since 1952
now!!!
----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon Brown (HB9DRV)" simon@hb9drv.ch To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:58 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Amsat-BB
From: "Jeff Moore" tnetcenter@gmail.com
- Compared to 10, 20, and 30 years ago, the ham ranks are way bigger
now!!!
And older - much older. Older means richer, just look at the radios we're buying and stations we're building these days.
Anyway, it would take one wealthy Ham to leave his estate to AMSAT DL to be used to launch P3E in his memory. Any volunteers on the list?
Simon 'Not Dead Yet' HB9DRV
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
-
Bauer, Frank H. (GSFC-590.0) -
Jeff Moore -
Jim Danehy -
Simon Brown (HB9DRV)